I'm scared of them. Can you make me feel more confident?

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#16 Post by **bbsadmin** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 11:25 pm

Well Butterfly, you sound a lot like me before my treatment. I had a bunch of consultations over a 10 year period and actually did chicken out after a full set of x-rays and molds, when the ortho told me I'd need headgear (I ran for the hills, LOL).

But then later I found the ortho who treated me and everything worked out really well....no headgear involved.

I also had impacted wisdom teeth (not as bad as yours, but they were giving me headaches). I had them removed a decade before getting the braces. Believe me, ortho treatment is NOTHING like having wisdom teeth out. And extraction of bicuspids is a piece of cake compared to wisdom teeth.

I know what you're going through because I was also wringing my hands about it. But after my treatment was underway, I wished I'd done it years ago.

Is there pain with braces? Yes, but it isn't the sort of pain you have with surgery, for example. It's mainly a dull ache, and it's worst during the first 2-3 weeks. After that you get used to the braces, they don't hurt very much at all, and life goes on.

In the end, you should do what you feel comfortable with. Don't worry about "chickening out." If it doesn't feel right to you, don't force yourself to do it.

Anyway, overall, it really isn't so bad to have braces. They actually look worse than they are! And you can commiserate with us here any time!

#17 Post by **CelestialVoices** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 9:46 am

Go for it butterfly! I am 21 right now and have needed braces since I was 10 years old, and I finally made the decision to get them because I am so unhappy with my teeth (especially the bottom ones YUCK!)

You'll be in my thoughts.

CV

#18 Post by **butterfly** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 7:16 pm

Thanks. You're all sweet

I have mixed feelings now. I'm scared on one hand and excited on the other. I cannot wait but I don't want the day to come... It's so weird. I see the pics here and I'm jealous. Even after 3 months some peoples' teeth look like they're almost finished. I want to be one of you and still I am afraid of the Unknown.

Weirdest thing was... When I went for the consultation appointment they offered me ceramics. (50% of their patients/clients are adults). I said I couldn't care less if I get metal. What should I be ashamed of more - ugly teeth and not doing anything about them or ugly teeth in braces that improve month by month? It's a no brainer! I want the world to see! The assistant (f.) congratulated me and said, I am the first grown up asking for metal. Treatment time would be much less! Plus: I want colors. Pink! What will they say about THAT

Well.. that's it for now. Pictures next week. I will be back from abroad only mid october. Then some checkups have to be done (plaque cleaning and so on) and maybe an extraction. I guess I can start only in November.

@dodger

I saw your story. Don't want to be rude but that's the most extreme case I ever saw. Not a single tooth was on the spot it shoud be... Mine is far from that. Now you look like a TV person!! And your smile is so relaxed. When I smile now (forcefully) my face looks like yours on your before pic - like a fake pose. Your success is amazing - in so little time!! I cannot believe these are the same teeth. Wow. What an example to follow!

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butterfly

#19 Post by **peanut** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 7:29 pm

Hi Butterfly,

I'm an adult with metal braces. For me, the ceramic braces would have cost $600 more (Canadian dollars), and I couldn't afford that, so I went with metal. I didn't really care anyway. Braces are braces.

The colors are fun. My colleagues at work love the days I have my orthodontist appointments. They are at work eagerly waiting for me to arrive so they can see what colors I got.

I am having jaw surgery on Tuesday, and I've been told that the pain of jaw surgery is nothing compared to wisdom teeth removal. (I am having those out too, but the numbing effect of the broken jaw will block that pain for the most part.) Since you already have your wisdom teeth out, I would say that the worst part of your ordeal is over.

I wish you luck as you go ahead with this.
peanut

#20 Post by **Aggiegal** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 2:35 pm

Hi Butterfly,
Trust me when I say I was SO SCARED of the pain when I decided to get braces, but after 35 years I was tired of hiding my smile. Yes, my mouth did feel like it got hit with a baseball bat the first few days but after that I learned to work through the pain. I've had them on for 4 months now and I'm not afraid of pain anymore. It helps if you find a confident and caring ortho, mine is the best. I'm so proud of myself for doing this and tell myself that since I made it through one of my worst fears I can make it through anything! You can, too!

#21 Post by **butterfly** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 7:17 am

hey

I got my photos and xrays taken today! they did a panoramic xray and a side shot of my skull (thing with the plugs in the ears). it was kinda creepy to see my skull like that on that pic. ive never seen myself like this...! then they took regular photographs of my face which was kind of embarrassing. i never grin at people like that... duh i have ugly teeth when i think about it like this

too bad ... the photographer was a cute guy

and he had the camera of my dreams: a nikon digital reflex with a ring flash. (i love photography!). then they took close ups of the inside of my mouth (thats when the ring flash came into play). they stuck mirrors in my mouth which was quite uncomfortable. i will get the file next week. my next appointment is beginnning of the next week. i still didnt decide which doctor to "take". i will see several docs with the file in my hands and continue my quest

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butterfly