Metal Mouth Message Board

The big DB-day was 2 days ago and I couldn't be happier with the results. I was prescribed to wear my essix retainers (top and bottom) 24/7 for 2 weeks and then switch to nights only. My ortho said that I'm welcome to wear them more if I am concerned about retention but advised me that prolonged 24/...

Oh the dreaded lisp. There's really no way to know how long it will take for your mouth to get used to all of the extra hardware in there. For some people, they seem to adjust very quickly like within a day or two. Others may never lose the lisp fully as long as the braces or appliance are in there....

I'm getting my braces off in one week and asked my ortho if I could have a Hawley and Essix due to my grinding as when I had Essix retainers 10 years ago, I wore through them quickly. Instead of the Hawley, he's going to make a mouthguard for me to wear at night. It's fit just a tightly as the Essix...

I asked the asst. about it at my emergency appt. this week and she said they typically don't do fixed retainers. I'll be given an essix and if I have considerable difficulties wearing it, then we can discuss doing it. It's not that completely refuses but it's more of a last resort for him. He said t...

If you are concerned about teeth grinding, you can ask your dentist or orthodontist to make a nightguard for you. It will be the same style as your essix but a much thicker plastic. This is what I'm having done. My ortho said he thinks it will be more consistent with my treatment to stick with an es...

I grind and clench my teeth often as well and I'm scheduled for an early August debanding. I asked my ortho if I could have a Hawley since my last essix split due to the grinding. He said I could get one but that he was making me a night-time mouthguard free of charge. It's much more durable. That m...

UPDATE: I just called the ortho and have an appt. to get the powerchain fixed tomorrow afternoon. I feel sooooo relieved.

I am so lucky to have this board to rely on for advice, inspiration, reassurance, humour, etc.

Thanks to everyone who posts!

I didn't opt for surgery either and have had elastics for at least a year now. They're pretty hassle-free in my opinion and you really get use to them quite quickly. You will find like everything else that once in a blue moon your teeth will feel sore when you put them on but this will be minimal if...

So I was flossing today and used the proxybrush to stimulate the gums and then tried the Bryton Pick which I had heard rave reviews about. I tried the pick once before but it bent before it even got in between the teeth. After the proxy brush, I figured I would try it again and it certainly did get ...

The cement also tends to make your teeth look discolored.

I had a rik-a-nator (sp?) and then was supposed to progress to bite turbos. Fortunately after having that appliance for 10 mos. I was able to skip pas the turbos much to the surprise of my ortho. From what I've read they do very similar things and may be prescribed differently depending on how deep ...

Elastics can be annoying and often seem to cause on problem while they solve another. It's like taking two steps forward and one step back. I was very close to having my braces removed but then got a new elastics regimen and it created a small gap between two teeth. So on went the powerchain until t...

Just looking in the Naked Tooth forum you'll find several posts on this topic. It seems some orthos say that it's fine to drink with the retainers in while others strongly discourage it. When in doubt, ask your ortho, after all, they've gotten you this far in your treatment! Personally, I wouldn't w...

August 4th, 7:40am... not that I'm looking forward to it or anything

Like you, I didn't have my first cavity until I was 22. I have a white filling in one of my upper molars. I've had my braces for 18 mos. now and so far, no problems. I'm scheduled to get them off next month. I've heard if you have the metal fillings, there can be an issue with them discoloring an es...