Metal Mouth Message Board

Anyone know or have a good link to what the braided wire and figure 8 ligs are supposed to do? Thanks!

Thanks for the reply. I'm just not sure how i persevere when it won't stay on for longer than an hour before breaking.

It's actually being used to correct a cross bite that is just on that molar.

Has anyone had to wear what they call a through the bite elastic? I'm supposed to be wearing it on the very back molar. It goes from the inside top molar to outside on the bottom molar. I'm finding it almost impossible to get on and then if or when i do get the elastic on, it's only there for about ...

I had 4 premolars extracted.

My ortho is using wires with closing loops to close the gaps. The closing loops hurt like crazy when they're yanking on them to tighten them, especially when then the pliars slip and cut up your cheeks.

But they definantly work so I can't complain.

I've had incredibly loose teeth on the bottom. It did kind of freak me out how I could it would wiggle back and forth. This comes and goes though. I'm on a good streak now when all the teeth seem to be pretty solid. BUT I was never worried about losing these teeth because they are very secured to th...

It's definantly more difficult but unfortunately the braces haven't stopped me from that habit.

JenB, sorry about your luck. I really hope things get better for you! I had four extractions in December. Two months ago my ortho started using closing wires to close my extraction gaps (2nd bicuspids) on top. I don't have any power chains or springs. I had pretty big gaps, but one side has closed p...

I have 10 molar bands which is quite a few taking into consideration i had 4 premolars extracted. He never said if this is a regular thing for him to use that many or if I'm just "special". I don't have any real big issues with my bite so who knows.

Well I'm 22 and my teeth will definantly not be perfect. My front two teeth are pretty badly chipped up from an accident in my teens. It's only since my teeth have really straightened that the chipping has started to bother me. I asked the ortho's assistant what my options would be. She said that bo...

Like jennandtonic, my ortho prescribed a fluoride toothpaste that seems to work wondeful for tooth color.

I've just started with closing wires. The area between the loops is closed so I guess the gaps must have closed some right? I wish I could actually feel a difference in the size. Is there anything more painful and uncomfortable in orthodontics than when the closing wires are being activated?

The springs are used to push two of your teeth apart. I had a spring for a couple months. I could feel the pressure from it and it irritated my lip some but in all it wasn't bad at all. It was exciting to see the teeth move apart.

The springs are used to push two of your teeth apart. I had a spring for a couple months. I could feel the pressure from it and it irritated my lip some but in all it wasn't bad at all. It was exciting to see the teeth move apart.

Mine was for over two hours. I think a lot of the time was spent trying to find the molar band that fit the best for every single tooth and since I have 10 molar bands the time really added up.

Thanks everyone. It must be just a cultural difference that I've never heard of it. I would love to try it but I'm not sure I could find somewhere where it's sold (I wouldn't want to ruin myself on it by trying to make it myself the first time).