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Original poster

Twin Block Braces - Any Advice?

440 replies

Shar0769 · 25/01/2012 14:28

Hi
First post to Mumsnet, so please bear with me Confused

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. Shock

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

Thanks.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
23
rhaggas · 20/10/2016 20:38

Hi,

My daughter has just had a double block to correct a 7mm overjet. She has all, the issues that I've read here but the main issue (apart from the lisp, drooling, and inability to smile) is the soreness at one point on her gum. The teeth don't hurt (yet) but the soreness after only 9 hours of wear has prompted her to rebell. I don't doubt its sore (and she says it was bleeding) but just wondered if this is normal in the first few days or could it be a that slight correction is required so that the metal doesn't rub against the gum? Also, if it is to be expected, is there a product that might help other than Bonjela?
All and any advice appreciated.

LIZS · 20/10/2016 20:42

It might need adjusting but you could apply dental wax to cushion it in the meantime.

Ginmakesitallok · 20/10/2016 20:48

I'd go back to orthodontist, they shouldn't be causing bleeding.

Dd1 has had her twin blocks since May, overbite gone completely (from 11mm), she gets her train tracks at her next appointment- no extractions needed. Phew- getting there.

ScarlettDarling · 21/10/2016 06:30

My ds had a few very sore patches at first. We were advised to use dental wax moulded over the parts which were digging in, and to go back if it was no better in a few days. His sorted itself out quickly but they can be very easily adjusted if necessary.

ScarlettDarling · 12/11/2016 08:45

We went back to the orthodontist a few days ago. They wanted to put on fixed braces now and have him wear the blocks on top of them at night?! I've never heard of this before? However, as so many clips have snapped off his blocks, they wouldn't be able to fit over the fixed braces, so tphes just got to continue wearing the blocks st night for another 3 months and then fixed braces in Feb.

His teeth and face look amazing. I really can't believe the difference in such a short time. His back teeth still don't meet though, hopefully that will improve. They talked about just putting fixed braces on just his front teeth for a little bit of 'tidying up'. They look amazing to me and there's no way he'd be getting nhs fixed braces if he was just starting his treatment with the teeth he has now. Feel really optimist that he's going to have a cracking smile!

vjg13 · 12/11/2016 13:10

Great news Scarlett! Did they say how long the fixed braces would be for?

ScarlettDarling · 12/11/2016 16:36

Thanks. They said 6-9 months for the fixed braces as very little needs doing.

user1485371158 · 25/01/2017 19:22

Hi guys,

This is my first post here so hopefully I'm doing it right! I've just got back from the hospital and have been told my 11 year old daughter will be fitted with twin blocks the next time she goes.
After the dentist started explaining (I had never heard of twin blocks before), I began to get more and more anxious about this method of treatment.
I have read some of your comments on twin blocks and they've been a great help. However, my daughter has got overcrowding in her mouth and a 10mm overjet. They are saying even after the Twin Blocks treatment they may still have to extract 4 teeth and I can't help thinking the Twin block is going to be uncomfortable, traumatising and then a waste of time at the end of it.
Has anyone experienced a similar situation where the mouth is overcrowded?
Many thanks for all your help in advance
Dee

OddBoots · 25/01/2017 19:33

My dd's jaw was overcrowded too so she had teeth out but the blocks were good anyway as it makes the whole thing simpler. My dd had the teeth out before the blocks but I have heard it both ways, the main thing is to try to have the blocks during the peak puberty growth spell to have them work most effectively.

OnNaturesCourse · 26/01/2017 00:27

I had them at about 13/14 years old and i HATED them... Jaw ache like ive never known and they are so god damn chunky that it feels impossible to do anything. I really thought theyd have come up with a better method in the 12 years since i had them. I ended up giving up and getting the traintracks with tightening bands on each side. They dont work as well or as quick but its so much kinder on the jaw!! I still have a overbite, but not noticeable. Is hers noticeable? I think thats why it was easy for me to give up as my full lips always covered it visually

ScarlettDarling · 26/01/2017 07:38

My son got his last March and is just about (next week) to get rid of them and move onto fixed braces. Since August he has only had to wear them at night. He was warned before he started that he might need extractions, but there's been no mention of that since so Im assuming he doesn't need any teeth taken out now. His teeth certainly don't look overcrowded...in fact they look fab, I'm surprised that they're actually putting fixed braces on.

Honestly, the first week with the blocks is awful. Really awful. Prepare your dd for it and be prepared yourself. But certainly within two weeks everything settles down and becomes very normal. For my son the blocks worked with incredible speed and his whole face changed within a few months. I'm not prepared to put pics of him on here but if you could see the before and after pictures of him you would be amazed at the difference the blocks can make.

ScarlettDarling · 26/01/2017 07:40

How's your dd doing vjg?

