Power chains, oh my!
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- Felina Grimm
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Mon Nov 17, 2014 1:44 pm
Power chains, oh my!
Hey, guys! Today, I got full power chains for the first time (top and bottom) but forgot to ask questions. Do they snap easily? Am I supposed to brush extremely slow? They concern me because they look extremely stretched from the back molars. And are the appointments going to be more often now? They were every 6 weeks but scheduled in 4 weeks.
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- Posts: 117
- Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2014 9:28 pm
- Location: Seattle, WA
Re: Power chains, oh my!
I wasn't extra careful with my powerchains - I just kept on with life as normal. Except my teeth hurt. For like, a week straight. And I couldn't bite into anything for like 2 weeks. But other than that, no special treatment for the powerchains. I did manage to break a powerchain square (...thingie?) one time, but I don't know how. But that was once out of... maybe 4 months of having them? They look super stretched but they're pretty sturdy, so no worries
I had a few closer than 6 week (my usual) appointments, but I think it was because my orthodontist was monitoring some things a little closely while trying to get me ready for surgery. I don't think the powerchains themselves actually had much to do with it. They DO close gaps REALLY fast, though. I have one powerchain on my bottom teeth right now due to a gap having opened up again, but my next appointment is scheduled for 6 weeks from the last appointment still.
I had a few closer than 6 week (my usual) appointments, but I think it was because my orthodontist was monitoring some things a little closely while trying to get me ready for surgery. I don't think the powerchains themselves actually had much to do with it. They DO close gaps REALLY fast, though. I have one powerchain on my bottom teeth right now due to a gap having opened up again, but my next appointment is scheduled for 6 weeks from the last appointment still.
Braces on March 7th, 2014
Lower Jaw Surgery (BSSO) March 30th, 2015
Lower Jaw Surgery (BSSO) March 30th, 2015
Re: Power chains, oh my!
I'm pretty sure the dentist fits me with powerchains and they're the only things I managed NOT to break so far!
T xx
T xx
Re: Power chains, oh my!
I've had powerchains for 32 of my 33 months in braces and have not had one break yet. My ortho has them placed under the arch wire, which may protect them somewhat. I don't brush any differently. You'll see posts here of a link breaking from time to time, and that generally means a return visit to the ortho ASAP.
Dan
Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. -- Buddist saying
Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. -- Buddist saying
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- Posts: 117
- Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2014 9:28 pm
- Location: Seattle, WA
Re: Power chains, oh my!
Link!!! Thats the word I couldn't think of at midnight...
Braces on March 7th, 2014
Lower Jaw Surgery (BSSO) March 30th, 2015
Lower Jaw Surgery (BSSO) March 30th, 2015
Re: Power chains, oh my!
I am yet to experience the joys of power chains but they are to come. I remember from my first time in braces that they didn't break. I think I had them for the majority of the time I had braces and not one broke.
Re: Power chains, oh my!
Appointments are usually closer together when you have powerchains because they tend to lose their elasticity much faster than regular ligatures. My appointments went from every 6 weeks to every 4 weeks when I got powerchains.
- Felina Grimm
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Mon Nov 17, 2014 1:44 pm
Re: Power chains, oh my!
So far, I have not had a bracket break on my end (two broke but one was on the dentist's end and the ortho assistant broke another). So hopefully the power chains don't break on me. *knocks on wood* If they're that sturdy, does this mean I can brush normally then? I figured the appointment was shorter because of the power chains losing their elasticity.
As far as pain goes, it's the same amount as when I got braced and manageable as long as I'm not biting down. Back to blending my food I go! :-/ And taking all the food out that the waterpik doesn't remove is no fun either.
As far as pain goes, it's the same amount as when I got braced and manageable as long as I'm not biting down. Back to blending my food I go! :-/ And taking all the food out that the waterpik doesn't remove is no fun either.
Re: Power chains, oh my!
The dentist gave me a soft but quite large-headed toothbrush to use to brush manually round my braces and that's fine. I use gentle pressure and short, mainly downward strokes (as I was taught at school!) and that seems fine.
T xx
T xx
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- Posts: 474
- Joined: Sun Sep 01, 2013 8:12 am
Re: Power chains, oh my!
