Metal Mouth Message Board

Sorry for the late reply - thanks for your posts everyone! Yes, I will get photos up when I can, I just wish I'd taken proper 'before' shots... I'll have a look around for some that best show what my teeth were like, and then put up the end result

This post is to let you know that yes, it IS possible you won't need refinements, and the expected period of treatment may not be dragged out forever... it may even be unexpectedly shortened! I started treatment with a huge buck tooth (right upper front tooth), crowding, and very wonky bottom teeth....

Hi guys, So, a question or two on refinements and the retainer at the end of treatment. At what point are the attachments (speed bumps) taken off? Before or after the refinement stage? Before or after the retainer stage? My ortho tells me the retainer must be worn for 6 months, during both day and n...

I agree with most of the things the original poster has stated...although i don't know about leaving them out for a whole weekend! I have, however, left them out for up to 5 hours in a row, and once for about 7 hours due to the fact that I was very sick and doing what most sick people do (use imagin...

I even clench during the day, and it ends up giving me a headache - no fun at all. It's worse when I have to talk a lot (when I'm working). I think I hold my jaw oddly to compensate for the trays, and then end up with tight jaw muscles and a migraine.

My wear time often depends on the time as well. If it's the first couple of days (about 3 days) of a new tray I keep them in for about 21-22 hours, but after that, when my teeth are comfortable I usually slack off and have them on for about 19-20 I'd estimate. Usually I have them off for about half ...

My wear time often depends on the time as well. If it's the first couple of days (about 3 days) of a new tray I keep them in for about 21-22 hours, but after that, when my teeth are comfortable I usually slack off and have them on for about 19-20 I'd estimate. Usually I have them off for about half ...

Thanks for your replies. Yes like some of you said, it's certainly more painful when the tray is half off! The problem is, in the beginning as I"m sure some of you remember, it's just too hard to yank the tray off quickly and the 'half hanging' bit in the middle is unavoidable. Yesterday, it ju...

I have had problems with lisping since the beginning. Funnily enough, I think it's worse when I'm thinking about it and focusing on it! I am a martial arts instructor part time, so it's really hard because I'm constantly speaking to large groups and I always dread the number "six" because ...

Well, today was the day. After 6 weeks (3 aligners) of being lulled into a false sense of security with no attachments, I had the dreaded things applied about 5 hours ago. And i have to say, thus far, I'm freaking out! :shock: I have 2 on the top, and 5 on the bottom. After my ortho applied them, he...

Haha myhollywoodsmile, that sounds like me. I just make sure I never have any Cadbury cream eggs in the fridge to tempt me! :lol: Its been 2 weeks for me, I'm onto my 2nd aligner now... i think I only lost a kg or so in the first few days then put it back on as the aligners became so easy to take on...

I have never used anything so far - but I am only just started my 2nd tray. All I do is sit them in a glass of water when I take them off to eat etc, or just when I'm brushing and flossing. This is generally enough to get rid of all smell and build-up. I only found that toward the very end (last day...

I am interested to know the same... I get my aligners on week 6 (for my 4th aligner) and so far I'm into my 2nd set with no problems and minimal pain taking them on and off - I could do it from the start with no mirror. I really hope the attachments won't make it incredibly difficult because I have ...

Well! Some updates on how I'm going... 8) It's now been 5 days since I got the aligners on for the first time... I can't complain too much as I haven't had any tongue soreness, or much trouble taking them in and out, and so far no attachments (till the 6th week), so my ortho is easing me into them n...

Thanks Deb! You sound like a woman of my own mind! Thanks for your comments, they helped put my at ease before today's events. And so... I now have my first set of aligners on! And *gasp*, they don't hurt at all! Slight pressure which I'm sure will have me wanting to gnaw off my own face for relief ...