Metal Mouth Message Board

I was so looking forward to having my wires changed today. I'm 49 and even though my orthodontist has given me an estimated treatment time of 20 months, I am hoping it won't be that long. I originally had a .014 wire put in on top and a .012 wire on bottom. My bottom teeth were quite a bit more crowded. I have seen some progress this first 6 weeks but not as much as I had hoped. That's why I was hoping for a larger wire. Am I mistaken in thinking that a larger wire will make things move faster?

Anyway, after a quick look at my teeth he said they would change my ligs on bottom( I have metal brackets on bottom and have ceramic on top with metal ligs) and see me again in 4 weeks this time. I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. I guess I'm being way too impatient!

The good news however is that, unbeknownst to me one of the bottom teeth were not fully engaged in the archwire and now it is. Hopefully that will help move things along faster since I think that tooth is the main one causing the traffic jam on bottom

What was the reason for changing the ligs on the bottom? What type of braces do you have?

I was a bit dissapointed when I didn't get my wire changed on the first adjustment too! But then I learned that they can't progress your wire size too quickly in the beginning or the brackets will all pop off. I also learned by doing some research that I might only have my wire changed occassionally but ligs changed every time as well as other goodies like powerchains & elastics added & taken away. And, that's indeed what has happened. I'm 10 months in and just moved into my "last wire" during my last adjustment. I've had only 5 different wires in total.

TheKT - ligs lose their elasticity and need to be changed often (usually about once a month) in order to keep the wire held tightly in the bracket.

Dana - if your teeth are very crowded, the larger wire can pop brackets off or it might apply too much pressure to your teeth, possibly causing damage. I'm 7 months in and I'm on my 4th set of wires, but there is a user on here (JeniK, I believe) who had her original wires for 5-6 months before they were changed. Everyone is different and your ortho hopefully knows what he's doing. Now that all your bottom teeth are attached to the wire, you'll start seeing some pretty exciting movement

Trust your ortho.

I had the same wires for 2 adjustments. At the 3rd he'd decided there was enough movement to progress.

I get my ligs changed at every appointment (which is every 4 weeks).

Everyone wants to be done quickly...but you really want it done correctly and the two don't always go hand in hand. Good luck.

I am going for my 7th adjustment tomorrow and have never had the wire changed. I get my ligs and power chain changed every 4 weeks and have made lots of progress.

I had the same wires for my first 2 adjustments. Then the each of the next 3 times I had wire changes but since then it's just been bends in my current wires for ~6 months.

I don't think that you can really read into wire changes too much, it'll come when you're ready.

Yeah, my first adjustment was so quick! No wire change. I pretty much got my wire changed every 2 months. But now I think I have 1 more wire to go that I've been waiting for (that's the biggest then) and I've been in this 2nd to biggest wire FOREVER! Ok maybe just like 4 months.

You'll still feel some soreness from no wire change!

My ortho told me up front that I would probably go several months before he changes my wire. I only have braces on top so far, he said it could be 9 months before he puts my bottom ones on.

Mine told me 3 months before a change...

You sound like me, my ortho called me on first night and I asked him about the wire and he said it will Change later...

I went in to get my wire clipped and my ortho ended up just having them do a full adjustment, just after only 3 weeks. He had said that he could tell my wires were still active but told the assistant to flip my wires top and bottom and re-tie. I asked what the flipping was for and she said that by flipping the wire it reactivates them. I thought that was pretty cool. I didn't know that. I had a little tightness right after but that went away quickly. I did however have to change my first official appointment due to this to a week later. So not sure what they will have in store for me then. I may end up going back in sooner though, to get my wire clipped again. It's starting to poke but am waiting it out.

So, maybe ask your Ortho about flipping your wires if you are concerned? Good luck!

Im sorry I couldn't respond earlier! I had to take my computer in to get a bad virus removed. Anyway, its been 2 weeks since my adjustment. Initially, my bottom teeth were pretty sore just from getting the ligs changed. I do feel like my bottom teeth are continuing to improve but not my top teeth. My two front teeth cross slightly over each other in front and that must be something that takes time to undo. I just haven't seen that much improvement on top and they have the bigger wire, .014. Ill try to be more patient. Thanks everyone!