Today I got my braces tightened and felt pressure but it didn't hurt. Does it mean the my ortho didn't really tighten them?

Question

Hello. This is my second time around getting braces. I'm 28 years old now and when I first got them I was much younger. From my 1st round of braces I always took an ibuprofein before the tightening since it always used to hurt but now it didn't at all. I felt some pressure during the tightening but no pain. Why is a process that used to hurt not hurting at all. The ortho said it would take me 6 months to 1 year to get my teeth back on track as they were. Is he trying to extend my treatment?

Patrick M. Ohlenforst, DDS, MS · Answer

First, there can be a huge difference in different people's pain threshold.  You are older now and your pain threshold may be different now than it was when you were younger.Second, since this is your second time, chances are your teeth are not as bad as they were the first time.Finally, the wires used now in orthodontic treatment are VERY different than before.  Wires used now put a gentler force, the force lasts longer, and the teeth move more efficiently!  It's the best of both worlds!Enjoy the lack of pain and watch your teeth get better!!

Alejandro Arias, DDS · Answer

pain is an alarm of something, not always something wrong or something good. not always pain means amount of movement. In orthodontics some patients don't feel pain and there's tooth movement and viceversa. On average acute pain is a very common sign of movement only in the  early stages of the treatment.

Today I got my braces tightened and felt pressure but it didn't hurt. Does it mean the my ortho didn't really tighten them?

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