question about spacers...

Message

#1 Post by **joygoss** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 7:26 am

My spacers will be on for 19 days. that seems long. How long has everyone else worn them?

#2 Post by **KJM** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 7:43 am

Hi joygoss! I had spacers for 7 days.

#3 Post by **nimo** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 7:50 am

Mine will have been on 11 days. I get my braces on Friday. I've heard as long as a month.

#4 Post by **joygoss** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 10:13 am

Anyone else have the overwhelming urge to rip them out?

#5 Post by **Dark_angel** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 10:20 am

Spacers are pushing your teeth appart and will cause you pain, especially when biting down. However like most pain associated with braces it will settle down in a few days and you will probably forget that their there.

I had mine in for 7 days and i really wanted to take them out and then put them back in without my ortho knowing but my bf pinned me down to stop me

#6 Post by **IndyBraceFace** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 11:41 am

5 days

#7 Post by **joygoss** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 3:00 pm

That's hilarious, Dark Angel! I've had them in for a week already, but the sorness has not gone away. The ortho said just bite the bullet and eat hard food. The more you do, the more sorness you'll work out. I think he's secretly laughing at me! Bananas are my best friends right now - oh, and mashed potatoes, too!

I don't remember child birth being this unbearable (Of course, the ortho can't give epidurals, either!) I'm actually looking forward to braces just so I can't get these *bleep bleep bleep bleeps* out of my mouth!

P.S. - I'm usually very pleasant, I promise!

#8 Post by **OneTime** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 3:07 pm

I had spacers on for 14 days. Best 14 days ever of dieting.

#9 Post by **airxjordan24** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 3:15 pm

they are usually on for about 2 weeks. they are used to make space for the molar bands.

take some advil prior to going in. goodluck

#10 Post by **joygoss** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 4:34 pm

What the heck are molar bands? I know I'm getting a distal jet put on the 27th. Is that the same thing? Am I not asking enough questions when I go in? Because I'm not even sure how long I have to wear the distal jet before I get the braces put on.

Thanks, everyone! (what a great site!)

#11 Post by **lesdents** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 4:56 pm

I wore them for almost three weeks! Ouch!

I eventually got used to them, and then, despite the fact that my teeth were VERY crowded and tight, they made so much space that they kept falling out!!

I had a "lingual holding arch" with molar bands in there (on the bottom) where the spacers had made the space. I just had it taken out so I can get another extraction, and my ortho put spacers back in to keep the space. AND IT IS REALLY PAINFUL AGAIN!!

Those tiny little devils are REALLY awful, aren't they?

I found that drinking warm mint tea eased the pain - besides being yummy and soothing!

Don't worry, it'll get better. Your teeth will be PERFECT someday, remember that!!!

#12 Post by **Leslie022** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 9:47 pm

I had to keep mine in for 7 days and yes, I wanted to pull them out! Especially after 2 of them fell out after only one day, so I ended up having to go back to the office to have them put back in. Grr. At least we don't have to wear them too long.

#13 Post by **nimo** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 3:22 am

The spaces between my molars aren't even big enough for waxed floss. The dentist has trouble cleaning back there, and I thought they were never going to get the spacers between my teeth. They hurt for the first five days, and they still hurt when I'm eating. We went out for Chinese food, and the woman was giving samples of orange chicken. When I found out it was soft enough for me to eat without it hurting more than anything else, I was ecstatic!!! I never thought I would be so happy finding new things that I'm able to eat.
Overall, I'm not happy that they still hurt when I eat, but since that's the only time they hurt, that's fine with me.

#14 Post by **joygoss** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 5:25 am

Thanks, everyone. Glad to know I'm not alone!

Nimo - Good luck and congratulations today! Good for you.

#15 Post by **Leslie022** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 7:43 am

The assistant assigned to me told me that if I could handle the spacers then the rest of my treatment would be a breeze. So for she is proving to speak the truth.