Going in for braces tomorrow and starting to worry :-(

Message

#1 Post by **Dolfan** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 10:37 am

Hi,

I had my cleaning and spacers put in last week and will be going to get braces on the top and bottom tomorrow morning, but I'm starting to really worry

I found this forum a couple of weeks ago and have been lurking on and off since then. Seems like a lot of great advice and good people in here, so I thought I'd register and see if you guys couldn't calm my fears a little bit

What I'm worried about is this: When I first went in to talk to the ortho about braces (about a year ago) he told me that it was kind of 50-50 weather I would need extractions first or not. He left it up to me. He said that if I was still a teenager (I'm 31) that I could definitely get away without having to have them because your jaw is more pliable at that age, but at my age, the jaw might not move enough to make room for all of the teeth and that I may need an extraction or two.

Now I'm worried that 1/2 way into the process he is going to tell me that I need extraction(s) and I am going to be forced into it or risk wasting all of the time/effort/pain of braces for a year+ and not have my teeth look any better

I don't think I have much of a bite problem. Just a lot of crowding on the bottom up front and a little crowding on top and some teeth on top aren't exactly straight. Overall, my teeth probably aren't too terrible as they are.

I guess I'm locked into this at this point.

Wish me luck guys!!

Oh yeah, a post or two telling me that I probably won't need extractions wouldn't hurt either

#2 Post by **momof2grlz** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 10:52 am

Welcome to the board, Dolfan! This is a great group of people. You'll get a lot of good advice and encouragement here.

I can't tell you you won't need extractions. I can tell you that I was in the same boat as you last year at this time. My ortho was 50/50 about upper premolar extractions. He tried to make the necessary corrections until August of this year when it became obvious that there wasn't going to be enough room to correct my overjet without extractions. I hated losing 2 perfect teeth, but I wanted the best result I could get (which I already know won't be 100%). Extractions really are no big deal. They didn't bother me a bit. Putting the archwire back on after the extractions was another story, but just like everyone on this board, I survived.

You'll be fine. Just concentrate on achieving a super end result. Good luck!

Chris

#3 Post by **hannah164** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 10:55 am

HI Dolfan!
Congratulations on making the decision to get braces! Thats the hardest part!

I'll be honest I don't know that you won't need extractions but I know quite a few people who's orthos told them that they needed them and then they didn't actually have them. I had six teeth pulled at once and it really wasn't that bad.

Just remember to bring lip balm and advil tommorrow, you will be sore, and eat all the hard chewy crunchy sugary foods you can today.

Good luck tommorrow! You'll do great!

-Hannah

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#4 Post by **decisionmade** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 11:25 am

Good luck dolfan!! I had my braces 12 days and am doing well..Its the first 2 days that are the hardest..for me anyway...
I had expansion surgery to make room on the top but had an extraction on the bottom..which was no big deal..actually it was the most painless of all i have been through..cleaning and fillings included..believe it or not..anyway good luck and keep us posted!!

#5 Post by **R-A-M-O-N-E-S** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 11:50 am

I got mine top and bottom Sept-28
The first week was hard but I was fine after that.

#6 Post by **jay.tee.** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 12:40 pm

dont worry, you'll be fine. i got mine on sept 28th too...to be honest with you, mine didn't not hurt at all!...only when i pushed my teeth with my tongue intentionally. but, other than that, i was A-Ok. i ate the norm stuff, but i was more cautious, i case i bit off my lower braces...hehe.

#7 Post by **gracie381** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 12:57 pm

I will also be getting my braces put on tomorrow! I have been eating everything in sight today. I had the metal spacers a couple of weeks ago, and I had to have 4 pre-molars extracted last Tuesday. The metal spacers hurt really bad, but the extractions weren't bad at all. I didn't want to lose any teeth, but I also didn't want to have surgery to try & widen my arch. That was the only other option I had besides the extractions. I went with the extractions, considering I'm a big baby and the thought of surgery scared me. I'm 26 and put off getting braces for many years because I was scared of the pain. I am now taking the plunge. So together we will be going through the tough times together. Everyone on here has been so supportive and it's been great. Just be positive and maybe you want have to have any extractions. