sigh.

[Robot Teeth]

I just popped another bracket trying to floss.

I was using one of these:


I've used one before on a few teeth, and was giving it another shot since I haven't flossed in a few days. I think I'll be throwing these things away, since they're basically little bracket-popping levers.

Honestly, I don't know about these braces. I'm getting depressed about this. This is the fourth bracket I've popped, eating is a total labored pain in the ass that takes some of the enjoyment out of eating, these molar buildups are driving me nuts, and I've got a really loose tooth that I'm really really afraid has been extracted by the braces. I'm scared right now. I feel like I might have made a mistake, and I feel like I might have to abandon treatment. Things are not going well right now.

[CLB26]

Hi Robot Teeth,

It's always hard at the beginning. I'm on my second round of ortho and it takes a lot of getting used to. It's new things in your mouth, of course you're going to need to adjust. It might take a couple of months. I'm 2.5 months in right now and I am still adjusting (and I've had braces before!). I understand your concerns about brackets popping off (that shouldn't be happening, actually ...) and that loose tooth. Have you asked your ortho about it? Give them a call and make an appointment to go in and talk to your ortho about your concerns. If you're not satisfied with what he/she says, get a second opinion.

[Robot Teeth]

I left a message yesterday about the loose tooth, and another today after I popped the bracket.

The orthodontist is only at the dental college on tuesdays, and I'm hoping that I'll be able to get in and have a chance to explain my concerns this tuesday.

I am going to the university of detroit school of dentistry for my treatment, and having the work done by the faculty orthodontist (as opposed to a student) and I am getting about 30% off of what I'd be paying at a private practice. This is made up for by waiting 30-90 minutes in the lobby for appointments, driving 45 minutes, and the fact that when you call the orthodontic clinic, nobody answers the phone - rather you have to leave a message and hope that someone calls you back right away. So pretty much non-existent customer service.

I can deal with the popped brackets, (the first 3 were obviously bonding problems and went back the same day) and I'm getting an idea what foods the brackets can stand up to. But the loose tooth really has me freaked out. I am a 30 year old man, and I will cry my eyes out if I lose my tooth over this. This is seriously disturbing me.

[TumbleDryLow]

I see you're in Metro Detroit. I'm in Ann Arbor. Hi neighbor!

I don't think you are the cause of the popping brackets. OK. Yes. It is possible to eat something that will pop a bracket. Caramel, biting front teeth first into an apple, using your teeth to open a bottle, etc. But as adults we know better. I really believe the brackets that have come off have come off due to the fact there was an issue with the bonding. Flossing with a flimsy piece of plastic should not take off brackets. Trust me. I've had my braces removed and they didn't use floss to do it.

Popping brackets aside, braces really suck at first. Wobbly teeth are (frighteningly) normal. Things really do get better with time. You just need to get over the crappy beginning stages.

Dental schools while great on the pocketbook are sometimes not so great otherwise. You need to factor in the cost of your time and after doing so consider if you are really saving money. If you are considering doing anything I suggest not giving up on braces (because I do think you will regret it) but looking into switching into private practice.

Hang in there and hopefully the Dr can see you on Tuesday.

[Robot Teeth]

Thanks, because I've been absolutely paranoid about popping brackets since those first three. I can't really be much more gentle to my mouth without switching over to an all liquid diet and not brushing my teeth. I mean, I knew I was being a bit adventurous with the floss picks, but if anything, I would have expected the force to be absorbed by the ligature, and not transferred into pulling the whole bracket off. It makes me feel better about the day that they'll be removed, because it obviously doesn't seem like it'll be very painful or tense, considering how easily they've been leaping off my teeth. But at the same time, it confirms my paranoia about how delicate they are. As many modifications as I've made to my life to accommodate these braces, it's still not enough. I'll pay $35 extra every month if I have to in order to address popped brackets, but I swear, if I lose this tooth, I'm going to be one seriously unhappy camper.

Thanks for your encouragement, though. I'll have a few minutes where I'm like, "Eh, no big deal, my tooth will reharden, I'll get my bracket fixed - because it's their fault, and it'll hold, etc", and then I'll have a few minutes where I'm like, "What the hell did I get myself into? I just wasted my down payment on something that made my tooth fall out and my teeth can't tolerate these things so I'm going to have messed up teeth forever unless I can deal with five years of orthodontic complications that will tear apart my mental state like a living nightmare". I mean, they don't prepare you for ANY of this! I'm lucky to be inquisitive enough to have found this website, because customer service, education, and preparation are all non-existent when it comes to orthodontics. "Got that $1,500? Good, thanks, here's a mouthfull of metal, call us if anything unbearably painful happens. Otherwise, see you in 2 months."

