Re: oh noooooooooooooooooo - surgical wires and hooks

[Guest guest]

Surgical wires are, as far as I know, just the wires you need to have

in place for surgery. They're not that much (if at all) different

than the upper and lower arch wires any brace wearer has. As for the

hooks, my ortho placed four (I think) hooks that my oral surgeon used

when he wired my splint to my upper braces. The hooks were also used

to hold the rubber bands that held my mouth closed. I thought the

name sounded just awful and have accused my orthodontist of enjoying

hurting people on a few occassions, but the hooks ended up not being

all that bothersome.

Another note on the upper arch wire for someone who needs upper

segmentation - My ortho cut my upper wire into three pieces (on

either side of my top front four teeth) a few weeks before surgery to

allow those teeth to move in preparation for a little regression.

They did move some, but I'm probably the only person other than my

orhto and surgeon who noticed it. The incissions made in my upper

jaw for widening corresponded to the cuts in the arch wire. My front

four teeth were one section and the other teeth were two more

sections. The fourth segment was the area of bone in the middle of

everything. Upper segmentation sounds a lot worse than it actually

is. I remember asking my surgeon where the incissions were going to

be when I woke up... I was afraid of what I'd feel inside my mouth,

as in inside where my tongue is. The incissions for upper

segmentation do not affect the skin on the roof of your mouth - all

of that stays in tact, or at least it did in my case. I'm pretty

sure it stays in tact for most patients and my surgeon said something

to the effect of that is has to. All of the incissions, including

the lower ones, were on the outside of my teeth, so they didn't

bother me much at all, especially since the splint and banding kept

me from bugging them.

I hope that all makes sense and is somewhat helpful.

> Hi scottie,

> I suspect that your ortho was talking about surgical hooks and

wires which he needs to put in place before surgery in order for the

OS to wire your jaws together. Did he mention being wired or was the

plan for bands only? If the plan is still for bands only then I

don't know what he means.

>

> I had palate expansion done as a separate surgery about a year

before my upper/lower/genio which is scheduled for this Friday. I

experienced no pain/bruising and minimal, and I should say miniscule,

swelling afterwards. However, I was more upset by the fact that I

had this noticeable gap between my front teeth. The gap was about a

tooth size wide right in the middle! Wearing braces is bad enough,

but a gap? That part was awful. Also, I expected it to close much

faster than it did. It took about 3 months from it's widest point to

finally go back together. I did, however, become an expert in

cosmetology as I used the hard wax from my ortho to fashion a fake

tooth in between my two front ones. People looked at me like there

was something different, but they couldn't figure out what it was.

> Sharon

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sounds like what I just had done too (i am 1week out of surgery

today) (and a bit newby!!)...altho my ortho started making gaps

(also on either side of the front 4 teeth) about 4 months ahead of

surgery. She put little metal springs where she wanted the space to

be, and they just pushed the teeth back giving room for the OS to

make the cuts. Not really any more painful than any other

orthodontic movement. I have regular (altho very strong) arch

wires, but instead of having o's holding them on the ortho used wire

to attach at each bracket and made a little hook on most brackets.

My surgery sounds very simular to what describes below. My OS

said he did the top jaw first, then cut the bottom and moved it,

wired it to the top jaw using the hooks, then made inscisions on the

outside of my cheeks, near the joint and placed the screws to hold

the bottom jaw where he wanted it. Then he took the wires off and

replaced with bands. He sure did leave a lot of the wires and hooks

sticking out though!! The inside of my mouth is like hamburger.

Not sure if you could ask them to clean up a little before they are

done? Granted I can't feel it, but it's not going to be fun to

heal. Thanks for listening, hope that explains more.

Suzy

> > Hi scottie,

> > I suspect that your ortho was talking about surgical hooks and

> wires which he needs to put in place before surgery in order for

the

> OS to wire your jaws together. Did he mention being wired or was

the

> plan for bands only? If the plan is still for bands only then I

> don't know what he means.

