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I had to go to my ortho today--he started me on a "box" configuration with elastics last week, and one of the "box" elastics was literally tearing a rectangular shape in my cheek. Turns out my whole cheek was swollen from that one elastic. I had been given a total of 4 elastics at night--2 in the daytime.
So, anyway, he dumped all my elastics except one diagonal on one side---yiipppeeee--the least I've had so far! And he added--I just wanted to hurry up the process a little--but that's OK-- because we're going to put a steel archwire in at the next appointment. Now hold on little doggie!!!! What!!!! STEEL??!!!
So, who has had a steel archwire? What were the first few days like? Then after that? I am REALLY nervous about this--it just sounds--ummmm---SCARY!!!!
I have had a steel rectangular wire in my lowers before. In fact, I have steel (albeit thin) steel wires now. For me, it was no different than the NiTi wires, same soreness for a few days and that was it. I would not worry about it too much. By now your teeth are probably on the move anyway so there should not be much resistance
Had full mouth metal braces for 21 months. Debonded April 2013. Now wearing clear plastic retainers every other night.
I have no formal dental or orthodontic education. Hence, all opinions expressed by me on this forum are those of an "informed consumer" and by no means intended as an expert advice.
I have steel wires, at least on the bottom.. I didn't notice the difference. I think I always had steel.. be aware, they can break :p It's rare, but can happen...
i got a steel archwire on my lowers at my 2nd adjustment on 17 March. my uppers were fitted on this date so starter wire (014) on top. to be honest i didn't notice any difference in terms of discomfort from having the steel wire as opposed to the 018 which i had rcvd on my lowers at my first adjustment.
I have steel archwires on the both sets now. I got the top one after 4 months, was my 4th archwire. Still have it since october. Was not a great change to have it.
But in opposite, i got the stainless steel on bottom last week, and the ortho shaped it to accelerate the leveling of my bottom teeths. I switched to this steel wire after only 2.5 months, and its only the 3rd archwire.
This time: it's painfull. 4th day in and still can barely use my bottom front teeth. But at least that mean it s moving lol.
do steel wires come in round and rectangular? i am trying to figure out what i have in at the moment. it looks the same as my previous 018 round wire to me but the ortho did mention i was getting a steel wire for the first time