[Jensniffer]

Is it the same brackets that are popping off or different ones every time? I had one pop off almost right away but it was on a tooth that was set back a bit from the rest and it was under a lot of pressure from the wire. Are your teeth hitting them causing them to pop off? Maybe they need to be re-fit on your teeth?

[Robot Teeth]

The brackets that have popped are ones that have a lot of force being applied to them, and none have repeated. Again, I popped 3 the first day, quite obviously due to bonding problems, but the one today I am willing to admit some level of responsibility for, considering the lever-like nature of the floss pick (even though it's made for braces, the fact that my teeth are still crooked means that there's less room to wedge it into place) And I have molar build ups, so there won't be any breaking brackets with my teeth (although I'd rather deal with that than the buildups, which suck).

[Huggypillow]

Hi Robot teeth

Having a bit of a rough time i read, just hang in there things are always worse before they get better. Ive had 2 weeks where i just feel like i just want to cry cry cry.

I'm sorry that your brackets popped, i have been lucky enough not to endure this issue. Can't say that i'd be happy if it happened either.

have you asked the clinic why they don't answer the phone something small as this would be enough to send me mad.

all i can say is hang in there, just dont give up please it will be worth it in the long run.

[Robot Teeth]

The reason they don't answer the phone probably has to do with the fact that they are totally understaffed in every regard. They obviously can't handle the volume of business they've got, because everyone has to wait an hour in the lobby. If you get there at 8am, you've got to wonder how they're already running an hour behind. It's blatantly obvious that at the very least, they need another faculty orthodontist.

I would have probably chosen to go to a private practice if I had the money, but this is barely affordable for me at 30% off via the college. If there's a problem with my tooth, I'll probably have to quit the braces just for the fact that I won't be able to afford whatever remedial action needs to be taken to fix my lost tooth. If I become dissatisfied enough, I might have to quit now and wait a few years until I can afford to do this at a private practice. If there's one thing I hate, it's bad service and being ignored.

[Robot Teeth]

So here's where I'm at with this now...

I got a call this morning from the receptionist lady who was actually very helpful in putting me at ease. She took the time to explain everything about my tooth being loose that I needed to hear, and even offered to let me come in and have one of the students take a look. She was so reassuring that I decided it probably wasn't even necessary.

However, she hadn't yet made it to the second message I had left about having popped another bracket. So I reluctantly explained this to her, knowing that she was most likely going to tell me that I'd have to wait 5 weeks till my next appointment to get it fixed, since it isn't an emergency... which is exactly what happened. So I took the opportunity to emphasize my discomfort in the level of the doctor's availability (and having to wait so long in the lobby, the fact that nobody answers the phone, etc) and again, she explained to me how good the doctor is and how she is actually only there every other tuesday (I thought it was every tuesday, so even less available than I thought).

So since I do like the orthodontist, but don't like the level of customer service being provided through the college clinic, I decided to call her private practice which is about 5 minutes from my house, (as opposed to the college being 50 minutes away in Detroit) and explained my situation to the receptionist. I wanted to know if I could possibly arrange to come in and have my bracket repaired by my orthodontist, working through her private office, even if it meant having to pay for the appointment. And since I'm already asking, maybe this sort of thing might even be a good solution for everyone in the future if there are problems, given the circumstances. And if it is agreed that it is advantageous, I'd even consider entirely switching treatment over to her private office. So the receptionist said she'd talk to the doctor and get back to me. ... Ten minutes later I got a call from the dental college, saying that they got a call from the orthodontist's office, and since I really wanted to have my bracket repaired, that I could come in today at 4:00 and have the orthodontist's husband (who I was not aware worked at the college in the same regard as his wife) repair it for me. Now, of course I will, by default, entrust this man's competence beyond question, and it goes without saying that I am very happy that I am going to have my bracket repaired. But I am embarrassed at the fact that the private office relayed my issue back to the college, which I'm sure makes it look like I am just trying to make enough of a fuss about my bracket being broken that they'd fix it just to appease me. This is not the case. I really think it is worthwhile to consider the prospect of switching to the doctor's private office. This is something I would have done in the beginning if I thought it would have been affordable, but didn't. It still might not be affordable, but since I've already made my down payment and have my braces on, I'm wondering what my options might entail. I even told the receptionist lady at the college that I completely understand that it's a tradeoff getting a reduced price in exchange for having to drive so far and wait in the lobby etc, and she humbly agreed. But I'm just disappointed that I probably look like a problem customer to them right now, and nobody likes dealing with fussy people. I'm sorry, but I just require a certain level of customer service and availability when it comes to some things. Adults have horrific nightmares about bad things happening to their teeth, and I'm no exception. This is serious business, as far as I'm concerned, and I can't just be treated like I'm going to respond as expected at all points along the way. I can't just sign over control like that.

[Robot Teeth]

If I wasn't satisfied with the service I was getting I would change orthos. I don't believe braces are something to take lightly.

