Metal Mouth Message Board

I was advised to wear my upper essix retainer for 12 hours a day, and then switch to the lower for the other 12 hours. I guess it has to do with my ortho's worry of essix retainers causing open bites if they are worn together. I was told to NEVER wear both at once, does this sound weird to anyone?

It was great, thanks, only a little painful (when removing the glue). I picked my essix retainers today and so far so good. I'm really happy with my teeth and I am proud to say that I now have a beautiful smile!!! I know that you must be feeling the same way about now...

So I was finally debanded yesterday, which was amazing and only slightly painful. I love my teeth, but I am parnoid that I moved or something when they took my retainer impressions. I'm also worried because I flossed last night for the 1st time after getting them off and I noticed a gap already open...

I was debanded yesterday!!!! I'm really excited, and I couldn't wait to whiten my teeth with the Crest Strips I picked up, but my ortho advised against it for 6 weeks. At my 6 week retainer check-up, they'll give me prescription-strength strips to use, but I'm a little disappointed that I can't whit...

Thanks everyone. My ortho (there are 2 in the office and I refuse to let one of them near me, as I don't really feel like he cares or wants to be bothered) is a wonderful guy, completely patient and understanding. His staff are always great. If anyone is in the North Georgia area, Smiles Forever Ort...

Thanks so much for your thoughts! They're off now and I did share my feelings with my ortho and the assistant who has been with me for a while. Everything was taken care of beautifully, in part because the assistant is a perfectionist, just like me (why do you think I request her frequently? :D ). I...

Just my opinion, but I would really insist on an earlier appointment. In my mind, you have to take care of teeth that you made such a large investment in. You payed for your daughter to have a great smile for life (if she holds up her end of the deal with retainers), and that's what you should get. ...

Hey everyone! I can't believe that after 27 months my braces are finally coming off at 9:15 tomorrow morning!!!!!!!! I'm so excited and nervous at the same time (thanks to my nerves, I've actually had an upset stomach and the hicupps twice today :oops: )! I won't know myself without either crooked t...

Really? No one has any thoughts at all????

I used whitening toothpaste for a while at first (not intentionally, it was Crest Pro Health, which has whitening ingredients along with other "health benefits"). I really liked it, but my ortho discouraged me from using it. He pointed out how it just took the color right out of my ligs an...

I was just wondering if any of you, when you try to picture the way your teeth look, see a bit of a distorted, exaggerated view of the flaws and/or see yourself as still having your old teeth? I'll be debanded in 2 days (July 13th) and everytime I try to imagine what my teeth will look like, I can't...

I can relate and I don't even have them off yet! I'm hoping that post-brace tooth contouring by my ortho will solve most of my problems, but I'm not entirely convinced. I see areas where it looks like bonding is needed, which my ortho has done for me before, free of charge. Still, I don't think that...

July 13th for me! Thank godness that it's not Friday the 13th, haha. When I get them off, I will have had braces for 832 days and 1 hour, exactly (I found a neat calculator for the time between days; if you want to know exactly how long you were braced, google date duration calculator :D ). Wish me ...

Hey everyone! I'm new here, but I've been reading a lot of stories and information on this site lately. I really wish that I would have found this board before now, as my deband day is set for July 13th (yes, 2 days from now!!!!!!). I'm really not concerned with the pain or discomfort of the actual ...