Had first pendulum appointment... some good and bad news...

Message

#1 Post by **KatK** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 10:05 am

Well, the good news is that in two months, March 26th, i get my bottom braces!!!

I've had LOTS of good movement with pendulum... but he said I would be wearing it for 9 months.. boohoo.. i thought I would be a 6-month wearer for sure! I'm a little disappointed because I'm most excited about correcting my top teeth (because I don't like them at all!) BUT I'm used to it by now anyway, I'm sure the time will fly!!!

#2 Post by **ghostmyimag3** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 10:42 am

It'll be here before you know it.

#3 Post by **Kris721** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 7:13 pm

KatK,

It's so true that the time flies. I'm almost a year into wearing the pendulum and I'm very used to it. It's still a pain, but this whole process is going to be uncomfortable from time to time. What we should focus on is that it is not forever. What is a couple of years in the scheme of things? A drop in the bucket!

In the end, we'll all have the beautiful smiles that we've always wanted.

I've been discouraged at a few appointments, too - believe me! I was supposed to wear this device for 6 months and I'm 6 months past that deadline. It's probably better to just disregard their timelines and ride out the storm, so to speak.

Kris

#4 Post by **KatK** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 9:18 am

Hi Kris! I was wondering how you were doing with your pendulum. 1 year already then? I am completely used to it, and I think I might even miss it when it's gone! I got a taste of it being gone because the wires grew into the roof of my mouth and they had to take it out a rebend the wires... it was so bizarre being able to touch the roof of my mouth!

How many mm of expansion do you have and how many do you need? I need 6mm on each side and i've got about 2mm since december 1.

I'm getting my lower braces on March 27th, so I'm excited about starting that! I just can't wait to have those uppers on because those are the teeth that bother me the most!

#5 Post by **Kris721** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 12:49 pm

KatK,

I have no idea how much space is necessary. I actually never asked! Apparently, I'm almost there because at my appointment on Friday she told me to hang in there because I'm almost there. It feels like I have HUGE spaces now and there has been definite movement since my last appointment.

One tip that I was given a few months ago might be of use to you and anyone else wearing the pendulum... alternate chewing on each side of your mouth. For some reason the chewing encourages the spaces to open up. I thought it was silly, but I noticed that I initially chewed mostly on my right side and the space was definitely larger on that side. When I started chewing on the left, that space opened up. It might sound crazy but I'm speaking from experience that it works. Don't ask me how!

Kris

#6 Post by **KatK** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:33 pm

That's awesome you are finally getting rid of your pendulum soon! Do you have upper braces on yet, or are you waiting until the pendulum comes off?

Thanks for the tip!!!

#7 Post by **Kris721** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 3:30 pm

No braces yet. My ortho offered to put them on a couple of months ago, but there was really no point as my teeth were still not in the correct position to go ahead with the treatment. Besides, I didn't want any more hardware in my mouth! So I'm getting my lowers in April and hopefully the pendulum will have done its job by summer so it can be taken out and I can get the top teeth braced. The appliance has created a gap in my front teeth so I'm looking forward to seeing some progress in the right direction.

#8 Post by **bluesky11197** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 8:27 am

Hey guys, I'm glad I found a couple of you that's had some experiece with this pendulum!

This site is great I must say. I have to have mine on in a couple weeks. Can you just answer a few questions, what are somethings I can expect in the next months with this appliance on? will it affect my speech? can people see it when I smile/talk? Just a little nervous...hopefully the 6 months they quoted me will really be 6 months!

Good luck everyone on your progress!

#9 Post by **KatK** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 9:21 am

Hello!! I'm glad to see someone else will be getting the benefits of the pendulum! The main one being - no extractions!

Sorry to say that yes, you will have problems speaking.. especially in the first couple of days. My coworkers kinda laughed with me everytime i talked, but it wasn't a big deal because if you tell people they understand. That said, it gets better really quickly, and after about a month you are almost completly back to normal. I still have trouble with words like "geek" and "ski" words that you really rely on the roof of your mouth - but there aren't that many.

Make sure your wires aren't touching the roof of your mouth or don't start touching. I had to have mine removed after the wires grew into the roof of my mouth. That hurt. My ortho just bent the wires away from the roof of my mouth, and now i'm fine! Just something to be aware of that they never mentioned to me... It's not very common.

They have a second generation of pendulums out, and i'm not sure which one Kris has because I know she's had some problems with her tounge being thrased up. Mine is the second generation and I haven't had any problems with this. My orth braced my back teeth to help prevent my molars from tipping, and that's been the most annoying experience.

