Metal Mouth Message Board

IPR=interproximal reduction, aka filing, slenderization, discing Reshaping of the proximal surfaces to remove black triangles can happen at any time during treatment after the contact points of the teeth have been aligned. This is usually the best time to IPR for creating space due to crowding also...

Currrently, I have what she calls "little triangles" (gaps between the gum tissue and the incisors that give the appearance of black pepper). I should have asked her last time but failed. Anyone have a clue I'm at nearly 6 months and have had IPR done at my adjustment today to get rid of ...

Darn! I was hoping it might be a little sooner. She keeps saying, "Bear with me", so I'm assuming it's going to be a while. Thanks.

Hola, everyone - I'm on month 7 with my braces and was wondering at what point in time does the ortho. shape the teeth to insure everything fits together beautifully? Currrently, I have what she calls "little triangles" (gaps between the gum tissue and the incisors that give the appearance...

K8 - I've been so busy, I haven't had the time to reply. I'm about 2 1/2 months into school and all is well. My braces are so commonplace now with the students, it's like I'm not even wearing them. In fact, several of them have made comments like, "I'm getting braces, too!" - almost like i...

Kim - I'm sportin' a full metal mouth (very scary!). Most of the kids I'm getting Monday know me from last year when I had no braces - I just hope they can adjust quickly. If not, I could be in for a difficult year!

braceup - I noticed you're in your 4 month of treatment and still dealing with the fat lip issue. Did you ortho say when lip thing would start to go away?

Actually, I had an extraction and it still seemed as though eveything was pulled forward (probaby because my front 4 teeth went opposite of each other). Looking forward to normalcy in the future!

I think this was one of the articles I came across - read so many, I can't remember. Too bad I'm one of those bicuspid "extraction" cases as my chances of resorption probably just went up 20%!

Thanks for the post.

K8- I am curious about how parents will react too - my thoughts are half will carry on a conversation like nothing has changed and the other half will turn away, not wanting to stare. I'm already familiar with how my coworkers feel; I had mine put on the day before school was out (kids were gone by ...

KimC - Thanks for the words of encouragement - made me feel much better. Did you have metal or ceramic braces? I'm hoping my kids respond to them better than some of the adults I teach with. itsabouttime - One of our teachers had braces a couple of years ago and all seemed fine. As a matter of fact,...

I heard the exact same thing. Just wonder how long the "worse" part lasts!

I agree. On the days my lip is "normal" I feel much more confident and able to articulate myself better. Fat lip days are no fun; I'm a teacher so I have to ennuciate everything I say!

Yay! It's so nice to hear from teachers with braces! I got mine (not so attractive metal in all) at the end of the school year in addition to an extraction. Boy, am I glad I waited! It definitely does take some getting used to both physically and emotionally. I'm rather anxious about the beginning o...

At this point in time, I still waiver from being happy with the decision to thnking, "what did I get myself into", but I know in the end it will have been a great investment and well worth the physical and emotional torture!

Hang in there!