New Member:Questions for people wearing clear ceramic braces

Message

#1 Post by **PRIMAITALIANA** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 1:32 pm

Hi Im new to this forum. I just got my clear ceramic braces put on saturday. I only have to wear them for 1yr. I havent really had any pain but it might be due to the fact that the ortho didnt put any brackets on any of my molars, I just have them on my 6 front top & buttom teeth, I asked the ortho why & they said they wanna get my front teeth a little straight before they add the back brackets, I thought this sounded weird? Also they used yellow cement for bonding & it looks disgusting, its caked all around my brackets causing my teeth to look yellow. Im embarassed to even smile, I almost cried. I paid an extra $600 for clear braces so they wouldnt be as noticeable & my teeth looks like I ate butter! Will the yellow cement color fade in time? What happens when you go back for your first appointment for braces, I have one in 2 weeks & I have no idea what to expect. Am I getting the alastics or a tightening? What color alastics are best for clear braces? Any info will be greatly appreciated, Im kinda freaking out!

#2 Post by **newsboysgrl777** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 2:02 pm

Hi Prima....Let me go through all of your questions line by line.

Your ortho not putting the brackets on any of the molars is interesting, but not really all that uncommon, I don't think. I mean, every ortho has his/her own way of doing things and each case is different...so I wouldn't worry too much about this. As the ortho said, they can always add them later (and more than likely will).

I don't have experience with yellow cement I don't think...but I saw another post on here very recently about it. I don't know if it was another post by you or not...but hopefully someone has some advice there. I would say that at your next adjustment, ask them if they can grind or something off that excess wax because it's making you upset. If they won't do it or brush it off, you can always go to your dentist and ask them to do it. I don't want to suggest anything else because I don't know how safe it would be to try to 'pick it off' yourself...but hopefully this can be resolved rather easily.

As for your first adjustment...I have a question for you first. You're asking about having elastics put on. Do you mean ligs?? The things that everyone is always talking about 'what color should I get?' that goes on each bracket, or do you mean rubber bands that are only on some brackets that go from your top to your bottom teeth? If you mean the first thing, I have to ask, do you have a wire in your mouth yet, or is it just the brackets? If there is no wire, this is why you have no pain...it's the archwire that does all the work, not really the brackets. Obviously they have something to do with it, but really, the archwire is the 'force' behind everything. If you DO have an archwire in your brackets, then you've already got ligs on there, unless you've got self-ligating brackets that don't NEED ligs. So you'll never have to worry about what color ligs you should get and they'll never stain...until/unless you have to use a powerchain. (this is something that happens to try to close gaps - may not be necessary for you)

At your adjustment, they'll check your progress and if you're wearing braces that require ligs, they'll probably just change those ligs for new ones, keeping that same wire in your mouth, unless they feel enough has happened to upgrade you to a higher guage wire. It will probably be mildy uncomfortable as this is the first adjustment, so take some ibuprofen/tylenol. If you don't have your archwire in yet, they'll start out by putting that in and then putting the ligs on your brackets.

So all in all, nothing dramatic will happen during that first adjustment. Just be sure to inquire about the yellow glue and if they can help remove it.

#3 Post by **tammers1010** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 3:33 pm

I have a combination of Damon brackets and clear ceramic braces. On the upper teeth I have 8 clear ceramic brackets--the rest of the top teeth have the Damon metal brackets because you cannot see them anyway. All my bottom teeth have the Damon brackets. My back molars on the upper and lower were not braced away...I had brackets added to my back molars when I went in for adjustments. My ortho mentioned it makes it a bit easier on adults, while we get used to the braces, and he said back teeth usually move a bit quicker. I have not had the yellow glue problem, but I do think my teeth look a bit more discolored and more yellow than before braces. Not sure if it is because of the rubberbands getting grungy, or wether it is the light reflecting off the braces. If you are concerned give it a day or so, and then check with your ortho. I did have some clear residue glue on my teeth that eventually came off, or got "sanded" down at an adjustment. As for the pain, it usually takes a day or two for the full pain to set in. The first day felt slightly uncomfortable for me, then the pain kicked in.

#4 Post by **PRIMAITALIANA** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 9:30 am

newsboysgrl777 wrote:Hi Prima....Let me go through all of your questions line by line.

Your ortho not putting the brackets on any of the molars is interesting, but not really all that uncommon, I don't think. I mean, every ortho has his/her own way of doing things and each case is different...so I wouldn't worry too much about this. As the ortho said, they can always add them later (and more than likely will).

