Chewing with Molar Bands

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#1 Post by **Poobah** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 12:47 pm

Hello,
My apologies in advance if this question was asked in the past -- but I couldn't find it.

I had braces put on just a few days ago, and I have four molar bands (two upper, two lower). The problem is that I am finding it almost impossible to chew, because my top molars hit the metal on the bottom molar bands. It makes it so the rest of my teeth do not meet, and so I cannot chew well.

I am concerned that this is not how it is supposed to work. I tried to explain it to the assistant who put on my braces, but she said that it was probably just getting used to braces and that everything would be fine. I can't imagine how anyone could get used to this. Does anyone else have experience with this?

Thanks in advance...

#2 Post by **Poobah** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 1:14 pm

Meryaten wrote:Or is it that your two dental arches are different widths and what is happening is that the teeth are actually hitting the tube (the part the archwire is threaded through) that's attached to the band?

I think this describes what is happening, sort of. My top molars are coming down on the sides of the molar band (the tube/hook thingy). The molar bands don't seem to be above the surface of the tooth, but not much below the surface, just barely below it. The bands cover the sides of my teeth entirely. Does that sound right?

#3 Post by **cosmicgirl** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:22 pm

Hello Poobah!
Welcome to our club!
All I'm going to say is chewing WILL be difficult just now, whether it's teeth clunking into molar bands; teeth not meeting; sensitive teeth; wobbly teeth etc etc.
But within a few days you'll be back to normal - or at least nearly!
You'll be surprised how quickly your teeth start to move and that will cause some changes in your chewing habits. I had a helix fitted two months ago and can now chew on the right side of my mouth - for the first time ever!
So hang on in there - if the bands sit just below the tooth's biting surface then that's exactly where they should be. As Meryaten says, if it's bothering you then your ortho can certainly reassure you and make adjustments if necessary.
Keep us posted!

#4 Post by **kittymeow84** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 9:30 pm

Do you have a deep bite or is your molar class relationship (malocclusion?) off a bit?

Only asking cos I had the same too - the sticky-out bits on my molar bands would bump together while chewing. And often catch a bit of cheek between them! Ouch!

Seems 6 weeks on they don't do that any more so either my teeth have moved or I just don't notice any more.

If it hasn't stopped bothering you in a week or so then definitely call the ortho about it

But you're still getting used to the braces so I would give it some time first!

#5 Post by **Gennel** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 6:32 pm

I only have molar bands on my bottom molars but for the first few months this is what would happen: When I would try and bite down the top molar would hit the buccal hook of my bottom molar so I was not able to chew and my bite was really open.The only way I can describe it was like if I had tap shoes in my mouth! They tried removing the band and pushing it more down but this did not help and I ended up having to deal with it until my banded molars finally moved upright...

#6 Post by **Jex** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 11:22 am

I had that, too, and asked him to take a look at it. He buffed something down or whatever, to where my molars actually touch each other every once in a while!