Molar bands?

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#1 Post by **HeidiLinette** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 12:15 pm

Does EVERYONE get them with braces? It looks scary.

I'm getting my braces a week from tomorrow and I haven't been told anything. I had the consultation appointment on June 26th, and they let me know what needed done.. basically braces for 24 months.. but they didn't say anything about bands or anything. I got a letter saying what all is technically wrong with my teeth.. and that I'll need elastics.. but are molar bands common for EVERYONE with braces? I definitely don't want them.

#2 Post by **jgrrl22** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 12:43 pm

No, not everyone with braces has to get molar bands. I have a large filling in the side of one of my molars, so I wound up getting 4 molar bands total.

I, like you, was worried because they look painful. But, to be honest, there was absolutely no pain at all getting them put on. The worst part of the molar bands so far as been the "tube" attached to the top bands scraping the inside of my cheeks in the beginning. But once my cheeks toughened up a little (and after about 4 straight days of wearing wax right there) they haven't bothered me since.

So don't stress too much! Even if you do have to have molar bands, they honestly don't hurt!

#3 Post by **Audra** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 2:41 pm

I don't have molar bands. Just brackets bonded to my teeth (and molars).

#4 Post by **-Michael-** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 3:43 pm

I don't have molar bands. In fact, I specifically asked that do everything possible to limit my uncomfortableness while having braces.

So...he said, 'ok we're gonna try to use just bonded brackets and see if those stay on'.

In 18 months with braces, I've only broke off (and swallowed!) one bracket...and it was on my molar. Did it while eating a tri-tip sandwich.

#5 Post by **lionfish** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 4:17 pm

I didn't have molar bands either, and I have some heavily filled molars and one crowned molar.

#6 Post by **catfish** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:02 pm

My ortho tried to avoid putting on molar bands. But the brackets refused to stay stuck to my crowns, so I now have two molar bands. The only bad part was having spacers to prep the teeth for the bands. That was pretty achey, but not unbearably painful. The bands didn't hurt at all when they were installed. One of them had a rough spot on the inside (next to my tongue), but when I mentioned it they were able to smooth it down. That was several months ago, and now I don't even notice them.

#7 Post by **HeidiLinette** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:28 pm

My orthodontist never mentioned them.. I had the consultation on June 26th.. and we set the appointment to "install" I guess you'd say.. the braces on July 23rd.. they never mentioned coming in a few days before for anything.. which I'm assuming they would do if I were getting them. So.. hopefully when I go in next week I don't get thrown any surprises.. as far as I know I'm just getting the braces and nothing "special".. I will have to make an appointment to get an extra tooth removed by another dentist (I don't think I'm going to use my normal dentist because they don't give the pill to knock me out pretty much.. and I've always been terrified of dentists and getting teeth pulled.. so I'm willing to pay extra to get some Halcion and fall asleep for a few..although I'm not sure if they can give me that strong of a pill for just one tooth extraction...) Okay.. I'm getting sidetracked.. lol.. I'm hoping I don't need molar bands.. My 7 year old sister had to get some spacers and she hated them.. lol.. and I'm more of a scaredy cat than her.. so I can just imagine how I would be..

#8 Post by **sparkles** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 1:34 am

I have 3 molar bands and really don't see how they are scary. (But then I'm also a person who has never had any problems with spacers either) They are just these wee metal bands that fit over your teeth and aren't painful in the slightest. I don't feel them at all and it wasn't more than a slight push to get them on.

I actually thought everyone got them as standard for the archwire to be held in place (as well has being held by ligs). But was surprised when I left the ortho with only 2 initially this time round. I now have 3 on and the third was a nice swap for a molar buildup

Now I wish I had all 4 on but there just isn't a tooth for a molar band on my bottom left...but the last tooth on my left hand side that is bracketed is majorly wobbly after my latest adjustment and I wish I had a molar band on a neighbouring tooth just to help stabilise it.

#9 Post by **BarbieGirl** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 6:44 am

I had molar bands put on two weeks ago and they are not bad. I had spacers put in first a week ahead of time and those were uncomfortable. But the molar bands....no pain just some rubbing on the checks which wax has cured.

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