It's going to take forever just to get the braces on!

Message

#1 Post by **Pebs** » Fri May 22, 2009 11:26 am

I was not prepared for an extended and challenging lead up to having braces put on. My orthodontist plans to use 8 bands on my molars so he put in 8 blue spacers. That was a real challenge as my teeth are so tightly together. The blue spacers stayed in for just over 2 weeks and when I returned, he could only fit 3 of the bands (not enough space created for the rest). So, he then put metal spacers between my teeth. These will stay in for about a week and a half when he'll take out the metal spacers and put the blue spacers in again. I'm not sure how long they will need to stay in before he'll try to fit the rest of the bands. Only after all that is accomplished will he place brackets on the rest of my teeth.

So, the metal spacers make it impossible for my molars to meet; I keep hitting the spacers. When I hit the metal spacers, it drives them into my gums. *ouch* My orthodontist did comment that I "wasn't going to like" the metal spacers. He wasn't kidding! I can't eat anything that requires chewing.

I only have 3 bands on my teeth right now and I have wax gobbed on the outside of each to protect my cheeks. However, my tongue is getting sore from rubbing against the inside of the bands.

I thought I knew that getting braces would be challenging but I had no idea! Everyone's mantra seems to be that it will get better. I'm clinging to that concept because otherwise I'm thinking I can live with my crooked teeth!

Pebs

#2 Post by **lav1** » Fri May 22, 2009 12:04 pm

I have to say that after reading this I felt very sorry for you! Metal spacers! I think that you are going to enjoy braces alot more, well maybe after the first few weeks! After the inital soreness the most annoying this about braces for me is the full mouth. I have a bit of trouble closing my mouth, well I do have 32 teeth

Good luck to you and I hope that the next 10 days goes quickly. I was just wondering why 8 molar bands? Is your mouth a difficult case?

#3 Post by **I love my teeth** » Fri May 22, 2009 12:21 pm

Oh Pebs, I hear ya!!!! After putting it off for 15years, I finally decided in Dec 2008 to get the braces/jaw surgery..........so I went in in Feb for records, ect I expected to have the braces on in March. Ortho said he wanted a perio consult to make sure gums were good first. Being, I have really no gum issues, I figured, 1 visit, no problem. Well, I was wrong, My lower 6-8 teeth had "thin gums" and perio recommended gum grafting as braces are really hard on your gums, so I agreed...........on March 27 I had the first one done, he wanted to do it in 3 surgeries 3 weeks apart each.......after the first, I said NO WAY, and he did it in 2.......so from March 27 to end of April I had these surgeries, then I had the awful spacers for 1 week, finally after 15long years of waiting, and putting it off, on May 14th I finally got the braces..........so it's about 3-4months later than I really wanted.........be patient, it will happen.........and yes, the spacers were by far worse than the braces themselves!! Good luck

#4 Post by **tazzle** » Fri May 22, 2009 12:28 pm

youch you do have my sympathy \pebs ... that is a lot of spacers

,

but yes, believe the mantra this is the worst part for most folk and it WILL get better . Your mouth will get used to those bands and wires hard though it seems to feel it at the beginning. Personally when i get periods of pain / discomfort I just have to remind myself of the consequences of NOT going through wiht it all ...... and remind myself that the bl9ips are just that ..... temporary hitches.

and of course you will alswasy find folk to vent at in here

#5 Post by **LITTLEMA** » Fri May 22, 2009 12:50 pm

Wow. You have my sympathy.

I had to have 10 spacers in my mouth, it would've been 12 if it wasn't for my upper two extractions.

I have 8 metal bands as well, not sure why.

I'm still in the beginning process, I just got my braces on Monday. So i'm still feeling the pain. But slowly i'm trying to pull through.

I hope it only gets better from here for you... =]

x0x0LITTLEMA

#6 Post by **Pebs** » Fri May 22, 2009 2:39 pm

Thanks. I appreciate all the sympathy and support. I'm getting so many molar bands because of two reasons: lots of crowns (orthodontist says brackets don't glue as well on crowns) and the need for lots of control/movement of the molars (primarily to fix a crossbite).

I'm not having any extractions or surgery, so I really need to count my blessings.

Pebs

#7 Post by **blindboarder2008** » Fri May 22, 2009 7:45 pm

That is awesome that you don't have to have any surgery or extractions!!! Sorry to hear about the spacers though. I haven't had spacers myself and I'm kinda glad I haven't had them cause I've read so many posts on hear about the dreaded spacers! Hang in there though, once you get the braces on it should be better from there on in!!! Take care of yourself while you have the spacers and if you really need a pain killer then by all means have one!

best of luck and hope the next ten days go by fast for you:D, were always here if you need to vent:d

#8 Post by **Takako** » Sat May 23, 2009 3:17 pm

Oh the pain of spacers XD I'm so glad I didn't need metal spacers, but I did need to have 8 plastic spacers, first for 2 weeks and then a second time for 1 week X( ick! Actual braces are a lot better.

#9 Post by **jjjmac** » Sat May 23, 2009 4:20 pm

I had to have metal spacers and 8 molar bands as well. That was months ago now, but I still remember the pain! Yes, it WILL get better. That week with the spacers, and my first week with the TPA, were my worst weeks by far and Im about 7-8 months in by now. Maybe it's a good thing that the worst comes first - then the regular adjustments seem like a piece of cake. I also had to wait several months to get the braces on.... hang in there!

#10 Post by **Pebs** » Sat May 30, 2009 4:10 pm

A brief update: one of the metal spacers fell out over the holiday weekend and it was such a relief. I was actually able to chew on that side again. When I was able to call the ortho and go in, he replaced the metal spacers with the blue ones. Oh, I am so much more comfortable. Thanks again for all the support. I'm sure I'll be needing more of it in the future.

Pebs