Who here has the Damon braces? Opinons?

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#1 Post by **HkyGrl s2k** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:27 am

Did a quick search, but didnt come up with too much.

Bit o' Background:
I had my 3rd consultation with an Orthodontist last week. The doctors and the staff at this office are fantastic. I was really pleased with the way everything was explained to me. The doctor took pictures of my teeth and face so he could explain everything on the computer instead of me holding a mirror and him pointing at things im my mouth. He explained that they only use the Damon Braces at the office, and that I would have the half ceramics on the top teeth, and the full metal on the bottom, also that I will need Bite Turbos for a while because of my super deep bite. This Orhodontist is a little more expensive (only by a couple hundred dollars) than the other place I was considering, but I think in the long run I will be happier going to this place.

So...I wanted to find out what others experiences here were like with the Damon Braces. Were you happy with them? Do you think they were less painful than standard braces? And opinions or concerns?

Any help/information is greatly appreciated!

#2 Post by **jenny101101** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:58 am

Hi HkyGrl s2k,

I have Damon's. As for comparing them to other types, I can't say. This is my first(and hopefully only

)time in braces. I don't think it really matters what type of braces you have since it comes down to what you and your ortho are comfortable with. My ortho uses Damon's on new patients but still works with traditional ones, too. He prefers working with Damon's but every ortho's different. Remember: it's not the brackets that do the work, it's the archwire.

With that being said, I really do like my braces. Originally I wanted ceramic but I like mine now. Here's a pics so you can see the front six that are half metal/half ceramic:

I also have a molar buildup because I have an overbite. If you click on the WWW at the bottom of my post(signature)you can check out my pics in my journal for more info. Good luck in your journey!!

#3 Post by **jennielee81** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 10:46 am

I had Damons. They were fine for me. My ortho preferres to work with them and will change out traditional brackets when he gets transfer patients.

Use what your ortho prefers and you'll be fine too.

The breacket system is fairly irrelevent to the movement of teeth; the wire does all the work, the brackets just hold onto it.

#4 Post by **Flaka** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 12:56 pm

I also have Damon braces. Half clear half metal on the top 6 the rest and the bottoms are all metal.
My otho prefers to use damon only but he still uses regular braces on teens and small kids. I guess it depends on the person and the treatment.

I have a crossbite, narrow arch and some crodwing.

Go for whatever you feel comfortable with as long as you trust your ortho, you will be fine.

#5 Post by **mamakitty** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 3:37 pm

I just got my Damons put on my top teeth last night. My ortho uses many different varieties of brackets but suggested to me Damons. I wasn't really fussed about which ones he was going to put on but they feel pretty good so far. It definitely feels weird to say the least and I haven't really eaten anything yet that requires much chewing. Go for it and just keep thinking of the end result

#6 Post by **braced4asmile** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:11 pm

I've had Damons for 22 months and 1 week, but who's counting?!! I am getting them off tomorrow. The only thing that I had trouble with them are the doors. They had trouble many times opening them. At one point, my ortho got frustrated and ripped one of them off. OMG did that hurt! For some reason, the doors stick on mine and they have trouble opening them to put the new wires on. Otherwise, they did their job! Now, to get them off!!!

#7 Post by **Betty Bat** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:50 pm

Braced4asmile,
I had some problem with my Damon doors also. Once I had both the ortho and one of the assistants working on a sticky door. And, I had a bracket replaced because they couldn't get the door closed when they put a larger wire in.

It wasn't terrible (just some pushing on your teeth that you might not have expected) and it wasn't every time, but it made my wire changes a little more eventful than they might have been.

Just wanted to commiserate.

#8 Post by **acd** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 10:06 pm

No complaints here with my self ligating bottoms (not Damons but similar)and ceramic tops. Self ligating metal brackets seem to be small than ceramics and irritate the mouth less but don't get too hung up on the bracket brand and instead focus on the end result and your confidence in your ortho of getting there. Even thirty years ago orthos were able to get good results with huge metal band around each tooth and uncomfortable wires and metal ties around each band.

