This is the place to post general questions and comments about all areas of orthodontic treatment. Before you post a question, use the forum's SEARCH tool to see if your question has already been answered!
New Members: YOU MUST MAKE A POST WITHIN 24 HOURS OF REGISTERING OR YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE DELETED. In other words, don't sign up unless you plan to actively participate in the message board immediately. This is necessary to keep out spammers and lurkers with bad intentions. Of course, you can read most forums on the board without registering.
DO NOT POST FULL-FACE PHOTOS or personal contact information on this website. We have had problems with people re-posting members' photos on fetish websites. Please only post photos of your teeth, not your whole face. Keep your email and your personal information private. Thank you.
Can I just say that now?!?! I had my 3rd adjustment yesterday, and had 2 elastics put on, one on each side of my mouth. They go from the INSIDE of my upper molars to the OUTSIDE of my lower molars. So I can't chew anything with them in, because they go across my teeth.... I am so sore and the hooks on the inside of top molars (where the band hooks) are rubbing my tongue raw! This is fun!
I have an appt. to go back in 6 weeks.... hope to be done with elastics then!?!??!
I had the same exact thing but it was my lower molars and my upper had the elastic on the outside. I have molar bands on the bottoms. I couldnot chew on my molars either and it HURT BADDDDD . It does go away within 5-6 days at the most. In my case the elastics did not work and now I am waiting to get an expander (bihelix) to move my molars upright.
Elastics usually work very well. About the hooks making your tongue raw... Get to a Pharmacy or better Walmart and get G.U.M. orthodontic wax. Put a peasized ball of wax on the hooks on either side. It's like heaven! I thought I would die because the hooks were constantly ripping the inside of my tongue I was using at least 1 pk of wax per week. So I just bought like 6 packs! lol
I have box elastics on either side that extend over my premolars. My teeth and jaws were tender for 24 hours after I started, then everything settled down.
I've had them for the last 11 weeks and they have achieved heaps in improving my bite. I'll wear them for however long it takes to get the job done. Could be several more months yet.
Yeah, they get in the way when you eat, but if they happen to snap or dislodge, you simply replace them. I've got it down pat and can reattach them even without a mirror.
I have triangular configuration on the canines. I have found elastics to be the least painful. It hurt for like one day and then stopped. They are a pain in the rear more than painful to me. I just take them out when I eat and put them back in when done. No big deal. I am hoping I only have to wear them for 4 weeks. I will find out at my next adjustment. They have already done wonders for my bite, so I am just hoping they are done doing their job.
I started wearing elastics on Saturday - from lower molar hooks to (don't know the name of the teeth) third tooth along from front tooth - if that makes sense, both sides.
First day some discomfort, now no pain at all, sweet F.A. action in terms of movement but it's early days - just MASSIVE inconvenience - they look vile, like two stretchy bits of saliva, they make me mumble - and to cap it all - they keep snapping - i got through six in one morning for one side ... should I be doubling them up and wearing two at once?
Jeez, I need to get some work done - will get the sack at this rate. I shall reserve judgement as to whether they really work until I'm further into my treatment ... it's a good job I'm a hardened braces wearer as this part of the treatment is a right pain in the bottom ...
beanstix wrote:- and to cap it all - they keep snapping - i got through six in one morning for one side ... should I be doubling them up and wearing two at once?
No, absolutely DO NOT double up your elastics. In fact, don't do anything differently without consulting your ortho first.
I've had a few snap on me when eating, but not 6 at a time - that has to be a record! It took a week of elastics wear and all of a sudden, four teeth made contact. Oh what a feeling (with apologies to the Toyota ad).
I've worn two different elastic configurations. The triangular configuration on the canines’ definitely adds more pressure. I can't say it's painful, but really annoying. Yes, me no likey. Especially of late where I have to talk a lot at work and as a result I"m getting really bad headaches. Just 4 more weeks.
Top Ceramic Braces: July 2004 - Self-Eruption of an Impacted Upper Right Canine
Bottom Metal Braces: December 2005 - Crowding
Debanded: December 2006 The story
I have triangle configurations on each side. They hurt for the first few days, and periodically one tooth will be a little sore. Other than that, I've been ok. They've made amazing changes to my bite, so I'm really excited. I see my ortho on Monday, and I'm hoping he will take me out of them all together Fingers crossed!
~jlb~
Braced 5/19/06 - Full Metal Mouth!
Went topless 07/27/07!
Totally NAKED 08/30/07!
So today I got some more elastics. In addition to the box elastics over my premolars, I've now got a triangle configuration from the inside of my upper canines to the outside of my lower canine/incisors, to be worn at night only (thank goodness). It took me about 5 minutes just to get one hooked on either side! Right now it feels as if my mouth is welded shut. They said I wouldn't like this one.
OK, as much as I don't like these elastics, it's been 4 days and I've lost 2 lbs! I can't eat anything, so maybe I should put several more elastics in to "wire" my mouth shut!
The pain is going away, my teeth are still a little sore, can't eat hard food yet, but my tongue is healing with the ever blessed invention of WAX....
I had my 3rd adjustment yesterday, and had 2 elastics put on, one on each side of my mouth. They go from the INSIDE of my upper molars to the OUTSIDE of my lower molars. So I can't chew anything with them in, because they go across my teeth.... I am so sore and the hooks on the inside of top molars (where the band hooks) are rubbing my tongue raw! 
This is fun!
.
.
Fingers crossed!