had a "Kim" wire with your elastics?

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#1 Post by **Chicagogal** » Thu May 26, 2011 7:55 am

I tried to search for this term, but it was a bit tough with the people named Kim:)

I have this wire on the bottom right now and just did the molds for the top one. Yowch! It has been the most painful part of braces (besides bone plate surgery) to date, they feel like razor blade hooks! I can handle the bottom because they don't show, but I'm worried about the top. This is the first time I've used wax in my 9+ months with braces.

Anyone else have these with elastics? supposedly they move things faster than single tooth wire hooks.

#2 Post by **Chicagogal** » Thu May 26, 2011 8:07 am

I've also heard this called "multiloop" trying to find pictures.

#3 Post by **Rubi** » Sat May 28, 2011 9:49 am

Wow, no never heard of it, and my name is Kim. Sounds crappy though. Good luck.

#4 Post by **Chicagogal** » Tue May 31, 2011 8:29 am

Haha, thanks Kim!

i finally was able to hunt down the more common name. Multi-loop Edgewise Archwire, commonly referred to as MEAW, invented by a "Dr. Kim." I could only find one other person on here from a few years ago who was also treated with this. Seems common in asia, odd, I thought my ortho was old school american technique. Hope it works regardless of the pain!

picture of the terrible device: http://www.csorthodontics.com/types.asp

#5 Post by **ashesgap** » Tue May 31, 2011 9:08 am

Wow. That looks like some kind of torture device the evil guy in

The Dentist

would use. But I see how it would work really well. So hopefully you don't have to deal with it too long.
Good Luck

#6 Post by **catgyrl** » Tue May 31, 2011 10:32 am

I found another link with a front-view of it:

http://www.affordablebraces.com/meaw.php

I must admit... that kinda freaked me out when I first saw it.

This article even says it's a "comfortable" method.

Then I thought about it more, and figured I'd much rather get this contraption than have jaw surgery. The results look fantastic!

Good luck to you, and like ashesgap said, I hope you won't have to wear them for too long.

#7 Post by **kreyFL** » Tue May 31, 2011 10:38 am

I had posted another thread as my ortho decided I need these too. I looked and looked and could not find anything on them online. The ortho had shown me pictures on my first visit (talk about wanting to run out of the office and say "screw you braces!" LOL

Well, ortho just confirmed I will need them. I have an open bite. My right side is good, but my left side bite is all crooked and "droopy".

I dont have much info in terms of how long I will need to wear them, but I go back on Thursday and will get more info. He said next adjustment I will get them, so about 7 weeks from this Thursday I suppose.

I am surprised that it is so uncommon though. I have a younger ortho who is all about using the latest and greatest so I believe him and his approach but am a little frustrated that this is part of my treatment plan.

I am all pouty today though because they are just horrible looking and I am dreading it! Hopefully we only have to wear them for a couple months.

So, I see rubberbands are used with them? Eh, wonderful!

#8 Post by **catgyrl** » Tue May 31, 2011 10:43 am

kreyFL-

I'm not gonna lie to you - rubber bands/elastics aren't the most fun things in the world. But I'm telling you - you do get used to them, and they work WONDERS!! I've worn them in a couple of different configurations since January, and my bite and overjet have improved tremendously.

I wish you luck on your new wires. Stock up on the wax!

-Cathy

#9 Post by **kreyFL** » Tue May 31, 2011 10:51 am

Thanks Cathy!

The poutiness is always short lived anyway. I was miserable when I first had my braces put on and then felt fine a week later. I know I will get used to them, and the loop wires are better than the alternative.

Today at the ortho when he confirmed to me that I would need them...I just kinda stared at him. He says "Look, your teeth are going to be straight and thats great, but what you have in your mouth now WILL NOT fix your bite..."

....I know, I know.

I will be sure to post some pics before and after of my loop wires just so we can start getting some more info on this board about them. The right side of mouth closes so perfectly that I really think it will all move pretty fast!

However, I am so relieved that I am not the only one. Thanks so much!

#10 Post by **Chicagogal** » Tue May 31, 2011 10:53 am

yeah, the word "comfort" in there seemes like a cruel joke, unless you compare it to surgery and jaws wired shut (in that case I guess I'll take it!!) they've been around a long time apparently, weird that it still seems uncommon considering all the open bites.