> >

> > I had palate expansion done as a separate surgery about a year

> before my upper/lower/genio which is scheduled for this Friday. I

> experienced no pain/bruising and minimal, and I should say

miniscule,

> swelling afterwards. However, I was more upset by the fact that I

> had this noticeable gap between my front teeth. The gap was about

a

> tooth size wide right in the middle! Wearing braces is bad

enough,

> but a gap? That part was awful. Also, I expected it to close

much

> faster than it did. It took about 3 months from it's widest point

to

> finally go back together. I did, however, become an expert in

> cosmetology as I used the hard wax from my ortho to fashion a fake

> tooth in between my two front ones. People looked at me like

there

> was something different, but they couldn't figure out what it was.

> > Sharon

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I imagine there are different methods that can be used to separate

the roots of the cuspids on either side of the top front four teeth.

The roots have to be separated to give the OS a better chance of not

damaging them and thus endangering the health of the cuspids.

My surgeon did an excellent job of cleaning things up (though the

incissions were made to my bottom jaw and then he moved on to the top

before completing the bottom - something about pressure and how it

would affect the upper if the lower incissions weren't made first).

I hope I can describe it well, but there was one wire around every

bracket on my upper. Each one started on the side of the bracket,

went down through a small hole in the splint under the bracket and

then came back up through another small hole in the splint on the

other side of the bracket. The two ends were then twisted together

and then bent down and in to make it more comfortable for the inside

of my mouth. It was so intricate - I felt like a walking art project.

> > > Hi scottie,

> > > I suspect that your ortho was talking about surgical hooks and

> > wires which he needs to put in place before surgery in order for

> the

> > OS to wire your jaws together. Did he mention being wired or was

> the

> > plan for bands only? If the plan is still for bands only then I

> > don't know what he means.

> > >

> > > I had palate expansion done as a separate surgery about a year

> > before my upper/lower/genio which is scheduled for this Friday.

I

> > experienced no pain/bruising and minimal, and I should say

> miniscule,

> > swelling afterwards. However, I was more upset by the fact that

I

> > had this noticeable gap between my front teeth. The gap was

about

> a

> > tooth size wide right in the middle! Wearing braces is bad

> enough,

> > but a gap? That part was awful. Also, I expected it to close

> much

> > faster than it did. It took about 3 months from it's widest

point

> to

> > finally go back together. I did, however, become an expert in

> > cosmetology as I used the hard wax from my ortho to fashion a

fake

> > tooth in between my two front ones. People looked at me like

> there

> > was something different, but they couldn't figure out what it was.

> > > Sharon

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

i wondered how the splint was attached!!

Thanks, Suzy

> > > > Hi scottie,

> > > > I suspect that your ortho was talking about surgical hooks

and

> > > wires which he needs to put in place before surgery in order

for

> > the

> > > OS to wire your jaws together. Did he mention being wired or

was

> > the

> > > plan for bands only? If the plan is still for bands only then

I

> > > don't know what he means.

> > > >

> > > > I had palate expansion done as a separate surgery about a

year

> > > before my upper/lower/genio which is scheduled for this

Friday.

> I

> > > experienced no pain/bruising and minimal, and I should say

> > miniscule,

> > > swelling afterwards. However, I was more upset by the fact

that

> I

> > > had this noticeable gap between my front teeth. The gap was

> about

> > a

> > > tooth size wide right in the middle! Wearing braces is bad

> > enough,

> > > but a gap? That part was awful. Also, I expected it to close

> > much

> > > faster than it did. It took about 3 months from it's widest

> point

> > to

> > > finally go back together. I did, however, become an expert in

> > > cosmetology as I used the hard wax from my ortho to fashion a

> fake

> > > tooth in between my two front ones. People looked at me like

> > there

> > > was something different, but they couldn't figure out what it

was.

> > > > Sharon

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

[Guest guest]

Dear this is a great help. What exactly does a splint look and

feel like when its in your mouth and how long does it stay in for?

> > Hi scottie,

> > I suspect that your ortho was talking about surgical hooks and

> wires which he needs to put in place before surgery in order for

the

> OS to wire your jaws together. Did he mention being wired or was

the

> plan for bands only? If the plan is still for bands only then I

> don't know what he means.

