IMPACTED CANINES CLUB

[sadiered]

Hi everyone,

Just to update, I had my canine exposure done today......can I just say it was barely tolerable? The exposure part didn't hurt as much as I thought it would, although the injections did made my body literally twist in agony. Expected the pain but didn't anticipate the number of injections. I think I had about 7! >.< (Just fyi, my canine is palatally impacted.)

Anyway, long story short. The dentist used a blow torch lookalike tool and lasered away the surrounding flesh over my tooth. I could smell a faint scent akin to a barbecue pit. Yikes. Yep, we got some barbecuing going on in my mouth. I think during the whole process, I kept swallowing my blood and all that burnt residue, it's definitely not a process I wish to go through again! And then, the moment he tapped on the bone of my tooth, I felt a small sense of victory. Ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived at my canine! He then proceeded to file/sand the bottom so that he could get a proper surface area to attach the button. The attaching part was probably the hardest. I think he tried 3/4 times, going with the cement, then the uv light (for drying i presume), then the button. Somehow or another, the button wasn't sticking to my tooth, as the nurse mentioned, the blood was also an obstacle. And then lo and behold, he finally managed to get that stubborn button to stick on my stubborn tooth. Crossing my fingers, it doesn't budge!!!

Will be heading to the orthodontist a few days later for the activation of the chain. One thing I wanna ask is, what do you guys eat during this period? I find it really hard to put food in my mouth (without disturbing the site of the wound), especially solid food. All I have been doing is making smoothies....
Hope everything is going well for you guys, teeth-wise at least... :D

[Eve255]

Yeah, I can understand that. One thing though, which regular canine would you need pulled also if you go for closing the gap option? The one on the other side or the lower canine and did they tell you that was to balance it out?

Eve

My top canine is impacted so my dentist said to pull the other top canine to balance things out but my orthodontist said he would pull the premolar and leave the canine. I'm feeling really frustrated and I really don't want another oral surgery. I regret even starting this stupid process.

This is what I can't understand about dentistry, this business of pulling healthy teeth to balance it out. I naturally had no premolar on my bottom left and I didn't have the other pulled to balance it out, the gap just closed itself (there's still a little bit of a gap but it's no trouble). However, it seems to be what they all say and I suppose I have to admit that my bottom teeth all kinda moved a little bit to that side but they are all still straight. My ortho initially quoted getting 3 healthy teeth removed, I nearly fell out of the chair.
I hope you get a solution for the best, I can totally get why you are so over all of this. I think I will also get the impacted canine removed and get an implant, bridge or just close the gap like you.

Sorry to be negative about this for others who are looking to get the impaction treatment but I suppose it's good to be aware of other outcomes.

[SandSnake]

Wow sadiered, that sounds like quite the ordeal. I was put to sleep for my operation, was that not an option for you?
I pretty much just ate soup and other soft food for about 5 days or so.

As for me, my canine is down into place. Feels surreal since it felt like i'd never get to this point. I have two large gaps that formed right next to both my canines so we're currently trying to close those. My ortho is using rubber bands to do so.

I don't have braces on my bottom teeth so the bands are attached to the molars on top. I don't know, it's all a bit weird. If I don't see any movement by the time my next appointment comes around, i'm going to ask about power chains. My ortho is a bit moody and not very forthcoming with information so it's just very frustrating for me in that regard.

[sadiered]

Sandsnake,

Congrats on your tooth! I can't imagine what it must feel like :D

I opted for local anaesthetic rather than sedation as I didn't think it was going to be that bad. Only when he administered the local did it really hurt, other than that, the lasering felt like barely noticeable tiny pinches against the roof of my mouth. Regardless, I'm just glad the whole process is over for now. It was really a pain to keep my mouth open for almost an hour. My jaw muscles were literally spasming towards the end.

My orthodontist can be abit quiet at times, and like yours, not very forthcoming with information, unless I ask of course. I think just be brave and enquire? After all you're the customer. You should be able to be concerned about what's happening. Good luck!

