Help! Don't Know What Happens Monday!

Message

#1 Post by **lolcat** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 11:47 am

I went in for spacers today (Wednesday), and they couldn't get them to go in! The assistant tried to get one the first one in and I yelped because it hurt. She brought in another lady, and they commented on how close together my teeth are.

I told them that I have problems with regular dental floss getting stuck between my teeth, and they tried to floss before deciding that I would not be getting any spacers.

They told me to enjoy eating sticky foods until Monday, when I'm scheduled to get braces on the top arch. They didn't tell me what would happen on Monday, just that my teeth would have to be moved before they could even get any spacers in.

My question is this: What will happen on Monday? If they couldn't put in spacers, then they surely won't be able to put on molar bands, right? Can they brace my teeth without molar bands in order to make room for spacers?

Any help would be appreciated!

#2 Post by **Audra** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 1:00 pm

They, most likely, will brace your other teeth. As your arch expands, there will be more space for the spacers, then the molar bands.

Or, they will put molar tube brackets on your molars, rather than molar bands.

#3 Post by **Susy** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 1:05 pm

Wow, that's really unlucky (or not, spacers really hurt). I had an unflossable tooth some years ago, and the dentist just sand it so I could clean my teeth. don't know if that makes sense in your case. they can brace without the molar bands (I only got them after 6 weeks), anyway, don't worry, they will find a way to put the brace.

#4 Post by **Pebs** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 4:07 pm

It definitely sounds like they are planning to put brackets on your other teeth and wait until teeth start moving to try the spacers again. My ortho resorted to metal spacers on me to make room for the blue spacers.

Pebs

#5 Post by **lolcat** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 4:12 pm

Thanks for the replies!

I've found the message board very helpful in learning about braces, but I wasn't sure if molar bands were a necessary step at first. I'm very excited about getting braced, but nervous because things aren't going as expected.

$+\+$ Until Monday...

#6 Post by **epiphany7** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 8:06 pm

Ok - this topic has me intrigued. I've been braced for just under two weeks, and I don't have any bands on my molars - just a bracket that looks a little different than the others. Is it necessary to have molar bands placed, or can you have braces without them? I was just beginning to wonder...

#7 Post by **Audra** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 8:34 pm

If you have a bracket glued to your molar, you don't get molar bands. It's one or the other.

#8 Post by **starzz** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 8:34 pm

No bands are not required expect in certain cases. Consider yourself lucky you have brackets on your molars! Bands may be used when another appliance must be attached, if very large forces will be applied to the tooth, if the bracket falls off, when the tooth has a crown or filling on the side, or if the ortho just has preference to use them. In the past, 1970s and before, EVERY tooth had a band

#9 Post by **epiphany7** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 9:31 pm

Woo hoo! Good to know.

Thanks for the input, folks.

#10 Post by **lolcat** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 9:47 pm

They used to band every tooth?! Oh my! I wonder what other major changes have taken place over the last couple of decades...

My only update is that I bought a Waterpik tonight. I haven't used it yet, but will give it a try before bed. I'll let everyone know how Monday goes!