I'm not sure if anyone else here is in Carriere distalizers, though those with braces and elastics might be able to relate. I got the distalizers put on about a month ago and things were going relatively swimmingly... some soreness the first couple days and again two weeks later when I switched from H6 to H4 elastics, but nothing unbearable. Then I went to the ortho for a follow up last week and he said it was time to start moving things along and gave me the official Carriere "Force 2" elastics. I never had the "Force 1" but from my research they're equivalent to the H6 elastics I started with, so I was thinking, well, this can't be so bad, especially since I'd been wearing something that was in between the two for a couple weeks. Never mind that the Force 2 elastics resemble the spacers they stick between your teeth before getting molar bands.... seriously, they're an 8 oz. weight, 3/16" elastic. Super scary looking!
Well, I've been wearing these for 5 days now and am pretty much in agony. Not only do the teeth being distalized hurt, but my entire lower jaw is in pain (I have a lower lingual arch for the lower anchor) and the pain radiates down my neck. Also, I swear I've developed a minor twitch (kind of like an eye twitch) in my jaw. Argh.
I guess I'm mostly ranting and hoping for some assurance that it will get better. I am just frustrated that things started off so well and now... I'm wondering if I can do this for however long this portion of treatment is supposed to last! I have noticed some movement which is encouraging, but I'm having to constantly talk myself out of ripping the elastics out, "just for a little break." My ortho did tell me that if the Carriere elastics were too much that I could double up on the H4s until I could handle it, but I feel silly dialing back now after having been in these guys for a few days. Any thoughts? Suggestions? Encouragement?
Elastic pain!!!
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Elastic pain!!!
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Re: Elastic pain!!!
1. You could double up the H4's during the daytime, and wear the Carriere elastics at night time.
2. You could just double up the H4's for ~ 2 months, then move onto the Carriere.
As you said, you've noticed movement with the Carriere elastics. But then if it is causing you this much discomfort, then you should take it down a notch and go back to the H4's where you can wear double if you can handle it.
2. You could just double up the H4's for ~ 2 months, then move onto the Carriere.
As you said, you've noticed movement with the Carriere elastics. But then if it is causing you this much discomfort, then you should take it down a notch and go back to the H4's where you can wear double if you can handle it.
Re: Elastic pain!!!
Apparently I was in the throes of the worst part... things seem to be improving in the pain department. Still have some, especially since I seem to keep crashing my teeth together in weird ways, but at least that means they're moving, right?
So relieved to finally be adapting to this new phase of treatment... I was getting worried!
So relieved to finally be adapting to this new phase of treatment... I was getting worried!
Follow my progress! http://thealignmentchronicles.wordpress.com/