Lingual Bars causing me too many problems, is it worth it?

[dbrowny111]

Hello everyone,

About 10 years ago I had braces on, for 3 years and since about 2004 I had two lingual bars put on the back of my top and bottom row teeth covering the middle 6. These bars were apparently permanent.

Ever since then, the glue on them has been deteriorating up until last month when the bottom row had the glue snap off while eating an apple. I went to the orthodontist here (not the same one who put it since I moved interstate) and he reglued the bottom and top wires. Shortly after, this glue fell apart at the interface between it and the old one. Eventually the glue was so worn off from the top row, my tongue was being cut up by the wire so I spoke to the orthodontist here and he suggested I remove it and wear a retainer every night instead. The bar had been on for 7 years, there was no need to keep it on. So I had it removed and now wear the retainer. He suggested the bottom one should remain on.

However given that the glue was falling off, I got the wire removed and a new one put on as re-gluing didnt work. I went to the orthodotist 4 times in 4 weeks for re-gluing, it was that bad. oven-baked chips caused it to snap. Interestingly enough, he pulled the old wire off with plies and ripped it straight off the teeth, it went through the glue or took it with it. It was barely being held on and the wire was extremely fragile, how it was holding anything together is beyond me.

So now Im faced with a new dilemma, I got a new wire, but this ortodontist only uses a certain much thicker wire. The new glue and wire is cutting up my tongue even more than before. I am forced to use wax to place over the wires.

I have some options. I can go back there for the 6th time in 6 weeks to get him to attempt to polish down the glue and maybe cover the wire up, but theres no guarantee it will not continue to cut up my tongue as he cant cover the wire between the teeth, seeing as it still does. Personally though, I have had enough of this. not a single minute goes by where I dont feel the wire or rough glue on my tongue and I have to carry a box of wax with me everywhere I go. I wonder if it is possible to have the bottom row wire removed too. I am very hesitant though since the original orthodontist said it is permanent (however my wisdom teeth were in at the time 7 years ago, today they have all been removed) and this 2nd doctor suggested the same thing.

I guess the real question is, is there ever a level of discomfort one could have which would warrant the permanent removal of a lingual bar on the bottom row? I understand it is crowded but my wisdom teeth are gone and honestly... I would be ok if I had to wear a retainer at night for every single night of my life if my tongue stops getting cut up by rough glue and wires. I dont know how many more times I can keep going back to get it repaired. Im leaning towards getting it removed as a short-term fix to stop this annoyance but dont want to negate 3 years of braces.

I would like to know what some opinions are of the amount of time a lingual bar should stay on, with respect to wisdom teeth being all removed. Also if an option to wear a retainer every single night would be ok to cover it.

Thank you all for your time

[dbrowny111]

I cant edit my original post... anyway It may be important to note that at the time of the original bar being put on, all 4 of my wisdom teeth were impacted. They were removed 3 years ago.

[Linnie]

Well, I don't know what to say, and others may have more useful comments for you. One thing, though, stroke me: you are eating chips and apples. Since I had my linguals on, I have never touched an apple or chips. These, and other foods, are on my forbidden list.

[ashesgap]

Thats a permanent retainer, it shouldn't have any of the issues lingual braces have. Eating an apple should not be this big of a problem.
I'm thinking maybe you'd be happier with removable retainers top and bottom? That way you'd just have to wear them at night. I think thats an option you should ask about. But definetly don't torture yourself having to wear wax forever.