Two brackets broke off - no appointment for another 24 days

Message

#1 Post by **symphonix** » Fri Jun 04, 2010 3:19 pm

I've had this braces exactly for a week. I just had two of the back brackets break and are sliding and spinning all over the place. I called the doctor's office, but she was already gone and the receptionists told me it is not a big deal and that they will fix it on my next appointment on 6/29. However, if it hurts to eat I should call them back Monday.

Is my orthodontist just being lazy or is this normal procedure? I am really disappointed with this and I figured it would be something that they would take care off right away. Doesn't it stop all of my teeth from moving or only these two are affected?

#2 Post by **tjanz1418** » Fri Jun 04, 2010 3:53 pm

I would be very upset if I had to wait that long. I have had a broken bracket and some issues with my wires and my ortho squeezed me in either that day or the next.

#3 Post by **UGHBRACES** » Fri Jun 04, 2010 4:13 pm

Why does it hurt? Are you getting poked with the loose wire?

My ortho instructed that if that ever happened to me and i couldn't have it fixed then just cut off the loose wire.

#4 Post by **KatieGee** » Sat Jun 05, 2010 9:00 am

My ortho discussed this with me. He said that if a bracket came off, it would still be held onto the wire and would basically "float" on the wire. He said if that happened, I should call them and they would fix it immediately. In fact, the ortho assistant said that if I was uncomfortable with anything, like a poking wire or stained ligs, I should feel free to call and go in to see them. I'm not saying your ortho is wrong or lazy but if my brackets came loose, I would be pretty unhappy about having to wait 3 weeks for it to be sorted out. If you are really uncomfortable with it, why don't you call them again on Monday and say that you have to go in immediately because it hurts.

#5 Post by **ashesgap** » Sat Jun 05, 2010 12:37 pm

I remember reading someones story, she said her lig came off and she decided to wait for her appt, a small time away, for it to be fixed. But when she went in the ortho said it set her treatment back, because that tooth wasn't being moved or anything. I imagine having a missing bracket would do the same. I'd call back and demand an appointment. You might have to get a little pushy.

#6 Post by **msbee** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 6:45 am

Please call them back. If your orthodontist had already left the office, it means that the receptionists were deciding on the orthodontist's behalf; I think your ortho would want to see you.

#7 Post by **Jewles** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 8:12 am

Just ring and say its causing you pain when you eat and want it fixed. A little white lie can save an argument

#8 Post by **bracedup** » Thu Jun 10, 2010 5:41 am

This happened to me and I let it go for 4 days. The problem wasn't pain but rather discomfort. I couldnt eat, it felt like I had gravel in my mouth with every bite there was a crunch sound. These things happen, especially early on in treatment. Ring them and say you pain and discomfort, dont wait. Remember, they are working for you.

#9 Post by **Bekah** » Thu Jun 10, 2010 7:25 am

I lost two bottom brackets in the front and honestly didn't know. They were on the wire but not connected to my teeth! My teeth shifted back by the time I went in to the Ortho and I lost about two months of treatment time!

Call and see if you can get them fixed!

#10 Post by **Snowglobe32** » Thu Jun 10, 2010 10:53 am

The brackets popped off probably because they weren't bonded on properly. I say this because I just got 3 new brackets put on Tuesday, the assistants light wasnt' charged fully and as soon as she put the wire in, one bracket popped off.

Call the ortho, get in ASAP and get it repaired. You are paying a lot of money for this.

#11 Post by **hal2me** » Thu Jun 10, 2010 12:11 pm

Call the office and demand to be seen! You are paying thousands of dollars to have nice teeth. The 24 days could delay your treament. With all the money you are paying, they should be accomodating you ASAP.

Hope you are feeling better!

#12 Post by **alimommy1** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 1:33 am

I don't really understand why they would make you wait so long. Usually the office will say if you have an emergency (like a broken bracket or a wire poking that bending it or wax doesn't help), then call their after hours number and they'll get you in as soon as someone is in the office again - which the longest wait shouldnt be more than 2 days.

I don't remember exactly what happened because it was 97 probably but something got detached somehow and I was wearing elastics - when I called the office they told me to keep wearing them even though the bracket was popped off - on the wire but not on a tooth - and just waiting the two days caused the tooth to over rotate funny - so it took an additional month to get it back, heh. Imagine if I had gone 2 weeks like that...

#13 Post by **Bellalalala** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 7:22 am

That's a very long time to have detached brackets.

Your braces are not doing their job properly if brackets aren't attached.

Call the office, something is not right and maybe the person who books appointments didn't quite understand you or the seriousness of it.

I had a bracket pop off once and had an appointment just a few days later so I waited, and my dentist told me that he would prefer if I came in immediately if it ever happened again.
Now, maybe that's just my over attentive dentist, but several weeks is definitely too long.

#14 Post by **symphonix** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 12:58 pm

Okay I am really getting sick and tired of this.
When I originally created this thread I was eventually rushed into the office and they removed the brackets, but never replaced it with new ones. I waited 21 days for the adjustment, which was yesterday.

Yesterday I had a baby tooth extracted between my 11 and 12 and they put a bracket on my # 11. Well, today while talking on the phone with a client at work my bracked broke off on #11. The toot is small and rotated and when I looked it yesterday I was wondering how the bracket stays on there at all.

I just called the office and told them that my bracket broke off again and the receptionist first said she will try to get me in as soon as possible, but then said "Well, the Doctor likes to see people a week earlier than the appointment anyways. Why don't we scheduled you for a week early?" Which is still more than 3 weeks away. I asked whats the point of putting the bracket on at all since the tooth is not moving. If it's going to fall off and I wait for 3-4 weeks everytime to get it replaced it won't move and prolong the treatment and asked to be seen sooner.

The earliest she said they can see me is in 6 days, but she also said "please understand that we cannot schedule you every time this happens."

This upset me, but I kept my cool. She is a lovely lady in person and I don't want to ruin my relationship with any of the 3 people that work at that office, but I am paying a lot of money and I feel like this is not a good start on their behalf. I am myself not to happy about the brackets braking off and after 5 they will start charging me $15 per bracket.