braces tightened 1st time....OUCH!!!

[homegrown]

I went to get my braces tightened today and still had 1 tooth that was quite tender to touch. Possibly the worst pain i have ever had was getting that tooth tightened. I was screaming like a little girl on the chair!!!

Has anyone else had this horrific experience? I pray to God i don't have any tender teeth before going back next time or i will be bricking it!

[cata]

Not sure what you mean by tightened. Ligs changed? Either way, it will get better!

[MrsCharisma]

Also confused when I hear "tightened".

In general; I have had varying degrees of pressure, pain and discomfort over the last almost 18 months. It seems pretty unpredictable too! Here's hoping things improve quickly!

[Matilda]

Oh, c'mon! It can't be that bad.

[homegrown]

Sorry, yes, ligs changed. All the other teeth were fine whilst having it done but this one tender tooth at the bottom was a nightmare. I have also had many medical procedures over the years which were way easier than that! :D

[beckyboo0205]

I think this is really common with the 1st real change to happen. Did you take any pain meds like any hour before? That should help. I have self ligating braces so I don't get ligature changes (except for powerchains). So for my first appointment, they opened and closed my doors but that was it and I didn't have any pain but I could have totally seen how if you have a sore tooth or two still, then it would be pretty painful! Because, for me, it seemed fairly aggressive. (BTW, I had to look at my blog to see what I even felt because it's been forever I feel.)

Is that one tooth rotated out of alignment? If it still has a lot of movement to do, then putting the new ligature on might be harder and make it feel so much tighter and painful.

I think will get better! Your teeth are probably still adjusting to being in braces.

[polishedprefect]

It gets better! I'm a year in and I still have those sore spots - my very front top and bottom teeth! I always wince when she works on those sections. Otherwise though, I'm so used to the soreness the day after that I don't even think about it anymore. I'm definitely a wimp when it comes to pain so I empathize!

[homegrown]

Hi everyone and thanks for your replies.

Just an update on my painful visits:

Just to clarify, as i assumed everyone was the same, i go to the orthodontist every 3-5 weeks and have all wires, elastics and powerchains replaced and tightened up. I have paid for a '6 month smile' program, although my teeth will take longer than 6months- probably 10-12months.
I had 2 teeth removed before hand to make room. One was a lower front middle and another was an upper front left so pretty visible. The pain after they are tightened i can cope with. I just eat soup, mashed potato etc till it calms down. It is the excrutiating pain when having my braces tightened that's really wearing me down. The pain comes from my lower front teeth and it honestly feels like they are being pulled out and twisted around, a kind of pain that makes my eyes water and i feel myself rising from the chair. I have repeatedly asked my dentist if this is normal and he is saying that it can be sore, although i get the feeling he is assuming im just not good with pain or dentists etc. Like i said previously, i have had many painful procedures done and it hasnt bothered me....but this is by far the worst.

Do you think my dentist is doing something wrong? Could my teeth be extra sensitive? Is there anything i can do to make it better? Yesterday i took strong painkillers before i went in and it still had no effect.

I think the worst part of this is, i have never heard of anyone experience so much pain when having braces tightened....something does not seem right. You wouldnt get a tooth pulled without having your mouth numbed it seems strange im having to endure this!

[jaime]

FYI your braces aren't "tightened." The wire, ligs, and/or powerchains are usually replaced. Sometimes the ortho/dentist will make some adjustments to the wire, bending it in a few places, but there is no tightening involved.

I get pain as soon as my wires are removed, my teeth are pretty sensitive to everything to do with braces. It generally goes away in a day or two, though.

I doubt your dentist is doing something wrong. How long before your appointment did you take painkillers?

[Featheryy1221]

Yeah like Jaime said they're not being 'tightened.' You'll get wire changes and the thicker wire can cause discomfort when it first gets placed. I know when I get a new wire placed it can be a bit discomfiting, but I've never had anything absolutely unbearable.
You must just be more sensitive to tooth movement soreness or something. Maybe you have a high pain tolerance with some procedures but not when it comes to orthodontics.

I will ask though, are you going to an actual orthodontist or a dentist that does orthodontic work?

[djspeece]

Hi everyone and thanks for your replies.

Just an update on my painful visits:

Just to clarify, as i assumed everyone was the same, i go to the orthodontist every 3-5 weeks and have all wires, elastics and powerchains replaced and tightened up. I have paid for a '6 month smile' program, although my teeth will take longer than 6months- probably 10-12months.
I had 2 teeth removed before hand to make room. One was a lower front middle and another was an upper front left so pretty visible. The pain after they are tightened i can cope with. I just eat soup, mashed potato etc till it calms down. It is the excrutiating pain when having my braces tightened that's really wearing me down. The pain comes from my lower front teeth and it honestly feels like they are being pulled out and twisted around, a kind of pain that makes my eyes water and i feel myself rising from the chair. I have repeatedly asked my dentist if this is normal and he is saying that it can be sore, although i get the feeling he is assuming im just not good with pain or dentists etc. Like i said previously, i have had many painful procedures done and it hasnt bothered me....but this is by far the worst.

Do you think my dentist is doing something wrong? Could my teeth be extra sensitive? Is there anything i can do to make it better? Yesterday i took strong painkillers before i went in and it still had no effect.

I think the worst part of this is, i have never heard of anyone experience so much pain when having braces tightened....something does not seem right. You wouldnt get a tooth pulled without having your mouth numbed it seems strange im having to endure this!

Is your provider a general dentist or an orthodontist? You've referred to him as both. I only ask because you seem to be having a lot of pain (and you have had experience with significant pain, it seems) and he is unresponsive. It is possible to move teeth too quickly, or incorrectly. In any event, I am sorry you have so much pain, and wish you the best of luck in getting it resolved.

[NeilH]

In the whole time I have been in braces, I have never experienced pain like you describe. Yes, it can be a bit sore a few days after an adjustment but never painful. Moving teeth without causing excessive root damage or other trauma takes time and the risk with quick fix solutions is that the dentist is working to a timeframe rather than what is right for you in the long term. You might consider seeking some advice about from an orthodontist as in the UK, dentists tend to offer six month smile treatments rather than orthodontists.

[parsleysage]

Getting adjustments is really painful for me, too. I have self-ligating brackets so when they open or close the doors they have to put a huge amount of pressure on some of the more stubborn ones, and it HURTS. Same for getting new powerchains. I don't have a wire-tie on my front two teeth anymore, but when I did, getting it tightened again was the worst pain. Don't feel bad... everyone has different experiences, and mine is similar to yours. YOU'RE NORMAL! Congrats!

[Ambrosia80]

Yes, I have had pain like that during a couple of adjustments, but I'm pretty sure it was mostly because the assistant who was changing my power chain was being careless and rough with me. But, yes, it was horrible. It was so bad that I got a severe back cramp and the back of my shirt was wet with sweat afterwards.

I have never had her again, and I am SO thankful.

[drum and brace]

My first adjustment was very painful too.

When my orthodontist was changing the ligs on my front 8 teeth the pain was terrible. I ended up biting down on cotton wool - support for the teeth.

My second adjustment was completely pain free.