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My name is Amber and Im new here so sorry if I break any board rule
I got spacers but in Thursday (4 on top around molars, 4 on bottom around molars) and they are hurting me so bad its like a throbbing pain and I cant eat anything. Im going to get my braces put on monday (thank God im only have 4 days with these darn spacers) and i have an estimated treatment time of only 18-22 months. So in your guys opinion which hurt worse...that spacers or the braces? Thanks guys!
I didnt have much pain with the spacers ( they were just annoying) but I also dont havent had much pain with braces ( I guess I am lucky! Knock on wood!) The first week with braces was the worse for me ( rubbing of brackets on my lips and cheeks, trying to eat... etc) but within a week I was good to go.
Make sure to have Advil Liquid Gels on hand( recommended by my ortho as they work faster) and lots of wax. Good Luck monday!
Yeah, spacers hurt much worse than the braces. A lot of time there is no pain from the braces that I wonder if they are even working. Another thing with the braces is that only one or two teeth are uncomfortable at any one time. Take some Motrin and hang in there, it gets better.
3M Clarity up front, rest metal--20 Jan 2006
Debraced 20 Apr 2007, 15 months total in Braces
I will also back up that spacers hurt me a hell of a lot more than the braces have so far. I was in the same thinking as you, that if the spacers were giving me that much pain then the braces must be ten times worse. I have only had a little bit of pain with the braces. I haven't even taken any pain killers while I have had the braces. When I had the spacers put in I was taking the Tylenol 3 with codeine that the dentist gave me after my extractions. I have heard that the first adjustment is painful...I have mine in one months time. Good luck with your braces!
The spacers are the worst, unless you get sharp cleats on your molar bands (when the braces go on). But the ortho assistants can usually flatten the cleats or use other methods (ligs, cement, etc.) so it won't hurt after awhile. But not everybody gets these anyway, so I wouldn't worry... just take things a day at a time.
Hang in there, if you can get through the spacers part, I reckon you'll find everything else is downhill!! Good luck, Amber!
-- Lin | Braced on 1/31/06 | 5 extractions + Canine Exposed 4/19/06
Oh Yeah....spacers are the worst. They are/were truly painful for me, by day two all I wanted to do was rip them out. I alternated taking 2 advil with 2 tylenol every 4 hours for a couple of days and that made a big difference!
The braces were a piece of cake, uncomfortable, but not like the spacers. Also Advil and Tylenol helps a lot with the initial discomfort from the braces. As long as I was taking it for the first couple of days I was pretty good. The worst part was just my mouth getting used to the brackets. Warm salt water rinses help a lot too!
I have to go back in on Tuesday and get three put back in for 5 days so I feel your pain!
Good luck, Amber!
