Several Questions.....

Message

#1 Post by **SkyWolf** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 1:23 am

I have seen a vast improvement in my teeth since I got braces in the year that I have had them. This site encouraged me to go through with the process of getting my braces. Now I have some questions:
1) My last adjustment my ortho put a very large kink in my lower arch wire (I'm guessing to bring the tooth forward) I know what the kinks do. I had one in my top wire a few months ago. My question now is are kinks suppose to disappear? This one seems to be lessening each week. I also noticed the kink in my top wire is completely gone.

2) I have had powerchain on my top teeth since my third adjustment when I started with a 4,6,4. I then progressed to a solid one. My teeth appear completely straight but when I run my finger across my front teeth my right tooth is just a hair farther forward. My question is has anyone had this problem before if yes how did your ortho fix it or can it be fixed at all? Those teeth were perfectly straight before I got braces.

3) Some of my teeth have chips in them. One has a fairly large place missing out of it. At the end of my treatment will my orthodotist smooth those out?

4) If he fixs the one tooth and I whiten them will I end up having the fake part a different color than the rest of my teeth?

5) Finally, at the end of my treatment I have been told I will have a hawley retainer for the top and a bonded for the bottom. My questions are 1a) On a bonded retainer do you have to use floss threaders? 1b) Has anyone hated there bonded retainer so much that they had to have it removed and get a different one? 1c) I've read on many sites that a bonded retainer only stays in place for 5-7 years then it's removed? How does that keep the teeth from shifting 20 years down the road?

My next adjustment is the 8th of January and I have been planning to bring some of these up with him but between now and then it would be nice to hear other people's experiences in these matters.

#2 Post by **jennielee81** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 5:51 am

Answers to some of your questions:

1. If you have a memory wire the kinks will straighten out. If you're in a stainless steel whire the kinks will not lessen.

3. Ask your ortho about this. Some include tooth shaping in their treatment others do not.

4. Yes, if you get some "filler" on that tooth and then go to whiten your teeth, the bonding material will not whiten and you may have an obvious repair.

5. Yes, you have to use a floss threader with a bonded retainer. Some people here have hated it (most like it) but I don't know if they've had it removed. My ortho said that I will keep the bonded lower retainer for life. If it comes out on it's own he will put it back in.

Hope these few answers help! Good luck with your treatment!!

#3 Post by **jcdamon3** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 10:35 am

5. Yes, you have to use a floss threader with a bonded retainer. Some people here have hated it (most like it) but I don't know if they've had it removed. My ortho said that I will keep the bonded lower retainer for life. If it comes out on it's own he will put it back in.

You can also use threader floss. I have found that because I have a few small gaps in my lower teeth that couldn't be fixed, I can slide a piece of dental tape (like floss except stiffer and flatter) in and it works just fine. It is much cheaper than threader floss and way faster than a floss threader.

Regarding the bonding. Just have your teeth whitened first. It should be no problem. My Ortho does teeth shaping (grinding small imperfections or rounding teeth), but not boding. BTW, This shortens the teeth. If you need them lengthened you need bonding.

If you are in the final wires you should be discussing all this with your ortho.