Spacers...day 2

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#1 Post by **tryinthis2** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:51 am

They said I have to keep mine on for 3 weeks. This seems excessive from what I've read is the "norm" to be around 7-10 days. These things are awful. lol It's hard to eat cuz they stick up from my teeth & I have them on l/r on top and bottom so they hit together before my teeth do when I eat. Then they're painful because I am pushing them "in" to chew.

Any suggestions on how to make the next 3 weeks go easier?

I'm on day 2. lol

#2 Post by ***melissa*** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:07 pm

That sounds really weird. I got spacers a couple days ago and only have to wear them for 7 days. They stick up you say? Weeird. They are supposed to be pushed all the way down! Can you take some pics?
Maybe you need to go back and have them push them down all the way?

#3 Post by **OneTime** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:25 pm

Pain killers!!!!

I had mine on for 14 days and it was unpleasant...

#4 Post by **tryinthis2** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:26 pm

well when I bite down they put TONS of pressure on my teeth even if I bite down slightly...they arent all the way down in between the teeth..they stick out on top slightly so when I bite I hit them before my teeth touch. Needless to say I'm going to lose some weight. haha

Do yours make your other teeth move in the front? Mine feel like they're moving a bit.

I'll try to take a pic shortly.

Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:53 pm

i dont think the front teeth move alot, but it feels like pressure on them
i had spacers in for a couple weeks, after the first week it was easier
but they didnt stick all the way up, they showed slightly from the top but didnt obstruct my chewing (other than the pain)
after a week one was really annoying me and i was flossing an accidentally flossed where the spacer was
food was getting trapped under the spacer so i started flossing between the tooth and the spacer and under the spacer without flossing the spacer out of course
that helped me
but dont try that now

#6 Post by **soccerallison21** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:01 pm

Spacers are evil torture devices lol.

#7 Post by **SunnyO** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:20 pm

I agree with soccerallison - spacers are evil torture devices. I had them for 10 days (4 top and 4 bottom) and my teeth are so tight they still could not get the bands on my last molars. So they left them in and because they stuck up like tryinthis2 said, I kept chewing through them, so finally they put metal spacers in. I find them less bothersome. I wonder if they work as well?

If you're on day 2 the pain is probably pretty bad, but it gets better. Take some drugs

#8 Post by **msaeger** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 4:26 pm

Mine stuck up too. I had them for a week and was more worried about them falling out than anything. I wanted to get going and not waste an appointment getting them put back in. I think they could have put the bands on without them anyway.

#9 Post by **badbite** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:24 pm

Mine stuck up, and I had 8 of them for three weeks to get my expander. I have very tight teeth. The are evil and they hurt me the entire time! It does get somewhat better after a few days though. Hang in there.

#10 Post by **michelle005** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:19 pm

I've had my spacers in for almost a month now. Once I get them out this Tuesday it will be four weeks exactly. I'm getting appliances that had to be created so that's why it's been so long. The first two weeks was to get my teeth apart to fit the molar bands and take the impressions that would be used to make my appliances, and making them takes another two weeks.

Mine are rubber and they, too, stick out a little tiny bit. Not enough to obstruct eating. No...the molar build ups do a good enough job of that.

One of mine popped out yesterday though. I went in today to get it replaced and an hour later I ended up eating the replacement one along with my lunch. Whoops! The assistant said it was fine though since my appointment is so close and my space is sufficient so I should be good.

Anyway, I don't think I felt the same kind of pain as most others since it wasn't really focused just on the molars. I had full mouth pain since I was braced the same day they were put in.

All I can recommend is ibuprofen! It helped me get through the first few days. It will get better...I barely notice them now. Good luck!

#11 Post by **ReneG** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:24 pm

Mine also stuck up and I chewed down on them for jaw exercise. They ached like !@#@%$#@$ but fortunately I only had them for a week. Take painkillers if you need them.

Yes, they do move and loosen your teeth or how else would they make the space for the bands to fit?

Sorry, it's the beginning of the discomfort

#12 Post by **tryinthis2** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 1:03 pm

If I had to have them in for a month I'd be freaking out!!! That's a long time!

So I guess it gets easier after the teeth stop rebelling and move like they're supposed to.

I called the orthodontist this morn to see if they could hopefully get me in sooner than May 12 to get my braces put on. They said they were booked until my appt........THAT is why I have to wear them so long. Sill me....I thought it was because I needed it. aye! So I told her to call me anytime if they have a cancellation in either office and I can accomodate. Fingers crossed. I'm ready to get these puppies outta my mouth!!!!!!!

LOVE the evil torture device idea. that one made me laugh!!!

So they should make mouth spacers as weight loss devices!!!!!!

So I was wondering...........who came up with the idea of these spacers anyhow? And the test participants must have been looney to keep them in to see if it moved teeth. lol

#13 Post by **peach** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 6:52 am

I had my spacers in for 4 weeks. I've had a combination of metal and rubber ones. They definitely feel uncomfortable the first week you have them in but it does get better when the teeth start moving apart. I definitely took some Advil to help out. You might also want to consider getting a Waterpik. It's been a big help since I got my braces. You can flush out all the food that may get stuck around your spacers and your braces. Best of luck

#14 Post by **jfcortez83** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 7:16 am

I had spacers in for one week and every day was better than the day before

On the day day before they were to be removed i ate a cheeseburger (cut up into bite size pieces). I too had them sticking out and was scared to death that I would lose them, therefore having to wait another week to get braces on

But don't worry in couple of days u will be fine! I was

#15 Post by **tortor** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 4:50 pm

I had spaces in for 2 weeks, and let me tell you, every day of it was hell!

My ortho's assistant told me I would only feel soreness in my teeth for 2 to 3 days, but I felt the pain for almost every day of the 2 weeks. I was so paranoid that they were going to fall out, it drove me crazy.

One did manage to slip out, and I had to drive an hour to my ortho's office to have it replaced. but i have to admit, they were a pretty blue and not so bad compared to the 8 metal bands I have now.