Metal Mouth Message Board

What are the pros and cons of bite turbos, molar build-ups and bite plates for dealing with deep bites. Do orthos ever give you an option?

I have a bite plate that is not removeable along with top and bottom braces. My ortho didn't give me an option but I have heard turbos and build-ups break off a lot and are more tedious on the maintenance side of things if that makes sense. I also have heard of people getting removeable bite plates which sounds nice but I can tell you that even though I HATE my bite plate with a passion I am glad it's not removeable because I definitely would be removing it a LOT and it would probably increase my treatment time drastically, which I don't want. I think all the options for correcting a deep bite stink but it's just one of those things we have to go through I guess :/ Luckily it should only be for a short period of time. I was told the first 4 months I would have the bite plate and I am a month into that so I am counting down the last 3!! Good luck!

I have a deep bite and my uppers were hitting on the lower brackets so my Ortho gave me molar build ups. I don't mind them at all (but in comparison, mine arent as big/tall as some others I have seen on here), I can still eat etc... I think the main thing I have seen people complain about molar build ups is how they can interfere with chewing, but most get used tothem in time.

I think I would preferthe molar build ups to the bite turbos though... they look pretty annoying!

I have bite turbos. I can't comment on the others that you asked about. I would think that all of them are annoying. My bite turbos are of course glued on to the back of my front teeth. They definitely take some getting used to. It was really hard at first when your molars don't touch at all. My tongue also got really irritated because it was always resting against the turbos. I think I was able to start sort of chewing foods about 2 weeks in. I still have my turbos in now and have had them for 8 1/2 months. Someone above mentioned the turbos coming loose - unfortunately I haven't had that problem. They are glued pretty tight. I actually worry about when they remove them, that my front teeth may come out with them!

My ortho gave me the option of all 3. Although, she prefers to use the molar buildups. I was going towards the bite plate since it's removable. I heard that you get used to the molar buildups, but I'm just not sure about the eating part. I guess the bite plate would have it's drawbacks too, in regards to possibly eating and talking.

I'm still going towards the bite plate, but I have a feeling my ortho is going to pressure me to do the build ups.

She stated that the bite turbos are the best, but no one likes them -- so she mostly does the build ups.

I won't be getting this until my lower braces are on though.

I have molar build-ups and I don't mind them. They are definitely weird at first, but after a a couple of days, they were fine. I do have some trouble chewing fine things, such as thing spaghetti, or anything shredded, but have managed to eat most things. I also haven't had any trouble with them breaking off.

How do they fix the non-removable bite plate in? Is there a problem with cleaning?

The non-removeable bite plate is attached with metal wires to the top back molar bands. It's a little tricky to clean around and stuff gets stuck underneath it (roof of my mouth) sometimes but I can usually get it out swishing mouthwash under it. It's only in for 4 months and my ortho has assured me he's never had a problem with what "lurks underneath" upon removal, lol...so I am hoping for the best!

AmICrazy? Thanks for your response. I'm glad you're dealing with it succesfully and hope it all works out for you.

I have bite turbos cemented to the backs of my front teeth. The first few days were sheer hell. The tip of my tongue was raw, I talked with a horrible lisp and eating was really interesting at first because I couldn't chew with my back teeth. By the end of the second week, I got used to them, and by the third, I pretty much forgot they were there.

I'm coming up on 3 months with them now, and honestly, they haven't bothered me in quite a while. I'm also happy to say my ortho seems really happy with my progress with them. Apparently my back teeth are "erupting" well with them, somewhat faster than he expected. When the uppers and lowers touch with the turbos on, they get removed.

Thanks braceface2b. Do the bite turbos put extra stress on your lower incisors? It seems to me that the bite turbos would be the best method for allowing your teeth to erupt. My thoughts are that the molar build-ups are the quickest and cheapest, therefore the most cost efficient for the ortho. If the only purpose is to stop one from biting off the lower brackets, that seems the easiest way to do it.

They must put some stress on the lower incisors because one of mine actually shifted slightly, creating a gap. It was the one the bite turbo on the left top incisor touches.

I don't think it's a big deal though. I had an appointment Monday where they put a larger, square wire on bottom and a power chain. The gap closed the same day.

braceface2b: Are your turbos metal or composite?

Not Braceface2b, but mine are composite.

Not metal, but I don't believe they're composite either. They were preformed, not built up. I believe they're some sort of plastic or acrylic. They're white.