Spacers and quad helix

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Bec123
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2018 5:56 am

Spacers and quad helix

#1 Post by Bec123 »

So after years of wanting straight teeth after never being taken to the dentist as a child I took the plunge and went to see an orthodontist. I’m 6 weeks away from having my ceramic braces fitted both top and bottom to straighten my front teeth and correct my bite which has left me with a clicking jaw that moves to fit my teeth together. In two weeks I’m having elastic bands put in (spacers) just wondered if these hurt as I’m only having them in for a week then having them taken off to have my metal bands fitted ( not sure what they are for ) also, to add to my list iv got to have a quad helix fitted as my top jaw is too narrow and have no idea what to expect?

assertives
Posts: 645
Joined: Fri Sep 01, 2017 5:29 am

Re: Spacers and quad helix

#2 Post by assertives »

I personally never had spaces, but I've noticed that a lot people found the spacers to be more painful than the braces treatment. The spaces generally feels like you have pieces of food stuck between your teeth, making them very sore. The metal bands are known as molar bands. They are stronger, and can take chewing forces better than the regular brackets.

That said, it will be different for everyone, not everyone experience pain though. But one thing is for sure, is that you will experience pressure throughout your treatment, especially with the quad helix.

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Nozzelnut
Posts: 656
Joined: Sun Jan 26, 2014 10:34 pm
Location: Rochester, NY

Re: Spacers and quad helix

#3 Post by Nozzelnut »

Sorry, the spacers will hurt. The good news is they'll hurt more than braces will.

I had the quad helix. The expansion itself didn't hurt at all. BUT, your tongue will be very sore for about a week. Day 3 was bad but got better after that.

I'm not sure if I retained as much of the expansion as I would have liked. Looking back I think I would have preferred going with SARPE and expander or expansion with my double jaw surgery so any expansion I did get would be more permanent.

I'd bring up the subject with your orthodontist before your next appointment asking specifically about different styles of expansion and the pros and cons of each. There are differences of opinion regarding non surgical expansion for adults actually increasing width or just tipping teeth outward.
Round 3 (lifetime) Damon stainless applied 3/16/20 (after 4 weeks attempting invisalign) On for about 18 months
Night time elastics with invisalign retainers; still...
Double jaw surgery was 6/18/15...
Orthodontics never really ends...
I'm emphatically against extraction orthodontics!

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