Getting spacers next week super scared...

[ashleyy]

So like exactly one week from today I'll be going to get spacers and then I'll have those for 6 days and then go again to get the bands around my molars.

Anyway... I'm super scared. I've done a lot of research and it seems like people either say they're not that big of a deal or that they hurt a LOT. So, I'm kinda hoping I'm in the first group and it doesn't hurt much for me.

I do have a question tho...... I know that I should probably stay away from like foods like caramel or stuff that usually sticks to your molars, but what about hot vs cold food? Like is it ok for me to have ice cream with sprinkles and fudge sauce while having spacers? Or... should I mostly just stick to simple foods while I have them? I know that if you aggravate them you can run the risk of them coming out prematurely. Any advice?


Thanks ^_^
~Ashley

[Len]

Girl I'm not gonna say it's the best thing ever because it's not. Spacers were the worse I've had with braces, after the spacers went off, nothing else hurt me that bad.
To be honest not many people suffer as much as I did with the spacers but if you do, all you need to keep in mind is: 1- Don't act tough, if it hurts, take some meds and be fine because you won't get a prize for enduring the pain. 2- It only lasts for a week, after that you're through and the bands don't hurt at all XD
Think this is the first (And possibly worse) step of the process, after that you'll get it better and have a better smile.
PS: About the food, I had everything I wanted to eat because I knew it was the time. You can't eat those stuff with braces on so it's time you indulge yourself XD I don't think the spacers will go off unless you eat caramel or gum. You won't feel the heat or cold worse than you did.

[ashleyy]

Thanks Len for your insight and advice I'm going to have to try to remember the pain stuff if it is really bad for me.

As far as the food stuff, I'll just have to stay away from like caramel and stuff like you said. Come to think of it I proooobably should have a bunch of caramel stuff in the next few days because I absolutely LOVE caramel, and it just hit me now that in like 6 days I won't be able to have it for like 3 years :O

[Alani]

I had spacers and I had to puree all my food. Even eating rice pudding was too had for me :( BUT your experience may be different. I had such crowded teeth.
So take pain meds and lots of smoothies!

[ashleyy]

I had spacers and I had to puree all my food. Even eating rice pudding was too had for me BUT your experience may be different. I had such crowded teeth.
So take pain meds and lots of smoothies!

I just got them today actually, and so far at least it's not too too bad, but it is very slowly getting worse. I guess it's only really been like 6 hours, and from everything I hear it gets worse after a few days. I've pretty much just been eating soft foods like yogurt and ice cream and stuff like that. Planning on taking tylenol for night in case it is really bad overnight.

Anyway...... for some reason they had to do 6 spacers today :O And they only did the top too. I was not expecting that many, and then when I go back in 5 days they have to do even more on the bottom.

[ashleyy]

So I figured I'd add an update in case anyone happens to read this in the future.... It's the second day now and it's actually a fair bit worse pain wise. It's not like horrible, but it's enough to where I had to take tylenol for the pain. It seems to hurt more whenever anything touches my teeth, so I'm avoiding that, and chewing is basically out of the question at all. Mostly it just feels incredibly sore which isn't the most pleasant sensation.

[ashleyy]

Ok so next day... Pain is even worse—and I get migraines too so I know pain. I literally want to cry now. Pain medication actually isn't even working anymore. Can't wait until they remove these :O

As bad as it is tho I'm still able to manage. What's keeping me going is that Monday they take the top ones out, so that's not too much longer.

They also have to do new top molds Monday which kinda has me freaked out. If my teeth are so sensitive that's going to prooooobably suck.

Anyway is it normal for my teeth to feel so loose? and like also I swear they seem a bit more crooked.

[ToniMaree]

Did you get your bottom ones in?

I had 7 spacers on top, to fit an appliance in my mouth :(
Anyway, they werent too bad for me, I went easy on chewing for a few days.

I am not looking forward to when I get braces in a few months, they will have to put them in the bottom. I did not even know what they were the first time :P

[ashleyy]

Did you get your bottom ones in?

I had 7 spacers on top, to fit an appliance in my mouth
Anyway, they werent too bad for me, I went easy on chewing for a few days.

I am not looking forward to when I get braces in a few months, they will have to put them in the bottom. I did not even know what they were the first time

Just the top ones so far, 6 of them. I have the same situation you had where they needed to fit an appliance. I'm going in tomorrow and they're going to take the top ones out and then put the spacers in the bottom.

[ashleyy]

Oh boy... so...................

Today was eventful......


So I went to the ortho today and they took out all 6 spacers. They then put the bands in and took an impression with those. The bands kinda hurt putting in because my teeth were still so sensitive, but it wasn't that bad. THEN... they took the bands out and they put FOUR MORE spacers on the bottom.

Then they had to replace all 6 on the top......... but this time they used the white ones which are like even thicker than the blue ones. So now i have TEN spacers in my mouth, 6 of which are incredibly thick.

......I somehow have to manage another week until they can come out when they apply the braces.

[oldfart]

Spacers are the easy part. It's only pain. They don't affect your speech. They don't cause you to drool and spit while you talk. They don't show up in pics. They don't break. (well sometimes they do, but not very often.) They don't cause wire pokes, or require you to change elastics every 4-6 hours. And brushing.. don't even get me started. Can you whistle? Enjoy it while you can....

Sorry for being the bearer of bad news, but this is just the beginning of the fun.

Saying that, 99% people (unofficial survey) don't regret one bit starting treatment.

And just when you think you are done, then comes retainers... completely different topic....

[ashleyy]

Spacers are the easy part. It's only pain. They don't affect your speech. They don't cause you to drool and spit while you talk. They don't show up in pics. They don't break. (well sometimes they do, but not very often.) They don't cause wire pokes, or require you to change elastics every 4-6 hours. And brushing.. don't even get me started. Can you whistle? Enjoy it while you can....

Sorry for being the bearer of bad news, but this is just the beginning of the fun.

Saying that, 99% people (unofficial survey) don't regret one bit starting treatment.

And just when you think you are done, then comes retainers... completely different topic....

The speech thing is something I am a bit concerned about, but I kinda can't know until I get there what's going to happen. I'm actually not too self conscious about pictures or people knowing about it. Thankfully I work from home so I can bypass the whole awkwardness at work thing. I do have a lot of people I know closely and see regularly but most of them know I'm getting braces anyway so I don't really think I'll be self conscious about it at all. Whistling is actually something I've never ever in my life been able to do, and I think part of it is my teeth are too bad, so I'm curious to see if I'm able to in three years haha.

[emily0709]

Well.

If it's any consolation I had braces when I was 13 and I clearly remember spacers being the worst part. So you aren't alone.

I have braces again at 37 and I was elated when he said I didn't need spacers. I think everyone is different. Good luck!!

[ashleyy]

Well.

If it's any consolation I had braces when I was 13 and I clearly remember spacers being the worst part. So you aren't alone.

I have braces again at 37 and I was elated when he said I didn't need spacers. I think everyone is different. Good luck!!

omg you're so lucky you didn't need them the second time, haha.

[oldfart]

Spacers should be the absolute last thing you should be worried about.