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I had a power chain put on yesterday to close up some gaps opening up across my 'social five' (I'm missing a lateral incisor!) and the ortho's also given me some elastics to wear at night - although I'm going to have to phone her today to check which ones need hooking up because I've already forgotten
Wow, you can really feel these things can't you?! As soon as my ortho put the power chain on I felt the tightness, and was even worrying that I was biting down on her hand really hard as she was working in my mouth as the pressure on my roots and gums was so strong I felt I must be biting on something! (I wasn't biting her, thank goodness!). Had a job eating my toast this morning. YOW. Back to soft food for me for a few days, I think...
Still, I'll be glad to see these gaps closing up - they were really quite big and I was starting to feel self-conscious about them - more self-conscious than about the braces themselves
Hi! I have powerchains top and bottom too! Plus elastics I have to wear all the time and change every 24hrs. Elastics are cutting the inside of my cheeks exactly like you I'm back to soft food and CAN'T WAIT to see the gaps close! I had a slight gap between my front teeth, were they've been straightned out, think it's already closed thanks to Mr. Powerchain haha!
Thanks all, sounds like I have a lot of fun to look forward to... oyyyy...!
Oh my goodness Jen8626, well done to you for putting up with elastics all the time. I'm just hoping by the time I have to do that rather than just at night, I'll be used to the bizarre discomfort they cause (nearly caused myself some damage this morning when I tried yawning before taking them out!)
I had a lot of powerchains to close gaps and to straigthen the arch - not fun I know, but it does get better after a few days. I found that although it was painful to chew, it actually made my teeth feel better after doing some slow/soft chewing. Maybe try that?
Oh my goodness Jen8626, well done to you for putting up with elastics all the time.
Thanks the cutting on my cheeks/lips is really sore, I put bonjela on last night it helped to get to sleep but sore again this morning, maybe I should persevere. Or can anyone recommend anything else for sore cheeks to act as a barrier? I can't really put wax on it it'll prob come loose every time I open my mouth ! Think my canine must be moving on that side because its catching my lip when I close my mouth. Oh woe is me... all good signs things are moving though - I hope!
Jen8626 wrote:can anyone recommend anything else for sore cheeks to act as a barrier? I can't really put wax on it it'll prob come loose every time I open my mouth
I have used wax with elastics- it is a bit tricky to make it stay... but it will move your cheek out a bit and it will be away from your elastics.
04/09/09- Consult, 04/21/09- Spacers in, 04/23/09- Braces on, 06/01/09- Extractions
06/25/09- First Adjustment (new wire, but same size- all the way to bck molars- after extractions)
08/20/09- Second adjustment (same size wire but got Powerchains top and bottom!!!)
10/02/09- 3rd adj (same size wire, new powerchain, started elastics)
12/10/09- 4th adj. (same size wire, new powerchain, same elastics)
02/11/10- 5th adj.
Ugh, I HATE powerchains! I just had my 2nd archwire change yesterday and she took the chains off the 5 teeth they were attached to and said she doesn't want them back on right now. YAY! I go back in 3 weeks and I have a feeling I'm going to see them again. But yes, they hurt like crazy!
exactly like you I'm back to soft food and CAN'T WAIT to see the gaps close! I had a slight gap between my front teeth, were they've been straightned out, think it's already closed thanks to Mr. Powerchain 
haha! 
oyyyy...!