OMG - wire poking!!

[Green~Tara]

This is my fourth week in the braces - until a couple days ago, I had no problems with the wires, just the brackets. Now my inside cheeks are pretty toughened up and I'm used to the brackets - but a wire on one side seems to have gotten longer and it's literally grabbing my inner cheek and shredding it.

I'm going to call the ortho tomorrow and see if they can squeeze me in to clip it. But is this normal? Did my teeth shift and cause the wire to protrude more?

[klobird]

Hey Tara---For me, a poking wire is the norm!! I have been to the ortho soooo many times to get a wire clipped. I would suggest putting wax over the end of the pokey until you can get in---otherwise the poking into the cheek will drive you insane! And my ortho said that it is because the teeth are moving.

[Green~Tara]

Thank you Klobird! I really gummed it up with wax - he's going to have to give me more for sure.

I guess the exciting part is that my teeth are moving!

[loradora]

I agree with Klobird - as your teeth move, the wire begins to stick out. Just keep putting wax on it and tell the ortho on your next visit.

[Snowglobe32]

If the wire is poking, go in and get it clipped. There is no reason to have to put up with that.

As the teeth move and straighten out, wires can become too long. It has happened to me a couple of time. Your ortho can also put a stopper on the wire so the wire doesn't shift.

Good Luck!

[bracketeer]

This is my fourth week in the braces - until a couple days ago, I had no problems with the wires, just the brackets. Now my inside cheeks are pretty toughened up and I'm used to the brackets - but a wire on one side seems to have gotten longer and it's literally grabbing my inner cheek and shredding it.

I'm going to call the ortho tomorrow and see if they can squeeze me in to clip it. But is this normal? Did my teeth shift and cause the wire to protrude more?

This is my 3rd week in braces, and this is totally happening to me! Exactly the same as you...a wire on one side seems to have gotten longer and is literally poking the heck out of my inner cheek!

I'm going to see my Ortho today. But I'm so glad my teeth are on the move!!

[ArchWired28]

Sorry to hear your wire is poking. It must be really painful. I was told to just try to clip it if it gets too uncomfortable. At least you know that your teeth are moving.

[flynn]

Oh this is funny- my wire just started poking my cheek last night and is driving me insane (ok, I keep playing with it). I am seriously going to have to invest in wax. Havent used much up to this point, next ortho appt isnt for another 4 weeks! I may have to call and get in earlier for this.
SOOO glad to know its because teeth are moving

[TinkB]

Oh this is funny- my wire just started poking my cheek last night and is driving me insane (ok, I keep playing with it). I am seriously going to have to invest in wax. Havent used much up to this point, next ortho appt isnt for another 4 weeks! I may have to call and get in earlier for this.
SOOO glad to know its because teeth are moving

4 weeks is a long time to go with a wire poking you. Wax will help a bit but sometimes it is hard to keep on constantly. Call your ortho's office and they can usually get you right in to clip the wire.

WooHoo for teeth moving!

[DrJasonKTam]

Either the wire has shifted or your teeth have moved.

When your teeth are crooked, the wire is relatively longer than the perimeter of an ideal shaped arch. As the wire straightens with your teeth, the only place the wire can come out is behind the most distal tooth. This is also the case when spaces are being closed.

The day braces go on, we actually provide a demo on what to do with long wires and a comfort kit that includes an orthodontic wire clipper (at great cost to us, but it is something our patients appreciate dearly!)