Self-ligating braces: difficulty & pain when getting wires off
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Self-ligating braces: difficulty & pain when getting wires off
Three weeks into my braces journey, and I just had my appointment to have brackets put on four crowned molars plus my first wire change top and bottom. OWIE. The tech. (who is experienced) had a hard time opening some of the gates on the metal self-ligating brackets on the bottom teeth, and it really hurt. Felt like she was pulling my teeth out! She felt bad and didn't know why they were being so stubborn. She said that sometimes tartar can make them harder to open, but that my dental hygiene was impeccable, so that wasn't the problem here.
The ceramic brackets on top opened up much more easily and without pain.
I pre-medicated with two ibuprofen, but still...ouch! I hope it's not this bad every time.
Anyone else had this problem?
The ceramic brackets on top opened up much more easily and without pain.
I pre-medicated with two ibuprofen, but still...ouch! I hope it's not this bad every time.
Anyone else had this problem?
- Prometheus
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Re: Self-ligating braces: difficulty & pain when getting wires off
Yes indeed, I have the same ceramic top / metal bottom self-ligating brackets (Damon) and the same problem. A couple of the bottom ones are always hard to open, and they don't know why. The ceramic ones are never a problem. As for the crowned molars, my brackets kept falling off them so they switched the brackets out for metal bands which have been problem free, knock wood!
Lower braces on March 11, 2015, upper braces added July 14, 2015.
Damon, metal bottom / clear top.
Braces off March 26, 2018: Total time in braces: 3 years, 2 weeks and 1 day.
Hawley retainers top and bottom.
Damon, metal bottom / clear top.
Braces off March 26, 2018: Total time in braces: 3 years, 2 weeks and 1 day.
Hawley retainers top and bottom.
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Re: Self-ligating braces: difficulty & pain when getting wires off
Oh lord, they didn't even mention that possibility to me. I had the full metal bands on all teeth when I had braces as a pre-teen, and I think they traumatized me for life. I hope my brackets stick! They did rough up the crowns some and use a special glue, so I am crossing my fingers.Prometheus wrote:Yes indeed, I have the same ceramic top / metal bottom self-ligating brackets (Damon) and the same problem. A couple of the bottom ones are always hard to open, and they don't know why. The ceramic ones are never a problem. As for the crowned molars, my brackets kept falling off them so they switched the brackets out for metal bands which have been problem free, knock wood!
Have you had to have your wires changed at every appointments? I'm going to be dreading my next appointment after today's pain!
- Prometheus
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- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2015 4:27 pm
Re: Self-ligating braces: difficulty & pain when getting wires off
They always remove the wires at each appointment and have me brush and floss. They want to be sure the slots are cleaned well each time I go in. Frequently they just put the same wires back in. I don't get " upgraded" to heavier wires all that often. It took two and a half years before I got to the thickest wire on top, a 21x25 rectangular stainless steel one. I still have a relatively thin one on the bottom.
Lower braces on March 11, 2015, upper braces added July 14, 2015.
Damon, metal bottom / clear top.
Braces off March 26, 2018: Total time in braces: 3 years, 2 weeks and 1 day.
Hawley retainers top and bottom.
Damon, metal bottom / clear top.
Braces off March 26, 2018: Total time in braces: 3 years, 2 weeks and 1 day.
Hawley retainers top and bottom.
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- Posts: 476
- Joined: Tue Jul 11, 2017 6:01 am
Re: Self-ligating braces: difficulty & pain when getting wires off
Interesting. They didn't have me brush or floss when the took my wires out today. The tech. told me I was doing a great job with my hygiene, so that was nice.Prometheus wrote:They always remove the wires at each appointment and have me brush and floss. They want to be sure the slots are cleaned well each time I go in. Frequently they just put the same wires back in. I don't get " upgraded" to heavier wires all that often. It took two and a half years before I got to the thickest wire on top, a 21x25 rectangular stainless steel one. I still have a relatively thin one on the bottom.
My entire treatment time is estimated at 8-14 months, so a lot shorter than yours. They "upgraded" both my wires this time by one size, though they are still pretty thin. I think they said "14" was the size.
One difference I noticed is that on the wire between the two front bottom teeth in the center, there's a thicker, cylindrical part that wasn't on the original wire. Any idea what that is for? They don't tend to tell me a lot about what they are doing so I didn't even know about this difference in the wire until I got home and looked in the mirror.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
- Prometheus
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- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2015 4:27 pm
Re: Self-ligating braces: difficulty & pain when getting wires off
That cylinderical bit is called a "stop" because it stops the wire from sliding too far left or right. Without the stop the wire can slide far enough so it pokes out the last bracket on your molar and ends up poking you in the cheek...ouch! I always make sure the tech crimps the stop in place well because the've forgotten one or twice and I ended up with a bleeding cheek. Also, "14" refers to the diameter of the wire in thousandths of an inch. The early ones are round, the later ones are square or rectanglar.
