What Happens to Braces During Cremation: Do They Stay or Do They Go?

When dealing with the final disposition of a loved one, many aspects must be considered, including the condition of their teeth and braces. This article aims to clarify the process of what happens to braces during cremation, addressing questions such as whether they stay or get removed.

Leaving Braces Intact During Cremation

Braces and any other orthodontic gear are typically left in place when preparing a deceased person for burial or cremation. This practice is consistent regardless of the specific method of final disposition. Cremation, being the most common method, involves the process of reducing the body to ashes. The issue of metals in the cremated remains—such as from braces—arises due to the subsequent grinding of the ashes into a fine particle size.

Challenges in Grinding Cremains with Metals

The concern with metals in cremains is primarily related to the subsequent grinding process, which is designed to produce mostly bone fragments uniformly sized for aesthetic purposes. However, modern grinding machines can become excessively worn or even damaged if confronted with very hard materials like hip implants. Because of this, any visible metals are usually removed after cremation by hand to ensure the machine is not damaged.

Metal Splats and Dissolution in Cremation

Metals in braces tend to melt off the remains and form metal splats or similar visually identifiable masses during cremation. For instance, dental metals will melt into small globules in the cremator. In Britain, you can have the metals returned along with the ashes or, if you prefer, the crematorium staff can remove and recycle them. However, if you are cremated in a country where this is not standard procedure, the family may need to choose an option where metals are removed before cremation.

Common Practices and Concerns

From three decades of experience as a funeral director and embalmer, I have never been asked to remove braces. If someone requested such a procedure, it would be advisable to contact a dentist or orthodontist for the task. Given that the mouth is usually closed during the funeral ceremony, the braces would likely remain unseen. The only exception might be in the rare case of a person who needed braces but never received them, as noted in a particular instance.

Cremation Process and Handling Metals

During cremation, you are cremated with everything intact. Following cremation, the remains are sifted using a magnet or regular sifting to remove any metal parts. If buried, the mouth is typically forced shut by sewing it, but metal extraction before cremation is optional and depends on the preference and local practices.

It is important to note that unless a family specifically requests the removal of braces before cremation, it is usually not necessary. The placement of the remains in a metallic receptacle may be an option to ensure the braces are preserved and returned with the ashes if requested.

Conclusion

The process of dealing with braces during cremation is straightforward, and most modern practices allow the braces to remain attached. This ensures the integrity of the final disposition and eases the burden on the family during a difficult time.