Spacers Question

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#1 Post by **chicago29** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 2:51 pm

Iâ€™m supposed to go in for spacers in early November, and will have them on for about a week. After that, Iâ€™ll be fit for expanders for both upper and lower expansion surgery (yes, thatâ€™s unfortunately correct). My â€œexpansionâ€

#2 Post by **contour** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 3:00 pm

Hey - How are you?

If I was you, I wouldnt be so worried about getting spacers. There is a slight pain for the first few days, and can usually be solved by taking pain killers, but after the first couple of inital days, the pain subsides.. I'm sure you will be fine, fingers crossed and goodluck.

#3 Post by **signingsunflower** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 5:52 pm

I'm on Day 6 with spacers. Ouch. I think that the pain is different for everyone. For me, I have a LOT of crowding so spacers have been very painful. I think the pain is because my teeth have had to move a lot and they really don't have anywhere to go except to turn in! I've been taking pictures each day and I can see how some of my lower teeth (where I have the most crowding) have turned inward to compensate. Thankfully, because I have some other health problems I have access to oxycontin and other pain relievers. I really think that orthodontists should give something to their adult patients for spacer pain....at least Tylenol 3 or Lortab! My case might be an exception to the rule since I have really crowded teeth and also have been undergoing chemotherapy. I tried at first to just take Tylenol and Ibuprofen but that didn't do much for me.

Just remember...that the pain is only for 7 days! My ortho was nice and did all of my spacers at once so I don't have to go through this again. I'm really grateful for that.

Yesterday, it didn't seem like there would be enough room to get my molar bands on when I checked the space in between my teeth. But today, thank you Lord, my spacers are very loose! I am soo glad.

I get braced tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. I thought my day would never come!!!! I know that one week spacer pain will be worth it when my jaw alignment is fixed and I have a great smile.

I wish you the best of luck. Don't give up on the process...and remember it is a process. God gives you enough energy to get through the day. Don't worry about tomorrow....you WILL get through it. Staying busy has really helped me this week.

#4 Post by **signingsunflower** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 6:50 pm

Meryaten,

I'm sure you are VERY right about orthos giving out pain meds. I just hate for anyone to be in pain. I'm sure that this would involve a lot of extra record keeping for the ortho.

I'm also sure that the pain I experienced wasn't the norm. So when I talk about it....I try to make sure that people know that. I don't want to scare anyone away. I had a lot of pain because of excessive crowding and other health issues....but I know that it will certainly be worth it in the end!!!!

#5 Post by **jjjmac** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 8:29 pm

Hey, chicago. As everyone has said, the pain is different for everyone and is related to the amount of crowding you have. I have pretty severe crowding and had metal spacers and yes, the pain was bad - but only when I tried to eat. Otherwise, they didn't really bother me.

I think the biggest problem for me was that I didn't expect it to be quite like that so it freaked me out. I expected there to be pain, and I can handle pain quite well, but I thought I'd be able to eat soft foods. Well, until about day 6 it was only liquids for me. Taking advil did not help me, as far as being able to eat.

As far as your second question goes, that's a good question to ask your ortho when you go to get your spacers in. My guess is that you don't have anything to worry about because if the space was going to close back up, the ortho wouldn't bother putting them in.

#6 Post by **signingsunflower** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 8:47 pm

Meryten

Have I developed a tolerance to pain meds...DEFINITELY!!! They have had to continuously up the dosages for this reason. I think spacers have been heck on me because I'm already in considerable bone pain....so the added pain just didn't make things pleasant at all!!!

#7 Post by **chicago29** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 7:06 am

Thanks for everybody's input. I am pretty sure I'm still scared

However, I have to remember this is for 7 days. Honestly, that's a blip in the radar for what I'm in for...

I do have severe crowding so I expect there to be more pain than is "normal". I'll hope that Advil will make it bearable, but I guess if not than a week of slurping Mac & Cheese and smoothies isn't the end of the world!

I do assume that the pain subsides when these bad boys come out, correct? I'm thinking ahead for Thanksgiving

#8 Post by **chicago29** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 7:18 am

Just FYI - I found out the spacers are to prepare for the expander fitting. So, that makes sense to me. The spacers go on 11/10 and he said I can have them off on 11/19, 11/20, or 11/21.

You don't have to think hard to figure what date I picked to get them out

#9 Post by **Grutty** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 7:40 am

Try not to worry too much, everyone is different, and you might be one of the lucky ones!

My spacers werent that bad. My teeth were really sore for about three days, but only when I was trying to chew. In fact, I kept forgetting they were in there until mealtime: OW! (chomping through cheeseburger) my teeth!

By the end of the week you should be able to eat pretty much everything again.

#10 Post by **almost50** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 9:00 am

My spacers were a little painful, but only when I tried to chew, otherwise it wasn't too bad and my teeth were tight. Just got my braces put in yesterday, and my teeth actually feel better. Tighter, but more comfortable--kind of like they are now supported. Still have 2 spacers in the back because they couldn't fit the bands on the back bottom teeth so I have to go back to have those added in a couple weeks.

#11 Post by **TWild** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 12:09 pm

I have 2 spacers on each side/top/bottom and I've never experienced any kind of pain with them. Those teeth were so crowded I could barely floss. I don't know if the front braces pain nullified the back spacers pain or what. I'm just glad they never hurt

Fri Oct 24, 2008 2:57 pm

Hey Chicago,

I got my spacers out today!! As soon as they were out...the pain was gone. I just got my braces put on and my teeth feel GREAT compared to how they felt with the spacers. Braces are DEFINTELY better!