I will be 49 in May and I got my top braces on 3/6/13. I have a large diastema that was caused by a very large frenum. I had a frenectomy about 6 weeks ago prior to having braces. I have the damon clear brackets on my front 10 top teeth, with a metal tie that crossed to close the space. I also have a moderate over bite and crowding in my front lower. I will be getting the bottom brace on 4/23/13.
I went for a free consultation at the beginning of February and they took xrays, photos and met the orthodontist. I had some dental work to take care of and an appointment with a periodontist to schedule the frenectomy. My dental insurance paid for a portion of the surgery. It went very well and I didnt even need pain meds. Bonus! However as I am an adult insurance doesnt pay for the braces. On 3/6/12 I went to sort out payment with the orthodontist, I did pay for it up frontusing my tax refund. I hope they do not go out of business! They had a cancellation and asked me if I wanted to start treatment then. I didn't have any plans and before I knew it I was having a mold taken of my bottom jaw.
After this I was taken to a dental chair that faced a window, thank goodness it was one way as it was mortifying enough to have my mouth wide open with other patients in the room. The orthodontists assistant had every thing laid out on a tray and explained that she was going to etch and clean my teeth to allow the brackets to adhere to the teeth. I also has a suction device in my mouth. Then she applied adhesive to the brackets and applied the 10 clear ones to the front teeth. When she had completed this the orthodontist applied metal brackets to my molars and checked the rest. The assistant then cured the adhesive with a light and placed a very thin wire in the brackets and closed the doors. She then wrapped some more thin wire around the brackets on my two front teeth in a crosswise fashion and cinched them together. I was quite shocked that an assistant did all this and I spent very little time with the man himself. After making two appointments one for 3/26/13 to check on my nickel allergy and another for 4/23/13 to install the bottom brace.
After leaving the office I was almost in tears thinking what on earth had I done, not believing that I had volunteered for this torture and to feel like this for the next 14 - 16 months. I felt some pressure the first day and thought that I would brave it out and not take any medication. I ate some bread and cheese and tomato soup cutting it up and chewing with my molars. By this time my teeth were stateing to feel pretty delicate. After this i water flossed my teeth and brushed using my electric tooth brush I had to turn it off to brush the tops. Over the following 2 weeks my bite changed so much it was scary each day when I woke up I would wonder what changes had taken place during the night, at one point only two points on my left rear molars touched. I told my daughter that it felt that all my teeth went on a road trip in different directions and are almost back where they started. I have started clenching my teeth during the night for the past week and a half. I have had no sores in my mouth or the need to use wax. I did break down on day 2 and took advil twice, and once on day 3. My mouth gets dry and I use a lot of lip balm.
When I went back for the nickel allergy check on 3/26/13 they cinched up the cross tie in the center my eyed must have bugged out of my head as the assistant asked if I was ok. It was a bit of a shock feeling my teeth literally move in my head all of a sudden. I have noticed some movement already there is a gap forming between the front
tooth and the tooth to the right. Apparently the gap will eventually be in the back of my mouth.
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