Damon Braces Concerns

[Colin]

Hi, I just got Damon Braces on nine days ago and have a few concerns. First, my teeth still ache after all this time and one of my front teeth is downright painful when I chew with even the slightest pressure. Should I be experiencing this amount of discomfort even after adjusting to the braces for over a week?

Secondly, I'm concerned about how the straightening without removing some teeth for room works. The Damon website claims that they slowly expand the jaw, but I've read elsewhere this can cause problems later on like root decay. Would this be a problem for someone with slight-moderate overcrowding? And are Damon's claims about being able to expand the jaw true?

Finally, there's public eating. I've had spacers put on my button jaw, and food has a tendency to get stuck between the spacers and my teeth. Is there any way for me to talk to friends without me showing bits and pieces of what I just ate stuck on my teeth?

[Sunny]

Hi Colin and welcome to this forum!

Hopefully you're adjusting to new hardware on your teeth a little better each day. Most people adjust quickly ... as in within the first week, but for a few it can take longer. The important stuff for you to do, is to keep well hydrated, use plenty of wax on any brackets that rub the inside of your mouth, and keep your oral hygiene excellent.

The archwire can help the arched shaped of your teeth, round out further, which allows the teeth more space to move in. The claims by the people who market the damon brand does appear to be misleading (meany believe false), as brackets don't move teeth, but the work being done by most ortho's using the damon brackets is equal, to the work they'd achieve using any other bracket ... so you shouldn't need to be concerned.

Ortho's rarely remove teeth now, unless a big space is needed, as firstly there's a certain amount of space that can be made by the archwire rounding the arch and then there's a little extra space that can be gained by some IPR (interproximal reduction) - shaving - on the sides of the front teeth, which is a fantastic way to help with crowding.

A person's jaw can be increased up till their early to mid teens, using an expander, or by surgery after the jaw joints have knit. So hopefully the marketers are not claiming a bracket can expand ... as that's simply impossible. A bracket is bonded to a person tooth, and can't do anything, unless a skilled ortho with an archwire go to work. It's great you're being a wise consumer and realise this is about science and not a brand name.

Eating in public is easiest, when you have a liquid to give your mouth a quick rinse with. I've always found it best to chew only with my molars, so any food that might be kept 'hanging', is way back in my mouth. Also cutting food into smaller pieces, can help. As for food being stuck where your spacers are ... remember they'll be gone soon, so don't be too concerned. Also the spacers will be on either side of your molars ... and that's a long way back in your mouth for friends to be looking at any food ... so hope they've got more interesting things to look at!

Good luck with your treatment!

[Colin]

Thanks for all the information and support, Sunny! I feel much better about these braces knowing that everything I'm going through is all considered normal.

[Zoso]

I can understand why you are concerned about the long-term health of your teeth. It is true that if the dental arch is opened up too much, then this can push the teeth towards the outer limits of the supporting alveolar bone. In this case it most certainly is possible to end up with roots that are supported by gum tissue that is too thin, and fragile.

If you are concerned about this, do discuss it with your orthodontist. BUt I am confident that if you have chosen a good doctor, he has fully taken this into consideration, and you should have nothing to be worried about.

[smilez4me]

Hi Colin Congrats on the braces! Sunny provided excellent info and good advice to go on.
As you will see in many places on this forum, it is the Ortho and their skill that move your teeth, not the brackets, so If you are confident in your ortho I would rest easy. A skilled Ortho can use any bracket with success and safety and health of your teeth.

I have the Damons and may have to have the surgery for my jaw. Im just trying not to think about that step. SO I would say no, I dont think brackets can move your jaw. You have to take some claims with a grain of salt but it is very good you are looking into these concerns. I would def talk to your ortho about any concerns as well.

Try to chew or bite down as much as possible as this helps with the pain and you will adjust before you know it. I hope you have a great treatment!