Molar Buildups. For how long?

[Robot Teeth]

I think the worst part about having these braces (it's been 3 days) is the molar buildups. If you don't already know, they're these blue lumps of plastic on my first molars that prevent any of my back teeth from touching. They're there to prevent my top front teeth from knocking the brackets off my bottom front teeth, but they make it so I can only chew with the nub and the tooth above it. So since I normally chew with my back four teeth, but can only use one of them, it can be said that chewing is less than 25% as efficient as it should be. Translation: Eating is incredibly tedious and slow. And I've always been a really slow eater as it is. I've been forcing myself to endure chewing fish, chicken, an enchilada, and various other soft foods for these first few days, but if I were to get frustrated, I'd basically just need to start drinking protein shakes. I'm not going to lie, (and I hate to be a downer) but these molar buildups have taken a large amount of enjoyment out of eating. This is the main thing working against my natural enthusiasm for my braces. boo.

How long can I expect to have them? I know that the technical answer to this is as long as it takes for my teeth to create enough distance to accommodate the brackets. But I suppose I'm just asking the people that have had them how long they had to have them. (I should probably get off my butt and take some pictures soon!)

[drgnchsr36]

I felt the same way. They suck, I won't lie to you. But, I believe it's been about 2 months and I can eat somewhat normally. It seems like it takes ages though to get there. Also, at my last adjustment (8 weeks after I got them), I was able to get some of them ground down a little more. I still think the bite plate would have been a better option, but it'd be more tempting to take it out. I'm hoping to get them off by my next adjustment in late August - that would be 16 weeks.

I have noticed that I clench my teeth more with them, just wishing that I can grind them down... I'm not sure if that worked or not. But, it does get easier!

[Harriet]

I too think the molar build ups are the hardest bit to get used to. But try not to worry, after 4 weeks i'm quite used to mine now and seem to be able to eat most things now without too much trouble. I am aware though that my food isn't being chewed as thoroughly as it should be but i'm sure it won't cause any problems. I quite often have slimfast milkshake for breakfast or lunch becuase it requires much less effort than chewing!

[Rach44]

Four months in and I don't notice mine nearly as much anymore (it was like this after about two months, though). However, I did get to the point where I was just tearing my food into tiny pieces in order to have to chew as little as possible. Mine are so ground down now that they're only just a slight bump. I'm praying that they won't build them back up at my next adjustment since they're still doing what they should be. It'll probably take a lot less longer for yours to grind down since you're actually doing what you should be and taking the time to chew with them (not at all what I did lol). I think in a few weeks time you'll notice some pretty big changes with chewing. I'd be curious to know what the "average" time with these things is as well. While I don't really notice them, I still would love to have them off sooner than later. I hope chewing gets easier and less tedious for you soon!

[Robot Teeth]

I'm too stubborn to just resign to an all liquid diet. I like food too much!

I'm paranoid as it is about breaking a bracket, but with each day that I don't, I get a little more confident in their strength. So I'm hoping that if by the next time I go in, if they're not worn down enough, that I might just be able to have them taken off or ground way down. I get to break 3 brackets before they start charging me ($35), and I'd much rather pay that fee a few times than have to deal with 20% chewing efficiency for the next few months!

Even instant french onion soup has those little onion bits, and I don't like swallowing those whole!

[Marigold]

My ortho called them turbo tails. I had to wear mine for 4 months and hated every second of it. I couldn't chew properly and pretty much hated eating anything. However, even after he took them off, my bite is still too screwed up to chew properly. I wear elastic bands now for 12 hours a day. Don't mind the bands really, just wish I could chew food and enjoy it. I guess it's just something we have to endure.

[Robot Teeth]

Did you have the things on the back of your front teeth, or did you have the globs of plastic on your molars? The first ones are sometimes called "turbos" and the second ones are "molar build ups". They both accomplish the same thing and they both suck.

[Robot Teeth]

New question: How are molar build ups removed?

[Marigold]

They were the blue gobs on my back molars. I guess that's where the "tail" part comes in. I have never heard anyone else use this term except for my ortho. To remove them he just ground them down until they were gone.

[klobird]

Hey Robot--you're lucky!! If I even break one bracket, I have to pay $50. I almost had to do that on about my 4th day in braces--but they decided it was their fault for not getting me in sooner..and that they could fix it without too much trouble....

I can't remember if I mentioned it, but I might be getting bite turbos (on the back of my front teeth) on the 26th--and I am terrified!! It just depends on where my teeth are then...I am right on the edge of having to/not having to get them...and you better believe I will be b*tching about it if I do!!!! We can starve together!!!

[Ems12]

I have had my build ups for 4 months now and I loathe them!! My ortho said they can be taken off at anytime but that it would be "wise" to keep them in as long as possible. I have noticed that I am grinding them really badly in my sleep and it actually feels like the build ups have damaged my top teeth where they meet when I am grinding..... will point it out to the Ortho next week at my adjustment and see what he says. I can pretty much eat normally but I still find it hard to close my mouth properly when I chew

[LoveOrtho]

Hi Robot Teeth,

I had molar build-ups for exactly 2 months and to be honest I never noticed them. They didn't bother me at all, although chewing was a bit different. As for removing them, I had them on my 1rst molars (1 on each side) and he just used pliers and broke them off. (if that makes any sense). Sorta like taking a bracket off I guess, then he used his explorer to get the remaining little pieces off my teeth. I didn't think it hurt, but it was a bit uncomfortable. And the only thing that bothered me, was that I couldn't swallow because I had pieces of cement (or whatever you want to call it) in my mouth...

Hope that helped!

[Iam918]

At least yours are blue! Mine are pink . . .

I've had several people ask how I got the dentist to put in colored fillings.

They only bothered me for 2 or 3 weeks w/ closing my mouth & eating. They are still there, however they are ground down a good bit and don't bother me at all. I think the biggest annoyance of them was that they felt unnatural being between my teeth and I couldn't remove them to "fix" that feeling.

[drgnchsr36]

New question: How are molar build ups removed?

I think they just sand them down. That's my guess. I have no idea. Mine are white, so I hope they're careful to take the buildups off and not sand down my teeth.

[ArchWired28]

To be honest, I'd rather had these things put in, than wait for my bite to "open" enough to accomodate bottom brackets. I have no idea they exist and will ask why I was not a candidate for them on my next appt.