Spacers question

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BeeHappy
Posts: 21
Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:14 am
Location: UK

Spacers question

#1 Post by BeeHappy »

I visited the ortho last week to have upper impressions made for my palate expander.

He temporarily fitted molar clamps before he took the impressions and then said he was going to fit elastics to the back teeth. I thought this sounded odd as I don't have braces fitted yet, so I asked if these would be spacers to provide a gap to refit the molar clamps on my next visit. They were, but when he fitted them they were actually lig elastics pushed between the teeth.

Is this normal?

Also only 3 were fitted as he couldn't get the 4th one in. Will this provide enough gap? :? :Questions: Help!!

BeeHappy
Posts: 21
Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:14 am
Location: UK

#2 Post by BeeHappy »

Thanks KK. Feel such a fool not knowing these things, but I guess this is the first time for me and everything is new.

This site is great. Learning about everything really takes away a lot of the fear.

:thumbsup:

RocknRollFun
Posts: 42
Joined: Fri Sep 14, 2007 12:50 pm
Location: Oklahoma

#3 Post by RocknRollFun »

i had 4 spacers for a week. one of them was barely in [had another lady place it in later that was MUCH better at the job] and another kept falling out... on my 2nd replacing of it, they kind of gave up and said not to worry if it fell out again but the lil' guy held until my brace day.

the side that was a hard fit never really had the spacers in properly but it opened up enough room for the metal band that went there. i could tell it was tight getting it on but it wasn't that big of a deal.

i was very... happy... to get the spacers removed. i have one that fell out taped to my monitor at work [now THAT isn't normal maybe]
"You're no rock n' roll fun! Like a party that's over before it begun. You're no walk in the park; more like a shot in the dark with clues left for no one."
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KathyC
Posts: 64
Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 9:23 am
Location: Ohio

#4 Post by KathyC »

I'm so nervous - I'm getting my spacers in today. In a way, I'm very happy to be starting this journey. Does anyone have any advice for me? Maybe words of encouragement?

RocknRollFun
Posts: 42
Joined: Fri Sep 14, 2007 12:50 pm
Location: Oklahoma

#5 Post by RocknRollFun »

KathyC wrote:I'm so nervous - I'm getting my spacers in today. In a way, I'm very happy to be starting this journey. Does anyone have any advice for me? Maybe words of encouragement?
how'd it go, KathyC?

I guess my best words of wisdom are that no matter what you have done, it doesn't take nearly as long as it feels like it is to adapt and get used to the "new you".
I've already noticed times where I forget I have braces at all! Even enough for some kissy-poo without worrying about the metal gettin' in the way :wink:
"You're no rock n' roll fun! Like a party that's over before it begun. You're no walk in the park; more like a shot in the dark with clues left for no one."
Image

Image

BeeHappy
Posts: 21
Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:14 am
Location: UK

#6 Post by BeeHappy »

Hope your appointment went ok.

I have had 3 (supposed to be 4) spacers in for 5 days. They are totally not a problem. Teeth just feel a bit tender when eating, but I have been trying to eat softer food for the first few days.

Once you get used to it, you just start to think - ok I coped with that, what's next!! :thumbsup:

I didn't know I was going to get them until the ortho put them in, so perhaps that was better as I didn't have time to worry about it, but because I had been on this site for a while reading posts, I knew what they were, so it was at lot less scary.

:-*

Let us know how you got on.

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