Jenn S 1 Month Report, 12 Tips for Newly Braced

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Jenn S
Posts: 53
Joined: Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:36 pm
Location: Oregon
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Jenn S 1 Month Report, 12 Tips for Newly Braced

#1 Post by Jenn S »

Hello friends,

Pics soon. I am happy to report I am out of the "what the heck was I thinking get this metal OUT OF MY MOUTH RIGHT NOW BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT!" phase and now in the "this is so cool I am doing this! phase.
My bite has never really worked properly (overbite, overcrowding) but my teeth looked okay, so I just lived with it. I am one of those people that has to cut all their food first (pizza, whole fruit, sandwich, etc.) No big deal. Well, until recently. My teeth were starting to push out, bone loss, lack of space. After seeing a specialist, in November, my choice was braces or dentures. That was one of life's easier decisions. :)
So, me, a 47 year old professional woman got braced! The tricky part for me will be speaking a lot in public. I find days I have back-to-back meetings, and my mouth is raw by the end of the day. Argh,
And I think people are staring at my mouth. :oops:

After 4 weeks braced, here is what I learned.

1. There is a lot of great info on this site.
2. The pain goes away, swear.
3. You CAN eat pizza and everything else, just go small and go slow.
4. Buy a WaterPik if you can.
5. You do not look as ugly as you think you do.
6. People around you will be very supportive. I frequently hear, you have inspired me to do this! Or, I feel your pain!
7. In a few weeks, there will be moments that you forgot you have them.
8. Getting carded is fun.
9. Take a list of questions to your Ortho or you will forget.
10.WAX WAX WAX At least at bedtime.
11. Teenagers will instantly bond with you.
12. There is a lot to learn. I still do not know what the two dots sticking on my wires are or what they are supposed to do. See # 9.

I'll update next month, following firstadjstment. With pics to follow.
Braced: 12-17-08 8:30am (PST)
2 Extractions 07-21-09 *****
Treatment for: Overbite, lower overcrowding.
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AMiles
Posts: 11
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2009 10:17 am

#2 Post by AMiles »

I've never been able to figure out what the dots on my braces are either.

Good for you for getting out of the what the hell was i thinking faze! Its great to be out of it, sadly it only lasted a few months with me.

real2
Posts: 73
Joined: Sat Jul 26, 2008 5:52 pm

Re: Jenn S 1 Month Report, 12 Tips for Newly Braced

#3 Post by real2 »

Jenn S wrote:
2. The pain goes away, swear.

5. You do not look as ugly as you think you do.
#2
Without pain, I feel like my braces are not doing anything. In the beginning we all experience soreness, but once the teeth have shifted to the wires-capabilities?

I feel like all this idle-time avoided by having appointments every ~22 days, rather than every 30 days.

#5
Some people are beautiful, yet they are still self-conscious :P Go figure.

It's tough to smile with a foreign object in your mouth :P
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Jenn S
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Location: Oregon
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Jenn S 1 Month Report ?????? What are the dots for?

#4 Post by Jenn S »

Does anyone know what those dots on the wires are for?

My Ortho did not share an end date for treatment with me. Is that normal?

You all seem to have specific dates -which I imagine helps you get through this process, with a light at the end of your dental tunnel...
Braced: 12-17-08 8:30am (PST)
2 Extractions 07-21-09 *****
Treatment for: Overbite, lower overcrowding.
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allisun
Posts: 104
Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2007 7:44 am
Location: Austin, TX

#5 Post by allisun »

I have dots of glue on my wires. It's to keep them from sliding around horizontally and coming out the back and poking you. Is that what you have?

LCARA
Posts: 67
Joined: Mon Jan 19, 2009 7:39 pm

#6 Post by LCARA »

Don't worry about not having a specific end date...I was told 18 months, and I'm almost at two years.

The date is VERY tentative...it all depends on your biology, and yourself in the process. There are a lot of factors an estimate cannot account for.

For me I felt let down when month 18 came and went and they told me itd be another 6 months...

sdawdy
Posts: 288
Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2008 11:39 am
Location: Wisconsin

#7 Post by sdawdy »

on my wires in the front, there are 3 black lines. i asked one day and i was told that they are there to know where the middle of the wire is. and when things are all said and done that they should line up with your midline

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Jenn S
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Location: Oregon
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#8 Post by Jenn S »

Thanks for your response.
I don't see those. Just the white globs that allisun mentioned below. I might be too new to have them.

allisun wrote:I have dots of glue on my wires. It's to keep them from sliding around horizontally and coming out the back and poking you. Is that what you have?
Braced: 12-17-08 8:30am (PST)
2 Extractions 07-21-09 *****
Treatment for: Overbite, lower overcrowding.
Image

pegasus2425
Posts: 40
Joined: Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:06 pm
Location: Hermiston, OR

