Metal Mouth Message Board

I've got headgear tubes on the #6 teeth on each side from the front. There are no plans for headgear that I know of - in fact when my ortho at final consult was going through the little slideshow that shows different things about orthodontics he just skipped through headgear and said I wouldn't have to worry about that. So I'm wondering why I have to endure these gigantic annoyances, if I'm not going to be using them? Is there something else they are used for? I think the one on my left side has cement on the inside of it too, because I can't fit a toothbrush bristle through it.

As far as im aware the molar bands dont come without the buccal tubes. I have them on all of my bands, even on the bottom where there will be no appliances. To be honest i dont really find them that much of a pain.

I have them too on all my bands, and there is no mention of any headgear for me either..... so it must just be a "standard" on all molar bands. They are rubbing a little bit now on my tongue, but other than that, they don't really bother me. Good luck with your treatment!

well I have 3 molar bands on each side, and only 1 on each side has a tube.. which is why I wonder.

The 2 molar bands that I have on the top have buccal tubes with little hooks above them and the bottom bands just have hooks for elastics but no tubes. I'm not sure why, but I did read somewhere that it is easier for the ortho to just use the same bands for different uses . The tubes can be annoying at first due to rubbing, but your cheeks will toughen and get used to them. Just rinse often with salt water it really does help.
Good luck!

I have two different types of molar bands on my teeth, and one type doesn't have the tubes, (these are installed on my back molars). The ones in front DO have the tubes, but I have been told that they won't be used throughout my treatment.

As for cleaning them, I use a fine TeePee interdental brush to clean the tubes out. A friend of mine who had braces when he was younger, told me that if you don't clean the tubes with 'something' you can end up with a build-up of tartar in the tubes, which is a pain to get cleared. It sounds drastic but when he experienced this, he said he had to spend 20 minutes with a bent paper clip to clear out the tubes.

Interdental brushes are definitely your best bet. If you can get hold of TeePee wherever you are, go for the blue ones, (x-fine). They seem to fit the tubes perfectly.

If they really bug you, you can ask to have the tube parts removed. It's kind of a hassle with lots of clipping and sanding of metal, but it's an option.

I have molar bands on all molars and I don't have any headgear tubes, weird. I do, however, have more hooks and curly Q looking wires on them than I would like to have, those tend to hurt a little.