I feel like i was kicked in the face..

[metalmomma]

That is exactly how I felt this morning when I woke up. Had my first adjustment yesterday which included a new archwire and elastics. My top front two teeth are tied together to prevent a gap that the elastics can cause. The wire is 0.16 but was custom bent by the orthodontist. The elastics run from the upper centers to the loops on the bottom wire and then back to the molar band. They will hopefully help close my open bite. My ortho joked saying that i would soon be cursing him, and boy i actually am cursing him right this moment. My mouth is in some serious pain... BUT i know this will all be worth it! It is so psychology frustrating that you know you can stop the pain and just take these darn elastics out and it would feel so much better but yet we choose to keep them in because we know the results are worth it. I just have to keep taking it one day at a time and stay strong

[Gerib]

I hear you momma.... Hurting here too. But you are right, it's worth it. Little pain lots to gain.

[TheKT]

Omg! That looks awkward Nd painful, your bottom teeth look like they have made great progress. How long is your sentence with these rubber bands and the tie?

[djspeece]

You're making great progress. Stay strong!

[Nana51]

You can do it! Look how far you've come!

[metalmomma]

Thank you everyone! So far day two is much better. I don't have the immediate desire to crawl under a rock and hide all day. Lol. My total sentence is 15 to 24 months braced. So far all I know is 5 weeks of current elactic configuration. It will depend on my cooperation and how well my teeth respond as to how long I will have to wear them. But I was warned in beginning of treatment that elastics would play a big role. As with everything else, I know it will get easier

[beckyboo0205]

Interesting brackets. Never seen those kind before.

That configuration of elastics does look frustrating. I'm 5 days into elastics so I feel ya. Just stay strong!

[Ciara]

You've made fantastic progress! Hang in there...this too shall pass.

[Norrie]

I've used those exact words several times. Kicked in the face really does describe it well. Motrin is my best friend for a couple of days after an adjustment (usually the pain doesn't kick in for me until about 6-8 hours after an adjustment, and the two days after it are always the worst). I hope that you're on the other side soon. You're making incredible progress! Your teeth look awesome.

[aliceayres]

That looks intense, stay strong.

[Anna5]

I sincerely feel with you, mettalmomma. It must be so hard to be in these elastics. Do you have to wear them 24 hours a day? But as the others said, stay strong (but complain as much as you need on this forum, we are here to support you!) and I am sure the results will be worth all the pain you are going through now. I wish you lots of strengths!

[Bconnellyguitar]

WOW! Your teeth look better than mine and I've been all the way through treatment. Keep going.

[2XRound]

How can you eat with that arrangement? Looks like no fun. My elastics are mercifully on the sides.

[metalmomma]

Thank you everyone for all the kind words of encouragement! It's been a little while since I posted about my experience with elastics. Since then I've had another adjustment which only included adding a third elastic in an upside down V configuration and the good news that my estimated treatment time could be cut in half from 24 months to much closer to 12 months. Definitely makes wearing the elastics so worth it. And quite honestly I've gotten very used to them and I barely notice them except when I have to take them all out every time I want to eat anything.
I'm excited for my next appointment in the beginning of May. New wire, hardware, supposedly the works. Lol. Well at least that's what my Ortho said. Until then I just need to keep going strong with my snappy little elastic friends practically wiring my jaw closed 24/7. Every pain is worth it knowing it's getting me one step closer to being done with treatment!

[metalmomma]