28 and new to braces excited for straight teeth

[Ravinkarry]

Well I have been trolling and reading and searching and reading all over the web on what to expect and what I have to look forward to in my journey toward straighter teeth. So I will start sharing with you all lovely people.

I have always had crooked teeth and before insurance they were also beginning to rot, ewwww. Growing up there was the time that I was told by other kids that it was time I got braces, but this never happend. I grew up in England where the healthcare is free but not always taken advantage of.

I never saw a dentist growing up so I had no horror stories or scares for it, oh contrary I longed to go and when I was about 23 or so I started my dental process with a scaling and worked up to what feels like a million fillings :) I was in the office about once a month and even had my wisdom teeth extracted back in nov of 2010. Oh how I love having decent dental insurance. With them all fixed up ( except for the crookedness) I started just going for cleanings every 6 months. After a year of that I worked up the courage to make an orthodontic appointment on nov 19 th 2012.

I will update again soon.

[Ravinkarry]

So as I was saying nov 19 th go in and I am asked to remove 20 odd piercings from me face before I can get X-rays. Once evaluated I am told I will need 4 bicuspid teeth removed. Kinda scary as they were what seemed like perfectly good teeth :/ but with severe crowding on bottom and an over bite on top I didn't take much convincing. total treatment time estimated 2 years. Expecting to end up with about the same overbite but not worse than it is right now.

Much to my surprise they offered to started right then and there, well I was game do I went back and I was bonded on top with self litigating clear bracets. I was told that I would have to get my extractions prior to the bottom getting applied due to the severity of crowding. So soon as I could I had them ripped out on dec 6th. It was a soft diet and for the most part pretty painless. I was used to being shot up in the mouth with all the recent dental work that the suregeon joked that I didn't even flinch when I was jabbed in the palet. After all I already had a face full of metal :)

I went right from surgery to the orthodontic office to have my top wire put back on. I couldn't feel too much in the face and was still biting down on gauze to keep the bleeding at a minimal. When I arrived the receptionist let me know the usually wait till there was less pain. I assured her that I was not in any the best was I could with a numb mouth.

Then back home to rest. Lucky me I work from home do returning to work was not going to be an issue cleared my schedule for a few days to prepare and become used to talking with less teeth.

[Tobilei]

Congratulations on getting your braces Sounds like you went through a lot in order to get them on! I was lucky, I only had to have 1 extraction and it was a baby tooth. I look forward to reading your journey.

[Angel269]

Congrats on starting your journey.

I'm also in the Uk and an adult who is doing this for the first time. I have an upper midline diastema and am about 3/4 way through my treatment now.

I developed a dental phobia as a child and refused ortho treatment. 7 years I didn't go to dentist for but about 3 years ago overcame my phobia.

Good luck and you will see be smiling

[Ravinkarry]

Hey Angela,

I am actually no longer in the UK I was moved at the age of 15 to the US. I have actually been reading your story and am very appreciative of all that you have shared!

I will be loading pictures with an update when I choose to use a computer and not a mobile device.

Thanks for your kind words also Tobilei

[Ravinkarry]

Hello folks,

I have discovered a storied forum and posted pics here http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... 64#p413264

I don't currently have any questions about my treatment so I supposed when I do I will be back