YAY!!! I've been Braced!!!-Pics

[Patricia S.]

I first have to start out by saying how great and helpful this forum is. I have been coming to this site for quite some time now. Every time I start to worry about what is to come, I read these stories and how so many people are going through this, and the best part is that no one is really alone. I am so inspired by how so many of you are going through with something I have dreamed of for so many years. So here it is…..

I can always remember my lower left canine being turned at almost a complete 180. Flossing this tooth is a pain. I am a bit concerned on how they will put a bracket on this one. I have a bad habit of pushing it with my tongue, which has made that side stick out more, I also do this to my front teeth. My ortho said I push them when I swallow too, which has caused a slight overbite. The last baby tooth I had was my top right canine, but once it fell out, my new tooth never came in. I was in high school by the time it came down, and unfortunately not all the way. Unless I smile really wide it looks like I am missing a tooth, not attractive. I have a lot of crowding, nothing like some of the members who have to have corrective surgery, but enough to keep my smile to myself.

Like many others here, my family couldn’t afford braces, although I begged and pleaded. So finally I fixed my finances saw a few ortho’s, had sticker shock, especially since my dental insurance doesn't cover adult braces and have to pay out of pocket. But alas, found a wonderful ortho and am taking the plunge. Not soon enough, I am sooo anxious to get them on. I feel like I am on a rollercoaster!! I feel exited, then worried, then I think about the outcome, then I think about the pain. In the end I keep telling myself, “just wait!â€

[Patricia S.]

Thank you all very much. I am having some issues posting up the pics, as soon as i figure this out, I will have them up. I just found out my Ortho will not be in on Monday so my appointments have been moved up!!!!! I get fillings on Thursday and Bands on FRIDAY!!! One step closer!!! I am so excited and even more because I will have the weekend to recuperate from any pain, if any. For a Monday morning I am too excited.

[Patricia S.]

Finally I have my pictures to post . These arn't the best "before" pics but its the "after" that I am more concerned about.

I just found out my 11 year old neice just got braces. Now she can give me tips and share stories.

One more day till I get my bands (and/or spacers!!!)

(FYI...for some reason these pics are backwards)


Bottom crowding

Not a very good close up but you can see my lazy canine.

My rotated bottom canine.

This is the slight overbite that i didn't know I had.

Here is my midline. Top right looks like I am missing a tooth, but it's that stubborn canine!!

[M1k3y]

Welcome and good luck. I'll look forward to your progress.

[Patricia S.]

Thank you so much M1k3y Linda and KK!! I have been following your "adventures" and have been inspired very much. I can't wait for your outcomes just as much I can't wait for my "TA-DA!!!" moment.

I have SPACERS!!!!! yestday I got my filling which wasn't too bad. I was really sore during the day, especially because I kept messing with my teeth. They just felt odd. BUT THEN this moring they tried to put in the band...not enough room

Because of the "pain" stories I have read here, my stomach started to turn. I was expecting the little rubber bands, but then they take out these tiny pieces of WIRE not what I was expecting at all. After feeling like I was at the mechanic getting worked on, feeling the pushing, pulling, poking, wrenching.....I was all done. Overall hardly painfull but I am sore. I have yet to try eating, but i am sure that will be fun I will be getting the bands put in on monday morning. Hopefully I can avoid the morning traffic I was in today.

I will post some pics tonight. I haven't seen any one else with these. Has anyone else had metal spacers?

[cowlypso]

I've read about metal spacers here, so people do get them. Not sure about the reason. Maybe it has to do with the amount of space in between your teeth?

Glad to hear that you are on your way! Congrats. My spacers made it hurt to chew, but I actually felt better when I got my braces on. So if your teeth do get sore, try not to worry about it too much because it will get better.

[roadster1200xl]

Hi Patricia. Congratulations on starting your ortho treatment. I'm sure you're going to like the results. At least your teeth already look nice and white! We'll look forward to seeing your progress in the months to come.

I've read about metal spacers here, so people do get them. Not sure about the reason. Maybe it has to do with the amount of space in between your teeth?

The rubber ones were broken up by my upper teeth. Don't remember the reason but it was probably due to the tight fit. So they tried metal ones which did the trick. The tech told me "let's see you try and break these ones".

[Patricia S.]

Thanks Roadster and Cowlypso! I had to go back to my ortho to have the spacers tightened!!! They were a little loose so I called and they had me come in to tighten them. But they said it was a good sign!!