#9 Post by pegasus2425 »

yay! Another Oregon person! I'm currently waiting to get braced, but my daughter has been in them since Aug. The only dots I saw on hers were the tiny red ones in the corner of each bracket, it took me months to figure it out- duh they are to line up the brackets on the teeth...i kinda felt stoopid for that one.

pegasus2425
Posts: 40
Joined: Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:06 pm
Location: Hermiston, OR

#10 Post by pegasus2425 »

yay! Another Oregon person! I'm currently waiting to get braced, but my daughter has been in them since Aug. The only dots I saw on hers were the tiny red ones in the corner of each bracket, it took me months to figure it out- duh they are to line up the brackets on the teeth...i kinda felt stoopid for that one.

jenny101101
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#11 Post by jenny101101 »

Hi JennS,

First off, congrats on taking the plunge and getting braced! Welcome to the forum :D .

As far as the coloured dots on your brackets, they're just so the ortho/assistant knows which bracket goes on which tooth. For example, my two central incisor brackets had green dots, the laterals had red, etc. They should wear off with brushing within a few days or weeks.

I had to laugh at #8...yes, it IS fun! lol I look forward to seeing pics!
Keep smilin'! :)
Jenny
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Braced for 18 months: Damon 3mx all around with Damon 3's on "social six". Now is Essix retainers for 10 hours/night.

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Jenn S
Posts: 53
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Location: Oregon
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Jenn S Adjustment! Treatment Update! Embracing the braces!

#12 Post by Jenn S »

Yeah! It hurt, but I am so happy with the improvements my teeth are showing, already.

Also, I talked to my Ortho and asked all the questions I forgot to when my braces were installed. I have selective hearing as soon as I sit in that Ortho chair!
The surgery is not manditory, and with a 9K price tag, I'll pass for now.
He said I could always change my mind should I win the lotto.
My treatment target date is just 2 years! This was the greatest news!
I survived my first adjustment. Sorbet is my friend.
I'll need two teeth removed, lower, in about 6 months. He said I was at risk to lose them anyway so he feels good about this decision.
I figured out how to make a ticker.

I would say I have finally embraced, my braces.

TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/4;48;104/st/20101217/e/Braces+Off%21/k/8903/event.png[/img]
Braced: 12-17-08 8:30am (PST)
2 Extractions 07-21-09 *****
Treatment for: Overbite, lower overcrowding.
Image

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Jenn S
Posts: 53
Joined: Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:36 pm
Location: Oregon
Contact:

JennS 1st Adjustment!Treatment Update!Embracing the braces!

#13 Post by Jenn S »

Yeah! It hurt, but I am so happy with the improvements my teeth are showing, already.

Also, I talked to my Ortho and asked all the questions I forgot to when my braces were installed. I have selective hearing as soon as I sit in that Ortho chair!
The surgery is not manditory, and with a 9K price tag, I'll pass for now.
He said I could always change my mind should I win the lotto.
My treatment target date is just 2 years! This was the greatest news!
I survived my first adjustment. Sorbet is my friend.
I'll need two teeth removed, lower, in about 6 months. He said I was at risk to lose them anyway so he feels good about this decision.
I figured out how to make a ticker.

I would say I have finally embraced, my braces.

TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/4;48;104/st/20101217/e/Braces+Off%21/k/8903/event.png[/img]
Braced: 12-17-08 8:30am (PST)
2 Extractions 07-21-09 *****
Treatment for: Overbite, lower overcrowding.
Image

catfish
Posts: 535
Joined: Sun May 04, 2008 10:12 pm
Location: Washington, USA
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#14 Post by catfish »

Hi Jenn,

Thanks for reading my story. After reading yours, I see that we do have quite a bit in common.

What is the 9k surgery they want you to have? The price sounds scary, so I can only imagine what the procedure might be!
Click on WWW to see my braces story.

August 16, 2007 - Braced on top
January 3, 2008 - Braced on bottom

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Jenn S
Posts: 53
Joined: Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:36 pm
Location: Oregon
Contact:

#15 Post by Jenn S »

Orthognathic :cry:
He said that would be ideal, but is not required for better overall dental health. With the economy, and probably a minimal bonus this year, I will need to wait it out.
I mentioned on my update- most of my pockets dropped by 2!!
Did you see a drop in pocket size when you got braced?
Braced: 12-17-08 8:30am (PST)
2 Extractions 07-21-09 *****
Treatment for: Overbite, lower overcrowding.
Image

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