I mean for real though. But as I said, I DO like the orthodontist. I am dissatisfied with her availability THROUGH the college. She has a private office 5 minutes from my house, so I'm thinking of switching if possible.

I know that in order to become an expert in orthodontics (I mean heck, the lady teaches people how to BE orthodontists!) you've got to have seen it all. And I do absolutely trust her expertise. But my mouth is not a piece of machinery where I can just call the customer service department and troubleshoot an issue with a representative. And conversely, if my computer or refrigerator or washing machine DID break, I COULD call up the company and talk to a person about the problem. How can it be the policy at a medical facility to NOT answer the phone?!

Maybe I need to stop treatment until I can save up ten thousand dollars for the orthodontist office that answers the phone.

[ashesgap]

I really think in the long term you'll be happier if you stick with it now. The first three months really are the worst. Pretty soon these minor issues will be worked out and you'll wonder why you were thinking of quitting.
As for the waiting, I think it's a trade off for getting the reduced cost...but prob worth it so you can get treatment now instead of waiting till you can afford it. I would have loved that option years ago, but had to wait till we had enough money to do payments and of course the giant down payment.
As for the pain in the butt eating and cleaning is, get a WaterPik or RediBreeze. They literally clean everything off of and out of the braces. Plus that water spray feels really good on sore and itchy gums. Continue to eat as normal though, and again pretty soon it'll be no big deal.
Good luck.

[Robot Teeth]

The first three months really are the worst.

Yeah, yeah, I know...

Waiting to get them on was the worst. Now the first three months are the worst. Then when my teeth REALLY start moving, THAT'll be the worst. Then waiting to get them off will be the worst. Then getting them whitened will be the worst. Then dealing with my retainer will be the worst...

[TumbleDryLow]

FWIW--it may be worthwhile to schedule a consultation visit at the Dr.'s private practice. This way the Dr will see that you are serious about switching and not just a "problem patient from the dental school." That way you can see what it will cost you to switch over. Maybe once you explain your concerns, (the fact you had no idea how much back and forth there'd be, how bad the Dr. unavailability thru the school would be, and how difficult getting any customer service at all would be) she'd be willing to take you on for little up front cost. Many practices offer 0 interest payment plans and the monthly payments are doable. There is also Care Credit that offers low interest loans for dental care. I mean at this point you've spent money. To have your braces take off now would mean that money is down the drain forever. Better to try to continue on and make the money work somehow.

[klobird]

I really feel your discouragement. And I REALLY understand your problems with the bad patient to office interaction---I just had a meeting with my ortho's manager last week to discuss the very same thing.

In the beginning of my treatment--the 2nd day, which was a Saturday--my archwire popped out of the buccal tube--meaning that there was about 1/2 inch of wire just poking into my cheek. yeooooww that hurt!! So, on Monday I called the office to get in--they couldn't get me in until the next day. Are you kidding me????!!!! So, that Monday afternoon, with my cheek bleeding like crazy, and my fingers too from trying to move it away from my cheek and from trying to put wax on it (didn't stay on)--my husband used a garden tool to cut off most of the end of it. I just could not take it anymore.
Anyway, when I got in there on Tuesday, I told the mgr. what I had to do because it was so awful--and you know what she said to me?? Not, oh I'm sorry...not, are you OK now?--not, I wish we would have realized to get you in sooner---
She said, "well, that's going to cost you $50" !!!!!! (long story short--they did not charge me that $50!!)

Anyway, for the first probably 4 weeks, I was in there every week to get a pokey wire clipped. And every time the
staff treated me like a pain in the *ss.

So, 3 months in--basically, I have found my voice. I will not take this crap for 2 years!! And now, I think they may be starting to "get it".

I understand that you are really in a tough situation--- talk to the woman ortho. Set up an appt with her and discuss financing options. Discuss your concerns about the loose tooth etc. Do it in person. Discuss your problems with university treatment. Tell her you thought you could make it work, but it just isn't. I think you will feel so much better, and that
you will probably feel much more confident with an ortho you can get in to right away and so close to home.
Don't let them throw you back to the university--tell the lady ortho's office that you seriously want to talk about transferring care...braces are a serious process!!

OK, so anyway, I really have had to go thru some cr*p with my ortho office--their behaviour is thoroughly inconsistent.
But, I still trust the ortho--I put a lot of time into deciding to go thru this process, and come h*ll or high water, pain, anxiety,nasty office interaction--I am NOT going to quit!!! They do NOT want to push me to the breaking point--I can be an uncontrollable b*tch if it comes to that. And now, if I need help, I will call them every hour if I have to--I am too old for this b*llsh*t!!!
(And really, I consider myself to be a nice person-- )

Please, please, please--don't give up--we are here for you!!