Twin Block Braces - Any Advice?

[Shar0769]

Hi
First post to Mumsnet, so please bear with me

Just arrived back from Orthodontist with ds (10) who has had twin block braces fitted to correct his overbite and adjust his jaw. I can honestly say I feel sick/upset, he looks like he's shoved a sock in his mouth; can't speak, can't smile. Im dreading to think how he's going to cope at school.

If anyone has any advice/experience on these braces it would be great. Anything to ease my worries.

Thanks.

[GuildfordMum77]

Hi @Tusty
My daughter doesn’t have a tongue tie but has had the twin blocks in for 6 weeks now. She found the tongue pain really hard to deal with for the first few days, so I suspect it’s a universal issue. She was sent home from school on day 3 as the pain was making her feel so sick. They are brutal! However, after a week of taking maximum dose paracetamol and nurofen, they gradually felt better. There’s a bit of teeth pain now and again six weeks in, but her tongue is fine and her speech is pretty good now - I’d say that took about 4 weeks to settle, but she still struggles with some sounds. They’re never going to sound completely normal with a mouth full of plastic! Persevere, bribe, max pain medication (most importantly) and within a week your son will be through the worst. It’s hard for a parent to watch too, I’ve found, but we’ve started to see a difference already and it’s all part of normal life now. Any questions, please ask and good luck!

[Tusty]

Hi, my 12yo was fitted with twin blocks mid week. He has a (relatively minor) tongue tie so we don't know whether he's impacted by that, but he's really struggling with the twin blocks when in. (Doesn't help that his dad doesn't support it so keeps telling him to take them out so he can talk properly). His drooling stopped really quickly (especially given he won't wear them for more than 15 mins at a time. But he's finding his tongue can't lower with the blocks in, and it feels like it's cutting in to his tongue - pain rather than just an ache. He's been told to remove them to eat, but at school after taking them out, he found he still struggled to eat because his tongue was basically numb and hurting, and unable to really move around. He gave up the first night trying to wear them as it was too painful.

His speech - obviously he's not had it in long enough to really get used to practising speaking. He has a few words without the blocks that aren't perfectly clear anyway with his tongue tie, but he says he sounds 'really thick'. It's largely the s's but has totally changed the sound of his voice, and he has to talk really loudly to make himself understood.

I've spoken to the orthodontist about the pain on the tongue but she was vague about tongue tie issues, although has agreed we can go back in next week to have it looked at in case there is an actual issue and not just a 12yo that is finding it harder than expected. I'm struggling to get him to even put the blocks in at the moment - and that's the weekend when he doesn't even have to speak to other people.

Just wondering whether anyone else's child has had a tongue tie and twin blocks and can let me know their experience, and how fast the speech improved, and how long the pain lasted. Thanks

[Irishmammyhere]

@Theonlyoneiknow

The orthadonic wax has been a saviour for us. DD got her twin blocks in November so has been wearing them for about 5 weeks now. I am taking her to get her ears pierced tomorrow which has softened the blow of having to wear them (she is 10yrs old). Corsydol mouthwash has also been recommended to me to help with any sores.

Ah it's nice to treat them it's tough going but we will get there... thank you everyone for the replies, reading this thread has helped me understand things much better ❤

[Theonlyoneiknow]

The orthadonic wax has been a saviour for us. DD got her twin blocks in November so has been wearing them for about 5 weeks now. I am taking her to get her ears pierced tomorrow which has softened the blow of having to wear them (she is 10yrs old). Corsydol mouthwash has also been recommended to me to help with any sores.

[AnnPerkins]

Glad she’s coping ok.

[MrsMorton]

Great news. You're doing a brilliant job.

[Irishmammyhere]

@MrsMorton

Have a google of orthodontic wax, you can get it at boots, on amazon etc. In an emergency, babybel wax will do the trick.

Well... that's not a bad thing I guess OP. It is difficult but it will get better so quickly and is hundreds of times better than surgery which would be the option if you can't get twin blocks during the rapid growing phase.

I will go to boots today.. everyday a bit better going back to school tomorrow and chatting away on phone to her friend yesterday 🙂 great to speak to people who understand thanks

[MrsMorton]

Have a google of orthodontic wax, you can get it at boots, on amazon etc. In an emergency, babybel wax will do the trick.

Well... that's not a bad thing I guess OP. It is difficult but it will get better so quickly and is hundreds of times better than surgery which would be the option if you can't get twin blocks during the rapid growing phase.

