Surgical Hooks

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#1 Post by **Rach** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 8:06 am

Hey everyone!
At my last orthodentist appointment my ortho mentioned that I will have to make an appointment in the first week of January to get surgical hooks placed on my braces (my surgery in Jan 28th so he said it cant be any later) but since the receptionist wasnt in that day, i had to phone up the following week to make one. well we phoned up as he said and the receptionist said this part is usually done over two appointments. well my ortho didnt mention this (unless i missed that part if he did?!). Im wondering if i should make just the one app. Did anyone have this over two app, if so were they both made in advance (or the second app made at the first one). Please help im very confused!

Rach

#2 Post by **Rach** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 8:15 am

Oops sorry, never mind, turns out my mum has made two appointments anyway

#3 Post by **smile2006** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 8:36 am

I had two appointments for surgical hooks. The first appointment they just placed the wire in the brackets and marked where the hooks were to be attached. The orthos office then soldered hooks to the spots that were marked on the wire. I then came back again and they placed the wire. I'd suggest going as little time as possible with the surgical hooks before surgery. They can be a little uncomfortable. After surgery the hooks not being use for bands were cut off and that made things better.

#4 Post by **KriegeR** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 3:03 pm

My orthodontist fitted all my surgical hooks at the same time, within about 15 minutes. Mine were of the 'crimp' type, which he fasten to the wires using a special tool. I had though this was going to take ages, but obviously I was wrong.

Since then I've had my bottom wire replaced which means it now has no hooks on it. I've been told to expect more hooks fitting next time in order to allow the elastics to continue.

#5 Post by **dubnobass** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 3:15 pm

My experience was the same as Krieger's. Only one of my hooks gave me any discomfort, being the one between my lower incisors. That rubbed a bit, but nothing wax couldn't handle. I'm still in my upper surgical wire, hooks and all.. gives me no problems and never has.

#6 Post by **Rach** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 3:33 pm

Well since dubnobass and Krieger live in the UK im guessing that will happen to me aswell. And Smile, i got this weird wire thing kind of wrapped around my lower front braces put in last time i went so i dont know if thats it? you can hardly see them anyway so im not fussed. Are the surgical hooks big? i really hate rubbing, more than pain probably, but i guess its all part of it

Is the rubbing as bad as when you first get braces?

Thanks all

Rach

#7 Post by **merkitaminasi** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 4:55 pm

I'm getting my surgical hooks next week and my ortho only had me make one appt. and my surgery is on the following monday

#8 Post by **shani** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 5:38 pm

it is certainly not as bad as getting braces, i had my surgical archwire and hooks in for like 3 months because one surgeon wanted it done, and then she decided she couldn't do the surgery, so i had them for a long time. mine were coby ashers and although annoying, you could manage it, and if they get really irritating, just bend them back towards your gum and that way they wont rub, just be careful cos there quite easy to break.

#9 Post by **KriegeR** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 5:51 pm

Rach wrote:Well since dubnobass and Krieger live in the UK im guessing that will happen to me aswell. And Smile, i got this weird wire thing kind of wrapped around my lower front braces put in last time i went so i dont know if thats it? you can hardly see them anyway so im not fussed. Are the surgical hooks big? i really hate rubbing, more than pain probably, but i guess its all part of it Is the rubbing as bad as when you first get braces?

Thanks all

Rach

The wires you referred to are probably tiny devices known as 'Quik-clips' (or 'clicks' - I never know which one). I don't know if it is the same for everyone but on my last appointment before my op (when the hooks were fitted), I had all my ligs removed and replaced with quik-clips. These are all still present on my top archwire, but as my bottom one has been replaced I'm back to good old ligs again. It could also be a wire power-chain which I've had in the past, but not at op time.

The hooks themselves are quite small, and just stand a little higher than the brackets. They will be fitted between each pair of brackets, as near to the gap between your teeth as possible. This is so that the surgeon can use them as a guide during the operation to make sure everything is being aligned correctly. I have to admit that I did have some problems with the hooks rubbing at first, but they were no match for plenty of orthodontic wax! Within about a week my mouth had adapted to them and I don't even notice them on my top wire now. However I would say that the initial rubbing of the brace will have been many times worse than the hooks. The biggest annoyance I found with the hooks was getting my lip stuck on them! My uncle told me that I sometimes looked like his pet boxer dog which used to get his lips stuck over his teeth!

I don't think you'll have any problems with them though.