I don't have experience with yellow cement I don't think...but I saw another post on here very recently about it. I don't know if it was another post by you or not...but hopefully someone has some advice there. I would say that at your next adjustment, ask them if they can grind or something off that excess wax because it's making you upset. If they won't do it or brush it off, you can always go to your dentist and ask them to do it. I don't want to suggest anything else because I don't know how safe it would be to try to 'pick it off' yourself...but hopefully this can be resolved rather easily.

As for your first adjustment...I have a question for you first. You're asking about having elastics put on. Do you mean ligs?? The things that everyone is always talking about 'what color should I get?' that goes on each bracket, or do you mean rubber bands that are only on some brackets that go from your top to your bottom teeth? If you mean the first thing, I have to ask, do you have a wire in your mouth yet, or is it just the brackets? If there is no wire, this is why you have no pain...it's the archwire that does all the work, not really the brackets. Obviously they have something to do with it, but really, the archwire is the 'force' behind everything. If you DO have an archwire in your brackets, then you've already got ligs on there, unless you've got self-ligating brackets that don't NEED ligs. So you'll never have to worry about what color ligs you should get and they'll never stain...until/unless you have to use a powerchain. (this is something that happens to try to close gaps - may not be necessary for you)

At your adjustment, they'll check your progress and if you're wearing braces that require ligs, they'll probably just change those ligs for new ones, keeping that same wire in your mouth, unless they feel enough has happened to upgrade you to a higher guage wire. It will probably be mildy uncomfortable as this is the first adjustment, so take some ibuprofen/tylenol. If you don't have your archwire in yet, they'll start out by putting that in and then putting the ligs on your brackets.

So all in all, nothing dramatic will happen during that first adjustment. Just be sure to inquire about the yellow glue and if they can help remove it.

I do have the wire. My top teeth have felt a little sensitive but no pain. I was talking about the ligs. Im guessing Im gonna get an adjustment on the 9th. Thanks for all your info. Im just a little freaked out about this whole thing, I started to think it was a mistake. I feel very unattractive , lol, with these things on but I know I just have to keep thinking about the outcome

#5 Post by **PRIMAITALIANA** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 9:37 am

tammers1010 wrote:I have a combination of Damon brackets and clear ceramic braces. On the upper teeth I have 8 clear ceramic brackets--the rest of the top teeth have the Damon metal brackets because you cannot see them anyway. All my bottom teeth have the Damon brackets. My back molars on the upper and lower were not braced away...I had brackets added to my back molars when I went in for adjustments. My ortho mentioned it makes it a bit easier on adults, while we get used to the braces, and he said back teeth usually move a bit quicker. I have not had the yellow glue problem, but I do think my teeth look a bit more discolored and more yellow than before braces. Not sure if it is because of the rubberbands getting grungy, or wether it is the light reflecting off the braces. If you are concerned give it a day or so, and then check with your ortho. I did have some clear residue glue on my teeth that eventually came off, or got "sanded" down at an adjustment. As for the pain, it usually takes a day or two for the full pain to set in. The first day felt slightly uncomfortable for me, then the pain kicked in.

So your ortho used clear glue? I cant figure out why the used yellow cement then. Everyone Ive talked to with clear braces say the ortho used clear. Uhh that makes me so fustrated. Ive had these on for 5days & ive only felt slight sensitivity Im guessing when I go for an adjustment on May 9th thats when I'll really feel the pain. Thanks for your info.

#6 Post by Le » Thu Apr 30, 2009 12:49 am

My ortho used yellow glue too!! Its not too bad, on the front four teeth. But has made my teeth look really yellow on the others. I hate it, but was hoping it would fade. 10 days in it hasn't!!!

#7 Post by **PRIMAITALIANA** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 7:38 am

Le wrote:My ortho used yellow glue too!! Its not too bad, on the front four teeth. But has made my teeth look really yellow on the others. I hate it, but was hoping it would fade. 10 days in it hasn't!!!

See I thought I was the only one. I know I keep hoping it will fade too, if not im gonna make a big stink when I go back to the ortho in a week. I dont care if they have to take everything off & start again, Im not walking around for a whole year with yellow teeth!

#8 Post by **lfwood** » Sat May 02, 2009 2:07 am

I don't have any molar bands on my each of my very back top teeth. 3 months in they finally got the molar bands on my back lower teeth. They basically couldn't get them on cause there was no room. I had spacers in for 2 months to make room for them. Unfortunately I think the pressure has upset one of my old amalgm (sp?) fillings, but thats another story.