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Hello!
I am new to this board. I am finding all sorts of information!!
I just had my 4 bi-cuspids removed this last tuesday. Now I get the stiches taken out this tuesday. Yes I had to get stiches. This was not fun!!! I think worse than wisdom teeth!
Well now next saturday I go to get the spacers. Can anyone tell me what I should expect? Should I take some advil before I go???
I just can't wait to get these things on!! I am 27 soon to be 28... this should of been done YEARS ago!!!
Also I have the decision to make... Should I get clear braces on the top or go all silver???
tara:
Take so over the counter pain killers about a half hour before you go. Spacers are by far one if the worst parts of this experience. Once you clear that hurdle, the rest is a lot more pleasant.
Basically spacers are designed to open up space between your teeth so molar bands can be placed on the teeth. With that said, they will be the first thing you will have that will try to move your teeth and the teeth they'll move have the longest root.
The appointment will last about half an hour. The pain will last three days and then you'll wonder why they were so hard to deal with.
Good luck and enjoy the journey.
Mike
I wore braces (this time) for 1294 days or 3 years, 6 months and 17 days.
But who's counting?
Jaw Surgery June 1, 2009
Thanks for praying for me and thinking happy thoughts.
I had spacers on my top back teeth. For me, it took only about two minutes to have them put in.
For me they weren't painful, in the sense of sharp pain. The sensation is that of having something stuck in your teeth -- pretty annoying. I did develop a faint ache in my jaw by the last few days, but it wasn't too bad for me. Good luck!
For me the spacers (like the braces) were annoying! It always felt like some food was stuck in my teeth. I never had any severe pain unless of course I tried to eat something! So I avoided any kind of food that required chewing. I stuck to applesauce, yogurt, mac n cheese, rice and pudding. Those aren't my fav. foods to eat but enough to get me through. I would say the first day I was completely fine it was by the second and third day I really felt it. I just kept taking the pain reliever and the throbbing was gone. Truthfully it's not that bad but it's all a part of the process and if you can handle wisdom teeth and extractions, this should seem like nothing! Good luck!
Sentenced: 20-24 months
Braced May 11, 2007
Debraced Feb. 23, 2009
21 months in braces, 17 months in elastic, NO regrets!! Now in Hawley retainers!!
In my experience spacers are nothing compared to extractions!!
If you've had extractions and stitches then spacers won't be a problem.
Personally I would only take pain killer if and when u get any pain, this way u get used to the spacers quicker if u only take the pain killers if it is absolutly necesary.
Pain killers work better if you take them BEFORE you get pain. I'd strongly recommend taking Advil (ibuprofen) 1/2 hr or so before you get the spacers put in, and as often as you feel you need them in the ensuing few days (following dosage guidelines of course). No point being a martyr unnecessarily.
For me, days 2 and 3 of spacers were the worst and after that it got a bit better. By the second week I didn't really notice them much.
Congratulations on your decision to get braces, Tara.
My teeth are so far jammed together, that the act of putting the spacers in hurt a lot. They snapped in against my gums. The pressure against the teeth at first wasn't much of a problem- the real pain came hours later (for me, the next morning at 5am). I woke up with a jolt, and that day I could not eat much other than mac and cheese and apple sauce. I personally don't like meds unless I can't possibly stand it (4 wisdom teeth extractions at once- Tylenols 3's. Childbirth- nothing). I didn't take anything for the pain of spacers, but I do suggest arming yourself with your drug of choice nonetheless. And yes, the pain was pretty much only one day. 24 hours of pain, for a beautiful, healthy smile- worth it!
