Bite Blocks / Turbos

[NeilH]

Hi, during my first consultation, my orthodontist spoke briefly about putting a small attachment behind my front two upper teeth to prevent my upper teeth from coming into contact with the braces on my lower teeth. Does anyone have any experience of this? It seems like a sensible idea but no doubt would have an effect on eating as I will be unable to fully close my teeth together? Thanks.

[beckyboo0205]

Hey yeah I have those things. They are kinda annoying but I guess the alternative is to chip some teeth so I guess you need them. I am only a week into my braces and my teeth are mostly pain free. Most of my pain was in my front 6 top teeth (which is basically what needs to move as you can see) so having these bite things on those teeth didn't help any with that! A few days in, I was feeling pretty good and decided to try to bite into a banana and I think with the bite things, it made it hard to bite and hurt a little more because of the force pushing against the banana.

Anyhow, once I could start chewing stuff, they were in the way. My mouth doesn't quite close all the way so there is a space between my back teeth. I had to chew really slow so i didn't hit my bite things and my bottom teeth or it would hurt. And still, I hit sometimes and couldn't quite chew all the way. Now I figured out a way to chew where I can chew a bit better with them so they aren't so bad. Just take a little getting used to.

[NeilH]

Hi, thank you for your comments. Could I ask, did it effect speaking at all? I can see chewing being difficult but wondered about lisping as well.

[beckyboo0205]

I have a bit of a lisp with "s" words like "six" but I don't know if it's the braces or the bite things or the wire running across my gap... no idea.

[carlarae]

Because of needing fillings and them not being able to get me in until April 10 and April 16, all I'm doing now is waiting, and wondering, and worrying about what my treatment will be (I'll find out on April 16 and get spacers). I actually want the bite turbos on the back of the teeth... it seems like it would be the most logical way to open up an overbite. Is the only other option putting top braces on for awhile first? All I can do now is wonder what exactly they're going to do for my overbite!

[EbonyQ]

I had overbite (deep bite) and was supposed to get bite turbos behind my front teeth. Could not stand the thought of it, it was either no bite turbos or no lower braces.
We gave the upper braces 2-3 extra months to work their magic before put lower braces one. By waiting a little longer with the lower ones I did not need either bite turbos or molar build ups.

But I got this dental phoba and therefor think things are worse than they really are. Many people on this forum has them and I think they are OK with them. They really work wonders with your teeth and bite

[NeilH]

Thank you. I have another appointment in April and will be asking more about them then. Think I would prefer the Turbo's behind my front teeth to Molar buildups but guess won't know for sure until I start.

[NeilH]

Following my appointment earlier this week we discussed getting Turbo's to prevent my top teeth knocking off the lower brackets and I will now be getting them when the braces are fitted in a few weeks time. I was shown what they look like and my first impression was 'they are so tiny, how can they cause all the bother some people talk about?' Guess time will tell!

[beckyboo0205]

Yeah they probably just feel bigger than they are. They don't really bother me now. But at first, when my front teeth were sore, they created a bigger profile for my tooth to bit things so I think it caused more pain than if I didn't have them. But they are fine now... maybe not tomorrow though when I have my first adjustment!

[Leebie3]

I have molar build ups and they are a pain in the rear! (Pun intended )

[NeilH]

Yeah they probably just feel bigger than they are. They don't really bother me now. But at first, when my front teeth were sore, they created a bigger profile for my tooth to bit things so I think it caused more pain than if I didn't have them. But they are fine now... maybe not tomorrow though when I have my first adjustment!

Beckyboo, how long did it take you to get used to them?