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Twin block brace refusal

11 replies

banjaxxed · 17/10/2024 20:13

DS(12) got twin blocks today to move his jaw forwards.

I'm he's just put them in but is gagging and crying and point blank refusing to wear them

I've tried telling him it will improve and he'll get used to it but he's distraught and can't talk .

Any help? His teeth don't stick out it's an overbite

OP posts:
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4and20blackbirds · 17/10/2024 21:56

I had one as a teenager, dentist said it had to be worn all the time, bar mealtimes.
From day one I only wore it at night because I really couldn't be faffed with it. Hated the bloody thing.
Worked fine doing this, within the time frame expected. Of course as far as the dentist knew I wore it all the time. 😁

FerminRomeroDeTorres · 17/10/2024 22:14

My advice would be to let it go tonight and tomorrow and then try and get him to wear it solidly through the weekend. I can guarantee that if he wears it consistently from Fri night to Mon morning, and talks loads at home with it in, by Monday morning it will feel much, much better.

For practicing speaking with it in, go with what your DS likes doing - for my DS it was unlimited time on the x-box as he always talked/commentated his way through games. Not online play - just on his own - but it meant he was in a room, by himself, and was talking/shouting loads. For DD - we encouraged her to sing all weekend as that’s always been pretty standard for her, so she had unlimited music time and she sang along all weekend.

Make sure he has plenty of tissues readily available in every room - he WILL dribble for those first few days.

Also have soft foods aplenty - even better if they’re treats. Lots of thick buttermilk pancakes with syrup and cream, soups, ice cream, cake, pasta with lots of sauce etc.

The first few days are definitely the worst but if you can get them over with, in the privacy of your own home, with no-one around to mock them for talking funny or dribbling, then by Monday there will be a big improvement.

2 DC had twin blocks and both were done with them 2-3 months earlier than predicted because they wore them consistently. Orthodontist said that the timing they predict takes into account that teens often aren’t anywhere near as compliant as they say they will be/say they are, so the fact my DC were totally compliant worked in their favours. In the long run it meant they also moved onto train tracks sooner and the whole thing was quicker than originally anticipated .

FerminRomeroDeTorres · 17/10/2024 22:20

Our orthodontist also said that they strongly advise wearing the twin blocks while eating, but if they really couldn’t then that was optional. My two were determined to be done with them asap so wore them for every meal from day 1. Like I said - that first weekend was brutal, and if I remember correctly it was a long weekend for DS so he had the Monday off school too (don’t remember for DD - it was covid times - it’s all a blur!), but once they got past it, it was much better and within a week they were totally used to it. Kind of like going cold turkey but in reverse if that makes any sense. The only thing DS didn’t wear it for was sport as he is a regular rock climber and he was told to remove for that in case of falls. (Was told the same for football/rugby etc)

paul2louise · 09/01/2025 20:28

Can I join this chat. My 13 year old son just had 2 block braces fitted today. I am anxious how he will cope. They said he needs to take them out when he eats but at school this will be a nightmare as he eats outside with friends as there is only room for canteen meals inside. I really don't want him messing about with them at school or having to try and brush teeth in communal toilets.
Any tips or advice would be really appreciated

banjaxxed · 01/02/2025 12:52

DS is still pretty much refusing - he wears them overnight. It's going to be a long process Confused

OP posts:
SureLook · 01/02/2025 13:53

Dental nurse here who works in orthodontics. Twin blocks are tough to wear but the reward is great. Building up to wearing them full time might help. So an hour on day one, two hours on day two etc. As pp said, lots of reading and chatting at home will help massively with speech. We also do a letter for their teachers that exempts them from reading aloud in class to save embarrassment. Wearing them at night is a good start but it won't do the job fully unfortunately.

HPandthelastwish · 01/02/2025 14:07

As an aside, I had twin blocks and wore them as directed, it fixed my overbite, but I now have a super clicky jaw which people can hear across the room particularly when eating, it can get stuck out of position and can be painful I've always assumed it was the brace. Not sure whether the pros of fixing the overbite is worth the cons of my jaw issues

ShaunaSadeki · 01/02/2025 14:23

They really work wonders! And if he can wear them pretty much full time they might come off so much quicker. DD only had them a few months before moving on to train tracks and the twin block are the worst bit.

clarrylove · 01/02/2025 14:25

They've worked brilliantly for my son. He was pretty good at wearing them though. His jawline now is amazing!! Perhaps that's an incentive?

Thistooshallpsss · 01/02/2025 14:41

Why does it matter though? I had a massive overbite and the only treatment was an operation think 1950s and I’ve had no problems all my life. Why the push to make everyone look perfect?

ooooohnoooooo · 01/02/2025 14:55

My child had them and hated them. Sadly it was all a bit late for,him and they didn't work. he ended up having to have full orthognactic surgery a few years later.

It's worth your child understanding the context and implications to help them make a good choice. Ie if it's the case that no block = potential major surgery then they may choose to put up with the horrible, horrible blocks instead. Obvs need to understand of that is the case for them.

Poor kids. My poor child ended up with 9 years of treatment, 2 operations , multiple teeth extractions and cemented braces for 4 years. Brutal. But he looks fab now, with a perfect jaw and straight gnashers that he can use to actually chew properly. 😬

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