# What happens if a bracket breaks or a wire rubs?

Publisher: Virtual Consultant Online
Published: 2026-05-24
Updated: 2026-05-24
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Contact your orthodontic provider for advice. Wax may help with rubbing, but broken brackets, loose wires, swelling, trauma or pain that does not settle should be checked promptly. A wire poking into the cheek can sometimes be covered with wax until you can be seen, and a loose bracket that is still attached to the wire can be left in place. Do not cut wires at home. Out-of-hours emergency arrangements differ between practices, so check what yours offers.

This answer is informational and does not replace a full clinical examination by a dentist or orthodontist.