Not sure why it's soooo much better than just having elastics the way I do now with the little wire ties used on each tooth, but here's hoping it's faster!! so much for the low profile ceramics, these babies are getting noticed! ha.

#11 Post by **kreyFL** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 7:53 am

Chicagogal...LOL you made me laugh. That whole "these babies are definitely gonna get noticed"....

There is absolutely no way to hide these things. I am feeling all insecure and overwhelmed about the stupid Kim Wires.....similar to how I was feeling right before I got braced initially....I hate this feeling.

Nonetheless, Chicagogal you are my new best friend on here...as you will be the only one that will really understand what its like and vice versa!

Chicagogal - When are you getting the uppers on, and did your ortho give you any timeframe? Is your bite still open, if so...is it all the way across or just one side?

What little info I have found online seems to set a timeframe of 3-5 months, so thats good!

#12 Post by **Chicagogal** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 10:36 am

thanks krey!! that's the first i've seen of a timeline, I'll be very thankful if I'm on the 3-5 month timeline with these. If I keep thinking that, maybe I can suck it up and say it's worth it. The bottom loop wire is driving me crazy so I know the top will be worse. Everything gets stick. but, WE CAN DO IT!!

my bite isn't super open anymore after bone plates (used for leveling) and 7 weeks of elastics. my main issue now is the rest of the open bite and underbite.
as of march (3 months of bone plates)

7 months of braces 3-28-11.JPG

elastics since then (which have just jacked up my bite):

teeth as of 6-1-11.jpg

#13 Post by **kreyFL** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 1:19 pm

WOW! Your teeth look AWESOME! Under bite AND open bite? That is a lot of movement in only 2 months!

I read some of your posts and holy crap, you are one tough cookie! I'm ashamed of my complaining, lol

I have no idea when I will get elastics...but I do know that my ortho hasnt said anything about them yet, only the Kim Wires. I hope I dont get ambushed with both in one visit. He wouldnt do that........or would he?

LOL

I just had my lowers put on in April and am getting the Kim Wires supposedly in July. My open bite is minimal. It looks drastic to me from a front view now that everything else is straight...because it looks so crooked and droopy, its weird.

I am going to bombard my ortho with questions about the Kim Wires tomorrow, I'll just ambush him. I want to know how long I have to wear them and a whole slew of other things. I wont back down, I will get a definitive answer on SOMETHING for once! Haha.

Pic from 6-1-11

#14 Post by **Chicagogal** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 2:29 pm

NICE! you're well on your way krey!! thanks for the compliment, it's so funny how hard we can be on our smiles if we don't see them as perfect. I can see progress now, but I still feel like a mess.

and yeah baby, those kim wires should come with elastics on day 1! I know it sounds cruel but the sooner the better, no use in having that kind of heavy metal unless it's working as hard as it can for you!
(if it makes you feel any better i'm getting the top kim wire, elastics and having bone plate removal surgery all in one week 6/24

ha, my theory is that the MEAW pain will be less compared to holes in my jaw and stitches, we'll see!)

#15 Post by **kreyFL** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 7:24 am

Chicagogal....you are so damn optimistic! LOL
I am really shocked at how much those molars on your upper left moved in, that is a drastic change!

So I got TONS of new info on the MEAW/KIM Wires yesterday at my appt.

I told my ortho I am on this board and I start talking about KIM Wires and whatnot...he demands to know how I know these terms, and where on earth did I hear "KIM" wires. So, I told him all about you Chicagogal!

He said it is an uncommon approach and a lot of orthos would just rather send us off to get jaw surgery than deal with the Kim Wires as it is "kind of a specialty". He really wants to know if your ortho is his buddy in Chicago, says his best friend has a practice in southern Chicago and they were trained in MEAW together. (Dr. Drake or something like that) I told him I would bring it up, could be a small world....

So, he said a few things:

-I will get the KIM/MEAW wires in 3 months (with elastics- first week of September)
-I will wear them for the remainder of my treatment (So I immediately got excited to ask "how long will I be wearing them?" so I will get an idea of how much time I have left)
-I will wear them for 10 months (YAY THAT MEANS IM GETTING DEBRACED IN JULY 2012!!!)

And...thats about all I could get out of him. Was rather proud of myself for getting something definitive like "10 months" out of the guy!

I do have to get my front left tooth rebonded or something though...

If everything goes according to plan, I have 13 months left in these babies. I was originally told 18-24 months treatment and this puts me at 20 months. Cant complain

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