> >

> > I had palate expansion done as a separate surgery about a year

> before my upper/lower/genio which is scheduled for this Friday. I

> experienced no pain/bruising and minimal, and I should say

miniscule,

> swelling afterwards. However, I was more upset by the fact that I

> had this noticeable gap between my front teeth. The gap was about

a

> tooth size wide right in the middle! Wearing braces is bad

enough,

> but a gap? That part was awful. Also, I expected it to close

much

> faster than it did. It took about 3 months from it's widest point

to

> finally go back together. I did, however, become an expert in

> cosmetology as I used the hard wax from my ortho to fashion a fake

> tooth in between my two front ones. People looked at me like

there

> was something different, but they couldn't figure out what it was.

> > Sharon

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I'm not , but I can tell you that the splint can seem like a big deal when

you first get in it. I am having my surgery tomorrow, but I had a little crying

spell after my ortho fitted me for the splint yesterday. It's going to be fine

I'm sure, but your tongue naturally magnifies everything in your mouth (ever

have one of those teeny tiny sores on the end of your tongue that feels like a

boulder?). So the splint felt huge in my mouth and made the reality of being

unable to open really hit home. I imagine people get used to it, as everyone

here has had one and did fine. I've heard it gets pretty yucky over time. I'll

let you know more when I have mine wired in and I'm home and able to post.

Sharon

Re: oh noooooooooooooooooo - surgical

wires and hooks

Dear this is a great help. What exactly does a splint look and

feel like when its in your mouth and how long does it stay in for?

> > Hi scottie,

> > I suspect that your ortho was talking about surgical hooks and

> wires which he needs to put in place before surgery in order for

the

> OS to wire your jaws together. Did he mention being wired or was

the

> plan for bands only? If the plan is still for bands only then I

> don't know what he means.

> >

> > I had palate expansion done as a separate surgery about a year

> before my upper/lower/genio which is scheduled for this Friday. I

> experienced no pain/bruising and minimal, and I should say

miniscule,

> swelling afterwards. However, I was more upset by the fact that I

> had this noticeable gap between my front teeth. The gap was about

a

> tooth size wide right in the middle! Wearing braces is bad

enough,

> but a gap? That part was awful. Also, I expected it to close

much

> faster than it did. It took about 3 months from it's widest point

to

> finally go back together. I did, however, become an expert in

> cosmetology as I used the hard wax from my ortho to fashion a fake

> tooth in between my two front ones. People looked at me like

there

> was something different, but they couldn't figure out what it was.

> > Sharon

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I am : ) so here goes:

My splint was sort of a milky clear acrylic color. It felt a lot

larger in than it looked when my surgeon removed it (I know Cammie

said she felt the same way about hers). Sharon is right - it does

get sort of gross while it's in there. No matter what, you can't

clean things in your mouth during the initial recovery as well as you

can otherwise. As soon as my splint came out, my surgeon and the

nurse cleared the room and I spent several minutes brushing my teeth

over and over again. It was very hard to brush because opening is

typically very limited when the splint comes out - the muscles aren't

used to working and there is still swelling that prevents you from

opening much as well.

Anywho, it seems different doctors use splints differently. Mine

kept mine in for a couple days shy of six weeks after surgery, though

the ideal, according to him, was six weeks. Some patients wear

theirs for a shorter or longer time, and still others don't have to

wear a splint at all.

It's shaped like a " U " , so it only covers top of the teeth. Mine fit

both my upper and lower teeth. The roof of my mouth was totally free

of clutter.

For me, the worst part of the splint was weeks after surgery when I

was able to start wearing two loose bands. By then, I was able to

talk more, but talking more meant that my tongue constantly hit the

splint, so I developed a full-fledged crop of canker sores along the

tip of my tongue. That was when Fiddlesticks replied to my

post saying that Amosen, and oral wound cleanser made by Oral B, was

great for canker sores... and it was. Not the greatest tasting

stuff, mind you, but I'd rather gag on the Amosen than have all the

painful canker sores. I still use it as I seem to get another crop

of canker sores on my bottom lip every time I visit my ortho. Guess

my bottom lip is still getting used to where my teeth are now : )

Hope that helps.

