Spacers in - not as bad as I thought it would be...

[sibilla]

Got two spacers in yesterday and after scaring myself half to death reading all the scare stories about them, I have to say they aren't painful - just very, very uncomfortable. Biting is a bit sore but all in all, not as bad as I'd feared....

Just thought I'd put this out there for anyone else worried about having them....

[silverblack]

First post!
I agree they were not bad at all. I didn't even know I was getting them until the ortho said now I'll just pop these blue rings between your teeth :/
They really hurt when they were being put in and taken out again.

[tkna]

I had spacers put in last week and there was no pain but after I left the office the pain started kicking in. I guess it varies from person to person. The spacers are gone and now I have 4 molar bands and they're a pain!

[sibilla]

True enough - everyone's pain threshold is different. I'm just thankful they weren't as bad as I'd feared they would be. Bands are next for me then the dreaded bite plane - that'll wipe the smile off my face!

[Roboto]

I said the same thing at first! They weren't particularly painful but they were soooooo annoying. Chewing hurt because it would push the spacer down into my gum and make it sore. I also could never tell if there was food stuck in them or not because it always felt like there was food stuck. I'm so glad they're out. The terrible reputation of spacers definitely comes from how freakin' annoying they are... like when you get a popcorn kernel stuck in your teeth and can't get it out.. 24/7. ::shudders::

[Sevilon]

I didn't find spacers bad at all. The first go-round I had 2 rubber ones and one metal one. Two of them fell out after 2 weeks, but it turned out none of them had done their job well enough and I had to have them put back in for 2 more weeks. That time I had some soreness, which I took as a good sign, but nothing bad at all. The bands/elastics aren't so bad either. The bite turbos, however, annoy me to no end. I hate those things and can't wait for them to be out!

[sibilla]

Sevilon - how long have you had your bite turbos in (I'm guessing they are the same things we call bite planes/plates)? Mine goes in next week and I am so not looking forward to it. When even the ortho warns you to try to pick a time when you won't have to speak to people on the phone at work too much you just know it's going to be bad.....

How long did it take for your speech to get back to normal and how long before you were able to chew with your back teeth? I know everyone's different but I'm trying to get as much information tucked under my belt as possible to keep me going when I get a really bad 'what was I thinking' moment (of which I'm sure there will be many...)

Oh well, as people say on here... eyes on the prize.....

[Sevilon]

I have had them for about 5 weeks I think. Talking was terrible the first few days. Better after a week and almost normal after 2 or 3 weeks. Hang in there, it DOES get better.

As far as eating, I think 2 or 3 weeks there was a noticeable difference. I actually have a call in to my ortho today because today I started biting through the elastic that goes across one side of my back teeth and my next apt. Isn't until Nov. That's a good sign though as it means those back teeth are fully touching!