How often are your adjustements?

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#16 Post by **jaylo** » Fri May 22, 2009 9:31 am

Thank you all for your advise and info. Its interesting to see how it varies from person to person. Im excited to finally get them on.

#17 Post by **newsboysgrl777** » Fri May 22, 2009 10:07 am

jaylo wrote:Thank you all for your advise and info. Its interesting to see how it varies from person to person. Im excited to finally get them on.

you're right...it definitely does!! I think MY teeth move a LOT slower...so even if I went in every 2 weeks, not sure it would make any difference at all!! LOL. For instance, I went in on Tuesday for my appt, then on Thurs., I had a poking wire (on the bottom...just got a new wire) and so I also had them change my ligs (cause I hated the color). Now, I know I only had the ligs on for 2 days, but I just don't think changing them really did anything for me in terms of time...you know? Again, maybe this was a bad example because it was only 2 days, but I have gone in and gotten them changed before my full 6 weeks and I didn't FEEL like I've had any movement. In fact, I've had the same wire on top for MONTHS, and seriously?! I can't detect any movement. Maybe it's happening, I just don't know it?

#18 Post by **DrJasonKTam** » Fri May 22, 2009 3:15 pm

The general range for regular visits is 4-12 weeks, with 4 to 8 being the most common. Our patients are seen every 8 weeks until the end of treatment where we may see them at a 4 week interval as we try to detail the final result.

There are a number of factors that play into the time between appointments including:

-types of materials used
-type of movement needed
-stage of treatment
-specific issues such as oral hygiene, or surgery.
-ability of orthodontist to "stay on track" and amount of work done at each visit

There is a common misconception that because the wires are not tight, that movements are not occurring. The initial NiTi wires are extremely light, producing very little force, yet teeth move into alignment extremely well. Light forces produce the best results, with less chance of root resorption.

Another example is that not all power chains are made equal. There are certain ones that have been tested to last longer and not end up stretched out the same length as your arch length at the next visit.

Our patients are able to come in to have elastics changed for colour whenever they wish. However, the percentage of patients who want to do this is low, so there is no justification to book everyone more frequently. We see no value in having our patients in for simply a "retie" visit. It really provides nothing for the treatment. Since we go every 8 weeks, we do as much work as possible at each half hour visit. Our patients appreciate it because they have busy schedules, and their teeth don't get sore as often.

Speak to your orthodontist if you have any concerns about the duration between treatment visits.

#19 Post by **Takako** » Sat May 23, 2009 3:24 pm

My first stretch was 8 weeks, and when I went it I simply had a "retie" done, but it tightened my teeth back up woah! It was 8 because my ortho felt we'd get a lot of movement off of the first wires, and she was right! My upcoming adjustment has only been 6 weeks, and even though this is still the first wire I got, it has done SO much! I think I'm getting new wire next time. This wire is pretty straight with just a gentle curve to it, compared to before where it was all jagged angles lol.

So don't worry! Check out my story to see how much movement I've gotten out of ONE WIRE and only one retie! It's been 13 weeks!

viewtopic.php?t=29754&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

#20 Post by **Blossom** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 5:38 pm

hadfield wrote:I have had my braces on for 4 weeks today and my first adjustment is after 10 weeks. I asked the ortho assistant why so long and she said that was the normal amount of time for adjustments. Is that a normal amount of time for anyone else? I have metal top and bottom - Damons I think.

Hi hadfield, I have Damon 3s too and they went on April 30th, my first adjustment is not until June 22nd so it sounds normal to me? I think we are supposed to have fewer appointments with the Damons.
I also think it's a good thing I didn't see my ortho too soon after being braced. I have to say he was not my favourite person for the first 2 weeks I had them on!
He told me I would feel no pain? Liar!!

#21 Post by **sdawdy** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 6:02 pm

my adjustments have typically been 6-8 weeks; however, over the last few months they have been the regular adjustment at 6 weeks and every third week in for new power chains. I was told to do this because of the gaps i have are fairly large and the power chains were stretching to much over the 6 week time and not doing the job properly...so now, i am pretty much on a 3 week schedule

sd

#22 Post by **jesspenguin** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 6:56 pm

Wow, reading all these responses it seems like the time between my adjustments has been pretty short. In the 15 months I've had braces, all of my adjustments have been every 3 weeks, with the exception of my most recent one which was 4 weeks. There's been no rush on things either, that's just the amount of time my ortho has wanted between visits.

#23 Post by **amandajane** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 7:05 am

Mine are every 7-8 weeks.

#24 Post by **Megan11** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:03 am

Mine have gone from 10 to 8 to 6, and now they are every 4 weeks.

I really kind of sweet talked my way into getting it down to 4 weeks so early haha. I really like this one assistant and I have been getting her a lot and I just told her what was up. How if there was anyway to make them closer together would she and she was like yeah I totally understand and started to put down 4 weeks for the front desk to see

I can't believe it worked but thank god. I seriously could not wait 8 weeks. I felt like nothing was happening after like 3!!

Sat Jun 06, 2009 8:28 pm

My adjustments have occurred every 10 weeks up to this point (I'm 7 months into treatment), but from what it sounds like, I may go in next time and be up for a shorter lengths of time. The braces are really doing their job...and I am starting to see some spaces appear on my lower teeth--another powerchain coming up?

#26 Post by **uncdl** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 10:13 am

My adjustments were about every 5 weeks, sometimes 4 or 6 weeks though, depending on how the schedule fell. I just had a meeting with my orthodontist a week ago to remind him that I want these things off sooner rather than later, so now I go in every 3 weeks. I guess we'll see if that speeds the process along for me anyway. Good luck!

#27 Post by **electrokitty** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 11:24 am

Mine vary depending on what contraptions my ortho has fitted me out with and what she is expecting to happen before the next visit. So far they have gone like this... 6 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 8 weeks, 4 weeks.

The 8 week waits were when I first got elastics. I found waiting 8 weeks was a killer, after about 3 weeks it felt like nothing was happening and it was so frustrating.
Got powerchains at my last adjustment and now I'm back to 4 weekly appointments again, which I'm really happy about. Adjustments remind me that I am making progress and I always come away in a good mood.

Also, I've been paying off Â£500 every time I go in (which has been crippling me) and at my next appointment I will have paid them all off completely- yippee!

#28 Post by **Briggsy** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 11:42 am

I've had my braces just about 3 weeks now. My first adjustment will be 6 weeks after getting them fitted. Initially he said he's see me in 8 weeks, then said 'no, make that 6'... but I;ve not had any dates for following appointements. I'm guessing we'll book one appointment ahead with the timescale dependant on the movement.

#29 Post by **Skysi** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 10:21 pm

Mine are 6-8 weeks, although once due to clashes with my own timetable it got pushed back to 10 weeks!

#30 Post by **hal2me** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 7:40 am

My adjustments are every 6 weeks! In fact, my second adjustment is next Wednesday! The time goes by fast when you stick to an adjustment schedule. Congratulations on your journey!!