I was also quoted 6 months, but i just saw him and he said it's going to take longer... booo!

How many MM of space do you need? A whole tooth? I need 6mm.

There aren't too many people on here using the pendulum, and I noticed that Kris and I are both from the same part of the country (USA) - the North East part. Are you from around there? I'm curious if it's more common for the doctors in this area to use it due to going to the same conferences or something.

Also, eating at first will be difficult. Just make sure you always have a glass of water to chase food at first. When you eat, your tounge touches the roof of your mouth to signal to your throat to create more saliva to get ready for swallowing. Since we can't touch the roof of our mouths, it's very tricky to eat at first! Don't worry, within a few weeks i was back to eating almost all foods (minus the ones the ortho told me to avoid.)

Good luck and keep us posted!

#10 Post by **bluesky11197** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 6:14 pm

Hi Kat! Thanks so much for the info...it doesn't sound too bad. I guess it's just a matter of getting used to it...I think I'll live through it. Sorry yours is going to take longer...I have a feeling mine will too but in the end it will all be worth it. I am so looking foward to how I will look with straight teeth!

I'm not sure how many mm of space I need, I guess I can ask my ortho at my appt. I do know that the reason I need this appliance is becuase my molar is tilted sideways and in order for me to get invisalign he said it would have to be straight. He mentioned he was going to put some kind of bands on my molars. He also said it would correct my bite and align my jaw correctly to relieve my tmd symptoms. I was going to go with the linguals (then I wouldn't need the pendulum) but he convinced me invisalign would be a more comfortable procedure. I hope I am making the right choice! The only part that sucks is having to take it out all the time to eat! I am from PA by the way...

Thanks again and I'll keep you posted on my next appt!

#11 Post by **bluesky11197** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 6:16 pm

#12 Post by **KatK** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 9:56 pm

Well, it looks like my theory is correct so far!

The orthos in the area must really like the pendulum. I am also from PA... Pittsburgh. Dr. Richard Dahar

I have a pendulum in order to correct an overbite - my back right molar has tipped some, but in the end the braces will correct that I'm sure.

I agree that it will all be totally worth it - I can't wait for the overbite to be corrected and my teeth to be straight!

#13 Post by **bluesky11197** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 10:11 am

Hey Kat...I was wrong about the type of appliance I am getting, it's actually a Sagittal appliance not pendulum. I think it's pretty similar though. So I had my appt today...got impressions taken and some separating springs put inbetween my molars. I think I will be kinda miserable because I have to have this thing on the top and the bottom. Did you guys have to have yours on top and bottom too?? I go back next week to get it put on, it's removable (but I assume they don't want you removing it often) and I definately don't want to prolong my treatment! So that's my life now full of appts! I'll keep you posted on my next visit...

#14 Post by **KatK** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 9:21 pm

Well, the top and bottom aspect does not sound fun! A pendulum is only on the top. However, it's great that you get to remove it!! I assume you will probably only do that to eat and brush your teeth. That's awesome.. I can't wait to get this thing out of my mouth. I have HUGE spaces now... the space has just widened SOO quickly in the last few weeks, I'm hoping when I got on the 27th to get my braces he will put me back to around 6 months.

Definitely keep us posted!

#15 Post by **bluesky11197** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 3:20 pm

ok where should I start...well I had my appt today and to say the least I am sooo extremely misearable

Not only I am having trouble saying the sounds "s" and "th" like was told to me, I am having trouble saying everything! You can't understand a word I am saying and I sound completely ridiculous. I am sooo dissapointed and I'm really not exagerating. I think maybe it can be b/c I have to have this device on the top & bottom. I tried just wearing it on the top and then just the bottom and it's not as bad. I don't see how this can get better I truly don't. Thank God I can remove it! I'm going to give it a week and then if it's the same there's no way I can go through with it. I know it's just been not even a day, but it's 100x worse than they said it would be. Who knows, maybe I'm a special case...just my luck! I need to communicate at work and in life...I was thinking another option would be to get those 2 molars removed. The Dr wanted to save my molars but at this point I don't care if I lose them (I really hope that would be an option). Then I can avoid the 6 months and go straight into invisalign. Do you think it would be too soon if I call him tomorrow and mention that just to see what my options were if this doesn't get any better??

Kat, I'm glad you made such great progress with your appliance!

I'm sure if you have that much spaces, it will go back to 6 mo. like you said. Well, I'm going to go back to my torture device now