Question about Archwire

[ksmoguy]

So I had my 1st checkup this week and it went just fine. They kept me on the same archwire but said next time I would go to a bigger wire and that wire would really get the teeth to moving.

I didnt think to ask this but why do they start you on a small wire then get to a bigger wire?

[Denise]

Thicker wires exert more force. They want teeth to move slowly - quick movement of the bones and roots can cause permanent damage to your teeth. Hence why you start out small and light, and progress to thicker wires (and eventually thicker elastics) as you progress through your treatment.

[ksmoguy]

Denise - Thanks! I am 5 weeks into my treatment and go back in 12 weeks and at that time I get the bigger wire.

I cant wait!

[Denise]

If you are prone to experiencing any pain, I would recommend taking 600-800mg of ibuprofen about an hour before you go in for your wire change. In the first 6 months, each adjustment I had would cause me so much pain I couldn't eat for about 3 days because my teeth were so sensitive.

[lauralea]

Perhaps its the archwire I have, but I hardly felt anything, no pain, no discomfort after having them put on. Now the AW is quite small, so perhaps there going to put on a thicker heavyer one. THe one I have now is NiTi

[ksmoguy]

There is no pain at all at least for me. Outside of the time spent flossing its really been problem free. I have take no advil and had no canker sores at all.

[Carrie]

I know everyone's case is different and every ortho is as well. I have never heard of someone going 12 weeks between adjustments. My doctor told me every 4-6 weeks for my entire treatment cycle.

[Sunny]

ksmoguy the smaller the archwire the more work it will do with loosening and aligning of the teeth. These are the most important archwires to wear, due to this.

Thicker wires exert more force, but they can't be used until the teeth are already moving, or you risk damaging the roots of the teeth and the possibility of root reabsorption.

Many of the archwires ... including the thin ones ... are memory archwires and they will continue to work until your teeth are in the shape that the archwire was in prior to it being placed in your mouth. This means that for many people, these archwires will continue to do their work for a year or longer. Usually ortho's will change them so that other types of movement can be achieved, but archwires are now being changed less and less, due to these memory wires.

Good luck with your treatment ... and for most people tooth movement should be pain free!

[MCOMarkhamOrthodontist]

There is a formula regarding the flexibility of a wire and its relationship to size of wire and interbracket distance. As the the cross section of the wire increases, it is less flexible. As the distance between the teeth decreases, a thinner wire is required (the distance between braces generally increases when teeth are not as crowded).

[ksmoguy]

I think the reason my apt. is 12 weeks out is because I have a couple of teeth that need to move a good distance and the ortho cant really do anything until they are moved.