Why did the hygienist smooth off an elastic hook?!

[cbraces678]

Today at my adjustment the hygeniest put my new wires in and then said she just had to smooth something that she could see would bug me. I literally had no idea what it could be but that’s fine. Once I get to my car, I noticed it was the hook of one of the brackets on my lower front teeth. I was using this bracket hook for the triangle configuration elastics for the last 3 months. Thankfully the ortho said to take a break from elastics because everything was looking good, so I don’t need it right now, but what if I need it for elastics in the future?? I assume they will replace the bracket. I’m totally fine using wax if something bugs me and it did bug me sometimes, but not that much. Anyone else have that? I guess it’s super minor, but it just seemed unnecessary.

[Heartofdarkness]

That's strange. Did she file it all down? Lucky you, haha... those hooks are killing my mouth, even now after almost 2 years. I never got to wear elastics so I've been tortured all this time with those hooks for nothing.

[cbraces678]

Yes, all the way down. It’s totally gone! That’s good that you haven’t had to wear elastics at least! I have had elastics since about 4 months. I am interested to see what to ortho says when he realizes the hook isn’t there anymore lol.

[assertives]

I would bring it up to the ortho at your next check up. Don't wait for him to realize that it's gone. Cos he may not. There is no reason why the hygienist should totally file off an elastic hook.

[cbraces678]

Right??? I was literally dumbfounded when I saw that it was gone. You’re right. I will bring it up at my next adjustment, so he can either deal with it then or wait until I need an elastic there again. I know I’ll be wearing a lot more elastics in my time braced, so I just couldn’t believe that.

[Speck]

Nice to be rid

Today at my adjustment the hygeniest put my new wires in and then said she just had to smooth something that she could see would bug me. I literally had no idea what it could be but that’s fine. I’m totally fine using wax if something bugs me and it did bug me sometimes...

Sounds as though the tech was diligent and may have helped eliminate an intermittent source of irritation? If so, bravo!

I wonder if the replacement operation of one bracket (should the need arise) be a trivial enough to justify filing down the hook?

Cheers!

[Vega]

When i was in elastics, i had a configuration that required an extra hook, he fabricated on out of metal wire that was placed around the hookless-bracket.
He said it was actually stronger then the ones that are already on a bracket.

[assertives]

Oh I have one such hook which my ortho called the crimpable hook. I have only been using hooks/loops made on my wires to hook the elastics on the top to the hooks on the brackets at the bottom.