Yes, you can brush normally. They are not fragile at all. I never, ever broke them and I brush sometimes too hard (which is bad because its caused gum recession in some areas).
I would not worry at all about them breaking.
Make sure you floss with them in! Waterpiks are nice or whatever but they don't get everything out. Or I wouldn't think they would (I never had one, I just flossed and I always got great reviews back about my hygiene).
I also used those proxabrushes dipped in listerine and it kept my teeth very clean.
You'll get used to the pain from the powerchains in no time. Good luck.
I would not worry at all about them breaking.
Make sure you floss with them in! Waterpiks are nice or whatever but they don't get everything out. Or I wouldn't think they would (I never had one, I just flossed and I always got great reviews back about my hygiene).
I also used those proxabrushes dipped in listerine and it kept my teeth very clean.
You'll get used to the pain from the powerchains in no time. Good luck.
Re: Power chains, oh my!
If you can floss with them in, that is brilliant but, for the love of god, I cannot get the angles right! I really have tried but my teeth are quite small and there just isn't space to do the job...hence the waterpik which I use morning and evening and brush, too. It's working for me but, then, gaps are my problem (not so much now, though ) so it may not be a solution for everyone. So long as you do your best and check with the dentist regularly, i'm sure you'll be fine.
T xx
T xx
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- Posts: 474
- Joined: Sun Sep 01, 2013 8:12 am
Re: Power chains, oh my!
Whenever my teeth were tight, I just switched floss brands. Some are way thinner than others, so they fit in very tight spaces.
I guess it depends on the person or the preference. The OP said that she was having difficulty getting all the pieces out with the Waterpik so that's why I suggested that along with proxabrushes.
I guess it depends on the person or the preference. The OP said that she was having difficulty getting all the pieces out with the Waterpik so that's why I suggested that along with proxabrushes.
- Felina Grimm
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Mon Nov 17, 2014 1:44 pm
Re: Power chains, oh my!
"Yes, you can brush normally. They are not fragile at all. I never, ever broke them and I brush sometimes too hard (which is bad because its caused gum recession in some areas)."
I also had the same issue. I brushed too hard and have gum recession. In the beginning I brushed so slow because I was afraid to break any brackets. I'm very paranoid about these things.
"Make sure you floss with them in! Waterpiks are nice or whatever but they don't get everything out."
I use Glide floss. It works nicely in tight places especially right now. I sometimes have to use a toothpick to get the rest out prior to brushing and flossing.
"You'll get used to the pain from the powerchains in no time. Good luck."
I was expecting it to be excruciating like many have said here. But then again, I have a high pain threshold. It only bothers me when eating. It's the not-chewing part that annoys me the most. :-/
I also had the same issue. I brushed too hard and have gum recession. In the beginning I brushed so slow because I was afraid to break any brackets. I'm very paranoid about these things.
"Make sure you floss with them in! Waterpiks are nice or whatever but they don't get everything out."
I use Glide floss. It works nicely in tight places especially right now. I sometimes have to use a toothpick to get the rest out prior to brushing and flossing.
"You'll get used to the pain from the powerchains in no time. Good luck."
I was expecting it to be excruciating like many have said here. But then again, I have a high pain threshold. It only bothers me when eating. It's the not-chewing part that annoys me the most. :-/
Re: Power chains, oh my!
Hi,
I've had power chains for about 8 months and never broken one. If anything, I brush harder with them on because food gets stuck soo much easier than with just a wire. I agree with everyone else- flossing is a pain. Even using a threader (which I could not do this without), it still took ages to get good at it.
They do lose elasticity quickly. I have had to go in about 2-3 weeks after getting powerchains put on, and it felt much tighter after they replaced them, but not painful.
I've had power chains for about 8 months and never broken one. If anything, I brush harder with them on because food gets stuck soo much easier than with just a wire. I agree with everyone else- flossing is a pain. Even using a threader (which I could not do this without), it still took ages to get good at it.
They do lose elasticity quickly. I have had to go in about 2-3 weeks after getting powerchains put on, and it felt much tighter after they replaced them, but not painful.