Surgical Hooks

[Guest guest]

Hi there:

The surgical hooks are attached to the long wire that goes all around

your teeth. The hooks are tiny - the ones on the top wire are

" crimped " onto the wire itself and point straight up. The hooks on the

bottom wire point straight down. The surgical hooks have a small bead

on the end of the hook so the bands don't slip off. Before they put on

your hooks, they are likely to put in your final surgical wire. It is

stronger and a tiny bit thicker than the other wires you've been

wearing - so it can easily stay in place during and after surgery.

This is what the hooks are attached to.

When the bands are put on they simply hook them on a top hook and slip

them around a bottom one. It's easy. It is also painless (or was for

me) to have the hooks put on. They can sometimes irritate the inside

of your cheek (just like your braces) for a little while after they are

put on - while your cheek gets used to them. But they're no big deal

and nothing at all to be afraid of.

I also had some surgical hooks already on my back molars since the

first day I got braces - so you more than likely already have a few

surgical hooks in your mouth already.

OK - Best of luck to you.

Greta

-----

> Hello,

>

> My surgery date is May 3rd, and my last orthodontic appointment

> before surgery is April 20th.  I know that they put in " surgical

> hooks " for the surgery but what exactly do they look like and which

> part of the braces are they attached to?  I have tiny little hooks

> that are attached to the brackets around my back molars but they've

> been there since the first day I got braces on.

>

> Any info would be great so I know what to expect with these hooks.

> Thanks!

>

> Kirstin

>

>