Metal Mouth Message Board

The things that caused me pain at first were eating and flossing. Since you're avoiding both of those, I'm not surprised you don't feel pain lol It probably took me 3-4 days before I was able to floss my entire mouth, and that definitely left everything throbbing. Eating, however, was another story...

I just wish I could like find an orthodontist that has a phd or something. You mean the DDS or DMD (or other) isn't enough? Those take more schooling than a PhD... Like sirwired has said, a vast majority of extraction cases are successful. You hear the horror stories because that's what people will...

I have not swallowed a bracket, but you aren't the first to do so and you certainly won't be the last. It should pass through your system just fine. Why would they be putting these things in our mouths if they weren't safe to swallow? (I'm not saying we should all start eating brackets, but it has t...

Usually I came in, the assistant gives me a once-over, and removes all the elastic ligatures. The ortho came in and looked over my progress, and calls out to the assistant what the plan is for the treatment. He reeled off (if needed) wire size, wire ligatures needed, elastics needed, a request for ...

My adjustments have been every 8 weeks. My next one is scheduled for 6 weeks, though. We're going to be doing x-rays, pictures, and bracket repositioning at that one. I'm not sure if they'll be every 6 weeks from now on or if I'll go back to 8 weeks. We'll see!

My first square wire was rough. I could not believe the jaw pain and I had to go back to soft foods for about a week. It was the most painful part of this so process so far (and I've had several more rectangular wires, elastics, and a powerchain since then). On the other hand, there are people on he...

Welcome, from another Damon-wearer!

You only need spacers if you're getting molar bands. It's possible you'll be getting brackets instead, or you might just get bands later in treatment.

I think it really depends on your ortho, and exactly what needs to be done. My ortho does not use molar bands as a "rule of thumb". My daughter and I both have braces, and spacers/bands were never mentioned. (thankfully) Mine is the same. He called the bands "torture devices" an...

Matilda wrote:I had zero discomfort or pain when my brackets were repositioned back in September. I hope you won't either.

Thanks, Matilda... that's good to know

Sounds fairly normal, to be honest. My ortho's office is the same - 1 ortho, usually around 8 assistants. The ortho usually does a quick look and tells the assistant what to do, which I mostly understand because of these boards. I will also ask to see the computer screen (each chair has a computer a...

Congrats on the progress! I'm getting brackets repositioned next month and I'm nervous about how much it'll hurt in the following days.

Norrie, how did it go? Did you get a chance to talk to your ortho about changing your braces?

Welcome! I just turned 28 and I've had my braces on for almost 8 months now. It's really not all that bad and I definitely wish I had done it a lot sooner. Like mapleleafman said, you'll start to notice other adults in braces and it'll make you realize how silly it was to be embarrassed by them. Wit...

Congrats!!!