Metal Mouth Message Board

So ya, the teeth came out this week (one wisdom, one molar), and the Forsus came out this morning (yippeee), and now I'm on to Bite Turbos or molar build ups Unbelievable! (my language was a lot worse after I left the ortho this morning).

So, my question is this--I have read a lot about both the bite turbos, and molar build-ups. And because of this site--and me knowing what to ask for, I get a choice of which form of torture I want. (From what I've read, I'm thinking molar build-ups).

What do those of you who are new to these contraptions have to say about either one? I've read a lot--but I'm interested in a one versus the other kind of thing. I have until July 28th..

I am beyond *#@%&$#*^#$&# !!!!!!!! frustrated.

OK--I should have searched on this site before I started this topic--I see there is a recent very similar topic not too long ago....

Take it from me: MOLAR. BUILDUPS. I've had both and there is no comparison. The turbos apparently might speed up your overbite correction a bit, but IMO it's not worth it for the speech and eating issues they create. The short time I had the turbos was a dark, dark period of my life.

Will do Auco--That's kind of what I figured. Funny how some things can really bring you down--I had that with a recent appliance that I just got removed. My mental and emotional health really did start sliding downhill after that appliance was put in. It was like I lost my self confidence or self power or something. Weird.

I have those molar build-ups.. and after 2 weeks, I've somehow managed to grind them down almost flat so my bite is back to how it always was. I think my situation is pretty unique though... maybe I unknowingly grind my teeth? Not sure...

It just sucks, because I just got used to feeling weird whenever I was chewing something.. and now I'm going to have to get them built up again..

But for most people, I'm sure they are perfectly fine

I've never had bite turbos but from the way they're described on here, I don't think I would ever want them. However, I do have molar build-ups. You do get used to them once you've ground the build-up down some. I tend to complain about them a lot but they're really not so bad.

How long have you guys had molar buildups and did they tell you ahead of time about how long you were going to have them?

I know mine will get flat pretty quickly because I grind like no other--I could probably grind coffee!! Before I had braces,I had a custom mouth guard--EXPENSIVE--that I will never be able to use again. That thing was really helpful.

Anyway, one good thing--we can see how bad my grinding really is!

I'm chronic bruxer too!!!

I wore a flat plane occlusal splint at night for about 8 years. Two years ago when I started my TMJD treatment, I spent a couple thousand on a lower mandibular repositioning splint for daytime and a "custom" upper splint for night to keep me from grinding. That night splint had a "beak" sticking out the front that kept me from being able to have my back teeth touch and a "wedge" that came down in the front in behind my lower jaw to keep it from falling back when I slept. It took some getting used to, but I grew to LOVE it because eventually I stopped bruxing.

When I got my upper braces last August, I had to stop wearing that upper splint and my bruxing came back, along with lots of TMJD pain. We tried a couple nighttime splints on the lower but they made things much worse. Eventually, I ended up having my daytime splint cut back to expose my back molars. I'm now wearing the repositioning splint 24/7 and I have brackets on my back molars. I've worked my way up to 3 brackets so far... I then started wearing elastics from my #7 molars to my top canines to help hold my lower jaw forward and in correct position when I sleep. My bruxing significantly reduced, thank goodness. I also started wearing elastics in "v's" to erupt those back molars so they will touch when I get my lower braces off. I have one #6 that has a crown that will be replaced after my treatment. I'll have a molar build-up on that one when I get my lowers so that my teeth will all touch.

I'm really really nervous about what will happen when I get my lower braces. Not about the braces themselves, but because it has been over a DECADE that I've worn some sort of splint while I sleep to reduce the bruxing and to treat my TMJD. I'm totally going to feel "naked". It took me over a year, and tons of $$, to get the muscles in my jaw to stop spasming. I just can't imagine how it is going to feel and what my jaw will do when I don't have my "safety blanket" of a splint when I sleep.

