Molar Band Came Off, Loose, Broke: Causes, What To Do

Molar bands can cause problems, just like other components of braces might. Question is, “Can molar bands come off or feel loose?”

When the band is damaged or the bond between the tooth and band weakens, a molar band may become loose or even come off. However, you can have your molar band fixed at home or at the office of your orthodontist.

But, if it’s severely damaged, you will need to replace the band with a new one from your orthodontist.

In this article, you will know about the causes of molar bands coming off or loose or being broken. You will also learn what to do in those situations.

Table of Contents hide

Why is your molar band loose?

Molar bands can get loose over time and it’s a common complaint. This is because the adhesive glue or dental cement that’s used to attach the bands on teeth is temporary. So, it may get loose due to different causes easily.

Let’s take a look at the reasons for which your orthodontic band can feel loose.

1. Excessive pressure applied to molar band

The main reason for your band getting loose is an excessive amount of force applied to the molar band or the tooth. As dental cement or glue for molar bands aren’t permanent, too much pressure can crack or loosen it.

2. Chewing hard and crunchy food

Your molar bands may become loose if you don’t follow a proper diet while wearing braces, such as avoiding foods that are hard and chewy.

When you don’t eat soft and easy-to-chew food regularly, those wrong types of foods put pressure on your teeth and orthodontic band.

Over time the bonding between teeth and the band gets weak and bands get loose.

3. Eating sticky food

When you eat sticky food such as candies, caramel, or toffee, food particles stick around the molar bands, hooks, and wires.

It becomes hard to clean completely from those rough surfaces.

That food debris interacts with the bonding between teeth and orthodontic bands and makes them weak.

4. Failure of boning between tooth and band

Sometimes the bond between molar band and tooth can be failed. This can occur due to poor bonding while placing the molar band. But, it doesn’t occur if you visit a good orthodontist.

However, bonding can fail if you don’t take care of the orthodontic bands properly, even though they are tightly fitted.

5. Bad oral habits

If you have bad oral habits such as going on hard objects such as nails, pencils, or pens, your orthodontic band can be loosened.

6. Poor oral hygiene

Orthodontic bands create rough surfaces on your teeth. So, when you don’t keep them clean regularly, plaque, tartar, and bacteria deposit around the bands.

Over time, this makes the bonding weak, and molar bands become loose

7. Charging in bite

Orthodontic treatment changes your bite and moves your teeth from one position to another.

So, after getting braces tightened, its components can feel loose. The same thing can happen to the molar bands.

What happens if my molar band is loose?

When an orthodontic band gets loose, it’ll stop working completely because it can’t help archwire and brackets to put pressure on teeth to move teeth. Moreover, there is a high chance that it comes out of the tooth completely.

In addition, molar bands may hurt your mouth by rubbing your tongue, cheek, and gums. It can lead to irritation, ulceration, or cutting your cheek and mouth as well.

Furthermore, if an upper molar band is loose, there is a chance you might swallow it while you eat or drink. So, it needs to be adjusted as soon as possible.

A loose orthodontic band can be a sign that your braces are not fitting properly or that the band is not bonded correctly.

If you ignore a loose molar band, it could make the treatment less effective and the duration of the treatment will be prolonged.

Moreover, serious dental problems, such as tooth decay or gum disease can occur if you leave it for a few weeks, This is because food gets stuck between a loose molar band and tooth which is impossible to remove.

Bacteria and saliva interact with the food debris and they eventually destroy tooth enamel by producing acidic byproducts.

What to do if a molar band feels loose?

Here are the things that you have to do if a molar band feels loose.

1. Call your orthodontist and set an appointment.

A loose molar band isn’t an emergency, but it is important to see your orthodontist as soon as possible. So, you should call your orthodontist imminently and follow his advice, and set an appointment with him/her.

Your orthodontist will be able to re-cement the band or, if necessary, replace it with a new one.

2. Try to lift the loose band off the tooth.

In some cases, the molar band may have come completely off the tooth. If this happens, you should try to lift the loose band off the tooth yourself using your fingers or a pair of tweezers.

If you can’t do it on your own, ask someone to do that.

Once you have removed the loose band, you should clean it (if possible) and the tooth.

If the band does come off, save it and bring it with you to your orthodontist appointment.

However, if the band is still attached to the tooth, do not try to remove it. This could damage the tooth or the band itself.

