Weird spring

Message

#1 Post by **metalmom** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:54 pm

I tried to search to find out what this is and have had no luck.. I checked the links for the newbies.. I tried googling and I'm having no luck. I'm curious to see if anyone can figure out what this is. I've got an expander on the roof of my mouth. Found TONS of info about that. I've got bare brackets on my front tops and bottoms... On my bottom teeth I have a spring that is attached with two brackets.. it also has a wire that is broken in half that goes behind my teeth.. (spring and wire) Does anyone know what the heck that is? And what is it for? I even read some of the orthodontic journals trying to find this thing and I can't figure it out. I'm not sure if this just has to do with when I get my wires on or what. The little wire is pinching/scratching my tongue and I would love to know what it's purpose is.
THANKS!!
M

#2 Post by **rkjohnson1969** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:57 pm

you need to bug your ortho or assistant to explain these things! I'm sure I make mine crazy, but I know every single thing that is going on or will go on (which has been good, because a couple times I've reminded them of things they meant to do at the "next appt"!)

hope it feels better soon!

#3 Post by **metalmom** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 1:05 pm

I'm going to do that when I go back in. I was shocked that I got all this at once I thought it was only going to be the expander.. anyone who's had one knows there isn't much talking going on right after that sucker is put in. haha I've got it on my list of things to ask but man it's driving me crazy.

#4 Post by **Lisa65** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 1:29 pm

A pic might help, if you can take one

How long is the spring? Is it between just two teeth to push them apart in order to make space for a tooth "behind" the others, or do you mean it spans more teeth than that?

#5 Post by **metalmom** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 1:41 pm

I'm at work so I don't have a camera.. but it's a long spring it spans. I think they're on the bottom 1st bicuspids? and then there are springs from there back to the first molar where the brackets are. so it's all the way across those teeth. I'd give anything for a camera right now so someone could tell me what this thing is. I'm wondering if it's like another expander? but for the bottom? is that possible?

#6 Post by **Lisa65** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:42 pm

Sometimes people have expanders on the bottom. Does it look anything like this?

http://www.braces4oxford.co.uk/Expanders.htm

A couple of members here had lower expanders, Gennel and bracieb are the ones I can think of. There is a thread here about it. viewtopic.php?p=191936&sid=3472122164b0 ... 605563ae34

If you can manage to get a pic, somebody here might be able to help, or at least guess

#7 Post by **metalmom** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:50 pm

LISA You're a genius!!! That's it!!! Except I actually have some springs that are going on the sides too. When I looked at it better to figure out what teeth it was hooked too I realized it really looked like another expander. I can't wait to go back and find out what on earth we're doing in my mouth! lol

#8 Post by **metalmom** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:56 pm

I googled that and I found it. It's a banded mandibular expander. I even found some posts on Metal Mouth! Woo hoo!!
It helps so much to know what you're searching for.

Thanks again!

#9 Post by **Lisa65** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 4:12 pm

Glad to help

#10 Post by **breal87** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 1:55 pm

it's just a bottom expander... I had one just like it