Metal Mouth Message Board

I have bonded retainers. I do notice they are there, but I don't find them to be uncomfortable. As long as my straight smile is retained, I'm happy.

I'm pretty squeamish, so all the noises of taking the brackets off and the removal of the cement bothered me more than the actual removal of everything. I actually laughed during the whole thing. My ortho and his assistant thanked me for making it so much fun for them.

Thanks for the responses!

One of these days I will figure out how to post pictures.

My orthodontist told me once what it was called. That isn't, however, my question. Before I had braces, I had a large gap between my front teeth. Now there appears to be a lot of smooshed tissue between them. Will this shrink or recede?

I had to have my picture taken for my driver's license last year. I smiled, all I saw was metal. The lady taking the picture took pity on me and took the picture again. This time with my mouth closed. Before I had braces, I HATED my smile. I had a huge gap and my front teeth jutted out. I'm so exite...

I've bee wearing elastics for just over a week now. Up until yesterday, I was getting pretty terrible headaches. It hasn't been so bad the past couple of days. I work in sales so I talk for 8 hours a day. I keep saying to myself....just a few more days...

It hurts at first. It will get better!

I couldn't imagine doubling up the elastics in my mouth. I have had such head aches since having them added a week ago. The one sense of peace is that I will be brace-less in seven days! Advil has been easing the pain.