quickly approaching FREAK OUT stage

Message

#1 Post by **rdrisc99** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 1:57 pm

ok, so i'm 26 years old and getting braces for the first time in 4 weeks. i'm extremely nervous about this and am even more nervous about how the braces may or may not affect my crown that i just had placed on one of my molars a couple weeks ago.
any helpful hints or words of wisdom for a freaking-out twenty-something?

#2 Post by **cosmicgirl** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 2:08 pm

Take a deep breath!!
It's all a bit scary at first - anything new and untried always is, but be assured, you're doing the right thing and you have a lovely smile to look forward to.
Regarding the crown - don't worry - I have two. My molar bands are attached to them and the only tiny concern I have is, wondering if I'll need them replaced if the braces start to "pull" those teeth up from the gum, exposing the ropy old tooth underneath. My ortho says I'll be fine, so I'll take his word for it at the moment!
Good luck with it all - the worst bit is the waiting. It's (mostly!?!) plain sailing after that!
Keep us posted and remember, if you every have a worry or a concern, come to us. Someone, somewhere will be going through the same anxieties and will be able to offer a guiding hand!

#3 Post by **tazzle** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 3:01 pm

hi

echo the breathe advice

I too have crowns ( one molar and one premolar ) and what ortho mentioned about them was

.... brackets sometimes do not stick so effectively to them ... I lost one about 2 1/2 weeks in ......... but another was put on so oK.

if thats a problem they can be banded.

the only thing I have noticed 2 weeks in is that now a gap is opening up I see a bit of the metal back / top to a front crown ( tooth broken off in palying netball years ago

)

........ I too am also reassured that the crowns will move just the same as usual teeth becasue the root is still intact. ........... maybe as the teeth are moved and size relationship change with the front one some cosmetic changes might be needed...... but will cross that bridge as and when we come to it !

#4 Post by **Miss Smiley** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 12:31 am

I had two crowns placed a day before banding my lowers. They'll have to be replaced in my case because my bite is shifting from snaggled to super! I have one of the two lower crowns banded and the other bonded due to multiple bond failure on one crown. No big deal, you get ortho now, and when time comes, your ortho will tell you if you will need any replaced or if you can keep the one you have.

#5 Post by **browneyedgrl** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 3:58 am

Hi rdrisc99,

Welcome to AW!!! There is nothing to be nervous about. I have two lower crowns, one was placed 12/05 and the other about 11 months ago. I have a buccal tube on the one that was placed 2 years ago and so far no problems. I was worried to about too and my ortho reassured me if it doesn't stick, he'll have to place a band.

Keep us posted!

B

#6 Post by **purpleteeth** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:46 am

I am 25 and just got braces, so I know the feeling --- except for I had no FREAK OUT PHASE before braces because I got mine on the day after my evals... hehe...

Braces aren't going to be the end of the world and be prepared for a little teasing, especially from closer friends. I get comments from coworkers because my rubber bands are right up front and I talk funny and well, I just look even younger (I don't wear makeup, already have glasses, and have hair I can practically sit on). I just look a lot younger, so I get kinda teased.

Eat the foods you won't be able to eat with braces. Enjoy your corn on the cob, chew candy, and hard foods now. You might also want to start learning to like softer foods.

Another thing, people will forget you have them and will offer you nuts and hard candy and all the good stuff -- so be prepared. They will honestly forget and they won't be doing it to be mean, they will just stop looking at your teeth

Make sure you keep your ID handy because you might get carded!!

Learn to pack your toothbrush and other basic tools. You will need them if you expect to eat in public

Start experimenting with the "fun flavors" of toothpaste! I have 2 basic flavors in my bathroom and I have smaller tubes of different flavors to carry around because mint gets rather annoying. Mint can also become strong and it started making me gag after a couple of weeks, so I just switched out and had alternate flavors on hand if it were to start happening again. Bubblegum and Watermelon are fun

In terms of the crown, talk with your dentist. There shouldn't be a problem besides probably some sensitivity. I have trouble with my deeper cavities that I had filled - the teeth just seem to hurt "deeper".

