Power chain with braces...close to last step?

[FINFAN]

Our Ortho was a little vague or perhaps I was misunderstanding his explanation...but, has anyone had experience with a power chain and was it one of not the last step before getting the braces off?
DS bite is being stubborn, but he uses the regular bands for that..the power chian thing -from what I understand- is there to close a gap that occurred between DS from teeth from wearing his bands. So, on the upside, the bands were working, but caused a gap, so the power chain is to close the gap..but when I asked if that is the final stage..I got the 'if he is wearing his bands, we'll see him in 2 weeks" vague kinda answer. Anyone here with any poersonal experience? My DD did not have a power chain so it is new to me DS had it pu tn a week ago and goes back a week from tomorrow. He's been in the braces 2 years today..so he is really getting ancy.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My dd has "chains" now and she just got her braces. It has nothing to do with getting them off.

 

[FINFAN]

did your ortho explain what the ue of the chain is for? I had never heard of it before, but when I did a google search it appears to be common for gaps. The gap that did occur forr DS is closed already, in the week...I am just not sure what else DS needs done other than the bite thing.

 

[marcyinPA]

My DS had the power chains close to the end of his time with braces. I never asked what they are for...bad mom that I am, I never went with him! He used to walk to the ortho from school (just down the street).

 

[The Mystery Machine]

did your ortho explain what the ue of the chain is for? I had never heard of it before, but when I did a google search it appears to be common for gaps. The gap that did occur forr DS is closed already, in the week...I am just not sure what else DS needs done other than the bite thing.

Well with my dd closing the gaps is #1 on her treatment. Her mouth was one big gap mess.

She is missing 2 teeth and they are also creating a gap for the "fake teeth".

 

[FINFAN]

Well with my dd closing the gaps is #1 on her treatment. Her mouth was one big gap mess.

She is missing 2 teeth and they are also creating a gap for the "fake teeth".

ahhhh, then it makes sense she has it now vs later...kinda like an expander but kinder.

 

[FINFAN]

My DS had the power chains close to the end of his time with braces. I never asked what they are for...bad mom that I am, I never went with him! He used to walk to the ortho from school (just down the street).

Marcy..bear with me..but how close to the end, do you recall? I know everyone is different but grasping at straws here. Also, did theyleave the power chain on until they came off, or was theer a step in between?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

ahhhh, then it makes sense she has it now vs later...kinda like an expander but kinder.

Yes. She just went yesterday in fact. They are going to put the "big wire" in whatever that means next visit. Right now she has 2 chains to prepare for the "fake teeth".

She has to get 2 implants later however somehow they are going to out in 2 fake teeth with her braces as placeholders. This should be interesting.

 

[beavismom]

My son got a power chain on his visit 2 months ago and he is going to get his braces off the first week of May so I think in general it is a final step. We go next week for a quick check that everything is doing what it is supposed to, but the removal date is scheduled. FWIW, he has been in braces about 2 years too.

 

[FINFAN]

man,* removal date* sounds so sweet right now. It seems like we keep getting the "well see in about 6 weeks" statement...for the last 4 months now,,, the orig target date was last week and when we were a month out and no mention, I asked. We were promptly told over the phone by a tech that was not gonna happen, to talk to the Dr. Well, I am not sure what to believe anymore...kinda like the guy thought XYZ was gonna work but now here we are and it hasn't so he is trying alternate routes. Sigh...DS would sell his soul I think, right now to have them off in May.

 

[Mom3girls]

My daughter has had about 4 chains and she goes every 6 weeks. The chains have been moved over a few teeth each time. My guess is they are aligning her teeth so they are straight in the front. They did say there is a very good possibility that when she goes mid May/late May the braces will come off. That will put her at about 18 months from start to finish...expander til braces come off. Then she will get her retainer

 

[FINFAN]

sounds like a chain was in the plan for you guys...our ortho said a wire he was using to help with the bite wasn't working right, so he put the power chain on...DS was not happy as it seems everytime he goes in now it is for more stuff being added, nothing coming off. His teeth are straight, very straight. Until the gap happened we though for sure he was nearing the end. Now the gap closed in a week...but the bands for the bite, DS is wearing them in the evenings and night, but not 24/7 and no way during practice with a mouth guard. Why do I have this sinking feeling he is spending his summer in these yet.