How did you adjust when you had to stop wearing your splint?

klobird wrote:How long have you guys had molar buildups and did they tell you ahead of time about how long you were going to have them?

I know mine will get flat pretty quickly because I grind like no other--I could probably grind coffee!! Before I had braces,I had a custom mouth guard--EXPENSIVE--that I will never be able to use again. That thing was really helpful.

Anyway, one good thing--we can see how bad my grinding really is!

I've had buildups since day one. My ortho didn't give me a time frame, he just said I'll have to have them until my deep bite is gone. :/ Don't know how long it will take.

Wow Am--that is a long time to have the molar build-ups. If you guys can do it, then I can. I'm surprised at how many have the build-ups--I just never saw it in my plan...

TMJ--The really weird thing--I have never had jaw pain, even though my regular dentist can feel the grindy like thing in my jaw when she has me open and close my mouth. I miss the mouth guard a lot--I am so afraid I will fracture yet another tooth under the gum and have to have another root canal! EEEKKKK!!!

Ya those mouth guards cost a LOT, and insurance won't pay a penny!

Hi Klobird,
I was wondering if you can tell me how long you had to keep your molar buildups. I'm getting ready to get my braces at the end of next week and the orthodontist said he was going to be putting in bite turbos (but I think he really meant molar buildups because he said he'd be applying them to my back molars). I forgot to ask him how long I would need them and now I'm really worried about that.
How did they affect your ability to eat? Everything I've read says that it's almost impossible to chew with them. He actually said I would need to eat a soft food diet while I had them in. Oy! I have been SO upset since I got this news.
Take care!

Hey Dee---I haven't said a word since he said I was getting them, and neither has he. Maybe he forgot. Maybe I don't need them now. Maybe I do I see the ortho again a week from Monday. He threatens me every single time with something new--IPR this next time. The thing is, no matter how long I get away with not having something he said I was going to have--I ALWAYS end up with it!!! I'm keeping my fingers crossed

Hi Klobird,
Oh, sorry for the misunderstanding. I thought you already had your bite turbos. Well, I will probably end up getting mine before you do then. At least it looks that way. So, I'll let YOU know how they are. Ugh. I hope they aren't too terrible!

AM21 wrote:

klobird wrote:How long have you guys had molar buildups and did they tell you ahead of time about how long you were going to have them?

I know mine will get flat pretty quickly because I grind like no other--I could probably grind coffee!! Before I had braces,I had a custom mouth guard--EXPENSIVE--that I will never be able to use again. That thing was really helpful.

Anyway, one good thing--we can see how bad my grinding really is!

I've had buildups since day one. My ortho didn't give me a time frame, he just said I'll have to have them until my deep bite is gone. :/ Don't know how long it will take.

Do you still have them? I had them for almost 18mths (I'm guessing ...).. was happy to finally get them removed, although by that time, you really don't notice the difference. But, it is a step in the right direction if you no longer need them

drgnchsr36 wrote:

AM21 wrote:

klobird wrote:How long have you guys had molar buildups and did they tell you ahead of time about how long you were going to have them?

I know mine will get flat pretty quickly because I grind like no other--I could probably grind coffee!! Before I had braces,I had a custom mouth guard--EXPENSIVE--that I will never be able to use again. That thing was really helpful.

Anyway, one good thing--we can see how bad my grinding really is!

I've had buildups since day one. My ortho didn't give me a time frame, he just said I'll have to have them until my deep bite is gone. :/ Don't know how long it will take.

Do you still have them? I had them for almost 18mths (I'm guessing ...).. was happy to finally get them removed, although by that time, you really don't notice the difference. But, it is a step in the right direction if you no longer need them

Yeah, I still have them. Don't know how much longer I'm going to need them. I don't really mind them that much, because they're so ground down.

Congrats on getting yours removed!! That's awesome!

Oh! I see you're going to be debanded soon!!! Congrats!! That's so exciting!!