How do I not know these things?

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#1 Post by **JacksEcho** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 5:29 am

I had my braces fitted yesterday and pretty much everything I knew about them I read by coming here.

My ortho tells me nothing, I speak to her she ignores me, she stabbed me in my jaw bone with a huge pair of tweezers which immediately bled as she'd gashed my cheek and told me it was my fault because of my "ridiculously tiny child's mouth" the fact she's simply ignorant and isn't particularly bothered I can get over - but...

no one told me anything about this huge metal expander in the top of my mouth, I have no idea what it it even is [i've googled, it's not a rapid expander it has no key, it's just a thin wire box shape that cuts my tongue..oh boy it cuts my tongue] is that it now?! does this thing live with me as long as the braces do? it never once came up in conversation or even in my paperwork, she just decided to fit it and told me she'd done it after she'd done it.

I'm mortified by this the pain I can deal with but I'm 2 months into a quit smoking clinic and I haven't smoked yet, but because I use an inhalator now I can't actually inhale on it, trying to inhale just cuts my tongue and nothing happens. worst scenario I can switch to patches if I start to panic but it just would have been nice to have been prepared before hand.

#2 Post by **crazybeautiful** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 5:49 am

It sounds like some variety of a non-surgical expander. Since you have a 'ridiculously tiny child's mouth'

it will be used to try and create some more space. But then it will need turning, so I don't know....maybe it's a TPA:
http://www.veryniceteeth.com/images/ind ... -large.jpg

?

Well anyway, expanders are usually used for about 6 months, and TPAs can stay in for longer. I had a TPA placed after the expander was removed (mine was a surgical case, so it was for stability). Yes they are annoying, but you will get used to them. And I personally couldn't even feel the TPA in my mouth, so I'm sure if that's what you have you'll get used to it in no time

It sounds like your ortho doesn't exactly have the best patient-practitioner skills, but hopefully she does her job well and you don't have many issues with her (by the way, with my expander was fitted it was a struggle getting it into my tiny mouth too! My ortho nearly elbowed me in the face

it takes some force sometimes). She might be used to just getting on with treatment and not thinking the patient would like to be involved with it. My ortho doesn't tell me the specifics in terms of what type of wire I'm getting, etc, but she keeps me informed of the main stuff. Maybe just ask your ortho to keep you updated. It is your treatment, afterall

Also, for the pain, could you put some wax or something over it to stop it rubbing your tongue? Again, your tongue will cope with it eventually, but while it is hurting, just try and reduce it

#3 Post by **TumbleDryLow** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 8:47 am

I had one of these
http://www.mashpeeortho.com/images/quadhelix.jpg
Sounds similar to what you describe.
Yes it really does annoy your tongue, but I got used to it pretty quickly--just give it some time. In a few weeks you won't even notice it's there. (I have a ridiculously tiny child-sized mouth too but I think my ortho put it more eloquently than that.)

#4 Post by **I love my teeth** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 9:22 am

It does sound like TPA that you have....I've had mine for about 2months and the first 1-2weeks were terrible.....now I hardly notice it except when I eat certain foods I find it hard to manipulate the food on the roof of my mouth....Mine should be removed in about another month or so........I am sorry your treatment plan wasn't discussed with you. My OD has been so good about it....whenever I have questions, even if he looks really busy, he pulls up a chair and we discuss..........also, try talking to the techs who so the work on you, they can sometimes be even more helpful because most if not all of them have had orthodontic work done. Like, when I was pushing my OD for how long I needed my TPA, he kept saying, maybe another month, maybe more, ect------I said "have you ever had one of these?" He said NO, and I said, then you really have no idea how ready I will be to get it out!! and one of the girls in the office piped up and said--yes, she agreed, the sooner you get it out the better!!

#5 Post by **drrick** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 11:49 am

If I may ask...why are you going to this doc in the first place? It doesnt seem like your personalities jive at all.

#6 Post by **ellen** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 12:41 pm

aren't most ortho practices geared to young patients with "tiny child mouths"? You'd think the ortho would know what to do with a "tiny child mouth."