#7 Post by **bracednconfused** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:11 pm

Hi there ---

I felt the need to post because I felt so alone while I was freaking out about getting braces.

I had one month to prepare before my Brace Day, during which time I nearly called the ortho to cancel everything at least 25 times, and this was AFTER I signed up for the payment plan, had molds taken and everything.

It was all I thought about, I even lost sleep over it. I was mostly concerned with how I was going to look with them and that I wasn't going to be able to eat what I loved (burgers, bagels, pizza) How was ever going to live with braces and be even MORE self-conscious about my smile, something i was already SO self-conscious about. At 24, I was afraid of what people would say or think at work and in my social group. For the first week, I didn't even really want to go out and be social, but I did it anyway because i knew I had to.. it would only help me get used to it.

just remember, it's ok.

Take it from someone who was freaking out for over a month. I got them on a little under two weeks ago and hated them right away. I still find them uncomfortable and I am self-conscious about them but the only thing that keeps me going is that when its all over, its going to be worth it. My only focus is the end of this journey.

Everything will be ok, just remember you are doing something to help yourself, your self-esteem and your dental health. Judging from what everyone has said here, in the end its worth it. I haven't read anyone here who has regretted this decision. You will already be thinking that once you start noticing slight changes and get more comfortable in them.

Good luck and keep us updated!!

#8 Post by **loulou123** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:04 am

Sorry to hear your freaking out, but i think its quite normal to be apprehensive before something like this.

It really will all be ok, ive had my braces on nearly 2 years now and your soon almost forget they are there.

Crown wise, im sur eit will be fine, i have 1 crown and its been perfectly happy during treatment and acted no differently to the other teeth.

Good luck and try not to worry

#9 Post by **SuperDave** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:22 am

no need to freak out. its all a walk in the park. no big deal. dont worry bout the experience. and dont be nervous. its actually a fun experience. you will get use to it quickly. just look at it like this.....this is a self improvement project. period.

purple,.....very good advice. spoken like a true pro.

im not anal about brushing, but i do carry a toothbrush. i hate the feeling of food in my braces after eating. i cant stand that. so i always brush afterwards.

brown,....hope you getting well adjusted and things are well.

so basically....dont worry about it. be proud of it, and smile. i do. i even make jokes about my braces sometimes cause it kinda breaks the ice with other poeple. nobody pics on me or makes fun of me cause after i make some braces jokes it kinda puts them at ease and deflates them. so its all good. hey, it works for me.

alot of people have braces. you just dont know who they are. but we are out there. so dont worry about it. its all gonna be ok. i promiss.

hey, i drive a freight train, yip, im a locomotive engineer...and i got braces! (tracks on tracks, lol) so its all gonna be ok.

SuperDave

#10 Post by **bedrod** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 10:01 am

Well I'm a newbee with just 3 weeks, and 2 hours with braces on. I totally understand your fear and concern because I felt it myself. I can only tell you this, that it is ok to be scared because it is something you are about to do something that you never experienced before. It will feel awful at first. You will promise yourself you will never smile again and wonder what the cost would be to have them removed. You may even cry (I did) at first. But after a day or two it starts being ok. There are adjustments and new feelings and things you can't eat....but it gets to be a non issue.... Believe us all when we say....it gets better! Hey I even smiled in public after 11 days!!!!!! Good luck and keep us posted

#11 Post by **Kaylie** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 10:30 am

hi im 22 and just got ceramic braces on wednesday coz ive dental phobia and am terrified of anything like that!

but i can honestly say it didnt hurt once at all! they just stick it on. and even puting the wires it didnt hurt. my teeth just felt tight like someone was pushing them.....
theres nothing to worry about honestly. i wish i had had it done when i was younger its not a big deal at all. good luck xx