3. Put orthodontic wax on the loose molar band.

You can also use orthodontic wax to temporarily hold the band in place. This can be purchased at most dental stores or ordered online.

Check out the best orthodontic wax for braces.

4. Place dental wax on the sharp end of the wire.

If the molar band has come off and the wire is poking out, you can use orthodontic wax to cover the sharp end of the wire and protect your cheek or tongue from getting cut.

Know how to use wax for braces.

5. Try to cut the pokey wire.

If the wire is poking out and you can’t get to your orthodontist right away, you can try to cut the pokey wire using nail clippers or a wire cutter.

Be very careful when doing this, and make sure not to cut your cheek or tongue and damage the braces.

6. Rinse your mouth with lukewarm and saltwater.

If your mouth is feeling sore, you can rinse it with lukewarm salt water to help reduce inflammation and swelling.

7. Avoid hard and sticky foods.

Avoid eating sticky or hard foods that could cause the band to come off completely.

Moreover, sticky food can easily stuck in between loose band and tooth and cause too decay.

7. Clean teeth carefully.

Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently brush your teeth. Be careful not to damage the band or wire while brushing or flossing your teeth and braces.

Is a loose molar band an emergency?

A loose molar band is not considered an emergency, but you should contact your dentist as soon as possible to have it fixed. If you don’t fix it right away, food and bacteria can become trapped underneath the band, making it impossible to clean and potentially leading to tooth decay.

Why does a molar band come off?

A molar band can fall off or break for the following reasons:

1. Cement breaking loose

If the bonding between that tooth and molar band breaks loose, your molar band can come off.

The orthodontist adhesive glue for dental cement to fix the orthodontic bands to your teeth temporarily.

This is not very strong as molar bands are fixed to your teeth permanently.

So, if you fail to take care of those bands they can get loose and fall off your teeth.

Cement may be creaked and break loose due to excessive pressure applied to those teeth.

This happens when your food habit is wrong or you don’t clean your teeth carefully or direct damage to the bands.

2. Biting on hard food

When you bite on hard food such as candy or meat bone, pressure is applied to your teeth and molar band. This can be responsible for the loosening of bonding between the tooth and molar band.

So, your molar band can fall off or get damaged while biting on hard food.

3. Biting or chewing object

Some people have habits such as chewing on pens, pencils, nails, or ice cubes.

This object can put excessive pressure on or damage the orthodontic bands and result in their falling off.

4. Excessive tooth brushing force

If you brush your teeth under too much pressure, molar bands can be broken or come off.

Too much brushing force may make the cement weak.

5. Injury or getting hit into the molar band

Any injury while wearing braces is dangerous. Sometimes it may occur due to sports injury or getting hit into the band with something. This can lead to the molar band coming off.

6. Loose molar band

When you have a loose molar band and you don’t fix that, it can fall off quite easily.

What happens if your molar band comes out?

If a molar band comes out of your tooth, your braces will also stop working because they can’t move teeth without help from molar bands. So, your treatment will be delayed. Moreover, if you don’t pay attention, you may swallow or choke on the band.

What do I do if your molar band comes off?

Here is what you need to do if your orthodontic band comes off.

1. Preserve the molar band.

After a molar band falls off your teeth, you should keep it nicely inside a plastic box until you visit the orthodontist.

2. Schedule an appointment with the orthodontist.

When your molar band comes off, it means that there is an interruption in your orthodontic treatment. Without the band, braces won’t put pressure on teeth and stop working on that jaw.

Moreover, you can’t place the band on your own. So, you must visit your orthodontist and get it fixed.

When you visit your orthodontist’s office, you should bring the fallen molar band with you.

He/she may try to place the molar band around the molar tooth with glue or a bonding agent. But, if it’s not possible, he/she can replace it with a new one.

3. Try to push the molar band back into place.

If the molar band is still attached to your tooth, you can try to push it back into place with a Q-tip or tweezers and fingers.

Here is how to put the orthodontic band back into place at home.

Step 1. Clean your hands and the molar band.

First of all, you should clean your hands and the molar band with antibacterial soap. You can also use alcohol wipes.

Step 2. Find the right position.

After that, you need to find the right position of the molar band on the tooth. You can use a mirror to help you do that.

Step 3. Push the molar band into place.

When you find the right position, you can start pushing the orthodontic band into place with your fingers and tweezers or Q-tip.

Step 4. Check if the molar band is in the right position.

After you push the molar band into place, you should check if it’s in the right position with a mirror. But, make sure to be very gentle while doing it. Otherwise, you may damage your tooth or gums.

