Ligs - how often are yours changed?

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#1 Post by **TheNewEmperor** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 9:51 pm

I've got 'old school' braces...full metal jacket with ligs. I've had them since April. My Dr doesn't change the ligs....infact, they haven't been changed since they went on except for the top and only because I told him I was sick of the colour and wanted a change

Is he being tight and trying to save money or is this normal? When I read the forum it seems like majority get their ligs changed with each adjustment (I've had 3 adjustments already).

#2 Post by **PigletInIowa** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 11:33 pm

I have ceramic top and metal bottom. Every time I went in for adjustment, my upper clear ligs got changed, but never the bottom, after even 3 adjustment since I first got my braces. I always just assumed the bottoms are gray colors that they don't stain

#3 Post by **purpleteeth** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 5:12 am

You can always start asking for wire ligs, then you won't really notice as much whether or not they are changed.

Personally, I don't deal with ligs because I have self-ligating brackets... however I would be concerned since it seems like most people get them changed every visit.

#4 Post by **ema27** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 12:35 pm

In the early days i got my ligs changed near enough every time.however there was a point a few months back when i requested the ligs to be changed as it had been 6 whole months and the gold was not looking gold any more -more like dirt..
I would just ask if you want them changed the worse he can say is no...

#5 Post by **florencegal** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 1:14 pm

I've had the top ligs changed every adjustment because I've stuck with the clear ones and they stain (even though this last month I've actually managed to give up the super-staining espresso!). I've also been in between adjustments to have new ligs when a couple have snapped. The bottom ones usually got changed every time apart from the last few months when I've had wire ligs as they were starting to snap sometimes too.

I dare say there's no harm in you keeping them on and I certainly wouldn't think your ortho is doing it to save pennies - they can't cost that much! As long as they haven't broken, I suppose they should still be doing their job (i.e holding the archwire onto the brackets) just fine, whether they've been on 1 month or 6. But speak up and ask for them to be changed if you want - you're a paying customer after all and it's nice to ring the changes with some colour!

x

#6 Post by **platinum** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 2:41 pm

I get my ligs changed in every adjustment. Once they almost left the same powerchain, but I informed that I want it to be vchanged because of staining.

But, hey, here is a one reason to get ceramic braces, because you get ligs changed more often

#7 Post by **TigerLily** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 2:59 pm

Hmm...are they changing your archwire but not your ligs?

I have wire ligs but it all comes off each adjustment, I get new archwire and new wire ligs (though that's the most uncomfortable part).

I have occasionally had one or two elastic ligs or a powerchain. Once I went in when one of these were particularly manky (at least it seemed that way to me) and I wanted it changed. To my surprise, my ortho changed the wire ligs else too as she said she wanted to apply even pressure or something along those lines.

#8 Post by **rolo** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 3:30 pm

Only ceramic lowers, and they get changed every time, they only have "tooth" coloured

, so I guess they would stain if they were left. They also told me I could have them changed free of charge between adjustments, by any ortho at the practice.

I would ask if you want them changed.

#9 Post by **Miss Smiley** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 2:31 am

Weird, I get mine changed each time, which is 3 weeks. My ortho also tells me I can come in whenever they are discolored. I do have clear ligs but he did not say anything about there being too much friction and so far it seems that I am ahead of schedule. If I am having powerchains changed out, the girls seem to stretch them out a bit before putting them on if it is not an adjustment. But then again, I also heard my ortho telling a patient "I can take them off now, but wouldn't you wait just a couple months and have me make it perfect?" Haha I guess he's a bit of a perfectionist and prefers his patients to have clean, fresh ligs each time and all the time.

#10 Post by **TheNewEmperor** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 2:37 am

TigerLily wrote:Hmm...are they changing your archwire but not your ligs?

I have wire ligs but it all comes off each adjustment, I get new archwire and new wire ligs (though that's the most uncomfortable part).

No, I haven't had a new archwire on either the top or bottom (yet...). I have a new colour on top and will ask him to change the bottom on the next adjustment as everyone has suggested.

It just seems really odd...since everyone else seems to have great fun changing lig colours....will have to ask him his theory behind it all!!

thanks everyone for the answers, hope you've all had a good braces day.

#11 Post by **browneyedgrl** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 4:38 am

I've had my braces for 6 months. Ceramic uppers from 4-4 with metal brackets on the #5's and all lower metals. When ever I've had elastic ligs on any of my brackets, they've been changed at every appointment. I've had the same lower wire for 5 months and I've had the same wire ties for 4 months already. I've had 3 powerchains on my lowers and those have been changed at every appointment. As far as my uppers go, my ceramics have been wiretied the whole time, but I've had issues with my upper wire breaking. I got my first powerchain on my uppers as well.

B