Can't wait for powerchains! Question...

[SmileyGirl]

Another topic discussing powerchains reminded me of a question I wanted to post...

About 3 1/2 weeks ago, I got an expander. I'm done turning now and that tooth is in line (only 14 turns, once a day for 14 days) and I'm happy about that.

At the same appointment, the ortho told his assistant, "Let's start closing that gap," or something like that. I was SO excited! I had had 3 extractions the week before and I had been ready for that gap on top to start closing before I even had the extractions. (The bottom teeth aren't braced yet so I know those gaps will be with me for a long while, and you can't really see them when I smile anyway.)

Instead of a powerchain, the ortho instructed the assistant to put on a powerband...he might have said "powerline," I can't remember now. I thought it was just another name for a powerchain that I wasn't familiar with.

It turned out that the assistant took what looked like a very flimsy broken rubber band and tied that to the brackets on either side of the gap. I don't know if it was just to get me used to some tension there or what, because it looked very weak. It was placed on the brackets and the archwire went over it.

I asked a friend of mine who used to work for a dentist and had braces through the ortho that her employer referred patients to. (At cost, such a deal!) She wasn't familiar with what I described and I haven't seen anything about it online here or elsewhere.

I was just wondering if anyone else had ever had what I've described here.

I can't wait for my powerchains!