Step 5. Apply orthodontic wax.

Finally, as the glue is debonded from your molar bank, you have to take help from orthodontic wax to hold the band in place.

Use a toothpick to place a small amount of wax on the back of the molar band. Orthodontic wax also prevents the molar bands from irritating your cheek, tongue, or gums.

This process can help to solve the problem temporarily. But, if you are using rubber bands with the orthodontic bands, it might not help you hold the rubber bands or put adequate pressure,

That’s why you need to see your orthodontist as early as possible.

4. Eat soft or nonsticky food.

If your molar band comes off and you can’t see your orthodontist right away, you should eat soft or nonsticky food.

Hard and sticky food can get stuck in your braces and damage them or loosen the molar bands. So, it’s better to avoid them.

5. Don’t chew on that side

If a molar band comes off, you should try not to chew on that side of your mouth. It will help you to prevent further damage to your teeth, gums, and orthodontic appliances.

6. Use orthodontic wax

Whether the molar band falls off completely or you place it back to its previous position, you can put the orthodontic on the rough surface to stop getting hurt from it.

Can molar bands break?

Usually, molar bands don’t break. However, it cement or adhesive glue of the band may be cracked and break loose when excess pressure is applied to the orthodontic bands. This may happen when you bite on hard food or objects, you brush your teeth vigorously or the molar band gets hit with something.

Cement or adhesive glue that’s used to attach the molar bands isn’t permanent and strong. So, too much pressure can cause it.

What happens if your molar band breaks?

If a molar band breaks, braces will stop functioning properly as they won’t be able to help archwire put an adequate amount of pressure. The rough surface of a broken orthodontic band can also rub or cut your gums, cheek, or tongue and result in irritation, pain, and ulceration.

It will also lead to delaying treatment. Moreover, you may need to pay additional fees to fix or replace the orthodontic band.

How do you fix a broken molar band?

A broken molar band can usually be repaired and fixed by an orthodontist. However, if the break is severe, the band may need to be replaced.

Even though you can’t repair the broken molar band at home, you can try to fix it temporarily at home.

How do you fix a broken molar band at home?

If the molar band is broken severely and it hurt you or causes irritation, you should try to lift the band off the tooth.

You can use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to do that. You can also take help from someone if you can’t do it yourself.

However, if the orthodontic band is only slightly broken, you can try to fix it at home with orthodontic wax temporarily.

  1. First, clean the area around the broken band with toothpaste and a toothbrush.
  2. Then, take a small amount of orthodontic wax and press it onto the broken band.
  3. Make sure that the wax is covering the sharp edges of the band so that it doesn’t cut or scratch your cheek or tongue.

However, never use super glue or general glue to fix the molar band, as it can make the situation worse.

How does the orthodontist fix a broken or cracked molar band?

An orthodontist will first assess the break to see if it can be repaired. If the break is minor, they may be able to simply reattach the band.

They will attach the cracked piece of the orthodontic band by using a special type of adhesive or a process called soldering.

However, if the break is more severe, they may need to replace the band entirely.

To do this, they will take an impression of your teeth in order to make a new, customized molar band that fits your mouth.

After the molar band is prepared, they will put braces glue or adhesive on the band and tooth. Then, they will apply a blue light to attach the band to the tooth.

How to avoid the molar bands from getting loose or falling off?

Here are some tips to prevent orthodontic bands from falling off or getting loose.

1.  Take care of your braces

The best way to avoid the molar bands from getting loose or falling off is by taking extra care of your teeth and braces during orthodontic treatment.

2. Be careful while eating

You should be careful while eating hard and sticky food. Avoid them as much as possible or cut them into small pieces.

3. Clean your teeth regularly

Another important thing that you should do is to maintain good oral hygiene and follow a proper diet.

You should clean your teeth after every meal to avoid plaque and tartar buildup around the molar bands.

4. Visit your orthodontist regularly

It’s important to visit your orthodontist for regular checkups and adjustments. They will check if the orthodontic bands are loose or not and can make necessary changes.

Takeaway

Molar bands getting loose or falling off is not a serious problem but you should fix them as soon as possible.

It can happen due to various causes such as chewing hard and sticky food, playing with braces, bad oral hygiene, and poor bonding.

To avoid this, you should take care of your braces, teeth, and gums properly. You should also avoid hard and sticky food, and keep your molar bands clean always.