[Irishmammyhere]

What is the wax please? as we weren't given anything from the orthodontist.

[Irishmammyhere]

Thanks she is coping alot better today thankfully! They are glued in until next Wednesday so no taking out even to clean until after that.

[AnnPerkins]

13yo DS got his in June and they hurt quite a lot the first day but after 2 days he didn't need any painkillers at all. Make sure at the first sign of soreness she uses the wax and rinses her mouth with salt water. I gave him Bonjela too but I don't think it was very effective.
They do seem quite drastic at first but if they wear them all the time the effects are dramatic.

[MrsMorton]

Tough to get them this time of year! It will get better really quickly and you will start to notice the change in her jaw relationship rapidly. Just keep going. Also make sure you take photos so you can do a comparison of progress.

[Irishmammyhere]

Block braces advice please 13yr old daughter got them yesterday and is finding it very tough I am so upset for her 😢

[Tiredmum40]

@user1485371158

Hi, his teeth don't look too bad, his mouth doesn't look overcrowded, he looks like he's got a bit a space between the other teeth, and wearing the twin blocks could avoid the extraction, but I'm no expert and I guess every case is different. Hope you get some answers tomorrow.

Thanks. Will let you know how I get on.

[user1485371158]

Hi, his teeth don't look too bad, his mouth doesn't look overcrowded, he looks like he's got a bit a space between the other teeth, and wearing the twin blocks could avoid the extraction, but I'm no expert and I guess every case is different. Hope you get some answers tomorrow.

[Indoorvoicesbluey]

@Tiredmum40

Hi @Indoorvoicesbluey Your daughters teeth look great. Did she have teeth removed as part of the process?

No they thought they would need to but didn’t need to in the end x

[Tiredmum40]

Hi @user1485371158 I am going to try and speak to the orthodontist tomorrow before the planned extraction on Tuesday morning. Yeh I did think would be rather painful putting blocks straight back in but she did say make sure you put the braces straight back on afterwards. This is a picture of his teeth at present, he has quite a large overjet, but quite nice shaped teeth.

[Tiredmum40]

Hi @Indoorvoicesbluey Your daughters teeth look great. Did she have teeth removed as part of the process?

[Indoorvoicesbluey]

Hey! My daughter was the one who had them a few years ago, changed my username lol

she’s 14 now and it’s the best thing Iv ever done for her. She looks like a completely different child and I’m so jealous of her perfect teeth!

[user1485371158]

Yes definitely try and speak to them first.
I don't see how your son is going to wear the twin blocks if he's had two teeth extracted, the gums need time to heal. My daughters teeth weren't removed until after the night brace stage was finished. Hopefully you'll get some answers. Let us know.

[Tiredmum40]

Going to see if I can speak to the Orthodontist on Monday to see what the rush is to have the teeth extracted then. They just said to me to make an appointment with my dentist to have the extractions and they would email the dentist Over the details. I feel that I’m not being very informed about the whole procedure. Not sure if it is just rush rush as it’s NHS funded.

[user1485371158]

Hi, yes it is worrying, and upsetting when they remove healthy teeth, but my daughter doesn't have any gaps, no sunken cheeks.
It took the whole time she wore the fixed braces to close all the gaps.
The orthodontist told me the main reason for wearing the twin blocks was to avoid extraction of teeth , but that was never going to work in my daughters case, I'm surprised they're not waiting to see the results from your son wearing the twin blocks before they do any extractions.

[Tiredmum40]

Hi @user1485371158, that’s great your daughter had a good result with her teeth. I am quite worried about the tooth extractions, it’s so permanent. Worry about posts I’ve seen about sunken cheeks and gaps remaining. How long did it take for the gaps to close during treatment, can you remember?

[user1485371158]

Hi there,
My daughter was due to have twin blocks fitted 5 years ago at the age of 11. I was horrified when I saw them. I asked the orthodontist if there was an alternative to these , she gave her a night brace with headgear instead, which worked really well .
My daughter had a massive overbite and her mouth was very overcrowded. The orthodontist told me she would probably have to have 4 teeth out 2 from the top and 2 from the bottom, which I knew because I had exactly the same at her age.
So after the headgear treatment, she had 4 healthy teeth removed, then the fixed braces for 2 and half years. After the braces came off she had to wear the retainers full time for about a year. Her teeth look amazing. She only wears the retainers at night now..

[vjg13]

My daughter never managed to eat in hers and although it was recommended to by the orthodontist, it didn't increase the length of time she wore them.