POWER CHAINS AND REGULAR DENTAL APPT.

[klobird]

I have a question...I got powerchains today for the first time. Next month I have a regular 6 month dental check-up. I get the archwire removed beforehand and put back in after the appt.

Dumb question I guess...but they take the power chains off too right? They are underneath the archwires. I'm wondering because I hate the "smoke" color I picked for the power chains. They make my small Damon self ligating brackets look gigantic, and my teeth look icky. I want to switch to blue--I hear they make teeth look whiter.

Anyone?

[Bracer215]

Hi Klobird
Well my powerchains are in front of the wires so they would have to take them off. But seems to me they would also take your power chains off too as just as the wires get in the way of cleaning, so too would the power chains as they are stretched from bracket to bracket.

[BracedInNOLA]

So to get your teeth cleaned at your regular appointment, really takes THREE appointments? Two at the Ortho to remove/put on the arch wire and powerchain (if installed) with the dentist appointment in between?

[TMJJill]

Interesting conversation. I have Damon's as well. I had my first 6 month dental cleaning a couple weeks ago and neither my orthodontist or dentist recommended removing my archwire. They just worked around it.

I can't imagine they would have you remove the archwire and not the powerchain if the intent is to have good access to clean your teeth though.

[klobird]

Ya, my dentist prefers that I get the archwire removed before the appt.. And ya, it takes 3 appts... I have to take the day off work!! (OK, so I guess it's not really a bad thing... ) Fortunately, their offices are about 2 miles from each other.
And it does make sense that both would have to come off...I'm new at this power chain thing--I'm going to have to re-learn how to clean my teeth with them!

[Snowglobe32]

The times that I have had powerchains, my ortho doesn't like to keep them off more than 6 weeks.

They will take your wire and pc off for your cleaning if you ask.

I take my wires out for cleanings and like a previous person said, it does take 3 appointments. But for me the wire removal takes about 3-5 minutes, drive to dentist takes 5 more minutes, do the cleaning, usually 45 minutes. Then back to ortho for new stuff. In total it shouldn't take more than 2 hours. That is, if you are lucky like I am to have ortho and dentist close by.

Do you have metal or ceramic brackets? I have had pc's in clear and a gray color, the gray blends in with the wire. My clear pc didn't stain at all.

[Jano]

this might sound a bit silly in view of the above posts .. but doesnt the ortho do the adjustments AND his hygienist do the cleaning ? All at the same place ? What is the reason for sending you back to the dentist for the cleaning ?

[BracedInNOLA]

My ortho is an ortho-only, he doesn't do general dentistry. Was he initially trained to do that? Sure, but he's since decided to specialize in orthodontics and by default, his hygienists/assistants are specialized as well. They made a definite point to me that I need to continue to see my general dentist every 6 months while undergoing orthodontic treatment.

[Snowglobe32]

this might sound a bit silly in view of the above posts .. but doesnt the ortho do the adjustments AND his hygienist do the cleaning ? All at the same place ? What is the reason for sending you back to the dentist for the cleaning ?

I don't think my ortho even has a hygienist. It is just him and the assistants plus the admin ladies.

I agree with the commentor above me, my ortho is ortho only. I go to my regular dentist for cleanings which are done by his hygientists. No cleanings from the ortho.