Hmmmm.. not mine.

I do. Wat is purpose of your screws? and how many?

Hey Nikki, 2 top and 2 bottom. The top is to bring them upwards and the bottom is to bring them backwards. And I'm gonna have to extract 2 wisdom tooth on the same day, and my wisdoms hasn't exactly surfaced yet. I'm just wondering, inserting the screws, did u do all 4 at the same time & how does it hurt? What about maintenance like them getting loose or anything? Has it helped you very much? Thanks !

i only hav 2 screws on my upper. I had it installed during my extraction also. The intention to installed the screws i had is to lessen my gummy smile. During the installation of the screws, i dun feel anything cos i was already on anesthetic. Basically dun wont feel anything except numb.

However, dun worry about maintainance. Just make sure u brush the screws when u brush ur teeth. That's it. It wont loose and drop. Dun worry.

Oh yes, my top screw are to lessen the gummy smiles too ! How long have you had yours on? Can you kind of see some difference already ?

The treatment for gummy smile is already completed. Took me about 4-5months i think. Cant remember. But its not long.
Gummy smile is now lessen already.

Dr removed the powerchain (powerchain is used to hook up the brackets to the screws). Powerchain has been removed. Screws are still there till date.

I think he will only remove it when the ortho treatment is about to complete, just like Kentcp did.

Ah so the screws come with the powerchain. I've seen pictures & it looks scary. But I'm happy to know that you and Kentcp have gone through it Looks like I'm ready for mine now ! Thanks a bunch, you really calmed me down.

No worries. Totally understand ur worries abt pain and how u will look with it.
No worries, no pain. Only mayb will get a bit sensitive when the pain killer is over.
PS: dun try to squeeze or pop any pimples/black heads at that area...

Yes exactly ! Like he suddenly tells me I need to extract 2 teeth and 4 screws ! Gave me a shock & I'm going to do it in January ! Wish me luck ^^ I'm gonna report back here when it's all done ! Hahah even now after tightening, I can't pop my blackheads at the mouth area =x

Hmmm... perhaps you can post a photo of it too. I'm curious all the powerchain and screw looks like

Yes, of course. Good luck there.

Hi Shenay, I'm going to have 2 screws installed next month. Am worried too... haha...

I had power chain installed this month on my front upper and lower teeth (not all the teeth)...

Within these 7 months of treatment, this was the only PAINFUL time I felt because of the power chain...

Fortunately the pain only exists during the installment. After that no pain already... Adui, felt like my whole gum and teeth were pulled out...

Mind to share what are the purposes of screws and powerchain installation? To minimize gummy smile also?

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Added on December 21, 2010, 12:50 amI went for my monthly appt today. Guess what, I had my powerchain up again... This is the third time edy. Besides powerchain, I hv to tie up rubberband around my upper jaw in a zig zag way.

Then cos my upper gigi taring is hitting my lower teeth that causing the bracket to come loose. Then doctor put the bite stopper on the gigi taring.

Now I hv to really talk slowly n eat slowly to avoid the strong impact of teeth hitting. Otherwise, it's like lightning storm in my mouth...

This post has been edited by NikkiDaTeddy: Dec 21 2010, 12:50 AM

Hi NikkiDaTeddy,

Wow, what a complicated stuff done there sampai play zig-zag lagi haha... I feel pity to hear that, and wondering if I will go through something similar with you in the future haha... Doctor said I have 1 year to go (that was in Nov 2010 la), so there are still many months to come... hahah

The power chain was installed from canine to canine both upper and lower teeth only (Didn't ask doctor why just those teeth because too painful to think about it haha). Screws are used like in your case to reduce the gummy smile...

Last month, doctor put bite stopper on my upper gigi geraham up til to date, and now i can speak and eat better compared to last month. When I speak last month, because the upper and lower teeth don't touch (there's a gap between upper and lower teeth), I speak as though I have short tongue haha...

NikkiDaTeddy, does it hurt for you when the power chain was installed?

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Added on December 21, 2010, 9:14 amForgot to mention, the power chain is to close the gaps between the teeth...

This post has been edited by tomatonz: Dec 21 2010, 09:14 AM

Yes, its quite complicated. I think we are in the same boat. Anyways, for those who are curious, click spoiler below for pictures.



I had the pics in B/W cos i dun wanna gross you out...

This post has been edited by NikkiDaTeddy: Dec 21 2010, 11:00 AM

OMG... did Dr How explain the purpose of doing this?

@tomatonz, woah you already have powerchains. I think Dr How said he will install my screws first, then powerchain. The chain, looks so complicated plus it looks like a hassle eating, brushing & also appearance wise

I did ask la. Cos the powerchain on screws process has been repeating. This is my 3rd time having it.
So i ask Dr. How. I did it 3 times already and the gummy is still sliding down like back to original stage. Dr. How says, it will still go back to original stage, it will still slide down.

Once powerchain is on the screws, the teeth will move and start to have gaps. The rubberband is to tighten the gaps.

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Added on December 21, 2010, 12:51 pmYes, its difficult to clean... I insist on having my chains transparent eventho they turn yellow easily. Cos i'm an working adults, I dun want to have a very visible cross on my teeth/gum.

Now with the zig zag rubberband, its even harder to brush and eat. Food will get stuck there extremely easy... God...i hope this thing will be over soon..

This post has been edited by NikkiDaTeddy: Dec 21 2010, 12:51 PM

NikkiDaTeddy, i appreciate the pictures of your condition so much. At least if next month Dr does something like that, I will be prepared haha... Man I can imagine how hard it is to clean the teeth... Do you need to change the rubber bands everyday? Poor thing...

Shenay, lets brace it together haha...

But I guess having screws is better than wearing a helmet with wire attached to the braces according to the treatment before the screws were identified as the treatment to gummy smile... I wouldn't want to wear the helmet everywhere i go haha...

Yes, the rubberband has to be changed daily. I understand that the screws may not help so much compared to surgeries. But come to think of it, it is less scarier than surgery. Can u imagine to let doctor pull out all ur teeth, trim out the excessive gum, then put back the teeth?

Think also my goose bumps stand up.

Anyway, for beauty, we will hav to sacrifice abit...