I asked why I had metal spacers instead of the rubber ones!!! He said it depends on the ortho. He said it is more effective because it is like a custom fit to your molars. He also said putting them on is less painful, since they don't have to wedge them between your teeth.

Roadster, did you have to get them tightened? I just wanted to know if I had to because of my teeth or because of the wire.

[Tin Indian]

Patricia, I had metal spacers put in on a bottom molar to make room where a buccul tube kept coming off a gold crown.They looked like a pair of small x's that were spring loaded. They were quite comfortable but my tounge kept catching on it when I talked or chewed.They left them in for just three days and then I went in to get the band put on.Wecome aboard to the club.Glad to hear from you.Nice pics too.

[Patricia S.]

Thanks Tin Indian. The spacers I have are just little pieces of wire, nothing fancy. I know what you mean about catching you tongue on them . I was actually supposed to get them taken out today, but because of the weather I had to reschedule for tomorrow.

Did they have any problems getting your bands in?

[SDFD TSchott]

Hey Patricia S. Sorry that you had to re-schedule due to the weather. I'm sure things will start speeding up as soon as your treatment begins with the braces and I'm looking forward to hearing all about your story "Teeth Behind Bars!"

SDFD TSchott

[Patricia S.]

Thanks SDFD TSchott, I think that is what I will title my memoirs once I am done, of coure I have to get started first!

I liked the power chains, blue has alway been my favorite color.

[Patricia S.]

I am sooooo excited I am moving along with my ortho!! I had 3 bands put in today. Only three because, apparently my teeth moved too fast. As soon as she took out my spacers, the stubborn little brats moved back So I got spacers back on one bottom molar and the rest are banded . The tech actually told me her fingers were hurting from trying to get them in, not too painful for me. I wasn't prepared for the taste of the glue on the bands. It was horrible almost didn't make it all the way . Is this the same cement for the brackets? I really hope not.

I go back in Thursday morning for the last band. It's only been a couple of hours and already I have a sore on the inside of my cheek from biting it and my front teeth are a bit sore. I feel like I can't talk with out biting my tounge either.

Next Tuesday I go in to surgery to have all four of my Wisdom teeth removed. But soon after I can get my brackets on and I will be fully braced!!!! Then I can start my "Teeth Behind Bars!" story.

This the molor that didn't get a band. You can kind of see the metal spacers they used.


Not very noticeable until I talk! That space between the top and bottom isn't intentional is this normal after bands?

[Patricia S.]

Thanks Denise, I am hoping for an easy recovery.

[Patricia S.]

I now understand why so many people fear the dentist!! Tuesday was one of the most painful days of my life. I thought the spacers were bad I would take them any day over extractions.

I had my appointment for extraction of all 4 wisdoms on Tuesday. Aside from being very nervous and anxious, I was going to go through with everything, all four at once! The surgeon came in and told me what he was going to do, assured me I would not feel any pain and told me what I was to expect afterwards. He said that in very few cases it is recommended to put the patient to sleep (about 5% of the patients he has seen in 34 years) and everything he was going to do was routine...He was wrong. I was in that chair for 2 1/2 hours! AND I only had 3 taken out. The first problem was my gag reflex. It is very bad and I found it really hard to breathe out of my nose with my mouth wide open. There was one spot on my bottom left that would not numb up. After so much of the anesthetic he decided he would need something stronger, which they did not have available. Fortunately, the Dentist down the street did! Another problems is that I'm a bleeder, and I hate the taste of blood, not good with a gag reflex like mine. While an assistant ran down the street for that anesthetic he went to numb the top two, I was not expecting this and flinched! The needle went up more than it should have, this is when I began to panic and almost have some kind of breakdown. I tried to calm my self down but it is really hard to when you know it’s not supposed to take this long, your heart is racing, and you feel pain when you know you aren’t supposed to. After I calmed down he pulled the top, which were simple. So he finally numbed up the whole area on my bottom and pried the tooth out, which had some nerves wrapped around the roots. I got stitches and go back Tuesday to get them out and find out if I can continue my Ortho’s treatment without having to pull this last one. He did say he could refer me out to another surgeon that would put me to sleep for this last one!! I guess I am in his 5%!

I still have pain, nothing like the day of or yesterday and the swelling is going down, slowly, my friend has even started calling me "Drool Bucket" and "The Godmother". The bruising is starting to show more. I just keep chanting to myself “It’s all worth it in the end, it’s all worth it in the endâ€