Metal Mouth Message Board

I had an adjustment yesterday and my Ortho put me in elastics again (not cross bite elastics like before). I have to connect them to from my lower 2nd molar to my upper lateral incisor (same on both sides). At first I thought this configuration might be to pull the upper teeth back when a patient has an overjet, but I notice that people tend to have the elastics attached to the upper canine teeth and not the lateral incisors. I do have an overjet now that my upper teeth have straightened out, so I thought maybe that's what they are for. When I looked in the mirror when I got home, I saw that my Ortho made little hook type things out of the wire ties (on lateral incisors) to connect the elastic to the lateral incisors because they don't have the hooks that the brackets on my canines, premolars and molars do. I didn't think to ask my Ortho at my appointment yesterday! wish I had now because I am confused and curious .

Anyone else had this configuration? I'm going to have to be patient and wait to ask what they are for at my next appointment in 5 weeks.

I just got adjusted today. I get two sets of elastics. Upper lateral to lower 2nd premolar. As well as upper canine to lower first molar.
They also made hooks out of the wire for my laterals too.

So it sounds like we have similar set ups. (And I'm hurting right now--they bumped up the strength of the elastics too)

Have you got 4 elastics in your mouth at one time then cheerrabbit? I just have the two (meant to have 3) and they are the ultra/heavy ones and were really painful for the first 2 or 3 days, now on day 4 I barely notice any discomfort. But I will say it's a nightmare trying to get them on the hooks on the lower 2nd molars .

I am really curious to see what my Ortho is trying to achieve by this elastic configuration! I'll definitely ask him at my next appointment.

[quote="Chrystal"]Have you got 4 elastics in your mouth at one time then cheerrabbit? I just have the two (meant to have 3) and they are the ultra/heavy ones and were really painful for the first 2 or 3 days, now on day 4 I barely notice any discomfort. But I will say it's a nightmare trying to get them on the hooks on the lower 2nd molars :shock:.

I am really curious to see what my Ortho is trying to achieve by this elastic configuration! I'll definitely ask him at my next appointment.[/quote]

Yup, I have four elastics, two on each side. I had my appointment on Thursday and today is probably the first day that I feel "normal". Sensitive but not in pain. I did the medium elastics for a day after the appointment, and then did the heavy for one set and medium for one set for two days. Yesterday, I slept in medium but did heavy during the day. Today is my first 24 hours in heavy...I had to take Advil for overnight but not today yet.
I'm hoping it gets better soon. I'm working on closing the gaps from extractions and helping my bite. It's weird though. I had an overbite so my front teeth never touched and now I wake up from them touching.