Part 3 of the intruding procedure ...

[Clo]

Hi all,

in order to close my open bite, I got braces (again) about 5 weeks ago. I did
post about this :

viewtopic.php?t=20690&highlight=

Then, about 14 days ago, they placed 2 bone anchors surgically. I posted
about this too :

viewtopic.php?t=21029&start=0

Now, my ortho "activated the system", like she likes to call this. I got this
stiffer archwire, a 16 * 16. And she connected the bone anchors with very
heavy elastics. Yep, Clo the elastics king is back in town. It looks like this :





Now, to be honest, I did expect a bit more. One very important thing when
they intrude teeth is avoiding that they, in my case, slant buccally (towards
the cheeks). I read about placing a TPA. Or installing some extra hardware
on the inside of those molars. I didn't get any of this. She installed an archwire
designed for the lower arch on my uppers. As this is too small, it pushes the
molars inwards. That should prevent the slanting tendency. Nah, I admit I do
not like this option very much. It is like ... trying to do something very difficult
with only some basic means. I've been there, had that before. Without much
success as some of you know. Plus I wonder, though these elastics are very
heavy, if this is enough to intrude at least 2 molars each side. Ah, I am very
skeptical again ...

[SandraJones]

Wow Clo, you are an engineering masterpiece.

Have you found any other info on the 'net about your setup ? It does make sense. Is the narrow-arch archwire causing your teeth any discomfort ? Like do they feel squished together ?

And are the elastics hard to install ??

[Clo]

@ SandraJones : yes, my teeth feel a bit squished together, but only those molars.
And yes, these elastics are hard to install. Because the area around the bone
anchors is still swollen, it is very hard to get them around those anchors. As you
can see on the second pic, there is not much room between the tube and my gum.
Now, 2 days later, it seems that those elastics irritate this area a lot.

@ KK : of course I'll give my ortho some trust. But it is always ... strange
that, when I see orthodontic articles, similar cases are done in a way I can really
understand. Like preventing this tipping using some extra hardware. I then expect
something similar, but get often just some basic means. And my orthodontic
past learned me this is often indeed not enough to have a decent result. In those
articles, I read about a TPA or even placing microscrews on the inside of those
teeth to prevent them tipping. Because it is very important to prevent this tipping.
As I only got a square archwire to prevent this, I think this may be just a bit ... too
simple. Oh well, I hope it'll work.

[SandraJones]

Clo, you're definitely ahead of the game and I imagine you are watching for signs of tipping and will be right on it if it happens, so this is great for you. Hopefully it won't happen !

This reminds me of a much more minor situation ... when my braces were first installed, the assistant didn't put the lower arch wire totallly into the slot of the bracket of my right first premolar, and either didn't in the other side's first premolar or it slipped out. In any case, it wasn't long before these teeth, which were in good position before, started rotating due the uneven pressure on the bracket. I tried to get the wire back in and did so with partial sucess, fortunately by the time it was really bugging me I only had a few more days til my first adjustment and decided to stick it out til then. As you can imagine, I made sure the wire was in both slots before I left the chair at that adjustment ! And adding insult to the earlier injury, the orthodontist hooked up the wire ligs which tugged hard on those rotated teeth ... she wouldn't have had to do that if they hadn't been pushed into rotation. (sigh)

Are you taking photos to check for tipping ? I'm finding that I don't notice changes as well when I look at them real-time, but I notice them in photos. Not sure if you have the same experience or not !

[Clo]

@ SandraJones : yes, I do take pictures. Everytime I have an adjustment. This
is now going on since May 2004. I can almost make a book about my case .

I measured the distance between the molars and did check from time to time.
Now, 14 days later, they indeed did tip a bit. My bite opened a bit more. But I
had another adjustment today and the elastics now go to extra posts in front
of my canines. Did my ortho also see this tipping ? Didn't ask, she didn't say.
But this change is quite fast I do think. Ah, I'll need to sit and enjoy the ride,
uhummm. But I keep watching ...