Metal springs (forces or something) instead of elastics?????

[Ellebraced]

Hi guys

Getting braced soon and was told I will be wearing the metal springs called forces (or forcus) for most of the 2+ years of treatment to correct my severe overbite and to straighten teeth ?? Just wondering what they are like (I had braces 20 years ago but elastics only). Just wondering if they hurt, if they work great, any advice?? I decided against surgery.

Thank you

Elle

[VancouverJude]

Hi Elle,

It's called Forsus aka Forsus springs or appliance. I'll be wearing them for about six months probably starting mid-February. Now that you have the name you'll be better able to find more info online but there's not a ton about it. Use Google images to see pictures. The Herbst appliance is the same yet different sort of spring as well.

There have been a few past postings on forsus, alas, primarily people freaking out about it. I wasn't able to find them via the Search function (due to new Archwired? which is looking spiffy but truly I shudder that people are going to be given such a variety of font colours; this IS an adults only site? We don't need more headaches. Er, just saying.)

In the meanwhile if you look at my profile and click on postings, on page 2 you'll see a few posts I put about the subject of Forsus under the topic ( Help I dont know what these are call ) started by lilfoot1112 What's really great about this page is you can actually see the forsus on a real person -- our own lilfoot.

My postings include these links.

A basic ortho page: http://www.orthodonticproductsonline.co ... -SI_04.asp

https://www.comfortsolutions.ca/ A useful company. My ortho has ordered these for me (for Forsus it's the 4218 & 4129 last on the order page.)

I won't lie I am nervous about forsus, especially considering the only part of my almost two months into braces that's been bothering me is the irritating pain caused by the headgear appliance tube (on top back bracket which forsus holds onto) and, well, that's just the freaking tube. Some days are better than others but I pretty much have to use wax all the time. I almost think the pain will lesson when the forsus is on.

And hey...on the BRIGHT SIDE...no elastics!

Best of luck Elle. Keep in touch. You're from Canada?

[Ellebraced]

I VancouverJude, Yes Canadian, born and raised in Vancouver, living in the Okanagan now. Thank you for the info. Those are great links. Those pics look a little bit scary compared to the teeth model they showed me. Those comfort things look like a great investment, I will ask about them when I get them.

I am a little nervous, thanks for the proper spelling of Forsus, there does not appear to be much info. online. I guess I will learn more when I get them, though you will get them before me so if you have any advice that would be greatly appreciated. I will be wearing for 2 years I think, most of my treatment, I guess its better than having surgery (oh maybe not, who knows)

The pain and discomfort and the $$ will be worth it in the end. This is a great site, it is nice to not feel so alone in the process.

Getting braced in the next few weeks

[VancouverJude]

Hi Elle,

I'm -- obviously -- from Vancouver. A short digression from braces: My husband and I bought our condo 18 years ago (I'm old!) on (lucky) East 7th just east of Main, we're one block from the kooky intersection where Main & Kingsway meet. Okanagan eh? Do you curl? I just got into it this year it's so much fun and a great workout. I can see how people might not "get" the sport on first glance but OMG. I'm a spare getting lots of play (especially on the weeks the play is at 9:00 pm; surprising how many people suddenly take ill <grin>.) next year the club is moving to the snazzy new Olympics venue.

In retrospect I wish I hadn't put my location & name in my member name: so much for anonymity!

I keep on forgetting to mention that while wearing the forsus I'll also have a Trans-Palatal Arch (TPA.) These have numerous functions, in my case I believe it will mostly be to hold my rear molars in place. It will be perched in the upper roof area of my mouth. Some people who use forsus will instead have a Palatal Expander (RPE) which is more intense.

You will most likely have one of the above! Oh boy <grin> When I google TPA the first page that usually comes up is quite good, an ortho in Woodland, TX. This page has pix of the TPA, RPE, and Forsus.

http://www.woodlandsorthodontist.com/ty ... iances.php

[Ellebraced]

Ummmm, they never said anything about the expander thing. I don't know but will ask, this just keeps getting scarier and scarier. I think my upper jaw is larger than lower, so I do not know if I will need that.

I do not curl but know a lot of people that do.

Thank you for all the advice, I read your posts, you seem very resourceful like me. I like to investigate everything and know what I am getting into.

[jambo532]

I just got my springs a week ago and they are aweful. Not trying to make this sound bad for you but I would much rather have elastics. Atleast you can take them off to eat. Take a look
www.allbraced.blogspot.com

[drgnchsr36]

Is there a reason why you aren't doing elastics? I was told I would have to use that if I wasn't disciplined enough with elastics. My ortho stated that she used them primarily with younger patients that were diligent wearing their elastics. I stated I would be responsible enough... so she said elastics should be fine.

