Hawley Retainer Broken Wire Repair | By Mail

Right after the wire breaks

Stop wearing it if a wire end is loose, sharp, or poking your cheek or gums.
Don't bend it back with pliers or fingers. Wire that has been bent repeatedly gets weaker and can change the fit.
Keep every piece — a snapped clasp or wire segment in the case helps the repair.
Don't glue it. Household glue is not made for the mouth and makes a clean repair harder.

Common Hawley wire problems

Front (labial) bow wire snapped — usually at a bend or where it enters the acrylic.
Clasp broken — the wire that hooks around a back tooth.
Wire pulled out of the acrylic — the wire is intact but loose in the plastic.
Wire bent out of shape — from being sat on, dropped, or chewed.

We repair these with wire welding or re-setting the wire into acrylic, depending on the break. Some breaks — for example, a wire snapped in several places with parts missing — may not be worth repairing; the photo tells us.

Photos that help us quote a wire repair

The whole retainer from the top (tongue side) and from the front.
A close-up of exactly where the wire broke or came loose.
Any loose wire pieces laid next to the retainer.

Cost

A wire repair is covered by our standard packages — repair plus prepaid UPS both ways from $99.35. Repair times vary; most are completed within 7–12 business days after we receive it (not guaranteed), not counting shipping. See retainer repair prices, or read how repair by mail works.

Send a clear photo for a repair check: text 657-566-1558 or email smilextechnologies@gmail.com. Include the front, back, and a close-up of the damage, plus the retainer type and what happened. Or use the quote form.

Smile Extension provides mail-order appliance repair, not diagnosis or dental care. If something is painful, injured, or your bite or fit has changed, contact your dentist or orthodontist first.

How a broken Hawley wire is repaired

Most Hawley wire breaks happen at a stress point: where the labial bow bends into the acrylic, or at a solder joint near a clasp. We use laser welding to join stainless steel wire with a small, focused heat zone, so the surrounding acrylic is not overheated. If the wire has pulled out of the acrylic, the wire is re-seated and the acrylic is rebuilt around it.

The wire is adjusted to its most passive position after repair. Because we work without a model of your teeth, we cannot promise how it will fit; if it feels tight or different, check with your dentist or orthodontist. Keep any broken pieces and send them with the retainer.

See single and two-retainer repair prices and how the photo-first process works.

Quick answers

Can a broken Hawley wire be welded?

Often, yes. Many wire breaks can be welded or the wire re-set into the acrylic. We confirm from a photo before you pay.

Is it safe to wear a Hawley retainer with a broken wire?

Stop wearing it if the wire is loose, sharp, or poking you. Ask your dentist or orthodontist how long you can safely go without it.

Hawley Retainer Broken Wire Repair by Mail