Does pain = progress?

[mominbraces]

I seem to have a slightly different problem on this score.
Apparently I am not in enough pain. I was under the
impression that teeth should feel tender right after
adjustments, perhaps for a day or so, and then one
might expect to just feel pressure, or intermittent
tenderness. At any rate, that is how it has been for me.

At my first adjustment, 2 weeks ago, the assistant
asked if I had been in pain during my first month in braces.
I did not consider the above description to be one of constant
or debilitating pain, so I said "no". (Remember, my ortho and
assistant are the folks who only want happy patients.) So
the assistant said "I guess that means you'll be one of those
patients whose teeth move very slowly". I modified my
answer and described to her what I said above, to which
she made no comment. Later, when I saw the ortho, I asked
if any progress was visible, and he said that I was the best
judge of that. In fact, there has been **some**
movement: there are small air gaps in places where
none existed, and I can tell that my "s" sounds different.

So what's the deal here? How do I know if I am
in "enough" pain, or making "reasonable" progress?
Is pressure and tenderness enough, or should
I be really hurting and needing to take Tylenol to get
through the day? In general I have a high pain
threshold (two drug-free births, and after my
gum grafts the periodontist was very suprised
that I needed fewer painkillers than he had
prescribed.) Should I suggest that the
ortho tighten up the wires on my teeth until
it really hurts? He is, unfortunately, one of those
guys that doesn't appreciate lots of questions, and
certainly not advice on his own treatment plan. But
I don't want to be in braces, insufficiently painlessly,
for a year -and then be told that I'm not progressing
enough.

[Ga_N8V]

To butcher an old proverb ... pain is in the teeth of the brace wearer.
Each person's pain tolerance is different -- sounds like yours is through
the roof if you went through two drug-free child births. For me, it's hit
and miss with the discomfort. I wouldn't call it "painful" ... more like
pressure and ache for a day or two after an adjustment.

As to requesting your Ortho tighten up until you feel more pain ... I think
that's a bad idea. Teeth need to be moved slowly. Move them too
quickly and they could shear off at the root and end up dying.

Come to think of it though, that might peg your pain meter

-Bill

[jennielee81]

I remember about a year ago that one of the docs even explained how the teeth move less when there's a lot of pain. Something about the ligaments being stuborn and not allowing the movement to take place easily.

My two laterals were KILLING me for about 2 weeks then once they stopped hurting BAM! They were moved into place without me noticing except in the mirror.

Slow and steady wins the race. AND No pain means NO PAIN...that's all...LUCKY YOU!!

[swellen]

So
the assistant said "I guess that means you'll be one of those
patients whose teeth move very slowly".

I had three days of pain in after my braces went on, then no pain at all for the entire time. None. (I had a constant headache at one point that I thought was braces-related but turned out to be the onset of chicken pox!) My teeth moved no slower than anyone who has lots of pain... in fact, they moved faster than expected. I think pain has little to do with movement, so ignore the assistant, enjoy the lack of pain and remember that your teeth will move when they move. Movement varies all the time and pain is no indicator. Just enjoy being able to eat properly!

[Flora2006]

I've never experienced pain...soreness yes, but never pain.

Also, the tooth that has moved the most, my canine in the crossbite position...I've never even had that tooth sore!! So yeah, pain doesn't necessarily mean movement.

That assistant should not have said that to you!!

[Leslie022]

I had a similar experiece as <b>jennielee81</b>. When I had a powerchain put on at my last adjustment. There was a good bit of initial movement and a tremendous level of pain. My teeth didn't move at all until the pain completely subsided and, at that point, the teeth moved lightening fast!

So, pain &#8800; progress!