Re: Braces Question-Elastics

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Apologies if I don't know if you're pre or post-op. Post-op, my teeth

were definitely more sensitive, but pre-op not really at all.

Elastics do tend to make teeth a bit sore at first, but I found it

went away quickly. I do have an ortho, though, who doesn't believe in

a patient suffering any pain at all. If I say it hurts or is sore, he

slows down. Elastics were even taken off at one point " to give your

body a rest " as my ortho said.

I think you should mention this to your ortho - call if it doesn't

improve in a few days, or especially if it gets worse.

As for elastics on both or only one side, that's not uncommon. The

ortho knows what he or she is doing!

> I was just wondering if anyone could tell me how long it takes the

> teeth to get used to elastics. My teeth seem to be staying tender

and

> sore the whole time I have it on. Also, I am wondering if it is

> normal to have an elastic only on one side. I only have one on my

> right side, and I just thought they are usually put on both sides.

> Thanks for any info!

>

>

[Guest guest]

, thanks for the quick response. I am still pre op, been in

braces for about 15 months. I think I ended up with the elastic

because I mentioned my bottom teeth were shifting to the right and the

midline has shifted by about half a tooth. He said the surgery can

correct the midline but I guess he is trying to correct it also. I

will see how it feels after a few days, and will check in with the

ortho if it doesn't feel any better. Thanks again for the quick info!

[Guest guest]

Suuu-Sannn....

Have I lost my remaining tidbit of a mind, or aren't you the one who

had a bloody mouth through much of your pre-fixed-braces trials with

elastics??? Had to try gauze squares, etc., to cope?

Maybe I am just overcome with loony cats, loony spaces, loony folks,

etc. But did you not have just awful times about being cut up with

the elastics?

I so glad you don't, any more!

C.

> > I was just wondering if anyone could tell me how long it takes

the

> > teeth to get used to elastics. My teeth seem to be staying

tender

> and

> > sore the whole time I have it on. Also, I am wondering if it is

> > normal to have an elastic only on one side. I only have one on

my

> > right side, and I just thought they are usually put on both

sides.

> > Thanks for any info!

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Hmmm. Your memory is probably better than mine for this sort of

thing, Cammie.

Well, no, no bloody mouth. I did have irritated cheeks, yes, had

gauze pads and vitamin e oil and everything to try to minimize that.

But no bloody mouth. And nothing really ever hurt, especially not

the brace movements. It wasn't awful either, just part of the

process. And yess'm, I am glad to be done with it!

> > > I was just wondering if anyone could tell me how long it takes

> the

> > > teeth to get used to elastics. My teeth seem to be staying

> tender

> > and

> > > sore the whole time I have it on. Also, I am wondering if it

is

> > > normal to have an elastic only on one side. I only have one

on

> my

> > > right side, and I just thought they are usually put on both

> sides.

> > > Thanks for any info!

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Just my 2 cents worth: My teeth are always sore while wearing

elastics. It's worse in the beginning, but it never completely goes

away (in my experience at least). If you think about it, elastics

provide a constant tension, while braces have no effect once your

teeth have moved to their new home, aside from holding them in

place... elastics keep on tugging though. It also depends on the

elastics' strength. I found a big difference between 4oz elastics

and 3.5oz ones.

Yann

> I was just wondering if anyone could tell me how long it takes the

> teeth to get used to elastics. My teeth seem to be staying tender

and

> sore the whole time I have it on. Also, I am wondering if it is

> normal to have an elastic only on one side. I only have one on my

> right side, and I just thought they are usually put on both

sides.

> Thanks for any info!

>

>

[Guest guest]

I dunno that I see things perzactly that way, Yann, but I'm no ortho.

My wires and brackets did some major re-engineering inside my

mouth... It was more than a year bfore we even got to the elastics.

But I do agree that the rubber bands can provide some of the force

that puts the teeth where they need to be.

I remember being amazed, talking with an adult patient (and a

teacher, no less!) who had been treated as an adult by my very own

sweet ortho. I asked her whether he'd finished on the promised

schedule, and she calmly said, " No, but that's probably because I

didn't wear the elastics the way he told me. They were all up front,

and I was teaching, and I just didn't want to. " (Why go for the

program, if you aren't gonna give it a chance?)

My jaw dropped, and I started to ask whether she tried to run her

rather formidable SUV without giving the engine any gasoline to make

it work, but fortunately I thought the better of it.

There's gotta be something there providing the impetus for the

movement.

As for soreness, I think it depends on how strong they are. the

worst I ever had were those 1/8-inch, 8.5-oz pull ones. If you're in

that league or more, and are continuing to have trouble, I'd think

it might be worthwhile asking the ortho if he could lighten up a

bit, although I didn't have to do so.

C.

> Hi ,

>

> Just my 2 cents worth: My teeth are always sore while wearing

> elastics. It's worse in the beginning, but it never completely

goes

> away (in my experience at least). If you think about it, elastics

> provide a constant tension, while braces have no effect once your

> teeth have moved to their new home, aside from holding them in

> place... elastics keep on tugging though. It also depends on the

> elastics' strength. I found a big difference between 4oz elastics

> and 3.5oz ones.

>

> Yann

>