My first adjustment and I have questions

[newsboysgrl777]

So I just had my first adjustment yesterday. Basically they just put in a heavier guage wire. I asked them if I would be getting my bottom braces on and they said no..that doesn't come for a long time. Then I went to the front to schedule my next appointment which is in another 6 weeks and I asked them how long it usually is before they put the bottoms on. They didn't give me a definitive answer, but they said that that doesn't come for a long time because the bottom teeth move so much faster than the top teeth. Anyone ever heard of this? Or, at least of an ortho doing it this way? I'm not doubting her because she's been in business for a long time and she's really great, but I'm just curious.

Question 2: How long does it take to get used to the new wire? The last one they put on me was a really, really think titanium thing (they might all be titanium) but anyway, obviously I felt discomfort and pressure the first few days (though I don't remember 100% how long it was..maybe a week), but I'm wondering if it's the same with each upgraded wire, or if it's longer or shorter?

Question 3: Is the heavier wire going to make things actually start MOVING? I've taken 'progress pics' since the day before I got my braces put on and I swear I don't see any difference. The person who put the braces on me said that the thinner wire would make things move more quickly and with less discomfort (maybe? or something to that effect) and that the heavier one would hurt a lot and wouldn't do a whole lot. So - what's this heavier wire going to do for me??

Question 4: Does anyone else's brackets 'snag' your lip ever?? It's just on one side for me (where the rubber band will eventually be - it's in the front on the top for me since my upper jaw is going to need to be moved BACK)...and I look like a darn fool when it happens. Usually happens if I smile really big or laugh...and my friend calls it the snaggle tooth...LOL. But it's rather embarassing because the only way to get rid of it is to physically pull my lip out with my fingers!!

Also, this is just a personal question, but, I have the invu (i think?) ceramics on and this time I got pink ligs because my clear ones stained pretty badly way before the 6 week mark and so I thought if I got color, it wouldn't stain. However, my one friend asked me what the point of getting clear braces was if I was going to get a color. She's not necessarily the most supportive friend, so her comments don't bother me too much, but I just wondered if you thought this might look silly? Basically, the color isn't THAT noticeable because it's JUST the ligs and I don't know if the ceramic is different from the metal, but the ligs don't really show up as much as on metal ones (that I can see). But it is a pretty bright pink (which didn't show up that way in their office before I picked that color...LOL) and I'm afraid it might look like highlighter stains around my teeth. LOL

I think that's it for me for questions, but if I think of more, I'll be sure to write them. You guys are so informative and I feel so confused sometimes and I'm glad I can ask you all!

[mariahfromchicago]

It depends on how your teeth are progressing. Probably because the bottom teeth don't really need braces for a long time. I found it different for me, my top teeth move faster than my bottom teeth. I still have a rotated tooth that is de-rotating. Thicker wires hurt a lot! The heavier wire is stiffer, usually used for detailing, I think? Colours with clear braces look so much cooler than colours with metal braces !

[Sunny]

newsboysgrl your teeth may not show physical movement yet, but can you feel any changes when you bite together? Not all movement is visible, but it will happen, and when you notice it, you'll be excited. I've taken photos once a month for three years and it's encouraging to see the changes, even though my teeth are slow to move.

Bottom brackets ... For some people these go on at the same time as their uppers, for others it can be one, two, three plus adjustments later, maybe even a year or so later. Plus for some people the lowers can go on ahead of the uppers. There are many reasons why the archs may be bracketed at different times, and only your orthodontist can explain the reasons for your case.

New archwires ... With most patients it seem to take a day or two, but most report adjusting quickly. Of course some people find this more uncomfortable than others.

Movement ... the thin flexible wires are the ones used to get the teeth moving for alignment issues. After teeth are aligned, there's a load of work needed to get the roots of the teeth into their correct places, so the teeth have a chance of being retained. Heavier wires may need to be used for this. If your teeth need detailing near the end of your treatment, then heavier wires with bends will usually do that final work.

Hook Snag ... I've not had this happen, but our orthodontist's will press the hooks back a little towards the tooth, if they annoy a patient. Talk to your ortho about this, as he may be able to do the same for you.

