To TAD, or not to TAD....?

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JavaMan
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2012 3:09 pm
Location: Pacific Northwest

To TAD, or not to TAD....?

#1 Post by JavaMan »

Hello my braced friends.
Because of two missing teeth in my upper arch, and having had bridges in there (which have been partial-ed for my ortho treatment), my ortho initially recommended
to install some TADs and move the rows of teeth forward on each side closing the gaps. That has always been the plan, until my last adjustment a few days ago. My ortho had a chat with me and is sort of back peddling on that idea of closing the gaps. She thinks I would be probably better of with either an implant or a new bridge instead of closing up the gaps
.
Her reasons being as follows:

-Duration of treatment (will take a long time to close the gaps if I were to go with the TADs)
-I have on either side of the arch, each a tooth that has slight gum recession, and that could potentially be an issue.
-And lastly, that with all these teeth moving, she is afraid that maybe slight gaps will remain and then food keeps getting stuck in it.

She said that she would have no problem doing this with a 15 year old, but I am 36. I don't feel old, but I am surly a bit older than the average teenaged braces wearer :-*
My ortho had everything ready for the TAD insertion at my last apointment, but she told me that if I wanted to think about it, she would be fine with that. So, I didn't let my self being pressured to have to make a decision on the spot.

So, I was wondering, is there someone out there who is older (jeeezzz, this makes me sound sooooo old) who has gone through the process of closing gaps of missing teeth with TADs? Looking for any input or advice? Or even if you are in mid treatment, I am looking for any sort of information???

The ortho told me that the choice is mine and I can proceed which ever way I like, but she wanted to let me know of those issues.
So, here I am trying to make up my mind, what should I do. :-+

Thanks for your input!

JavaMan

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Dee17
Posts: 1292
Joined: Fri Jul 06, 2012 7:28 am
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: To TAD, or not to TAD....?

#2 Post by Dee17 »

Hey Java Man,
You are lucky if your orthodontist is even willing to insert TADs to close your gaps. I also have two teeth missing on my upper arch -- a bicuspid on the right and a premolar on the left. My orthodontist said that he wouldn't even think about "dragging" the teeth behind those extraction gaps forward "through all that bone" in order to close those gaps. I was very disappointed about that because now I will have to get a bridge on each side when my orthodontic treatment is finished which, of course, simply adds to my expense.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take,
but by the moments that take your breath away.
-- Maya Angelou

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and here:
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JavaMan
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2012 3:09 pm
Location: Pacific Northwest

Re: To TAD, or not to TAD....?

#3 Post by JavaMan »

Thanks for your reply Dee17!

Anyone else out there having experience with TADs and closing gaps??

Thanks,
JavaMan

vegathestar
Posts: 92
Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2012 4:08 am

Re: To TAD, or not to TAD....?

#4 Post by vegathestar »

I was born with two missing bicuspid on my lower arch resulting in a gap between the front teeth and the adjacent teeth. I have no idea what are TADS :s but my gaps closed up perfectly and I hope they would remain that way. I have questioned my orthodontist on this and he claimed that though I have two missing teeth, it is possible to close up my gaps in my case as he believes the bones would also shift to the new position which sounds like garbage to me because everyone is bound to have a 'relapse' or minor shift with their teeth after braces are off. Especially for my case, with missing teeth, my relapse should probably be worse than the average (I suspect the gap would open up somehow after I get my braces removed) so I'm gonna play safe and get permanent retainer
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pinkiipromise
Posts: 19
Joined: Wed May 12, 2010 6:36 am

Re: To TAD, or not to TAD....?

#5 Post by pinkiipromise »

I say TAD! I would do anything to speed up the length of braces. This agonizing pain is killing me :cry:

JumpTheDitch
Posts: 533
Joined: Tue Mar 14, 2006 10:57 am
Location: Australia

Re: To TAD, or not to TAD....?

#6 Post by JumpTheDitch »

Hey JavaMan did u TAD?? Im curious as my dentist is planning to move my upper molars (including wisdoms) forward into bicuspid extraction spaces (after she reopens said spaces). I dont know if this is a very common experience as most orthos seem to go for implants or bridge rather than bring forward molars but I didnt want implants or bridge if I could utilise my own teeth. Ive heard people mention molars being multi-rooted and therefore difficult to move so Im very interested in how ur case is progressing :D
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JavaMan
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2012 3:09 pm
Location: Pacific Northwest

Re: To TAD, or not to TAD....?

#7 Post by JavaMan »

Yes I decided on the TAD route, even tough it will pro-long my treatment time. ahhh well. If it will work out and the spaces can be closed, I won't mind having to be in braces longer.

At my last appointment the Ortho attempted to insert the TADs, but we only had partial success. On the one side I had a really hard time getting numb and it kept hurting like hell when she tried to insert the TAD, but on the other side it was completely painless and worked on the first try. At my next adjustment she will attempt it again to insert the second TAD. I hope it will work this time, with no pain!

Happy Friday!
JavaMan

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