#7 Post by **JacksEcho** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 3:36 am

TumbleDryLow wrote:I had one of these
http://www.mashpeeortho.com/images/quadhelix.jpg
Sounds similar to what you describe.
Yes it really does annoy your tongue, but I got used to it pretty quickly--just give it some time. In a few weeks you won't even notice it's there. (I have a ridiculously tiny child-sized mouth too but I think my ortho put it more eloquently than that.)

That's the one! for the better part it's not annoying except when I eat but it's tearing my tongue up something spectacular I have a circular shaped hole which makes it impossible to speak properly, that gives me some hope - at least I know it can't last it's just hard not to want to feel quite sorry for yourself.

drrick wrote:If I may ask...why are you going to this doc in the first place? It doesnt seem like your personalities jive at all.

Unfortunately I'm an NHS patient so I got what I was given, I'm not even 100% sure she actually is an orthodontist, as it's a teaching hospital it seems to have some strange command chain action, there's an ignorant doctor / surgeon who comes around and shouts at her whilst she explains to her what she's doing, then because the doctor shouted at her she gets agitated with me and there's never enough time to do my treatment full so everything gets rushed [hence the cuts]

I've been in and out of dentists and orthodontists since I was 7 or so [I'm 22 now] and because I can't afford to pay I've just been shunted down from one practise to another till someone will do the work, albeit the level of workmanship varies greatly between them.

ellen wrote:aren't most ortho practices geared to young patients with "tiny child mouths"? You'd think the ortho would know what to do with a "tiny child mouth."

isn't it ridiculous! and the worst part is my treatment is in the childrens unit, I'm one of very few adults even being treated there because I will eventually need surgery, you'd think she'd be used to tiny childrens mouth's by now.

#8 Post by **TumbleDryLow** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 7:14 am

I'm so happy to meet someone who had the same weird appliance as me! Lots of people have TPA's or expanders with a key, but I haven't seen anyone mention this particular one.

If those circle things start digging into the roof of your mouth, call the office. I was told to do this. It means the appliance needs to come out and be readjusted.

Did they say how long you would need to wear it? I got lucky. I only had mine a few months.

#9 Post by **JacksEcho** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 12:03 pm

TumbleDryLow wrote:I'm so happy to meet someone who had the same weird appliance as me! Lots of people have TPA's or expanders with a key, but I haven't seen anyone mention this particular one.

If those circle things start digging into the roof of your mouth, call the office. I was told to do this. It means the appliance needs to come out and be readjusted.

Did they say how long you would need to wear it? I got lucky. I only had mine a few months.

This might explain all the googling to find out what it was!
it's okay in the roof of the mouth, but my tongue has been ravaged, literally I can fit the tip of my finger inside the hole it's made and it's scarily quite deep, plus it's been bleeding which I'm not too sure is normal, I'm in too minds about whether to travel 2 hours back down to the hospital and have an emergency appointment tomorrow.

They didn't tell me anything about it, So I really have no idea what to expect for the long term, same as I've been told my braces could be in for up to 4 years, but then when I repeated this back she laughed at me and said "oh no they'll never be in that long!" so god knows.

I'm praying it's a few months, if it stays this painful I don't know if I can last that long to be honest.

#10 Post by **bbsadmin** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 12:13 pm

You might try using Rincinol PRN mouthrinse. Its forms a protective barrier in your mouth to help various types of sores heal. You can find it at most drug stores in the section where they sell mouthwash and dental products.

#11 Post by **JacksEcho** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 3:37 pm

bbsadmin wrote:You might try using Rincinol PRN mouthrinse. Its forms a protective barrier in your mouth to help various types of sores heal. You can find it at most drug stores in the section where they sell mouthwash and dental products.

Do you know of any sites which would ship to the UK? I've never heard of the brand before but I'm more than willing to give it a go if I can find somewhere that supplies it online.

#12 Post by **BRACEYOURSELF!** » Sun Jan 03, 2010 7:54 am

Lol you seriously need to develop a better relationship with your ortho, after all you are a customer and customers should come first. Just ask questions and if you don't get an answer, threaten to change orthos.