Metal Mouth Message Board

So it's been 15 months in braces which has flown by, I still have huge extraction gaps (although they are about half the size they used to be and the bottom left one is almost closed)...

But yesterday I got all my powerchains removed and replaced by tie-wires which are diagonally crossed, this is to hold the teeth still while other elastics pull my back teeth forward to close extraction gaps.

This is good news as these wires don't stain like clear ligs/powerchains if at all.. So I'm going to enjoy tea, coffee, curry and tomato sauce for a while...

Here is my before pic.. Here is the current pic with wire ties..

AWESOME!!! How much longer do you have to go?

I have about 9 months left to go, seems like ages

I've had four teeth pulled and only a month in braces. I was hoping my extraction sites would close up in the next few months but it sounds like it takes alot longer then that!

Wow that looks great

Wow your teeth look great!

I prefer wire ties as they seem to do a better job. I have had them A LOT in my time in braces. I've also had a wire tie powerchain for a couple of months now on my lower 4 front teeth. He tightened it at my last appointment and now it's hard to get floss between those teeth, and unfortunately since he tightened it a small gap has opened up between my lateral incisor and canine (canine is not attached to the metal powerchain). I am particularly gutted because I had 3 gaps along that side and it's taken ages to get them closed and now he's gone and opened one up slightly by tightening the chain! . My next appointment isn't for another 6ish weeks and it will bug me every day until I can mention it.

The main thing I hate about wire ties compared to ligs is my floss always gets caught on them and shredded. I am so done with these braces and can't wait to get them off.

Lauralee wrote:I've had four teeth pulled and only a month in braces. I was hoping my extraction sites would close up in the next few months but it sounds like it takes alot longer then that!

I think it all depends how they are closed, I have seen others on this forum who have had them closed in 6 months. My ortho recommended that we actually bring the back teeth forward a bit so that my front teeth weren't pulled too far back which is probably why it's taken so long!

Chrystal wrote:and unfortunately since he tightened it a small gap has opened up between my lateral incisor and canine (canine is not attached to the metal powerchain). I am particularly gutted because I had 3 gaps along that side and it's taken ages to get them closed and now he's gone and opened one up slightly by tightening the chain! . My next appointment isn't for another 6ish weeks and it will bug me every day until I can mention it.

I know what you mean haha, it's annoying when one gap closes another one opens