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Question about archwires
Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2013 6:18 pm
by Lorianne
My ortho has been trying to get my archwire engaged on a really rotated tooth and so far has been unable to bend it enough. This is my original first wire. So, a couple of days ago he switched out the wire to a 14 copper (?) because it's thinner, he said. He also said we will try to get it into the bracket in a few weeks and then, next time I come in for an adjustment, I can maybe go up 2 archwires. So, my question is, is that normal practice? Has anybody else ever had that done? It will be 6 weeks next Weds that I've had Damon braces on.
Re: Question about archwires
Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2013 11:01 pm
by Chicken
They weren't able to engage my rotated tooth until iI was six months in braces. But when they finally did it was crazy, my tooth was practically straight by the time I got home.
Re: Question about archwires
Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 12:50 pm
by PaisleyGrrl81
Chicken wrote:They weren't able to engage my rotated tooth until iI was six months in braces. But when they finally did it was crazy, my tooth was practically straight by the time I got home.
When you guys say "rotated" do you mean the front of the tooth is facing the side, to some degree? I'm very early into my ortho journey, so I'm not familiar with all of the terms.
I have a lower lateral incisor that is sitting far back behind the rest of the arch. Not only is it not in the wire but it faces straight on, and I believe it needs to turn a bit so it can round out into the arch, when it's finally wired it. In order to get it there, apparently I will need a spring between the two neighboring teeth, to spread them out and make room. Does anyone have any experience in the pain level of getting a tooth wired back in and turned a bit? I'm assuming it will feel like day 2 in braces, but for just the single tooth. Definitely not looking forward to that!
Here's to getting our rotated teeth into that darn wire!
Re: Question about archwires
Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 5:05 pm
by Lorianne
wow Chicken, hope mine does that too, but sooner.
Paisley, rotated just means that the tooth is turned, not aligned straight in your jaw as it should be. Some are more so than others. I guess mine is pretty well turned. What's really weird is that I never knew I had ANY rotated teeth til my braces went on, then all that good stuff was revealed!! I'm going to try to get it in the wire myself, maybe in a few weeks. One side is in, just needs a little more turning then I think I can pop it in myself!
Re: Question about archwires
Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 6:38 pm
by sirwired
Sounds like he's moved you down a size; a .014 Copper Ni-Ti is pretty much the smallest starter wire. Don't try and fully slot the wire yourself; leave it up to your ortho to apply the forces he wants when he wants them.
I also had slotting problems; my ortho solved them by tying the starter wire into the slot with a wire ligature.
Re: Question about archwires
Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 6:39 pm
by JeniK
I have my 3rd adjustment tomorrow afternoon. i have traditional clear on top and metal on the bottom. I am almost 4 months in my journey. I have my same wire I started with. 1st adjustment I asked if they were going to change the wire. I was told no because that wire has more work to do. 2nd adjustment my ortho said he was going to put 2 wire ties on. I asked what they did different. He said they will tighten down the bracket (?) more on the 2 teeth that he wanted to rotate . Did they do the job ? I have no idea. I have to be honest and do not see much going on right now. I am hoping tomorrow they do something to get things moving a bit. New wire maybe ? With a new wire....guessing it would be a "heavier" wire...
I will know for sure tomorrow!
Re: Question about archwires
Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 6:44 pm
by Lorianne
sirwired wrote:Sounds like he's moved you down a size; a .014 Copper Ni-Ti is pretty much the smallest starter wire. Don't try and fully slot the wire yourself; leave it up to your ortho to apply the forces he wants when he wants them.
I also had slotting problems; my ortho solved them by tying the starter wire into the slot with a wire ligature.
Yes "sir" (heehee), I think that's exactly right. He went down to the smallest, thinest wire (although, mind you, I was in my very first wire, so wonder why it wasn't this one to begin with? are there maybe different strength starter wires?). My ortho also tied a ligature from that rotated tooth band to the back metal hook on my molar. We'll see what happens.
Re: Question about archwires
Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 6:46 pm
by Lorianne
JeniK wrote:I have my 3rd adjustment tomorrow afternoon. i have traditional clear on top and metal on the bottom. I am almost 4 months in my journey. I have my same wire I started with. 1st adjustment I asked if they were going to change the wire. I was told no because that wire has more work to do. 2nd adjustment my ortho said he was going to put 2 wire ties on. I asked what they did different. He said they will tighten down the bracket (?) more on the 2 teeth that he wanted to rotate . Did they do the job ? I have no idea. I have to be honest and do not see much going on right now. I am hoping tomorrow they do something to get things moving a bit. New wire maybe ? With a new wire....guessing it would be a "heavier" wire...