> > > Hi scottie,

> > > I suspect that your ortho was talking about surgical hooks

and

> > wires which he needs to put in place before surgery in order

for

> the

> > OS to wire your jaws together. Did he mention being wired or

was

> the

> > plan for bands only? If the plan is still for bands only then

I

> > don't know what he means.

> > >

> > > I had palate expansion done as a separate surgery about a

year

> > before my upper/lower/genio which is scheduled for this

Friday. I

> > experienced no pain/bruising and minimal, and I should say

> miniscule,

> > swelling afterwards. However, I was more upset by the fact

that I

> > had this noticeable gap between my front teeth. The gap was

about

> a

> > tooth size wide right in the middle! Wearing braces is bad

> enough,

> > but a gap? That part was awful. Also, I expected it to close

> much

> > faster than it did. It took about 3 months from it's widest

point

> to

> > finally go back together. I did, however, become an expert in

> > cosmetology as I used the hard wax from my ortho to fashion a

fake

> > tooth in between my two front ones. People looked at me like

> there

> > was something different, but they couldn't figure out what it

was.

> > > Sharon

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

For me, Amosan tasted way better than anything else. That Z stuff

tasted foul!

> I am : ) so here goes:

>

> My splint was sort of a milky clear acrylic color. It felt a lot

> larger in than it looked when my surgeon removed it (I know Cammie

> said she felt the same way about hers). Sharon is right - it does

> get sort of gross while it's in there. No matter what, you can't

> clean things in your mouth during the initial recovery as well as

you

> can otherwise. As soon as my splint came out, my surgeon and the

> nurse cleared the room and I spent several minutes brushing my

teeth

> over and over again. It was very hard to brush because opening is

> typically very limited when the splint comes out - the muscles

aren't

> used to working and there is still swelling that prevents you from

> opening much as well.

>

> Anywho, it seems different doctors use splints differently. Mine

> kept mine in for a couple days shy of six weeks after surgery,

though

> the ideal, according to him, was six weeks. Some patients wear

> theirs for a shorter or longer time, and still others don't have to

> wear a splint at all.

>

> It's shaped like a " U " , so it only covers top of the teeth. Mine

fit

> both my upper and lower teeth. The roof of my mouth was totally

free

> of clutter.

>

> For me, the worst part of the splint was weeks after surgery when I

> was able to start wearing two loose bands. By then, I was able to

> talk more, but talking more meant that my tongue constantly hit the

> splint, so I developed a full-fledged crop of canker sores along

the

> tip of my tongue. That was when Fiddlesticks replied to my

> post saying that Amosen, and oral wound cleanser made by Oral B,

was

> great for canker sores... and it was. Not the greatest tasting

> stuff, mind you, but I'd rather gag on the Amosen than have all the

> painful canker sores. I still use it as I seem to get another crop

> of canker sores on my bottom lip every time I visit my ortho.

Guess

> my bottom lip is still getting used to where my teeth are now : )

>

> Hope that helps.

>

[Guest guest]

The Amosan wasn't the most awful thing that I've ever tasted, but it

did get to me. I had a hard time swishing for the full 30 seconds on

more than one occasions. IMHO - It certainly wasn't a pleasant

flavor. Seems that real mouth cleansers all taste somewhat

unpleasant, though I wouldn't go so far as calling the lovely

Amosan " foul " . The Z stuff must have been awful!

> > I am : ) so here goes:

> >

> > My splint was sort of a milky clear acrylic color. It felt a lot

> > larger in than it looked when my surgeon removed it (I know

Cammie

> > said she felt the same way about hers). Sharon is right - it

does

> > get sort of gross while it's in there. No matter what, you can't

> > clean things in your mouth during the initial recovery as well as

> you

> > can otherwise. As soon as my splint came out, my surgeon and the

> > nurse cleared the room and I spent several minutes brushing my

> teeth

> > over and over again. It was very hard to brush because opening

is

> > typically very limited when the splint comes out - the muscles

> aren't

> > used to working and there is still swelling that prevents you

from

> > opening much as well.

> >

> > Anywho, it seems different doctors use splints differently. Mine

> > kept mine in for a couple days shy of six weeks after surgery,

> though

> > the ideal, according to him, was six weeks. Some patients wear

> > theirs for a shorter or longer time, and still others don't have

to

> > wear a splint at all.