WhatNoWine · 31/01/2017 12:37

My son was fitted with these yesterday and has gone to school today so nervous as to how he's got on. We were shocked yesterday but read up on here & you tube so feel a little happier as to how to help him cope. Bought dental wax today and soothing pastilles for tomorrow.

ScarlettDarling · 31/01/2017 18:33

Ah whatno it's a shock at first isn't it? How did your son get on at school?

WhatNoWine · 31/01/2017 19:55

Not to bad thank you Scarlett, he had a few remarks about his speech but hopefully that'll be that. He's taken it out to eat and for PE. He knows he'll be better trying to eat with it in so we will work on that. He's very quiet not like his usual chatty self but I'm sure that won't last !

ScarlettDarling · 31/01/2017 21:33

Glad it was ok, it'll get better every day and his speech will be fine in no time. The more he talks the quicker the speech improves! And the more he talks and eats with them in, the quicker they work!

Ollycat · 31/01/2017 21:38

My son - yr 9 has train tracks atm but before had twin blocks for 18 ish months. They quickly get used to them and there will be loads at school with them. DS has been much more miserable with his train tracks then he ever was with the twin blocks - it's also amazing the difference they've made to his jaw shape.

WhatNoWine · 01/02/2017 08:21

We had tears this morning as his jaw is aching but he's gone off with them in today after paracetamol. He doesn't sound too bad but keeps playing with them and is still drooling like mad!! Bet your son will be pleased to move on to the next stage Scarlett.
I've too older girls and apart from a few wire issues they had no problems with their train tracks.

ScarlettDarling · 01/02/2017 11:38

Whatno sorry he's so aches this morning. My son really ached for a few days and he's usually very stoic with this sort of thing so I know it must have been pretty bad. He took a couple of nurofen meltlets to school for the first couple of days to top up at lunchtime.

He's not looking forward to the train tracks at all as it obviously means wearing braces full time again- since the end of August he's only had to wear the blocks for bed! Still, I'm sure they'll only bother him for a few days and he'll be used to them!

Hope your son has a good day.

vjg13 · 01/02/2017 23:21

Hi ScarlettDarling, my daughter is still night time wear only. She will be getting fixed braces but was re-referred about her ankylosed back tooth. The consultant dentist wants to see her with the consultant orthodontist and the appointment is later this month.

The 'normal' orthodontist wants it to be removed but the opinion given last time was that it could stay in place, it would be a surgical extraction which I want her to avoid. All this has delayed her fixed brace treatment which she was ready for in October. Hope it goes well with the fixed braces, has he had them fitted this week?

Whatnowine, my daughter had sugar free mints to help with the drooling but it did improve quickly.

ScarlettDarling · 04/02/2017 13:28

Hi vjg he gets his fixed braces on wed. He's not looking forward to it at all but I keep reminding him how he hated the blocks at first but within a couple of weeks of getting them, he didn't even notice them!

Sorry your daughter is still waiting for final decisions to be made on her treatment. Hope her appointment later this month goes well, let us know.

vjg13 · 09/02/2017 14:17

Hope it went well, Scarlett. My daughter is now on the waiting list for a surgical extraction so fixed braces are probably 6 months off!

ScarlettDarling · 09/02/2017 16:20

Sorry your daughter is having to have the surgical extraction vjg, what a disappointment when the consultant had told you it could be avoided.

Dd had his braces put on yesterday. They have been very achey but he's eating and speaking fine. Compared to the bulky blocks he feels like he has nothing in his mouth. No sore patches yet but we have brace wax at the ready. His teeth are incredibly sensitive at the min though and he's struggling with the ultra thorough toothbrushing regime he was told to do three times a day! I've told him just to do his best and when the sensitivity hopefully improves in a few days, he can try to be ultra thorough!

Going back in ten weeks, I'll update then. Do let me know how your dd gets on.

user1485371158 · 19/02/2017 18:22

Hi
Thanks for everyone's comments, but now the orthodontist is saying that my daughter can have
a night brace with headgear instead of the blocks. I really don't know what to do for the best, she said
that the results may not be as good as the blocks, but at least she won't have to wear it to school.
Has anyone else had the headgear instead of blocks? Dee

seventhgonickname · 21/02/2017 01:28

Sorry only just caught up with this thread.My daughter had twin block for over crowding and 9mm over bite.I had never heard of them though they are becoming more common.
First they treated the overbite and then widenng the tooth base on the upper ones.
She managed them well and took them out for eating only and they worked well.She now has train tracks and we are hopeful that teeth will not have to be removed,there is no guarantee but the appearance of her smile is so much better .
I have not heard of anyone having the night one you are mentioning but Several of DDS class mates have since had the twin blocks and all settle after the first week or so.