Braces and Coils?

[morettina]

Hi guys!
So far after 8 weeks the top looks great and has shifted and aligned but i just got bottom braces (damon's) yesterday and I think i'm gonna die.......i've already cried!
Because of overcrowding (which is the reason for the braces) he had to put coils on the bottom front 4 teeth 2 of which have hooks not brackets. He said that the coils will create space and then in 6 weeks he will remove the coils and the hooks and proceed with the wire.
It hurts so much! I can't eat, i can't speak and the biggest canker sore! I am so depressed!
Anyone else have these coils and if so do you get used to them? I'm sure you do but they look so awful! I'm in sales and I feel I look hideous. After my bottom braces were put on yesterday I had an interview with my VP for a promotion! It was difficult.
Need encouragement.........

[Phantom Muse]

Hang in there! I had coils when I was first braced many years ago, and mine were on top. They were uncomfortable for a time, but I got used to them (couldn't stop playing with them, actually). They didn't stay on for too long, but they were memorable. That being said, the time will pass quickly! For me, it was kind of like having the chicken pox; I was miserable and thought I looked terrible at the time, but I sure was glad someone took a few photos because it is great fun to look at them now that the "misery" has passed!

Kudos for being able to even take an interview the same day you got your lower braces!!! Good luck on the promotion!

Be sure to rinse with salt water to get rid of the canker sore, eat soft foods, and remember that this stage is only temporary. Promise!

[Sunny]

Morettina it will get better, but you need to take extra care of the inside of your mouth while it adjusts to the hooks and coils. Make sure you are generous with the wax and only remove it to brush. When you think you know longer need it, give yourself another 24 hours and then don't use it. Your mouth will toughen with the wax and this will prevent sores.

As you now have a sore, warm salt water rinses are both healing and soothing. This needs to be done as often as you can ... 5+ times a day is recommended. There are also creams and/or gels that can be used to help numb and heal the sores. Good luck and remember prevention is the best when it comes to mouth sores.

I'm sure you feel these coils and hooks are the most horrible things ... but I reckon most people won't notice them. People don't often look at our teeth and with females, lowers are even less likely to be seen, unless you have a class III bite.

You've done the right thing going back to work and getting on with your life. Every day hundreds of thousands of people get braces ... imagine if they all decided to take the day off ... imagine all those adolescents roarming aimlessly around ...

Wax, salt water and a positive attitude ... you are going to do well!

[morettina]

Phantom Muse and Sunny! Guys, thank you so much for the great advice. This too shall pass is what I keep telling myself.

Quick question, do the coils actually help in starting to straighten the teeth?

My ortho said that the coils are used to "create" space. My next appt is on March 23rd where he'll assess if there is enough space between the teeth and if so he will remove the coils and put the wire. But again, are the coils helping in straightening out the teeth or not?

Also, I think I may have gotten the promotion! I'll find out next week.

I will be very generous with the wax! it has helped.

Thanx guys, you are wonderful.

[SoxFan]

I feel for you. I have had coils for the past 4 months.

One running from lower left canine to lower left central incisor and one from lower left center to lower right lateral.

The worst was during my second adjustment, they were placed when the bottom bracket were put on and "activated" 6 weeks later, 5 weeks later they were removed and my doctor said she was unhappy with how little movement had occured so told the assistant to replace the coils and "make them as active as possible". I'll tell you what I could not bite down for almost 2 weeks.

The day after this adjustment I was flossing and the wire tie holding one end of one of the coils came loose and the wire poped out of the bracket causing the coil to expand and move out of place. I was able to go in that afternoon and have it fixed, but when they repositioned that coil so it was tight; that was the most painfull thing i have dealt with thus far, almost in tears due to the soreness of the adjustment the previous day with the added pressure of the repair.

One was recently removed and the wire attached to the bracket on the lower right central, that movement has been impressive in how fast it has moved.

To answer your question about actual "straightening", in my case the coils actually made the teeth they were attached to less straight with some minor roation and tilting present, but when the wire was attached to the tooth it was pulled right into position.

Go back in 3 weeks and hopefully they will remove the remaining coil, can't ever get used to the after feeling of them being "activated."

Goodluck.

[Sunny]

Morettina the coils are designed to either move teeth apart or pull them in a certain dirrection. In the process other teeth may straighten ... which is a bonus.

Good luck

[morettina]

Thanx!
My coils are designed to pull them apart to "create" space. I'm just hoping to see a difference just with the coils.
I'm feeling much better and getting used to it however can't wait for my Mar 23rd appt to remove them and go with regular wires. Mar 23rd feels so far away I guess that's why i'm hoping that i will see a difference in the meantime...

Thanx all!
Morettina

[lauralea]

Congrats on your potential promotion/jon Morettina!
I remember as a kid having the 'super spring', and boys did they ever create space quickly! Not fun, but its just another step in improving our smile right!
After I had the springs, and the space was were it needed to be, then i got THE POWER ELASTIC! OUCH, plus i got the power chain at the same time, boys let me tell you this hurt. I probably had a 2-3 mm space between my 2 front teeth. Within 10 mins of leaving the orthodontic office, there was absolutly NO GAP in my front teeth. That goes to show you how quickly teeth can move.

[morettina]

WOW!! That's incredible!
I had the top put on in December (the 18th) and they look great so yeah I hear ya they do move quickly.
My real problem was the bottom though, that's where i had the overcrowding.
I can't wait to see a difference there!
My husband actually noticed my chin moving forward, changing and he likes the difference.
Everyone says that you change after braces, that is cool.
As for the promotion, I should hear something by Thursday or Friday of this week. I feel really good about it!
I kind of broke the ice with my VP of Sales. I apologized and explained that I had just lef the orthodontist's office and got my bottom braces put one. I told him that it wasn't my intention to show up as a 13 year old! We both had a great laugh.
We shall see.
Thanks everyone for the support.

[ksmoguy]

I have 2 coils to create space and I go back this week for my 5-week appointment. The ortho was hoping enough space had been created to remove the coils and attache the archwire but alas I do not see that happened as one has only created a small bit of space and the other has done nothing but rotate the tooth.

[Maketa]

I have a coil on the bottom. One tooth is turned so much that they couldn't put the brace/bracket on the tooth. So they put in a coil and told me that when I went back in 8 weeks (7 weeks now), they would take off the coil and put on the brace. I'm interested to see what it will look like at my next appointment, if I will have big gaps on the sides of the tooth.