> >

> > It's shaped like a " U " , so it only covers top of the teeth. Mine

> fit

> > both my upper and lower teeth. The roof of my mouth was totally

> free

> > of clutter.

> >

> > For me, the worst part of the splint was weeks after surgery when

I

> > was able to start wearing two loose bands. By then, I was able

to

> > talk more, but talking more meant that my tongue constantly hit

the

> > splint, so I developed a full-fledged crop of canker sores along

> the

> > tip of my tongue. That was when Fiddlesticks replied to my

> > post saying that Amosen, and oral wound cleanser made by Oral B,

> was

> > great for canker sores... and it was. Not the greatest tasting

> > stuff, mind you, but I'd rather gag on the Amosen than have all

the

> > painful canker sores. I still use it as I seem to get another

crop

> > of canker sores on my bottom lip every time I visit my ortho.

> Guess

> > my bottom lip is still getting used to where my teeth are now : )

> >

> > Hope that helps.

> >

[Guest guest]

Yep. It does feel big. Mine was wired in for seven weeks, but I was

able to open my mouth, as I was neither wired nor banded. It's just

that once I got it open, there was a heckuva lot of stuff (or seemed

to be) in there to navigate around.

It does seem to get a bit smaller as you go. And actually, I was glad

to have a guide about where to put my lower jaw.

My splint (which my surgeon insisted on calling " the wafer') was

acryllic, fit across part of the roof of the mouth and came down

under the teeth (upper only, so that its bottom edge was visible

under the top teeth. It had what seemed like a deep ditch carved in

it, into which my lower teeth did not at first fit, but they did

before it came out, and it was comforting to have a place to park

them. (It would, however, have been more comforting if I could have

taken the danged thing out and scrubbed it and my mouth and then put

it back in.) I was astonished, after it came out, to see that the big

ditch was really just a teensy little row of toothmarks. They left me

alone with it while I cleaned my mouth, and they told me they were

gonna keep it, so I picked it up and cleaned it off for them. I

figured that was the least I could do, since I never smell anything,

and apparently they smelled too much that day!

I also think he used wires only slightly smaller than old-fashioned

transatlantic cable to wire it in place, so that I had a bunch of

crisscross metal on my upper teeth.

Still, I endured it, and you will too, if you need it. As I have said

many times here, I had expected to lose it after six weeks. At either

five or six weeks, the surgeon told me to get an appointment within

24 hours of the seven-week one. I wailed that he'd promised six

weeks, and he grinned and said, " But I lie! "

More I thought about it, the more I realized that I didn't want the

danged thing out one day earlier than it needed to be. I sure didn't

want to do any repeats!

Cammie

> > > Hi scottie,

> > > I suspect that your ortho was talking about surgical hooks

and

> > wires which he needs to put in place before surgery in order

for

> the

> > OS to wire your jaws together. Did he mention being wired or

was

> the

> > plan for bands only? If the plan is still for bands only then

I

> > don't know what he means.

> > >

> > > I had palate expansion done as a separate surgery about a

year

> > before my upper/lower/genio which is scheduled for this

Friday. I

> > experienced no pain/bruising and minimal, and I should say

> miniscule,

> > swelling afterwards. However, I was more upset by the fact

that I

> > had this noticeable gap between my front teeth. The gap was

about

> a

> > tooth size wide right in the middle! Wearing braces is bad

> enough,

> > but a gap? That part was awful. Also, I expected it to close

> much

> > faster than it did. It took about 3 months from it's widest

point

> to

> > finally go back together. I did, however, become an expert in

> > cosmetology as I used the hard wax from my ortho to fashion a

fake

> > tooth in between my two front ones. People looked at me like

> there

> > was something different, but they couldn't figure out what it

was.

> > > Sharon

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

I had spaces made on the sides of my front teeth also, just enough of

a gap for him to be able to cut my upper jaw and manipulate it to the

best position. He used springs also to do this and tough wire. My

front teeth aren't so straight anymore like they used to be before

the springs went in, but they will go back after the surgery (who

knows when that will be as it is in appeal process). Good luck. Lyn