Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi everyone, I'm curious as to whether any of you have had or plan to have cosmetic dentistry done after your braces come off. I'm seeing a cosmetic dentist to rectify some uneven wearing that was caused by my old bite and crowding. I also have a couple of minor chips that I'd like to fix, and maybe...

Thanks everyone! I am really happy. :) Kirst, it's just the wire over the front of my teeth - there is no additional plastic. And you will be pleased to hear that my speech is pretty much back to normal while wearing them - I'm happily attending meetings, answering the phone etc at work with no trou...

So, I finally got around to getting some pictures up:







This was from a class 3 malocclusion with lower crowding. Here's to being brace-free!

Laura-lark, I have a permanent retainer on the bottom as well as the Hawley. The Hawley fits over the top of it. I've only had it for a few hours, but it's not terrible! There is another thread on this board about under the title "How many types of retainers do you have on your mouth?" tha...

Just went with plain clear. I thought the flesh colour looked pretty foul (sorry downhillskier!) and I didn't want a design. My ortho didn't want me to do it - he said they're easier to lose - but I promised to be very careful with them. For a device that looks so small and thin in your hand, it fee...

Hi Spades, I recall having read somewhere on this site that it can take around 12 - 14 months for the teeth to 'settle' after they have been moved with the braces, so I'm guessing it's probably normal. If you're really worried, why don't you just call your ortho's office?

I am so with you guys! I just got my Hawleys today and I sound pretty bad. On the plus side, they look nice.

My ortho is fairly pro-Hawley but has said I can get an Essix for the top if I want to. texas angel - after you've tried both out for a couple of weeks, let us know which you prefer.

While I haven't had communication issues with my ortho, I am in my Hawleys for the first time today and I am absolutely dreading going back to work in them next week. I sound like I have a severe speech impediment! But, it's only for 6 months (during the day at least) so given that I've just gone th...

So... they're off! All in all it wasn't too bad. Like most people have said, the metal brackets popped off with no problem, while the ceramics were a little bit tougher. One of the ceramics had to be polished off - the ortho kept yanking on it but it wasn't going anywhere and I was in pain! When I c...

I remember, with fondness, being told by a friend's 5-year-old daughter that the pearls on my teeth were pretty.

I was curious as to whether anyone else had a bonded retainer and a Hawley - so glad to see I'm not the only one!

I got my bonded on my lower teeth last week, and the braces are coming off on Wednesday. I'm getting upper and lower Hawleys. Has anyone else had two kinds of retainer on a single arch?

Good luck on the 16th. Mine are coming off on the 14th so I will try to post some pics up to keep you inspired!

I've had them on for 21 months, after thinking that it would only take 12 - 18.

Thanks guys... it's just that I've got ceramics on the top and have read some horror stories about their removal. The idea of having my teeth wrenched does NOT appeal!

Luckily I've got metal on the bottom, hopefully they will come off easier.

Let me know how you go Cookie!

Hi all,

I've read plenty of stories of what happens when the braces actually come off and am wondering if you lucky people would have any advice as to how to deal with the discomfort?

My removal is in 2 weeks (yay!) and I'm keen to make it as pleasant an experience as possible.

So, I went to the orthodontist yesterday and he said that it's now up to me to decide when my braces come off. The final adjustment is underway - closing an itty bitty gap between my two lower front teeth, which was closed up since the appointment! I asked him what the next steps were. He said that ...