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Great news, the expander is out ! It was removed on Friday, and it feels so great to have all that space back!
Now for my adjustment update. He put in a new super heavy rectangular wire on the lowers, OUCH! I got new upper and lower powerchains, and to top it all off super heavy elastics on both sides. My teeth, mouth, and jaw are killing me . How long before this gets any better? Do elastics ever get any easier to deal with?
I feel your pain regarding elastics! The first moment my ortho put elastics on and asked how I felt ,I replied "No problem, are you sure they are strong enough?" OMG did I eat those words within 2 hrs!!! I felt like I had the worse toothache not on one tooth but 4 teeth at the same moment!!
The worst was nighttime when my mouth was constant "smacking shut loudly!" I thought it would never feel better but I remembered my ortho saying that if I kept them off because of the pain that the pain would continue when I put the elastics back on. I listened and kept them on at all times except when brushing. I took Advil every few hrs to ease the dull constant aching. Well after about 5 days I finally got relief and was used to the elastics with no more pain!! Congrats on getting your expander off already! I'm getting a bihelix on my lowers in about 2 wks so wish me luck!
Howdy,
I've been wearing elastics since June and they remain my least favorite part of having braces. I have a pretty simple configuration and while I was on vacation last month, I learned how to put them in without looking in a mirror!
I went for an adjustment last week - thought I was going to get IPR and a new elastic configuration. Instead, I got two new powerchains - one across my front four top teeth to close a dreaded "black triangle" and to align the teeth better and the second powerchain goes across ALL of my bottom teeth. The powerchain on my bottom teeth goes from "seven to seven", as my ortho said. And, I still have my old elastic configuration (top three's to bottom six's). I wear Ram elastics - not the biggest ones, I think.
Overall, I can see progress from the powerchains already, even though it's been less than a week. The combination of powerchains and elastics hurt for about two days, but now I'm back to what goes for normal these days!
Thanks everyone for the encouragement . Things are much better now that I've been wearing the elastics for a few days. My teeth are now only slightly sore, and I hardly notice I'm even wearing my elastics anymore. One question though, when I take my elastics out my lower molars (2nd from last, elastics are attached to these ones) hurt. I find that they hurt until I put my elastics back in, is this normal? Will they eventually adjust? Also, how long do most people wear elastics for? Thanks.
Thanks Karen for the info. Sorry about the confusion, I meant how long do people normally wear elastics in their treatment time? I'm allowed to take mine out to eat and brush. I couldn't imagine eating with them in, I can barely open my mouth. Did you know what I meant about my teeth hurt when I take my elastics out? It's just so weird, my teeth feel so much better when I am wearing my elastics, than when I have them out. Do many people feel this way, or am I just weird?
Did you know what I meant about my teeth hurt when I take my elastics out? It's just so weird, my teeth feel so much better when I am wearing my elastics, than when I have them out. Do many people feel this way, or am I just weird?
Yes, thats common.
Top Braces June 2004
Bottom Braces November 2004
Debanded January 2007
I think elastics become like a security blanket - they're better in than out.
Laina, I've been going 3 months with elastics and expect to be doing them past my next adjustment in 10 days time. I have two sets: a box configuration that is in all the time (they only come out when I'm cleaning) and a canine to canine triangle set up that goes in at night. The box config regularly comes unstuck when I'm eating; I just reattach them (even doing it in restaurants now!)
! It was removed on Friday, and it feels so great to have all that space back!
. How long before this gets any better? Do elastics ever get any easier to deal with?
