Elastics causing unusual pain?

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Website · #1 Post by **alexa** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 9:30 pm

I've been wearing elastics for about 9 and a half months now. When I first got elastics, they were uncomfortable, but since I've been wearing them for so long, they often actually make my bite feel better...like I'd rather have them in than not.

Recently, however, I'm starting to have a slightly achy jaw on the left side when I wear my elastics. It's like my teeth aren't sitting properly, and I start to want to grind my teeth because they are uncomfortable as they are. Lately, due to the uncomfortable jaw, I've actually started taking the elastics out during the day more than I used to, because when I'm awake, the discomfort is really bothersome and irritating. It doesn't seem bad enough to keep me from wearing them when I sleep though.

What my question is, is it normal for all of a sudden elastic wearing to become uncofortable and cause a sore jaw? Is it just because my ortho is trying to close the bite on the left and it's just not quite seated right yet? Or could it be something else? Also, is it really bad if I only wear the elastics for a couple of hours during the day and then at night, instead of the prescribed 24/7?

If it helps, I'm wearing elastics from my canine to molar band on each side, and triangle patterns on each side. All elastics are Size 3/16" 4.8mm MEDIUM.

Pictures from my most recent adjustment can be found at my ortho journal: http://www.livejournal.com/users/fangsbegone/ Pictures of the elastic configuration can be seen in the adjustment #9 entry.

Thanks for any thoughts you may have!

#2 Post by **Chris** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 7:05 pm

I recently had a figure 8 on one side only and I got such sharp jaw pain that I had to discontinue use. Make sure you tell the ortho about it. I've had TMJ issues and that configeration was very painful for me.

Website · #3 Post by **alexa** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 7:42 pm

Thanks for the response, Chris. I will be sure to tell my ortho, but I don't have an apointment for another two weeks.

I think I'm going to just try to make sure I wear them at night, and in the day for a couple of hours. If they hurt too much at any point, I'll forget about them until next appointment.

I just don't get why it would get so achy now, when I've had the same config for a couple of months already.

Weirdness!

#4 Post by **HollyDontSpend** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:39 pm

Wow Alexa! I had the exact same configuration for a year! I did notice that I would clench A LOT when I first got the elastics and then it really didn't go away. I did have some pain on one side because I do have some TMJ problems on the left side. I told my ortho about it and he said that I might need splints, but he never used them. Good luck! You're teeth are looking great by the way!

#5 Post by **Clo** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 1:14 am

Hi Alexa,

I had a similar configuration like yours.
And after many months, suddenly I experienced more pain and a feeling
like my jaw joints were very tired. Just before that, and in fact during
all the time I had elastics, that is about 15 months, I too felt better when
I had them in. When I experienced those pains, I did not give in and
continued to wear them 24/7. After some time, I guess a week or at
least some days, the pain went away. I think when you take them out
more, you are 'stretching' the adaptation peroid and you will continue
having those issues. If I were you, I would try to continue to wear them
full time. Of course you should mention it to your ortho. And of course
it isn't supposed to get worse to a point that it is unbearable to wear them.

Good luck !

#6 Post by **Chris** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:54 pm

Clo wrote:Hi Alexa,

I had a similar configuration like yours.
And after many months, suddenly I experienced more pain and a feeling
like my jaw joints were very tired. Just before that, and in fact during
all the time I had elastics, that is about 15 months, I too felt better when
I had them in. When I experienced those pains, I did not give in and
continued to wear them 24/7. After some time, I guess a week or at
least some days, the pain went away. I think when you take them out
more, you are 'stretching' the adaptation peroid and you will continue
having those issues. If I were you, I would try to continue to wear them
full time. Of course you should mention it to your ortho. And of course
it isn't supposed to get worse to a point that it is unbearable to wear them.

Good luck !

Hey, Clo....how is the Elastic King doing?

I must say in reply that I had to STOP wearing the elastics after just a few days cuz my pain was very sharp in the jaw joint not just aching. My ortho agreed to discontinue the elastic configeration for now.

#7 Post by **Clo** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 1:02 am

Hi Chris,

wow, aren't we experiencing about the same issues. After 15 months I
too had to stop wearing elastics. I posted about it in the other section.
In my case, leaving the elastics out was not good news. My bite is
ruined and probably very difficult to correct. My ortho did admit she
has no clue how she will do that ...

(sorry for hijacking your thread Alexa. I hope the doc will respond soon)

Website · #8 Post by **alexa** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 1:09 am

No problem, Clo, and thanks for the responses, everyone.

If the doc ever responds, I have a new question reguarding my problems, which is: Could this pain that I'm attributing to the elastics actually be caused by this weird wisdom tooth infection thing that was discovered at my general dentist appt. today?

I've described that visit in another post, located: viewtopic.php?t=8635

I wouldn't think so, since I don't understand why wearing elastics would make it worsen...but I thought I would ask!

Thanks!

#9 Post by **Chris** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 7:39 pm

Alexa, if you got an infection in your wisdom tooth, yes you can get jaw pain. In fact, ...ok, now, I'm going back many, many years, when I had my wisdom teeth pulled out, I had an infection, and it caused my jaw to lock. I couldn't even open my mouth enough to insert two fingers. After the antibiotic treatment, it was back to normal and then I had the wisdom teeth pulled.

For your case it could be the elastics or the infection causing the problem. One never knows for sure.