Braces put on today

Message

#1 Post by **deebee18** » Sun Jan 24, 2010 12:29 am

Hi All!

I am new @ this forum and I find it very informative!!

I had my braces (ceramic) put on earlier today and so far I am feeling ok about it. Just slightly uncomfortable due to the spacers put in. So far I am able to eat.

My ortho only installed the top & bottom brackets first w/o the wire and had put spacers on my left top and bottom molars. He will put the wire and bands on in 1-2 weeks time. He wanted me to get used to the brackets first and for my teeth to move due to the spacers? Is that a normal process. I always thought spacers are put on before the actual braces are installed?

Will the spacers hurt me in a couple of days?

Anyway, I will keep everyone updated...

#2 Post by **TumbleDryLow** » Sun Jan 24, 2010 7:14 am

Most times the spacers are put in first and before anything else, but not always. I had some brackets placed on my teeth (no wires) for a few weeks so that I could get used to them as well. My ortho wanted me to see what braces felt like before I had 4 teeth extracted. She said that a very small percent of her patients just cannot handle braces. She'd rather that they find that out before extractions, as once those teeth are gone, there is no going back.

You ortho is probably just trying to ease you into things. Brackets rubbing on your cheeks and tongue is no fun. You mouth will toughen up after a week or two, so when the wire is added and your teeth hurt, you'll only need to deal with that one thing.

And you may be one of those lucky people whose spacers do not hurt, but from what I remember my teeth didn't hurt right away either. 12 hours later though....yikes!

#3 Post by **daffodil** » Sun Jan 24, 2010 8:33 am

People seem to have a wide range of experiences with spacers. I just got spacers on my back teeth (top and bottom) a couple weeks ago and was fine for the first day or so, but after that I couldn't chew and had a lot of pressure/discomfort in my front teeth too. I threw in the towel and just ate a lot soup and jello and other soft things. After about a week of that, the pressure in the rest of my teeth went away and I feel mostly normal, although I'm still eating only soft things. I haven't had to take painkillers.

#4 Post by **evilnel** » Sun Jan 24, 2010 6:38 pm

I got spacers on my bottom teeth the same day I got braces on the bottom 10 or so, and at my last adjustment (Friday), they took out the spacers and put in molar bands. I think they usually do spacers first, but it can be done other ways.

#5 Post by **nuttynat** » Mon Jan 25, 2010 11:05 pm

The spacers caused me some discomfort and I just stuck to soft food like custard

It's been a few days, how are you feeling now?

#6 Post by **Finn** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 1:53 am

Hi Deebee,

how are you feeling today? Does it hurt and have your braces been completed?

I am also new to this forum. Thank you all for all the informations! It´s really helpful.
Deebee, I really would be interested in how much it hurts. I´m getting my braces on in very few weeks (after all the paperstuff has been done). I already know that I´ll get one molarband each side, but they didn´t even tell me about spacers. Might it be that they´re going to squeeze them in without making space? If the space ist made by spacers or by molarbands doesn´t matter, does it?
Now I have all these horrorstories in my brain, about terrible pain and what if I can´t make it.

I already asked myself what I´m putting myself into. But I guess it will be a gain in experience.

Hope you are feeling well, deebee.

cu,
Finn

#7 Post by **deebee18** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 5:01 pm

Hi All..

Thanks for all the response. It actually took me about 2 years on deciding on the braces. At first, I wanted metal, then went for a consult for Invisalign, then finally decided for ceramic..

@ Finn & Nuttynat.. - - >> It's been 3 days since I had my brackets and spacers put on. Since, my teeth were tight, my ortho had to put the spacers in to make space. That way when the actual molar band goes in, it would not be as painful I guess.

So far, I am feeling fine.. No pain at all, just this weird/uncomfortable feeling due to the spacers on my top and bottom left molars. I can still eat anything. Actually, the first night of the braces, we had a family party and was still able to eat porkchops. It's just that I had to chew my food on the right side, but today, I can chew on both sides now. =). But still I cant eat just as fast I how I used to be before the braces. Hehe

My ortho/dentist, which happens to be my uncle was gentle enough to let me have the brackets and spacers on first so I can get a feeling of how its like to have it on.. But sometimes, wonder "what if" I got Invisalign instead.. It just seems so hassle free..