Cutting poking wire yourself

[prairiehouse]

Has anyone here cut a poking wire by themselves? What tool did you use?

An orthodontist assistant said that I can do it myself or go in and get them to do it. What are the risks? Is it possible to cut it and ruin the wire in a way that will make it so that the teeth no longer move in the way they were originally intended to?

Thanks

[margarets]

Honestly, I wouldn't even try it. Too risky. You could hurt yourself and mess up your treatment. I'd go in and get it done properly.

[isthistaken]

I was told to come in and have them do that. The only thing they said I should do myself was put wax on anything that was bothersome.

[TMJJill]

I had a long wire that needed to be cared for when a bracket fell off. Due to circumstance, I couldn't get in to see my ortho for about a week. I talked to the ortho office and they recommended snipping it off. I just used to wire cutters that I'd cleaned. No problems then and I got my new wire at my next visit.

I'd say cutting a wire is a last resort, but if your ortho recommends it, it can be easier at times than a visit.

[Ciara]

My ortho told me to cut the wire if this happens, specially if I can't get in for an emergency appointment for a few days.

[Zaera]

I, too, have used a pair of wire cutters to snip my own pokey wires. The problem is, my cutters are cheap and only made to cut thinner jewelry wire. I found that as I moved to thicker archwires, especially the rectangular ones I have now, I was no longer able to cut them with the same pair. Because I'm almost finished, I don't have as much wire sticking out due to movement, so I just leave it alone these days.

[bbsadmin]

It's difficult to do it yourself, and my husband never felt comfortable trying to do it for me -- mainly because the little piece of metal could easily fall into your mouth and you could swallow it. I even got a pair of orthodontic wire cutters for the purpose, but was jut never successful in doing myself or having it done at home.

Many orthodontists let you "just drop in" to clip a poking wire without an appointment. It only takes a few moments. You should ask your orthodontist if they can accommodate you in that manner.