Got SPEED braces today, CONSTANT annoying pressure!!!???!!!

[ArchWired28]

Got my upper SPEED braces today (lower to follow in 3-4 months). The pressure is totally driving me NUTS! The pressure is so high on the top two front teeth that I think I literally feel them moving already! I know it is impossible, but can't help it.
Is there any cure for it or anything? I complained to the office and they think this is totally normal. HELP! I think I am going coo-coo!!!!

[ArchWired28]

And now my teeth ache when I try to bite down... It feels like my teeth are being torn from the gums. And this torture will last 18-20 months, and costed me over 5 grants. Great... :-(

[Jen8626]

Try taking Ibuprofen to help ease the pain and aches. The pressure is very normal, especially in the first few days. It will get better. Hang in there! I couldn't bite down either, I remember the teeth felt like rods shooting up into my jaw trying to bite down. No pain no gain!

[ArchWired28]

Jen8626
thanks for your support! I really hope that things will brighten up in a few days. As for now, I just want to tear that thing off my teeth...

[ArchWired28]

It is funny how I was going to have a sandwich for lunch today, after I get my braces on. In reality, I have barely managed some mashed potatoes with a soft soy burger (I am a vegetarian). HA-HA, silly me!

[Jen8626]

You'll get there The good news is, well for me anyway I hope other people will agree, the first few days are definitely the worst. I know it feels like you've been smacked in the mouth with a baseball bat but each adjustment gets better over time to the point where you forget all about your braces.

[Bracer215]

Hi Archwired
It does get better as all have stated. It's been about 11 weeks since I got a new wire and I barely feel any pressure at all(except when I put my elastics on at night). But I go in next week and will probably get a new wire.
I was just wondering what makes them SPEED braces. Do you have a particular brand? 18 to 20 months seems like a fairly long time. I know they have 6 month smile system which folks keep on for about 6 months according to advertisements. And it looks like they are dealing with some complicated isues. Not sure how they are able to do that considering most of us are in braces for a considerably longer time.
Maybe someone out there can explain how 6 month braces work.

[Kipepeo]

Six Month Smiles braces use low force to move teeth more comfortably. Many people think that the accelerated treatment means simply “tightening” regular braces to get the teeth moving, but that is not true. Six Month Smiles utilizes standard orthodontic mechanics, but with an emphasis on the cosmetic appearance of your teeth rather than the position of your bite. http://www.6monthsmiles.com/pages/patie ... w_faq.aspx

Self Ligating Braces are braces with brackets that do not need ligatures (the small bands that hold the wire in place). You may also hear them referred to as "speed braces". Rather than using ligatures or metal ties, the brackets themselves have a sort of trap door that holds the arch wire in place. According to manufacturers this creates less friction between the wire and the bracket. http://www.orthopages.com/speed-braces.asp

[ArchWired28]

Well, it's been 3 days and the pressure is less. HOWEVER! The pain in the individual teeth is even worse. What I cannot understand is why the teeth hurt in turns? Is this because the ones that are crooked more hurt first? For how long will the pain last? I cannot bite down on anything and when I lightly press on some teeth with my finger it HURTS! And some are loose as well... Oh God, help me!

Bracer215
I got braces because of the TMJ issues and there is some major work to be done, like expansion of both arches (not the bone, just the teeth), correction of minor crowding in the front, moving the midlines, correction of overbite and also molar eruption to preserve the vertical dimension comfortable for my TMJs.
I guess that is why the timeline. The ortho told me that although it is possible to complete the treatment in 17 months, most likely it will be 20 or thereabouts.

Kipepeo
thank you! This information is exactly right.

[ann0rz]

I'm sorry to hear about the pain. My first 2 weeks in braces was pretty painful, and I was really sad that I couldn't enjoy all the delicious foods without something or the other cutting into my cheek. But you become immune to it pretty quickly, and soon you'll be going back to your old routine without the least notice to your braces! In the meantime, use it as an excuse to devour lots of milkshakes and other liquid yumminess ("Hey, gotta replace the calorie deficit somehow!")

At least take consolation in the fact that pain = progress! I just got a new wire and my teeth are decidedly very sore right now, but I am masochistically enjoying the feeling of knowing it means movement!

[Bracer215]

Hi Archwired
I know what you mean about certain teeth hurting at different times. One day one of my teeth will be real sensitive and in a week or two it will subside and another tooth will be sensitive. My co worker also wears braces and is convinced the ortho sits in his office and pushes a button and says I think I will make this tooth hurt today.

[chainreaction]

Ive had mine for 2 months ..seems like my teeth go thru hurting cycles ..one week the left side hurts ..then the right ..sometimes just one tooth or the front ones ...I guess as each one is moving a little it makes room for another one to shift a little ...and YES they defenitley move this soon....I always feel some type of pressure but then some days its like "hey I dont notice my teeth hurting that much !"...it gets better...