What to Do When Your Braces Break | Clove Dental

A bracket comes loose. A wire starts poking your cheek. Your teen swears they “didn’t eat anything hard.” If you’re in Sherman Oaks and wearing braces, sooner or later, something will bend, pop, or rub. That doesn’t mean treatment is ruined; it just means you need a quick plan. At Clove Dental, our orthodontists in Sherman Oaks walk patients through this all the time. Call us, and we’ll tell you what to do next, and we’ll check your insurance before we fix anything, so you know where you stand.

Why Braces Break (and Why It Matters)

Most breakages trace back to one of three things: hard foods (nuts, ice, hard candy, uncut raw veggies), getting bumped in the mouth (sports, falls, playful little brothers), or habits (chewing pens, bottle caps, or fingernails). Sometimes the adhesive just lets go over time; that happens, too. Figuring out the “why” matters because repeating the same mistake can slow tooth movement and, in some cases, affect what your insurance or ortho benefit plan will help cover if repairs become frequent.

First Steps When Something Comes Loose

Don’t panic. Look in a mirror and see what's moved. Is the bracket still on the wire but off the tooth? Is a wire end sticking out? Did an elastic tie snap? Take a quick photo if you can; that helps us triage. Then call our Sherman Oaks office. Have your insurance info handy; we’ll look up your benefits and let you know if the visit or repair is included under your orthodontic case, billed as an emergency, or likely out‑of‑pocket. Knowing that up front prevents delays.

Until you’re seen, make yourself comfortable. Press orthodontic wax over sharp spots. No wax? A tiny bit of sugar‑free gum works in a pinch. Stay on softer foods, scrambled eggs, pasta, yogurt, and soups until we secure the hardware again. If a bracket actually comes off the tooth and isn’t attached to the wire, rinse it and bring it in a clean bag; sometimes we can rebond instead of replace.

When It’s an Actual Emergency

Some issues can wait a few days. Others shouldn’t. Call for a same‑day visit if a wire is cutting your cheek or tongue, a bracket is spinning and rubbing tissue, you see swelling or bleeding, or there’s any sign of infection around the area. We leave room in the schedule for these situations. During that call, we’ll also confirm how your insurance treats urgent orthodontic care; plans vary, and we don’t want you guessing.

How Insurance Usually Handles Broken Braces

We get this question constantly: “Is a repair covered?” Orthodontic coverage doesn’t work like routine dental coverage. Many plans pay a set lifetime benefit toward active treatment; small in‑treatment fixes (retying a bracket, clipping a wire) are often included in the treatment fee arrangement. Damage from a sports impact may be billable; damage from chewing caramel corn usually isn’t. That said, every plan is different. We always review your benefits before doing anything beyond what’s already built into your treatment. If a repair isn’t covered, we’ll tell you the cost and can spread payments out or apply our membership savings so you’re not hit with a surprise bill.

Staying on Track Between Visits

Prevention saves time and money. Follow the food list your orthodontist gave you, cut apples, avoid sticky candy, and skip crunching ice. Brush around brackets and along the gumline so the adhesive doesn’t weaken. If you play a contact sport, wear a mouthguard that fits over braces; we’ll help you choose one and let you know whether it’s eligible for flexible spending or reimbursable under your insurance. And please keep your adjustment appointments. We tighten, realign, and catch weak spots before they fail. Most orthodontic benefit plans expect these visits; skipping them can drag out treatment and increase costs later.

What Happens at the Repair Appointment

When you come in, we’ll look at the area, make you comfortable, and decide whether to rebond, replace, or simply reposition hardware. If tooth movement drifted while the bracket was loose, we’ll correct the wire sequence so progress continues. Before we do anything that changes cost, we review coverage with you. Our orthodontists in Sherman Oaks try to fix most breakages in a single visit, so you’re back on track fast.

Why Choose Clove Dental

You’ve got options for orthodontic care in the Valley. Here’s what sets us apart: we move fast when something breaks; we explain what happened and how to keep it from happening again; and we make the money part clear before we start. Our front team is relentless about checking benefits, so you aren’t guessing. Our clinical team treats you like family, with steady hands, modern digital imaging, and treatment plans that stay realistic. And we’re built for real life: flexible scheduling, payment options when insurance falls short, and continuity across offices. Whether you're in Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Sherman Oaks, or another nearby city, you get the same standards, the same records access, and the same no‑surprises approach to care and cost.

Ready to Call?

If a wire is poking, a bracket just let go, or something “doesn’t feel right,” reach out. Call the Sherman Oaks office or send a photo through our online form. We’ll talk you through temporary steps, confirm whether we need to see you right away, and check your insurance so you know what to expect. Small fixes handled early keep treatment moving and keep you smiling.