Metal Mouth Message Board

Having been through ceramics when my teeth weren't *that* uneven to start with (though it turned out that my bite was terrible), I find it hard to see how Invisalign could have done half the things that wires have done. The main issue would be elastics. They fixed my bite all over, and my midline. I...

Well, I'm wearing it now, and it still felt slightly tight when I put it on (which always happens if I haven't worn it for a few hours). I figure that the sides of it are intact and probably working at least 90% as much as they should be, so the back/side teeth will hopefully be ok, and the front te...

I haven't heard of people moving from one to the other. What I have heard is that the Hawley can be used to make slight further adjustments. But the Essix is invisible, and you can also use it to apply fluoride gels and tooth mousse to your teeth. I have also heard of people using it as a bleaching ...

The Essix is really invisible. Only - just like getting ceramics - you'll really notice it at first, and have a slight lisp. And then you'll have to try and point it out to people and explain, whereas with a Hawley, they'll have already noticed it! I love my upper Essix, even though it just broke. I...

Mine didn't feel disgusting, just slippery for a couple of hours. However the left-over glue/cement feeling is very different - it feels rough and gritty on the tooth. I have some on one of my back teeth, but I will get it removed next visit. (It's my fault the ortho didn't remove it, because my tee...

This morning I took my Essix retainer (the clear plastic kind) out and just as I was about to clean it, I noticed that it was cracked. It's been TEN DAYS! The weirdest thing is that at the start, it took more force to get it on and off, but lately - including this morning - it has come off much more...

Congrats on going topless. I would love some tips from you on how to take clear upclose pics like the way you do. I struggled this time around and it got me frustrated. Hehe I use a Xacti C6 camera, and I take quite a few pics until I get one in focus. I sometimes try manual, and sometimes auto-foc...

I wondered what it would be like once you have your brace off.. Do you ever feel "naked" and a bit concerned without it on? You know the sad thing is that I got used to it so quickly. I was expecting to feel in constant wonder at the slipperiness of my teeth and the lack of brace, but I d...

Thanks! Other people's posts on here have helped me so much, that I wanted to do similar for others. There are so many things that my ortho didn't mention (he probably didn't have time, and not everything happens to every person) that I read on here first. So when they happened to me, I didn't over-...

mezy wrote:Did you have staining on your uppers due to the glue etc?

I think partly that, and partly just staining where I couldn't brush very well. But it all came off!

Thanks so much everyone! Your permanent retainer sounds wonderful. I am hoping that this is what is planned for me, so it is good to hear that you are having a positive experience. How are you finding flossing with it? *slight look of guilt* I haven't actually tried yet. I got fed up with flossing w...

The ortho may be able to remove some of the staining if you ask him/her. Mine did a few months back, and he mentioned it was partly the cement that was staining. Also once the braces come off, pretty much all the staining comes off with them, after a good sand and polish. It did for me anyway (see t...

So I got my top archwire off, and a fixed retainer put behind the upper front teeth, and two days after a clear removeable retainer. The removeable one is making my teeth hurt and sensitive (not unbearable, but kind of like after getting braces for the first time in a milder way). Is this normal, an...

Retainers update 1. Permanent wire The permanent wire is so lovely and unobtrusive, I cannot describe how happy I am to have it. I was so worried food would get stuck in it, but it pretty much never happens (and is easy to secretly lick/suck out if it does, unlike trying to pick stuff out of a fron...

Gosh they're stunning! Dazzling!