I will know for sure tomorrow!
hoping tomorrow goes well for you and there is noticeable difference. I didn't think I had any movement on my top, but my ortho said for sure there has been, so maybe you are just too close to it to really see it?
Re: Question about archwires
Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 9:29 pm
by kids041
I have a lower tooth that is rotated, and has not been able to be fully engaged in the archwire as well. I just had my second adjustment, and they went up a wire (had been in starter wire for 16 weeks!!
). The assistant had to struggle very hard to make it stay in. LOTS of pushing on my sore teeth. She even put a wire tie on it to hold it in place. Well, long story short- I was surprised that the wire tie was on a different tooth then the rotated one. I had incredible pressure for a day or so on the rotated tooth, and now realize that I think it has popped back out of the wire on one side of the bracket. Like it has been for the previous 16 weeks! AND I think I have another tooth that has done the same thing... UGH!!! So I am off to the ortho office again tomorrow- for them to put the wire back into the brackets. I hope that they wire tie them this time....I want them to move, and I don't want to slow down progress... even if my teeth hurt because of it!
Re: Question about archwires
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 6:37 pm
by JeniK
Well...adjustment 3 is over. Still no wire change. I now have 4 more wire ties. More pressure than anything. It was very painful when he was pushing on my teeth doing the wire ties. He tightened the wire ties on my top front teeth. With all this....I am hoping to see some movement these next 6 weeks.
I decided on pearl as my ligs. I was talking to my granddaughter (6) yesterday about my colors. She told me I should get Christmas colors. Maybe red ? I said no...it might look like blood in my mouth...eww no grandma. Maybe green ? I said that might look like I have food in my teeth....eww grandma...no. Maybe get white...and you will look like you have crystals on your teeth!! Leave it a kid to think of that!! LOL
Re: Question about archwires
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 7:12 pm
by Lorianne
JeniK wrote:Well...adjustment 3 is over. Still no wire change. I now have 4 more wire ties. More pressure than anything. It was very painful when he was pushing on my teeth doing the wire ties. He tightened the wire ties on my top front teeth. With all this....I am hoping to see some movement these next 6 weeks.
I decided on pearl as my ligs. I was talking to my granddaughter (6) yesterday about my colors. She told me I should get Christmas colors. Maybe red ? I said no...it might look like blood in my mouth...eww no grandma. Maybe green ? I said that might look like I have food in my teeth....eww grandma...no. Maybe get white...and you will look like you have crystals on your teeth!! Leave it a kid to think of that!! LOL
oh man, doesn't it like kill when they yank and stuff on your teeth? hope this works though and you see things happen! So cute about your granddaughter too!
Re: Question about archwires
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 7:55 pm
by kids041
JeniK wrote:Well...adjustment 3 is over. Still no wire change. I now have 4 more wire ties. More pressure than anything. It was very painful when he was pushing on my teeth doing the wire ties. He tightened the wire ties on my top front teeth. With all this....I am hoping to see some movement these next 6 weeks.
I decided on pearl as my ligs. I was talking to my granddaughter (6) yesterday about my colors. She told me I should get Christmas colors. Maybe red ? I said no...it might look like blood in my mouth...eww no grandma. Maybe green ? I said that might look like I have food in my teeth....eww grandma...no. Maybe get white...and you will look like you have crystals on your teeth!! Leave it a kid to think of that!! LOL
Oh my.... when they were pushing on my teeth- tying the wire ties... MY POOR SORE TEETH
..
I do have new wires- but I just still have a tooth that will not fully join the party... <sigh> it is too rotated- and will not go all the way into the bracket. It is half in, and now wire tied that way to hopefully help jump start it.
Re: Question about archwires
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 3:05 pm
by Lorianne
kids041 wrote:JeniK wrote:Well...adjustment 3 is over. Still no wire change. I now have 4 more wire ties. More pressure than anything. It was very painful when he was pushing on my teeth doing the wire ties. He tightened the wire ties on my top front teeth. With all this....I am hoping to see some movement these next 6 weeks.
I decided on pearl as my ligs. I was talking to my granddaughter (6) yesterday about my colors. She told me I should get Christmas colors. Maybe red ? I said no...it might look like blood in my mouth...eww no grandma. Maybe green ? I said that might look like I have food in my teeth....eww grandma...no. Maybe get white...and you will look like you have crystals on your teeth!! Leave it a kid to think of that!! LOL
Oh my.... when they were pushing on my teeth- tying the wire ties... MY POOR SORE TEETH
..
I do have new wires- but I just still have a tooth that will not fully join the party... <sigh> it is too rotated- and will not go all the way into the bracket. It is half in, and now wire tied that way to hopefully help jump start it.
kids, I have the same exact set up as you!