Lower braces on March 11, 2015, upper braces added July 14, 2015.
Damon, metal bottom / clear top.
Braces off March 26, 2018: Total time in braces: 3 years, 2 weeks and 1 day.
Hawley retainers top and bottom.
Damon, metal bottom / clear top.
Braces off March 26, 2018: Total time in braces: 3 years, 2 weeks and 1 day.
Hawley retainers top and bottom.
Re: Self-ligating braces: difficulty & pain when getting wires off
I had that issue with two ceramic brackets on top. My theory was that after 4-6 weeks of moving, the wire was torqueing the bracket (perhaps due to tooth rotation) in such a way to jam the mechanism a bit. In theory the wires are supposed to move effortlessly through the brackets but I suspect that it is possible for them to get a bit jammed up. Once my ortho had to open the gate and did it fairly easily, because I suspect he was able to manipulate the wire to reduce the strain. Who knows. If it was due to hygiene, believe me the tech would have showed you the wire with gunk on it to make a point. I think they train them that way .
Dan
Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. -- Buddist saying
Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. -- Buddist saying
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Re: Self-ligating braces: difficulty & pain when getting wires off
LOL...yes, she definitely said that was not the problem here, and your theory sounds reasonable enough. I am dreading my next appointment, though, given the pain level. My bottom teeth are still a bit sensitive from my jaw fracture in April (which is the reason I have braces), so her pulling on the brackets was more than a bit uncomfortable. I did take two ibuprofen ahead of time; next time I'll go for the full 800 mg!djspeece wrote:I had that issue with two ceramic brackets on top. My theory was that after 4-6 weeks of moving, the wire was torqueing the bracket (perhaps due to tooth rotation) in such a way to jam the mechanism a bit. In theory the wires are supposed to move effortlessly through the brackets but I suspect that it is possible for them to get a bit jammed up. Once my ortho had to open the gate and did it fairly easily, because I suspect he was able to manipulate the wire to reduce the strain. Who knows. If it was due to hygiene, believe me the tech would have showed you the wire with gunk on it to make a point. I think they train them that way .
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Re: Self-ligating braces: difficulty & pain when getting wires off
Just wait until you get to the steel wires and the ortho bends them. I was literally sweating at one point when he was trying to get that wire in because it hurt so bad.
Re: Self-ligating braces: difficulty & pain when getting wires off
Maybe the tech could support the back of your tooth to help minimize it's motion. Sounds like this is not very pleasant.EmilyTravels wrote:LOL...yes, she definitely said that was not the problem here, and your theory sounds reasonable enough. I am dreading my next appointment, though, given the pain level. My bottom teeth are still a bit sensitive from my jaw fracture in April (which is the reason I have braces), so her pulling on the brackets was more than a bit uncomfortable. I did take two ibuprofen ahead of time; next time I'll go for the full 800 mg!djspeece wrote:I had that issue with two ceramic brackets on top. My theory was that after 4-6 weeks of moving, the wire was torqueing the bracket (perhaps due to tooth rotation) in such a way to jam the mechanism a bit. In theory the wires are supposed to move effortlessly through the brackets but I suspect that it is possible for them to get a bit jammed up. Once my ortho had to open the gate and did it fairly easily, because I suspect he was able to manipulate the wire to reduce the strain. Who knows. If it was due to hygiene, believe me the tech would have showed you the wire with gunk on it to make a point. I think they train them that way .
Dan
Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. -- Buddist saying
Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. -- Buddist saying
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- Posts: 476
- Joined: Tue Jul 11, 2017 6:01 am
Re: Self-ligating braces: difficulty & pain when getting wires off
She actually did this -- thank goodness1djspeece wrote:Maybe the tech could support the back of your tooth to help minimize it's motion. Sounds like this is not very pleasant.
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Re: Self-ligating braces: difficulty & pain when getting wires off
Yes to everything said. I have aching with a few teeth 2-3 days prior to a wire change. My theory with the painful wire chsnge is also that tooth rotation can make some of those wires hard to get out or doors to open. Before, I would just feel a pinch of pain, but Just got back from the ortho and I was praying, sweating, and almost cussed everyone out. I thought I was getting a tooth extracted, no joke. I really do believe it’s a rotation thing because for me, it’s the teeth that curve with your mouth (canines, etc). And the brackets themselves aren’t flush in center of tooth straight out now, they’re kinda facing upwards while my teeth are becoming straight, if that makes any sense at all. Day 1, I pop some Tylenol before the appointment, then afterwards I’m okay all night. But for about a week, I just come home, swish some Jim Beam bourbon whiskey, take a shot, put an ice pack on my mouth, and go to sleep after work.