Please reassure me!! (simple question)

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#1 Post by **gary** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 6:51 pm

So after getting braced today I was looking at them in the mirror. I notice that the dr put the back most molar bands around my second to last molars on the tops and bottoms. I am not mistaking the back ones for my wisdom teeth (I still have them on my tops). They are positively around the second to last molars. Is this normal? Why do they not go around the farthest ones back? I seriously doubt that he would make such a mistake after taking his sweet sweet time this morning. Should I call him tomorrow?!

#2 Post by **felicia** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 8:18 pm

No, he did not make a mistake. That's where they are suppose to be. The doctors do not put the molar bands on the last molars because molars are only used as anchors to your arch wire. In the whole orthodontic process, only the teeth and the premolars are suppose to move.No orthodontist in his right mind would try to move molars...they have 4 roots, and they are nearly impossible to move, if not impossible.

#3 Post by **gary** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 8:54 pm

Phew, thankyou for the response. I'm sure that was among one of the dumbest questions ever asked on this forum, but I seriously had no idea. I really know squat about this process aside from the fact that I don't know how I'm ever going to get used to these things in any way shape or form. Again thanks for clearing that up....

#4 Post by **tsmurfenator** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:05 pm

felicia wrote:No orthodontist in his right mind would try to move molars...they have 4 roots, and they are nearly impossible to move, if not impossible.

I have personally seen cases where folks have bands on both molars - 8 molars total. I don't know if this was done to move the molars or just provide more anchoring.
Very rare (I've seen it not more than twice), but I have seen it.
How are out of alignment molars treated? Invisalign aligners cover all of the teeth, I don't know how they deal with molar movement.

I asked my ortho because I want to put bands on all 8 molars (currently I only have the first 4). She told me to wait a few months. My back molars are out of alignment and I want them straight, plus I really just want the complete set of bands (for vanity, I guess). I'm going to ask her again and be more insistent/demanding and try to get it done on my next adjustment. I don't know if they have to put separators and make me come back. I want to just get it done.

#5 Post by **fosterp** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:14 pm

Are you positive that braces cannot move molars? I always always under the impression that they could. Very disheartening to hear because I have a gap between my last bicuspid and second molar where my first molar used to be (had to be extracted), but the gap is significantly smaller than it used to be. I always assumed it was the second molar that slowly moved forward but in my consults the dr told me he could open that gap back up for a full size implant. If braces cannot move this molar then perhaps what he was saying is not true?

#6 Post by **Skysi** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 11:37 pm

I've got 8 molar bands.

My back molar, furthest back - top left used to be tilted much more than the right, but since it got given a molar band, it's evened out. I can't tell you if it has moved, but it has tilted!

I also started out with 4 molar bands leaving the molars closest to my throat un-banded for a while.

#7 Post by **TumbleDryLow** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 7:43 am

All 8 of my molars are banded, and they have moved.
The type of movement you need will determine how many bands you have. Sometimes molars are banded later in treatment.

#8 Post by **Bellalalala** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 8:22 am

tsmurfenator wrote:
felicia wrote:No orthodontist in his right mind would try to move molars...they have 4 roots, and they are nearly impossible to move, if not impossible.
I have personally seen cases where folks have bands on both molars - 8 molars total. I don't know if this was done to move the molars or just provide more anchoring.
Very rare (I've seen it not more than twice), but I have seen it.
How are out of alignment molars treated? Invisalign aligners cover all of the teeth, I don't know how they deal with molar movement.

I asked my ortho because I want to put bands on all 8 molars (currently I only have the first 4). She told me to wait a few months. My back molars are out of alignment and I want them straight, plus I really just want the complete set of bands (for vanity, I guess). I'm going to ask her again and be more insistent/demanding and try to get it done on my next adjustment. I don't know if they have to put separators and make me come back. I want to just get it done.

Out of total curiosity, why would you want 8 molar bands for vanity??
I'm really confused by this.

#9 Post by **felicia** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:57 am

It seems that some of you disagree with me. I am pretty sure that I read that (about orthos not even trying to move molars) in one of the doctors posts. I agree with SKYSI, molars can tip, my molars also started to tip, but it was because of my expander.
Maybe the doctors on this forum could explain us better, so that we all understand.

#10 Post by **drrick** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 11:52 am

Molars move just like all the the other teeth. They are not set in stone by any means (if they were we wouldnt need tads

)
Some docs do not bond or band the 2nd molars. In some cases (open bite cases for example) it can make the case more difficult to treat (not always) So it can be case specific. Other times the dos c will monitor the second molars to see if they need the position adjusted. Also when trating younger pts sometimes the seconds arent fully erupted yet so they do not get bonded/banded.

#11 Post by **felicia** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 2:15 pm

I apologize, I was wrong about molars not moving. I guess they can move.
Thanks Drrick for making it clear to us.
P.S. now I am really determined about finding the post where I read that molars are not to be moved.

#12 Post by **gary** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 3:16 pm

Wait, so me having my bands on only the second to last molars is not abnormal right? What say you drrick??

#13 Post by **I love my teeth** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 3:17 pm

I just got bands put on my back 4 molars today, after 8months......I have had a Nance TPA appliance in for 3 months to close a space b/t a canine and first molar, today he clipped out the Nance part of the TPA

I thought I was getting the whole thing out

And placed bands on the farthest back 4 molars......they will be used as an anchor to pull all the front teeth in. However, it appears that these molars are tipped or something, because now my bite is off again. He put me back in a 16-22 NiTi wire for 6 weeks (from stainless steel

) He said once those molars "unraveled" he could go back to the stronger/thicker wires and use power chains to pull all my teeth back and close up the gaps.....so alas, I am again waiting 6 weeks for the good stuff to happen!! slow, is not even the word for this process!!Patience is not a virtue I have!!

Anyone have a similar experience? Or maybe Dr. Rick could chime in, as to how long this type of process usually takes......

#14 Post by **I love my teeth** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 3:20 pm

tsmurfinator--

As far as afixing the new bands, yes, I went in for an appt last week and had 4 spacers put in.....then today they did the bands, just like before the first ones were put on....the spacers were horrible, but not as bad as the first time I had them...but just like the first time, I was glad to get them out!!!!!!

#15 Post by **felicia** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 10:42 pm

My bands are on my second to last molars. I am 4 1/2 months into my treatment, and everything is going great.
P.S.From now on I'm gonna talk strictly from my experience...and not from what I've read in other people's posts.