First Adjustment Today
Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 10:19 am
I had my first adjustment today. They put in heavier wire on top and bottom. Boy did it hurt to have the brackets opened! But, making progress.
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First Adjustment Today
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Re: First Adjustment Today
Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 11:24 am
Oh! Didn't occur to me that the brackets have to be opened! Does it happen during every adjustment or just when a thick wire replaces a thinner wire? I'm having my first adjustment next Tuesday. Hope you're feeling better now!!!
Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 11:42 am
hazel-
If you have self-ligating brackets (the kind that have doors, and don't require the elastic o-rings around them) then yes, they have to be opened in order to remove and replace the wires. For the most part, it doesn't hurt a bit; just a bit of pressure on your teeth. However, if you have a tooth that's particularly sensitive, you may feel it a bit more. It helps if the orthodontist (or assistant) puts a finger on the back of the tooth they're working on to brace it a bit.
If your brackets are like mine, with the rubber bands on them, they'll just remove the rubber bands, replace the wire, and put new bands on them. Actually, I can feel the rubber band removal a LOT more than the bracket doors opening (I have self-ligating metal on the bottom, so those have doors).
Nothing to worry about at all.
-Cathy
If you have self-ligating brackets (the kind that have doors, and don't require the elastic o-rings around them) then yes, they have to be opened in order to remove and replace the wires. For the most part, it doesn't hurt a bit; just a bit of pressure on your teeth. However, if you have a tooth that's particularly sensitive, you may feel it a bit more. It helps if the orthodontist (or assistant) puts a finger on the back of the tooth they're working on to brace it a bit.
If your brackets are like mine, with the rubber bands on them, they'll just remove the rubber bands, replace the wire, and put new bands on them. Actually, I can feel the rubber band removal a LOT more than the bracket doors opening (I have self-ligating metal on the bottom, so those have doors).
Nothing to worry about at all.
-Cathy
Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 12:59 pm
Congrats on your first adjustment!
Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 1:24 pm
Hi Cathygirl! No I don't have self ligating brackets.....I didn't realise 38illinois might have them...so I thought it would be a bit akward to have my type of brackets opened!! Thanks! 
Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 3:59 pm
Congratulations on the progress!!
I have my first adjustment on Monday, and I'm scared. I have been a bit sore here and there for the last 6 weeks, but for 3 days I have a couple of teeth SCREAMING at me. I'm sure they'll still be sore on Monday, and the thought of having them touched makes me want to cry.
It's all necessary, and I can handle it, but vicodin may be involved, and my husband may have to drive. 
I have my first adjustment on Monday, and I'm scared. I have been a bit sore here and there for the last 6 weeks, but for 3 days I have a couple of teeth SCREAMING at me. I'm sure they'll still be sore on Monday, and the thought of having them touched makes me want to cry.
It's all necessary, and I can handle it, but vicodin may be involved, and my husband may have to drive. Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 4:01 pm
Thanks for letting us all know. I am getting nervous all over again at going back to the orthodontist. I feel they are always pulling something out of left field to me that ends up hurting. My first adjustment is next week.
Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 4:38 pm
Catgyrl gave good advice about having the hold the tooth while opening the bracket. But, I totally disagree about it NOT hurting. My teeth have been sensitive this whole time and it hurt. I took some painkiller before hand and asked them to be gentle. With that said, it is not the worst pain.
Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 4:45 pm
SonyaM-
Please don't be so scared of your adjustment appointment. Adjustments really are nothing, especially in the beginning. The wire changes and/or lig changes don't hurt, and the visits are really fast. When I got my first change to a heavier wire, I was told "You're gonna have FUN tonight!!" Which, I didn't think, was in very good taste. But aside from popping a few ibuprofens, I didn't have to do anything else, and the soreness only lasted that evening. You can definitely drive on your own.
You may want to alert the orthodontist and/or the assistant of which teeth are more sore than others, so they can be a bit gentler with those. When I changed out my brackets and he was sanding off the old bonding, he told me to let him know if any teeth were particularly sensitive. I got through about 5 teeth before he hit the sore one, and my butt almost flew out of the chair. But he was as gentle as he possibly could be.
Keep smiling!!
-Cathy
Please don't be so scared of your adjustment appointment. Adjustments really are nothing, especially in the beginning. The wire changes and/or lig changes don't hurt, and the visits are really fast. When I got my first change to a heavier wire, I was told "You're gonna have FUN tonight!!" Which, I didn't think, was in very good taste. But aside from popping a few ibuprofens, I didn't have to do anything else, and the soreness only lasted that evening. You can definitely drive on your own.
You may want to alert the orthodontist and/or the assistant of which teeth are more sore than others, so they can be a bit gentler with those. When I changed out my brackets and he was sanding off the old bonding, he told me to let him know if any teeth were particularly sensitive. I got through about 5 teeth before he hit the sore one, and my butt almost flew out of the chair. But he was as gentle as he possibly could be.
Keep smiling!!
-Cathy