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.

Wow !!!! My daughter has just had a retainer given today n we can now ditch the twin blocks !!!!! After 4 months that’s pretty good going,,, she started with an 11mm overbite and is now within the “norm” and has a 2mm,,,,, the retainer will be for a while now as there is a waiting game for adult teeth to come through b4 the fixed braces procedure to start. Anyone who’s child is getting twin blocks I would certainly say to definitely stick to it it’s so worth it GOOD LUCK😁

Thank you!

Dd has her first check up on the 10th July which will have been 12 weeks by then. I can’t wait to find out the difference. What do they do? Will they just look or will they do X-ray? I hope it’s not too much longer, were Hoping for fixed braces before she starts secondary school! X

8 weeks difference here.

My son had his twin blocks fitted 6.5 weeks ago. He had his first check up today and his overbite is down by 4mm already ! Having originally told us 7-9 months of wear before stage 2 she now thinks he will be in his fixed braces by Sept/Oct which is only 4/5 months in the twin blocks ! I can’t believe how quickly they have worked, he has been really good about wearing them all the time except when eating and his hard work is paying off, so pleased for him

Such a helpful thread! Thank you to all the contributors over the years, really informative and positive. My dd12 will have her twin blocks fitted at the start of Oct half term, we’re just beginning to get mentally prepared. The orthodontist stated it should be about 6 months twin blocks and 18 months train tracks. She’s got an overbite and also to compound built up upper front teeth that she broke badly age 7 by falling flat on her face in the school hall. Unfortunately she had to have root canal treatment in one of them as she developed abscesses. She hates her teeth, so I’m hoping that gives her the strength to deal with this next stage.
We’ve got two queries - one, she plays the saxophone. Has anyone else played a wind instrument? Is if possible to play with the blocks in place, or should she always remove them?
And two, packed lunches for school!! Am trying to compile a list of suitable, easy to eat items - so any suggestions would be gratefully received!!!

It's been about 2 years since I have been on this thread. DD had twin blocks for a 9mm overbite and she handled them really well and they did the trick. She has now turned 12 and needs train tracks, we had to wait for her baby molars and canines to fall out. The canines never fell out and ortho said this could be because the adult canines were in the wrong position, so we have just had the canines removed.

So, train tracks fitted tomorrow for the final stage and hopefully the canines will reposition themselves rather than the ortho having to bring them now which doesn't sound like the most pain free procedure - anyone had this done?

TheSecondOfHerName - how did your DD get on with her blocks ?

@Toobuktim

Good luck with your daughters blocks. Not sure about the saxophone, you'll have to see how she goes with them in. As for packed lunches, my DD used to take her blocks out at first to eat but after a while from memory would leave them in. They are easy to slip in and out your DD will work around lunch I'm certain, I can't remember it being a particular problem.

@motherhenpecked thank you, that sounds promising. We’ll just have to see with the saxophone, time will tell on that one! I’m currently mentally preparing her for the worst in hope that it’s not as bad as it she expects when she gets them.

Just thought I’d update! Dd has her fixed braces next week! It will have been 7 months with her blocks!

Did you post under a previous name Foxton20? How big a gap did your dd have initially? My dd is now 4 weeks in and everything settled down really quickly with these twin blocks. She can play her sax fine and there are no problems with her wearing them 24 hours except for sports and eating.

Yep, previously darksideofthemoon.

Her gap was 12mm! It’s completely normal now. Il take a photo later 😂 x

12mm

Before and today

That is such a difference! Good on her, looks great!

She had them fitted yesterday and I can’t believe the difference already! Today is the top one (ignore the state she just ate!)

The top teeth have moved massively already

Well, 3 months into twin blocks and her jaw has moved 5mm! I’m amazed at how quickly they work!

That’s amazing. It happens so fast! How is it going?

She’s finding it no problem at all, still doesn’t eat with them in but manages to play her sax with no issues. They just tightened them a little, but she hasn’t complained about it. Nothing as yet about whether or not she’ll have to have teeth out too, but if all goes to plan she’ll have her train tracks in 3 months

This has been a month! Top today.

And one from right at the start. A year in march

That is a massive and fabulous change!! What a difference a year makes

Hello, just wanted to jump on and say thank you to the previous posters, especially the updates and photos. Dd10 will be having twin blocks fitted in about 4 weeks, and your experiences have really helped as I think she will need a lot of support and prepping for them. Dh and I both had train tracks as teens so knew braces were coming, but I have no experience of this style. Her teeth are really good and not too crowded but overbite of 11mm. I didn’t think it was too bad but now I’m 😲! She is a brave cookie and has a high pain threshold anyway, but I think the early days could be tough. I must remember to get a profile picture before we start. At the moment she seems excited about the colour options more than anything else!

Any clever comebacks she could have on standby in case she gets any negative comments at school? She is year 5. I’ve explained it’s just like glasses or the plaster eye patches some of the kids have had to correct vision, is just correcting her teeth. I just know there are a few characters in her class (and the year above) who are going to be unkind.

Hi! (Sorry changed my name I’m the poster above who added photos..)

My daughter said no one said anything bad at all. She had them in year 6 and her friends just commented that she had a lisp but it soon cleared up.

Dds was 12mm!

I told Dd to say “at least I can fix my teeth you can’t fix your ugly personality” 🙈 if anyone said anything! This is dds before and now. I’m rather jealous! They are so straight now. She’s had them on a month so far. :)

Just realised how gross her teeth look, that was pre teeth brushing!

Hi all

Really pleased with all the positive posts on here, the twin blocks may appear like torture devices but really do work and so worth sticking with.

So, my DD had her baby canines pulled out train tracked fitted 4 months ago. The adult canines are a problem, one is on it's way but the other is impacted onto the top of one of the front teeth. So DD was told today she will require surgery to bring the tooth down, they will cut the gum and put a little gold chain on the tooth and link it to the braces somehow and literally pull it down. Seeing the oral surgeon in March and then need to wait for a surgery date. The process with DD's teeth has been ongoing for many years and I tell her it will be worth it in the end. The Shard is opposite Guys and I have told her when she finally has the braces off I will take her up the Shard viewing gallery and for lunch so she has something to look forward to.

@Toobuktim so pleased you have had such great results with the blocks.

@Foxton20 what great results on your DD and I can't believe the quick change in her teeth with the fixed brace - amazing !

@Chickenitalia my DD was about the same age with the blocks and the boys in her class teased her terribly, they said the was "putting" on a silly voice when talking with her blocks in. The teacher had a meeting with the class right away to say it was not acceptable to tease anyone about their brace and DD never heard any more from them. I would go to see the teachers and ask them how they are going to handle the situation.

Happy New Year everyone :0)