#9 Post by **purpleteeth** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 5:55 am

Have them and LOVE THEM! For me, there was no other option because they were going to be cheaper and they involved less time. I also felt more comfortable in the office that was doing the Damon's (they apparently specialized more with adults than the other office did).

I love the concept of the half clear/ half metal on top. They really are less obvious when you smile. The rest of the brackets will be metal though and don't count on colored ligs, because well... they just don't happen (in most cases). If you want colors, you will have to wait for elastics and or powerchains.

I like how my adjustments are so far apart, yet my teeth continue to move throughout the whole time. I have gone in for "mini adjustments" that were not scheduled between all of my routine appointments just to help with comfort and bite. The adjustments for me are still at 10 weeks apart and I have had them for over 5months, so that means only 2 scheduled adjustments thus far (but I have gone in at least 3 other times for things to be adjusted/ sanded/ clipped... nothing has broken).

I have had springs, turbos, and elastics so far. I am having some cosmetic work done at my next adjustment and I was told I would not have powerchains, but we shall see

The wires are heat activated in mine, so hot liquids just ache. I find momentary relief by holding cool water in my mouth. Fevers are a nightmare because your mouth gets hotter and it is as if you can feel the braces working harder or something - strange feeling. Hot water on my face in the shower can even make me hurt, so I have to be careful. Hot tea is not pleasant and hot coco this winter really hurt, but sometimes I dealt with the pain because it was too cold outside to drink a soda.

Haven't noticed any staining of the clear tops on the top 6. The "doors" make adjustments rather funny... and sometimes it is hard to get a "door" open, which hurts a lot. The door concept makes me fear eating something sticky and having a door just FLING OPEN, so I have behaved pretty well since getting them on.

It has been a good experience, but I have had quite a bit of pain overall. They move almost constantly and I can see the progress, but they are painful (have nothing to compare it to). The pain is more constant and fluid, like I can feel a couple of teeth at a time being worked on.

#10 Post by **HkyGrl s2k** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:11 am

Thanks for all the input everyone, its greatly appreciated!

#11 Post by **damon2's** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 11:47 am

I also love my Damons! I had traditional braces with the wire ties the first time, and yes it was much more time consuming and painful the first time around. With my Damons, I only go in every 8 weeks or so to change out the archwire, which takes about a minute. I also feel that my arch is getting wider with the Damons than when I had my 1st set of braces (maybe it has something to do with the whole self-ligating thing??). And another great thing is that Damons usually do NOT require tooth extractions. I only have them on the top for now, but will be getting them on the bottom soon.

#12 Post by **jennielee81** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 1:00 pm

I also feel that my arch is getting wider with the Damons, so my smile is broader

I can assure you that it is not the Damons that are making your arch wider. If it weren't for the wire, your teeth wouldn't move at all. I like Damons, I really am a fan!! BUT, they do not widen the arch. The wire does that.

Damon gets credit for it because they state it over and over in their literature and advertising. Meryten had her arch made wider with a different bracket brand as have others.

Your current ortho would have been able to do this with any other good bracket brand, these same wires and his fantastic skills.

Your teeth look fantastic! Your final result will be beautiful!!

#13 Post by **damon2's** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 7:10 am

Hi Jennielee81!

What I meant was the way the whole damon system, or any self-ligating system, works with the archwire. And the fact that teeth usually don't have to be extracted means a broader smile (in cases of crowded teeth). I really think there is something to this self-ligating thing. And I am in no way saying traditional braces don't work, it is obvious that they do, and with beautiful results!

#14 Post by **3rdTimer** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 2:14 pm

While self ligating brackets do reduce treatment time (what i've been told), in my experience, they are more uncomfortable and they protrude farther from the tooth. Also more food gets stuck in them. I know this since I've been in traditional metals and now in self ligating.

Good luck with your journey.

#15 Post by **gsb126** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 7:21 pm

I'm also wearing Damon's - half clear/half metal on the front 6 uppers, metal on the rest. Only have uppers right now thanks to an overbite. I've never had braces, so I cannot say if they are better or worse. I will say I have yet to get to the point that I don't notice them. Some days they bother me a lot, and others it's just minor. Initially, my ortho told me I'd be in them 16 months. I opted for SureSmile, so I'm hoping that will shave some time off that number.