Ligatures/O rings ... the choice of what colour to wear is a personal one. I agree with Mariah that colour looks so much better with ceramic brackets and I'd estimate that at least 75% of our patients wear coloured (other than clear and silver) ligatures. Some patients prefer bright colours, other dark colours and other the light pastels. Plus there's patients who prefer to wear only silver or clear ... and they're happy with that. Our ortho's also offer wire ties, as a non staining option. Some patients start with the white teflon coated wire ties, and after a few months choose to have colours. It's a personal thing ... and I recommend you do whatever you want to do and don't feel the need to justify your decisions to anyone else.

one friend asked me what the point of getting clear braces was if I was going to get a color.

All our patients can have ceramic brackets on their upper arch, and it's got nothing to do with the shade of the bracket, but everything to do with the comfort and quality.

[sg88]

I got my braces on a month ago. I was told my appointments would be every 4 wks as I wanted the braces off for my wedding! I went to my first appointment since getting the braces and the wire wasn't tightened/changed, they just changed the elastics. How often are wires normally changed?

[lightskinnnn38]

It is different for everyone. I have appointments every 8 weeks, and I have kept the same upper wire for almost 16 weeks now, but I've only had my lower wire for 8. It depends on how your teeth have to move.

[AK710]

I'm currently 7 months in and had my appointment yesterday. I don't know if the bottom teeth move faster than the top teeth, but my ortho's assistant told me that I was on my last wire for my bottom teeth and that I had 3 more to go on my top teeth. To my eye, they already look straight and if you would have asked me at the beginning of my treatment which set would go faster I would have chosen the top set.

After the initial discomfort wears off and you are back to eating what you want, I would say about three days. I was/am uncomfortable now, but it isn't not like the first time. I lost 5 pounds at the beginning of treatment (and I weighed about 110 before I lost the weight) and now I am up to 114. Learn to love protein shakes like Ensure and Boost. I still drink them now especially when I don't feel like picking food out of my teeth.

The thicker wire does something but it depends on the kind you have. For example when they changed my wire from a flexible one to a non-flexible one, I could feel the difference, but it was more of a "setting" wire so to speak. When they put the thicker wire on the bottom I didn't feel much. When you teeth start to become more solid, it will have less of a painful effect on everything.

Find a good wax and keep it on you. Sometimes my teeth still snag when I'm smiling or talking and then a sore will try to pop up. My ortho gave me 2 kinds of wax to try and the one that I adore is the silicone wax. I can usually put it on and then the next day the sore is gone. The key is placing the wax when you first feel that bit of irritation b/c you can stop it in its tracks. I'm also a fan of the silicone wax + ambesol (i think that is the name). It really stops sores cold.

I haven't had bad staining, but I have a tiny spot on my bottom teeth that my hygenist couldn't get out b/c it was in between two teeth. The only way to keep your ligs from staining is to drink clear fluids and that isn't fun. I live on tea. If you have some staining on your teeth see if your ortho's asst. can do a quick polish and get that stain out.

[2ten8us]

I understand your concern about your bottom braces. I have not a clue when I will get my bottom braces but I am not worried because my top teeth are misaligned because of a crossbite. Two of my top teeth sit inside my bottom teeth which were perfect. My dilemma is I have one tooth on the bottom which is out of line because of the bite blocks that causes that tooth to touch my top tooth. However, I am almost there and know it would be fruitless to apply the bottom braces until my crossbit is corrected.

[IHIC]

I got my braces on a month ago. I was told my appointments would be every 4 wks as I wanted the braces off for my wedding! I went to my first appointment since getting the braces and the wire wasn't tightened/changed, they just changed the elastics. How often are wires normally changed?

I think it varies too much to really be told you will have appoinyments EVERY x amount of weeks. I have been in braces for nearly 10 months and sometimes it's been 3, 4, 6 and even 8 weeks between appointments. It depends on each patient and what the Ortho is trying to achieve. For example, I had an appointment in early July and my next was 8 weeks later (just had that appointment) and my next is for 5 weeks time, my next may only be 4 weeks then again it could be 7 or 8... I never know until my appointment/adjustment is over.