Surgical hooks prior to surgery

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#1 Post by **Thathrill** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 10:22 pm

Ok I wasn't originally worried about this until I start reading about it on here. As of right now I will see the ortho on July 18 to get surgical hooks put on and then have oral surgery on July 24. I think a week is a bit much to have to deal with these hooks prior to surgery but I wanted to know what has everyone else experienced. How much of a nuisance are these things. I had one of the techs show me an example of a hook on my last adjustment and they do not look very comfortable at all especially if they will be on every bracket lol

#2 Post by **kaycee** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 1:15 am

I guess I was lucky, my surgical hooks are nothing like the pictures I've seen here. Mine are attached to a fine wire that are wrapped around those brackets that didn't originally come with hooks. I have eight in all, the ceramic brackets and brackets on the bottom front needed to have hooks put on. I can barely feel them.

kaycee

#3 Post by **amd** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 5:38 am

My surgery is on the 17th and I've had my "practise" set of surgery wires on now for about a week. They are the same as the real deal without the hooks. My ortho puts these on first to close any possible remaining gaps and keep them closed. I also am powerchained all round.

This hurt! The wire is heavier than my last wires and my teeth really objected. I see my ortho this thurs to "try on" the ones with the hooks to make sure all the bends etc fit.

Then I see my ortho again on the 10th of July, another fitting and molds and wax bite thing.

The wires with hooks go on on July 16th, the day before the operation.

I guess every ortho is different. I read somewhere in here that someone had their hooks on for about a week prior to surgery and they just bent the hooks inwards so they wouldn't get caught on the cheeks and lips.

who knows.....

#4 Post by **Andantae** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 6:43 am

Hi Thathrill,
I never noticed my surgical hooks. They were clamped onto my regular archwire the day before surgery, but even now I don't notice them.

#5 Post by **chipmunkcheeks** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:02 am

one week isnt bad...bottoms have been on for almost 2 weeks, and will be 3 weeks prior to surgery that ive had them and tops, two weeks. you actually dont feel them. its mostly just a pain for cleaning, but what isnt at this point!

ps- i think my OD likes torture, i had my RPE in 16 days before srugery last summer...

#6 Post by **Emaciated** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:21 am

To add onto chipmunkcheeks, at the point that you're ready for surgery, you've been through so much and have likely had so much hardware in and out of your mouth that a few additional "items" are barely noticeable.

I'll second that the most annoying part is that they up the "food getting stuck" factor. They're nothing to worry about. You'll be totally numb soon anyway and then you really won't notice them.

#7 Post by **loulou123** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:33 am

I had mine put in 5 days before surgery and they were abit anoying for food getting stuck in them, but there really not too bad.

Ive still got my top ones in now, over 4 months on, so i guess you definately get used to them!

Honesty tho itll be fine.

#8 Post by **Thathrill** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 7:40 pm

Thanks for the encouragement! still not looking forward to it but I am sure I will deal with it like i have done everything else. I have like 3-4 appts before surgery so this is going to be crazy.

#9 Post by **hedybleu** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 7:24 pm

I just had my hooks put on today and have surgery tomorrow. I was really nervous about this, but it turned out to be a non-event. Really no pain and only mildly annoying on the bottom front teeth but I haven't even used any wax yet. Like Kaycee these used fine wire on my upper & lower front teeth and then for the sides, they used these little "pre-made" hooks with a tiny ball attached at the end. Really I thought it was gonna be just awful, but I barely notice them.

#10 Post by **Emerald** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 11:30 am

I had my hooks put on last Thurs

My ortho removed the wires I already had in and attached the hooks in the spaces between the brackets.

I would post a photo but I'm waiting for my bf to send them to me.

They haven't made a difference to me at all, except gettin bits of food stuck in them.

Not long left till my surgery now...

#11 Post by **Thathrill** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:40 pm

ok i feel much much better. I really appreciate you guys

#12 Post by **Emerald** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 12:22 pm

Here are photos of my hooks (click to see close up)

#13 Post by **Thathrill** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 8:54 pm

Thank you for the pics. Well I decided not to change my appt on friday just yet. I will wait at least until tomorrow when I have my pre op surgical work up. I will be waking up at 6am for the 7am appointment. I will need a big vat of starbucks afterwards LOL

#14 Post by **Thathrill** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 7:52 pm

Ok I officially hate these things. LOL The hooks on the tops are beginning to chafe my upper lip. I just want to snip every single one of these hooks out of my mouth. I just can't wait till thursday at least I feel like I will be moving forward

#15 Post by **chipmunkcheeks** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 8:29 pm

i dont know how close in proximity you are to your OD, but when i told mine that it was poking my lips, just like what you are saying is happening, he bent them in a bit and it really help, as i have not been bothered by them. the good thing is...maybe...after thursday your top jaw will probably be numb, and you wont feel them chaffing...seriously, its easier to brush my teeth now, i dont worry about poking my gums, i cant feel it!!! anyways, see if s/he can do anything about it, otherwise WAX em up!

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