Broken Bracket :\

[Rainbow_Hanz]

Hi,
I've had my braces for about 6 weeks now but the back bracket keeps breaking The last time i went to the dentist for an adjustment he said he couldn't do it because some of the brackets had broken. He was really horrible to me about it and i just wondered if it was that much of a big deal?? Do i need to go back to have it fixed or can i wait until my next appointment in December? Also is this quite a common thing that happens?

[Zoso]

How odd that he didn't fix the broken bracket then and there, or at least (if he did not have sufficient time available that day) schedule you in sooner to get it replaced. Were I you, yes, I'd definitely schedule in ASAP to get it fixed. When you say it is broken, I assume you mean it has come off the tooth? Is it still in your mouth? If so, that's very bad, as a loose bracket can present a significant cleaning issue, and lead to tooth decay.

I assume he was grouchy about it because he is assuming it was actions on your part that caused the problem. That is sometimes, but not always true. Sometimes brackets come off because they are faulty, or because the bonding was not done properly. If by any chance your problem tooth is a crown, or has a large filling or an onlay on that surface, this may be the reason - it is often far more difficult to get brackets to adhere to restorations. And sometimes, for some reason I can't fathom, some people just have problems with a particular type of bracket. If it is any of those reasons, it's a shame he's being grouchy. On the other hand, if it is that you've not maintained adequate hygiene, if you've consumed a lot of acidic drinks, and/or if you've been eating crunchy or very chewy foods without being at all careful, then it might be that you are causing the trouble - in this case many orthodontists actually charge for rebonding brackets once a certain (somewhat low) limit of "freebies" has been exhausted.

Anyway, if you've been doing everything right (as would seem more likely for a responsible adult!) then explain this to him - tell him you have been very careful and don't know why you are having trouble with the bracket.

One more though: could it be that another tooth was biting against that bracket? This does happen, and then it is just simple physical forces that break it off. There are things the ortho can do to get around that.