Headgear not as powerful as Pendulum appliance?

Message

#1 Post by **Kerridwen** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 3:12 am

I've had my headgear for three weeks now.
Today I had an appointment with my orthodontist to see if it's working the way it's supposed to...

Obviously it doesn't. I have worn my headgear 24/7! I swear, I didn't go anywhere during the weekends and I generally stay home all day long, it doesn't make me very happy to be honest...thinking that actually I should be dating...anyway.

Now she told me that if my teeth don't move in another three weeks time she is gonna give me a pendulum appliance. Trouble is: if I get that pendulum she's not gonna be able to brace my upper teeth anytime soon and gawd, I have such a bad overjet, I wanna get rid of it as soon as possible.

I would have to wear the pendulum for at least six months, then she'd go on with upper braces...couldn't she combine it at least?

Start with both, my molars and front teeth? I have a SEVERE overjet, I'm unable to eat, I cannot close my mouth properly and it just makes me wanna cry when I think that this will probably go on for another six months or longer...

So, is it true that a headgear doesn't make the teeth move as fast as a pendulum would?

I've only worn it for three weeks, could it get better the longer I'm wearing it? I have noticed a slight difference tho, now I can put my fingernail through the gaps between my teeth (they used to be very very close together, my wisdom teeth, which are gone now, really messed with them).
But obviously that is not enough not even for a start...

She said my lowers are moving quite nicely tho...

Any help/ideas?

#2 Post by **Lisa65** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 5:02 am

Sorry to hear about your headgear woes, Kerridwen.

Moving molars isn't an easy task in adults. Sounds like yours have long roots and aren't very willing to get moving.

There are people here who've had good results with pendulum appliances. KatK is one (see here viewtopic.php?t=16701&highlight=pendulum )

I was in a similar position to you in that my top molars were too far forward. If you get braces before there's any space for the teeth to move into then they will just flare out even more and the overjet will get worse temporarily.
I had the molars moved back using screw implants. You can see the results in my blog if you want to look. Has your ortho discussed using screws with you? I managed to get about 5mm of space at the back on each side in about 6 months.

I hope that your molars get the message and move soon!

#3 Post by **Kerridwen** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 6:00 am

Thanks a lot, no, she's just talked about headgear and pendulum. I haven't asked about other methods tho.

Erm, there will be space for my front teeth to move into because I'm gonna have two premolars extracted before I'm getting my upper braces.
I should discuss that with her next time, maybe there is a change to get me braced earlier, I'm biting my gums so bad (deep bite) that I really don't want to eat anymore...keeping my mouth closed hurts enough already.

#4 Post by **Clo** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:18 am

Hi,

I think a pendulum is not as "powerful' as a headgear. So, that is not the reason.
Maybe your ortho does not believe you and wants to install a pendulum that can't
be taken out. So, that works then really 24/7. But you tell us that you wear your
headgear as instructed. And I believe you. Because a change from very tight teeth
to gaps that make it possible to put your fingernail into them in 3 weeks does not
seem bad at all. It comes close to 1 mm a month that is mentioned a lot as the
amount molars can move. You can't rush these things more. So, be patient, your
severe overjet will be tackled just fine, with the combination of your headgear and
the premolar extraction.

Good luck !

#5 Post by **Kerridwen** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 1:20 am

Thank you.

I will stick with my headgear (already paid and much cheaper than a pendulum from what I've heard) and tell my ortho that I've noticed a slight gap between my teeth. She couldn't see it and thought there wasn't any movement just yet...

I don't wanna rush things - I'm just not keen on biting my gums for another six months or longer (this is killing me since my wisdom teeth are gone, looks like none of my other molars touched anymore)...with a headgear I could go on with extractions real soon and then get braced...