I'm just curious!

[VancouverJude]

Is there a reason why you aren't doing elastics? I was told I would have to use that if I wasn't disciplined enough with elastics. My ortho stated that she used them primarily with younger patients that were diligent wearing their elastics. I stated I would be responsible enough... so she said elastics should be fine.

I'm just curious!

Hi Dragonchaser! I believe Forsus & Herbst (kind of a cousin to Forsus) springs tend to do a more rigorous job than elastics, in a shorter span of time, especially when it comes to jaw movement. In my case it will help bring the jaw out and also over to my right side (I lost a lower tooth when I was a kid and it's affected my bite.)

Hi Jambo532. Hey, is that Forsus you got?! You can take them out for eating? I didn't think that was possible. Is it a chore?

I'd like to add to the conversation that I thought I'd be getting Forsus in Feb or March (5 or 6 months into treatment) but now I'm hearing it'll be closer to the end of treatment. Interesting. I've also learned I'll need elastics at the very end of treatment when the teeth are being evened out.

How about you Elle?

[Ellebraced]

OMFG now I am super scared

I don't want those things.

I understand the same as Jude, they work better than elastics. And I did NOT know you could take them out to eat I thought it was a permanent scary spring thing.

I was told I would get them sometime during my treatment INSTEAD of elastics. So I have a while til that happens...I hope.

Don't worry I will be letting you guys know how they are, I am hoping Jude gets hers first so she can warn me.

jambo532, you have scared me. Thanks, so far the pain has not been too bad, those are the things I fear the most (after spacers)

Elle

[Ellebraced]

Oh I just read your Blog.....You CANT take these out (you meant at least with elastics they come out)

These things are permanent scary spring things

[VancouverJude]

Oops, sorry for the mixup thinking you could take the Forsus off. Just a momentary daydream...

Here are some Forsus related vids from youtube:

Getting them on in Italian. Not to worry, the language of pain & suffering (or is it love?) is universal:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvaGzANW ... re=related

Fourteen year old getting used to Forsus with more aplomb then I probably will <grin.>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMkOQKncVn0

And then there's Slovenia's Forsus whom I run across when looking the name up.

http://www.youtube.com/user/forsusyt#p/ ... z8Lwjrkb84

[drgnchsr36]

Is there a reason why you aren't doing elastics? I was told I would have to use that if I wasn't disciplined enough with elastics. My ortho stated that she used them primarily with younger patients that were diligent wearing their elastics. I stated I would be responsible enough... so she said elastics should be fine.

I'm just curious!

Hi Dragonchaser! I believe Forsus & Herbst (kind of a cousin to Forsus) springs tend to do a more rigorous job than elastics, in a shorter span of time, especially when it comes to jaw movement. In my case it will help bring the jaw out and also over to my right side (I lost a lower tooth when I was a kid and it's affected my bite.)

Hi Jambo532. Hey, is that Forsus you got?! You can take them out for eating? I didn't think that was possible. Is it a chore?

I'd like to add to the conversation that I thought I'd be getting Forsus in Feb or March (5 or 6 months into treatment) but now I'm hearing it'll be closer to the end of treatment. Interesting. I've also learned I'll need elastics at the very end of treatment when the teeth are being evened out.

How about you Elle?

Ahh, I see! No mention of Herbst to me from the ortho, so never checked that out. I guess faster is better though!

[jambo532]

OMFG now I am super scared

I don't want those things.

I understand the same as Jude, they work better than elastics. And I did NOT know you could take them out to eat I thought it was a permanent scary spring thing.

I was told I would get them sometime during my treatment INSTEAD of elastics. So I have a while til that happens...I hope.

Don't worry I will be letting you guys know how they are, I am hoping Jude gets hers first so she can warn me.

jambo532, you have scared me. Thanks, so far the pain has not been too bad, those are the things I fear the most (after spacers)

Elle

Sorry, I don't mean to scare anyone. I feel like all my post lately have scared people. I am just trying to be honest about my experience. They have gotten better after having them a couple weeks. They are just awful to eat with though (you cannot take them out) I don't really feel like they are doing anything for me though. Most people with elastics say they see improvements right away. My jaw seems to be in the same place. Annnnd.... I didn't get them because I wasn't responsible enough for elastics. My ortho said they work faster though, I'm not feeling like that's the case for me. I have pics of mine on my blog... www.allbraced.blogspot.com

[BracesNOBreaktheLens]

I'm getting the same thing a few weeks from now. And since I'm a new member I can't check the post. If possible is there a way to send the link. Plz and thankyou!