 

[marcyinPA]

Marcy..bear with me..but how close to the end, do you recall? I know everyone is different but grasping at straws here. Also, did theyleave the power chain on until they came off, or was theer a step in between?

I would say probably the last 6-8 months. I remember him being in some significant pain...the only time he really had any discomfort was from the power chain.

ETA: I think he also had more than one? Gosh, now I feel horrible! I have no idea the work involved in getting those teeth beautiful! He now has a retainer, and he WEARS it...but one of his "problem" teeth has moved a tiny bit. I guess this is normal. She adjusted the retainer last week, and that night, his teeth hurt so bad, he took the retainer out in his sleep!! So I guess it is working!

 

[FINFAN]

I would say probably the last 6-8 months. I remember him being in some significant pain...the only time he really had any discomfort was from the power chain.

6-8 months? DS will freak if he has that long to go yet..not after the Orhto has said maybe in 6 weeks ...several times now. Yeah, DS had a lot of pain too...which is why it may have been nice to have a warning that the chain was goin on, he could have maybe taken something ahead of time. ( and Icouls have had yougurt ans stuff on hand) Fortunately he was on spring break .

 

[disneydentist]

You say his bite is "being stubborn." Don't expect the braces off until the bit is correct.

You also said that he wears the rubber bands evenings and at night. Is he supposed to be wearing them 24/7. If so any time without them will really slow down progress.

That having been said it could be a while yet until they come off depending on how far off the bite still is and how much he wears the rubber bands.

 

[FINFAN]

You say his bite is "being stubborn." Don't expect the braces off until the bit is correct.

You also said that he wears the rubber bands evenings and at night. Is he supposed to be wearing them 24/7. If so any time without them will really slow down progress.

That having been said it could be a while yet until they come off depending on how far off the bite still is and how much he wears the rubber bands.

well, his Orthos words are" being stubborn, not quite where he wants it to be yet"...and for the bands, he said wear as much as possible , which to me is 24/7, however DS was very honest about not wearing them in school/practice etc. The Ortho did decide to take another xray last month just as we were getting ready to head out..no info on what that showed. DS had been wearing the bands more often the past month or so and that is when the gap appeared in between the front teeth, leading to last Mondays visit resulting in the power chain. I actually thought the chain was more for the bite than the gap...it wasn't until I searched for such a deviceon google that I figured out it was for the gap and the bands are still for the bite. It's kinda like the Ortho (and nice guy and highly recommended) assumes I am familiar or know what he is doing and why. I told him DS foesn't exactly fill me in on the details, he laughed and said that's kinda the norm..so I though he would fill me in a littel better..especailly since DS is obviously going to be way pst his estimated time frame. Iknow there are bite "levels" 1 being the preferred ( I think) but I have no idea where DS is at. That is a question I am going to have to ask next week. DS goes every 2 weeks now.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I hate to tell you that my older dd was never able to get her bite corrected.

She was also missing teeth and she also has a repaired heart defect and her cardiologist said "no implants" so they pulled the teeth forward. So as a result her bite will always be off. She had braces for 4+yrs with 2 different orthos. (We moved, that was a joy overpaying for that.)

Anyhow so with this dd we had to decide the same thing. Pull the teeth forward or implants. Well naturally I did not want the same thing to happen and also this dd has super huge gaps and I know it would have been a mistake.

Bottom line he says, well if she can't get implants she can always get a bridge. To which I cringe now because hello.....why didn't you suggest that with my older dd?

All in all getting the bite right if you can is the way to go. Good Luck to you!

 

[FINFAN]

man,,that stinks! Sorry about all they/you have to go thru. Uptill recently tho, his Ortho didn;t appear to think he'd have an issue getting the bite to where he feels it should be..I am guessing it is DS not wearing the bands enough and who nows how long that battle will continue for. If I can just get a concrete answer it will help so much!

 

[DisneyNutMary]

My son has had a chain a few times during treatment, but he never had a power chain until the last 6 weeks of this treatment. The orthodontist told me she uses the power chain when she wants to fix the bite quickly, rather than gradually. We had a rush because he is going off to college this summer, and needed to be able to go 3 or 4 months without seeing the dr.
In 6 weeks, she took off his braces and made his retainer. He'll probably wear the retainer longer than originally planned, just to keep things straight.

If your DS or DD has a power chain put in, stock up on tykenol, the first few days hurt like heck for my son and he couldn't eat for almost a week.