Metal Mouth Message Board

I have a nickel allergy, which is why I went with clear brackets; however, the brackets on my last molars are stainless steel and my wires are stainless. I don't see how it could be a huge hassle or expense to swap out your wires or brackets (if they have nickel in them). I've had nearly all of my b...

Wow! I'm feeling kinda bad because I haven't had as much progress, and it at least feels like I've had mine for nearly a year. But happy for you.

Wow, your teeth are looking nearly perfect. My front gap also closed quickly, maybe within 4 months, but now I'm in my 11th month and I still have a lot of small gaps. I have a full year to go, and I think I need it.

So far, I haven't experienced any substantial pain, just sensitive/tender teeth (and that comes and goes, but of course is worse right after a wire change). I've only seen improvement on the top. My front gap is nearly gone, but now the two on the side by my canines seem huge, so I'm looking forward...

Mine were also gross in the last week or two leading up to a wire change. It made me too self conscious, so I've switched to silver, which does kinda defeat the purpose of having clear brackets, but nearly everyone noticed I had them from day one anyway.

Had my wires changed today and got a power chain on the bottom. No pain at all, but I can feel some slight tension--doubtfully enough for a huge change, but feels like progress. I have lost 5 brackets (including 2 today when the power chain was first attempted). I think it was partly the first insta...

It took a week for me, too. I never really experienced pain, just some tenderness, but the worst was that my bite felt way off. Two weeks later and it's still slightly off, but my only problem now is breads and pastas forming layers against my braces. I'm still very careful biting into anything with...

I've managed 24+ hours without wax, and my lip is fine. I still have no pain, unless I apply pressure, but even then it's almost more of an itchy feel. I'm going to ask my ortho about this because I'd hate to waste my first 2 of 18-20 months. While I'm not sure if "it's working right," it ...

Did the cheek separator leave the tops of your gums tender like it did mine? That was the worst for me, really. Use the wax judiciously and you should be free of any cheek shredding within a week. It's funny how fast we adapt. I had some slight, painless skin peeling on my inner, upper lip. But the...

I shopped around, too, and wound up using a different office. They are familiar with each other, but that wouldn't give them the okay, without my explicit permission, to share my info. My ortho did his own xrays, and I think they're going to just take my word on cleanings. (My ortho doesn't do anyth...

I came home to take a nap during lunch, to try to make up for all the sleep I lost last night, but instead I'm still obsessed with figuring out how to post a photo. I think I finally got it: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8040/7888541080_d2ec1e2219.jpg This picture is from yesterday, a few hours afte...

So here I'm up bright and early for work and to see if I can post my pic. :-) Still no pain but definite discomfort. My bite is totally off--for my molars. There was nothing wrong with them two days ago, there was only the spaces and flaring in the front, and I had managed to train my tongue, but al...

I did not use lip balm. As I was sitting out waiting for them to unlock the doors, I remembered I left it in my desk at work, so I was balmless, and I'm sure it shows. I will try to take a better picture later, since my webcam isn't cooperating, but you get the gist--I'm braced! So far, no pain. I d...

Ok,it's 5 til 1, and I've ran out of time to change my mind. I should be braced within the next hour. Really, my only concern is about the office I chose. Hopefully all goes well, for the next 18-20 months... Will report back with pics soon.

I'm almost 2 1/2 weeks from getting my braces, so I scheduled an appointment for professional zoom whitening next Wednesday. My ortho said it's better after but left the decision to me, but my primary dentist is crazy against it (got a temp crown last week and they bullied me and my ortho into postp...