Is this normal?!
Moderator: bbsadmin
Is this normal?!
Well...I'm annoyed at the moment, and I need to vent.
About a month ago, I went in for my adjustment. Everything was going fine...until my ortho's assistant was putting on new ligs and my FRONT bracket popped off. So I assumed they would immediately glue it back on. However, the ortho comes by and says "Hm, you don't need it for now." To which I sort of gave a o_O look. But I'm in ceramics, so it wasn't that noticeable. I was going to put up a fight, but I thought...whatever.
So I went in for my next appointment a couple of days ago. They tell me they're going to put it back on. HOWEVER...they apparantely LOST the bracket, and instead they put on what looks to me like a self-litigating bracket (Damon?).
I had to wait until I got home to get a better look at it -- and it just doesn't look right. I have this one bracket in the very front that stands out as whiter than the rest (not to mention smaller and slightly more metallic)...where as the rest are just regular ceramics. The assistant told me "not to worry about it"...but it's all I've been able to think about.
Is this normal? Should I request to have it replaced with a regular ceramic? Woud it even be possible? I'm pretty annoyed by this, but I feel like they aren't going to do anything about it. I almost feel relieved they didn't replace it with a metal bracket...
About a month ago, I went in for my adjustment. Everything was going fine...until my ortho's assistant was putting on new ligs and my FRONT bracket popped off. So I assumed they would immediately glue it back on. However, the ortho comes by and says "Hm, you don't need it for now." To which I sort of gave a o_O look. But I'm in ceramics, so it wasn't that noticeable. I was going to put up a fight, but I thought...whatever.
So I went in for my next appointment a couple of days ago. They tell me they're going to put it back on. HOWEVER...they apparantely LOST the bracket, and instead they put on what looks to me like a self-litigating bracket (Damon?).
I had to wait until I got home to get a better look at it -- and it just doesn't look right. I have this one bracket in the very front that stands out as whiter than the rest (not to mention smaller and slightly more metallic)...where as the rest are just regular ceramics. The assistant told me "not to worry about it"...but it's all I've been able to think about.
Is this normal? Should I request to have it replaced with a regular ceramic? Woud it even be possible? I'm pretty annoyed by this, but I feel like they aren't going to do anything about it. I almost feel relieved they didn't replace it with a metal bracket...
I agree, and I'm going to make an issue of it at my next appointment. They've been anything but consistent with my braces...from leaving another bracket off for several months, to now this.Meryaten wrote: However, my feeling is that if you are uncomfortable about how this looks, you should feel able to express this to your ortho, and hopefully they would respect your wish to have a consistent set of brackets on your anterior teeth.
Here's a pic:
And it looks even worse in person, IMO.
Thanks for your response, though!
- TheNewEmperor
- Posts: 160
- Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:37 pm
- Location: A work in progress in Sydney, Australia
- PuppySmiles
- Posts: 199
- Joined: Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:56 pm
- switchblades
- Posts: 281
- Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2008 11:22 pm
- Location: Canada
While it looks okay to me, I know for a fact it would drive me nuts and make me self-conscious. You're paying big bucks, the least they can do is fix your braces so they match!
Initial Consult: August 22nd, 2008
Upper Arch Bracketed: October 22nd, 2008
Lower Arch Bracketed: December 3rd, 2008
Debraced: October 15th, 2009
My Story: http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... sc&start=0
Upper Arch Bracketed: October 22nd, 2008
Lower Arch Bracketed: December 3rd, 2008
Debraced: October 15th, 2009
My Story: http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... sc&start=0
- jennielee81
- Posts: 2144
- Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2005 2:31 pm
- Location: The Old Line State
It would bug the crap out of me as well. She says, "don't worry about it." but it's NOT IN HER MOUTH!
If it bothers you I would tell them to either replace the other central bracket with a similar one to make it symetrical or change the new one out for one like the others.
If it bothers you I would tell them to either replace the other central bracket with a similar one to make it symetrical or change the new one out for one like the others.
"Life is an occasion; RISE TO IT!" --Mr. Magorium
I wore Damon 3's and Opals for 20 months at age 42. Braces off January 2007
http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=3535 a little more about me here: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/co ... 961130.htm
I wore Damon 3's and Opals for 20 months at age 42. Braces off January 2007
http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=3535 a little more about me here: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/co ... 961130.htm
Thanks for the replies. Well, when I went in for my last adjustment I brought it up with my ortho., and she said she'll replace it next time. . .
HOWEVER, the more I look at the self-litigating bracket they put on, the more I like it. It's smaller, there's no ligature so it doesn't stain, and I regret not asking if I could have the rest of my ceramics (there's only 5 of them anyway) replaced with self-litigating ones. Do you think this is too much to ask for?
A question: Are the clear self-litigating brackets stronger than the regular ceramics? I really don't feel like continuing on with my old ceramics because they break off all of the time anyway.
HOWEVER, the more I look at the self-litigating bracket they put on, the more I like it. It's smaller, there's no ligature so it doesn't stain, and I regret not asking if I could have the rest of my ceramics (there's only 5 of them anyway) replaced with self-litigating ones. Do you think this is too much to ask for?
A question: Are the clear self-litigating brackets stronger than the regular ceramics? I really don't feel like continuing on with my old ceramics because they break off all of the time anyway.
- switchblades
- Posts: 281
- Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2008 11:22 pm
- Location: Canada
I think, theyre in your mouth and if you're more comfortable it can't hurt to ask, but it could drastically change your treatment, both in technique and timeline. Also, self-ligating are more expensive (from what I've heard), so it may be too late to go down that road.NKovaci88 wrote:HOWEVER, the more I look at the self-litigating bracket they put on, the more I like it. It's smaller, there's no ligature so it doesn't stain, and I regret not asking if I could have the rest of my ceramics (there's only 5 of them anyway) replaced with self-litigating ones. Do you think this is too much to ask for? .
Initial Consult: August 22nd, 2008
Upper Arch Bracketed: October 22nd, 2008
Lower Arch Bracketed: December 3rd, 2008
Debraced: October 15th, 2009
My Story: http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... sc&start=0
Upper Arch Bracketed: October 22nd, 2008
Lower Arch Bracketed: December 3rd, 2008
Debraced: October 15th, 2009
My Story: http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... sc&start=0