Metal Mouth Message Board

I'm curious. Are your second molars tied into your braces? I got my top brackets last month, and mine aren't now, and they weren't when I had braces in high school. Back then all of my lower teeth were bracketed or banded, so I'll be curious to see what happens when I get my lower ones later this month.

My second molars are pretty much aligned with the first molars, and I wouldn't give this much thought, if not for the fact that they're not descended as far as the rest of my teeth. If I run a finger along the biting surface of my top teeth, when I go past the first molars, it's like my finger falls off a little couple millimeter tall cliff before it hits the second molars. (Hope that makes some kind of sense.)

Is having these teeth further up in my gums any type of a problem? Is this something I should ask about?

When I had them in elementary school I did not have any molar bands. However, it was my regular dentist who did my ortho so maybe that's why. Hoping I don't need them this time because I don't want these spacers I keep hearing about!

I only have my upper braces so far (lowers will be fitted in Feb), but I have all my molar bands fitted, even on the lowers. Only my 1st molars have bands, all my 2nd molars are totally free of any metal. Not sure why, because they are a little out of line too (not straight). I might ask about this soon, to see why they aren't being straightened like the rest of my teeth.

In certain situations bracketing the 2nd molars can compromise the final results of the case.
This is often the case in open bite cases.

Hey! My second molars are "naked" as well... I wasn't sure if they were going to put anything on later, or if they just stay put.

I didn't have anything on my 2nds till the 5 months. And my ortho explained that they can nver be perfectly aligned because the 1sts have five points instead of four. So they look off when they aren't. Also i got brackets on my 2nds instead of molar bands. Either way, they suck. The little hook on these brackets is really sharp, and when i open my mouth wide to yawn my cheek gets hooked. It actually really hurts.

Mine will all be banded. My 2nd lowers did not want to fit on bracing day but will try to go on in 2 weeks. Ortho assistant said my Ortho prefers they are all banded.

Mine are naked.

We do not always bond the 2nd molars at the beginning of treatment. They are usually aligned partway into the treatment if required. Also, when the lower 2nd molars are bonded and in line, the uppers often erupt in good alignment.

The biggest issue is the "vertical" displacement. If bonded/banded too gingivally, then the molars overerupt, and an open bite results. If put too close to the occlusal, they can be bitten off.

My second molars on the bottom were just banded. I got spacers right before Christmas and new molar bands just after new year. I was originally banded in January of 2010, so the second molars were done partially into treatment. The top second molars are still naked.

my second molars top and bottom are banded since I started treatment

all 4 bonded with tubes/hooks since day 1

Hi,

Mine are naked. I don't have bands on my firsts either, just a bracket.

ST

All my upper teeth have brackets on them. I really wish I could have had my last two teeth on both sides with no braces. Easier to clean - I noticed tonight, that's where a lot of food gets stuck. :/

drgnchsr36 wrote:All my upper teeth have brackets on them. I really wish I could have had my last two teeth on both sides with no braces. Easier to clean - I noticed tonight, that's where a lot of food gets stuck. :/

Ha! I know this sounds ridiculous, but I kinda wish my second molars had brackets for the same reason - brushing!

When I brush my teeth, the toothbrush always falls off the last bracket in the back (on my first molars) and I always seem to get it hung on them when I pull the brush back toward the front teeth. I'm always afraid I'm going to yank one of those brackets off. Seems like if the second molars were bracketed, that would be less likely.