Signed off for 3 months

[Guest guest]

Hi all

Just spent a couple of days doing orthodontic business -

Just to remind you had braces removed one week ago.

My teeth were desperately in need of a clean, my tea and coffee habit

coupled with the clorhexidine mouthwash prescribed after surgery gave

me bad staining so I booked my first ever session with a hygienist.

She used an ultrasound cleaner which I found quite bearable despite my

reservations in having a clean so soon after brace removal when my

teeth are still somewhat sensitive. It was fine - the pain I felt was

in my head from keeping my jaw open - my opening width is only about

23mm so although she had enough room it was a little sore. The

hygienist was more worried she was hurting my teeth but I had to keep

reassuring her it was hardly painful at all!

Next I saw the surgeon who is quite impressed with his handiwork. My

moans about opening width were met with - 'just carry on with the

tongue depressor exercises'. He doesn't think there is a problem with

the joint but will take another look at my X-rays. Did a small

modelling job with the hospital photographer! - some great inside

mouth jobs with a small mirror - should I insure my mouth now do you

think - roll over Kate Moss!

Back to the orthodontist today to have retainers fitted. Came out

pretty despondent. a) my own orthodontist wasn't there, saw his

partner who is fine but I would have liked to see my own, particularly

as he struggled with the lower part and was shaving bits off!

- thought I would get away with wearing it night time only.

Instead (I suppose its not a bad compromise) - upper - 13/14 hours,

lower - 24 hours (the latter because it has a false tooth attached)

and they need to make sure there is no danger of the teeth around it

moving in on the space.

My speech with the retainers in is dreadful and I'm back to the

drooling again, presumably until my mouth accustoms to them again, bit

like having the wafer/splint in.

I think a 24 hour retainer is going to be a hassle with eating and

cleaning and taking them out every time I eat - fixed braces were

easier in that respect.

Has anyone here had to have either a bridge or an implant done after

ortho and surgery? I have no idea which one to choose, but I think a

bridge involves attacking the two teeth either side of the gap and I'm

not sure I fancy that!

Sue (UK)

[Guest guest]

Hi Sue,

I had to have a crown/bridge/crown combo replaced post-op when my

braces were removed as my original combo was designed for my old

crummy bite. I kept telling the ortho and surgeon that they could

break it if they needed to, but they were able to work around it.

My ortho built up acrylic on the bridge as post-op there was a gap on

my right side (bridge combo is on my lower - result of having a baby

tooth come out in my mid-40s with no permanent tooth to replace it -

well out of the warranty claim period with my parents too).

Anyway, I had it done about 2-3 months post-op. It took a little

longer as my dentist threw his back out on the day I was supposed to

have the prep work done.

The re-installed combo is better than the original, not only because

it fits my new bite, but he also left it higher so I can clean

underneath it with superfloss (I hate those threaders). After

a few years, the gum grew up under my original bridge and it was hard

to get under to clean.

I was not offered an implant at the time. If you can afford it, that

might be the better way to go as to mount a bridge, they have to

crown two teeth which may be perfectly good. I do know that my

dentist was worried about taking the original crowns off, whether

he'd have enough to work with. My insurance covered the second combo

(with their usual deductions), no problem, they just wanted to know

why it was being replaced.

I'm pretty happy with my results - the bridge is not that big a deal

for me. Every once in awhile I try to floss through it, it really

does feel and look realistic.

As for the removeable retainers, I can relate to the drooling and

especially lisping. I didn't like that at all. But my upper teeth

didn't stay where they ought to, so after almost 2 years, my ortho

finally put in a fixed wire upper. Things are staying put nicely now!

Hope that helps,

> Back to the orthodontist today to have

retainers fitted. Came out

> pretty despondent. a) my own orthodontist wasn't there, saw his

> partner who is fine but I would have liked to see my own,

particularly

> as he struggled with the lower part and was shaving bits off!

>

> - thought I would get away with wearing it night time only.

> Instead (I suppose its not a bad compromise) - upper - 13/14 hours,

> lower - 24 hours (the latter because it has a false tooth attached)

> and they need to make sure there is no danger of the teeth around it

> moving in on the space.

>

> My speech with the retainers in is dreadful and I'm back to the

> drooling again, presumably until my mouth accustoms to them again,

bit

> like having the wafer/splint in.

>

> I think a 24 hour retainer is going to be a hassle with eating and

> cleaning and taking them out every time I eat - fixed braces were

> easier in that respect.

>

> Has anyone here had to have either a bridge or an implant done after

> ortho and surgery? I have no idea which one to choose, but I

think a

> bridge involves attacking the two teeth either side of the gap and

I'm

> not sure I fancy that!

>

> Sue (UK)

[Guest guest]

Hi

Thanks for your response.

I think I need to get some quotes in for my missing tooth although I

couldn't contemplate having it done for a while!

My first night in retainers passed no problem, but when I removed the

lower this morning to eat one of my teeth hurt a fair bit. I presume

the teeth have to adjust just like having a brace adjustment.

Best wishes

Sue (UK)