[Divatoof]

Well I had my adjustment a week or so ago told the Ortho about the pressure I've been feeling. They said that's good news. Next visit I'm scheduled for a x-ray to see if there is any improvement. I have been having some pain since that visit. The front teeth are pushed out more. I tried biting into a tuna sandwich for five minutes until I remembered why I can't. :(

So fingers crossed. Keeping the end goal in mind.

[sadiered]

This morning, I got my chain activated and can I say the tightening hurts like a ****. This was prob the most painful process of my entire journey with braces. Was kind of feeling negative towards the end, but I cheered myself up with some ramen, albeit in miniscule bites. I can finally have noodles next to soup, mash, scrambled eggs and the likes.

I was wondering whether any of you faced this pain when you had your chain activated? I felt immense pressure from my canine, almost thought the button would break off if the ortho continued to tighten the wire. The pain has subsided a little now, but I still feel sore when I move my mouth or talk. I almost wanted to pop a painkiller but I'm holding that thought first. Somehow I don't wanna keep relying on painkillers to feel better. Afterall, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger right?

Hope you guys are having a good day!

[satinythrasher]

^ I had mine activated earlier today - mine hurts a good bit, but it's nothing intense. Just constant. I definitely can't eat anything normally, but that's more because I had my wisdom teeth out too on Sept 25th when they did the expose-and-bond on my #6 canine. Hope you're feeling way better by now!

[sadiered]

Hey satinythrasher, thanks! The pain is pretty much gone now, although my surrounding gum is a little sore as its still healing from the expose/bond surgery. I can have solids now just not anything sharp like potato chips and as long as the food doesnt poke into my gum. Makes eating really tiresome sometimes. Where is ur tooth impacted? So far I don't see any significant movement from my tooth. Its been abt a week since i activated mine.

[satinythrasher]

^ Mine is in my palate, kind of by my front teeth. I'm sure it will be a very long time till it is visible.
My other upper canine is also impacted, but at the gum line and was slowly coming down on its own (and recently stopped, I think the pontic I have in is blocking it) - ortho said he will just use a laser to expose that one himself, later.

[sadiered]

^Wow. It's not easy to have 2 teeth impacted. Thanks for sharing and props to you! Sometimes, I wonder whether I should have just left my canine in there and just forget about getting braces knowing how long this process will take, but you know what, the procedure's done and there's no turning back. Gotta stay positive no matter what :)

[oregonhusker]

Update: My braces are coming off on Tuesday . I'll be two months short of two years with them on. I'm very happy with how things have gone and I am loving my straight teeth. I'm looking forward to eating salads again without picking lettuce out of my braces and I'm looking forward to eating almonds again. Can't wait!

[sadiered]

^ Congrats!! So excited for you :D

[foreverbraced]

Just wanted to ask if there's anyone here with/has had a horizontally impacted canine? Apparently they're harder to move and my orthodontist absolutely believes that mine cannot be moved (without even trying!)

Also, congrats oregonhusker!

[foreverbraced]

^ Mine is in my palate, kind of by my front teeth. I'm sure it will be a very long time till it is visible.
My other upper canine is also impacted, but at the gum line and was slowly coming down on its own (and recently stopped, I think the pontic I have in is blocking it) - ortho said he will just use a laser to expose that one himself, later.

Hey there! Sort of in a similar situation: horizontal and behind the front teeth, however, orthodontist refuses to move mine, so I'm in the process of trying to convince him . I'd love to see how your teeth go, please keep us updated!

[sukibeth]

I'm a year into my impacted canine treatment and thanks to an incredibly stubborn orthodontist (and a little give from my equally stubborn tooth) - there's been progress. It's still sideways (not quite completely horizontal), but making movement well away from the bone. I'm writing about this all today because today the ortho switched out the 'finishing line' that's attached to my chain to something closer to wire (sorry, he mentioned the name but it escapes me now) in order to make the process go a bit quicker.

So, I'm offering a little bit of hope! I'm 33 and there was a lot of uncertainty about ANY progress due to my age. I'd still take this over the surgery any day!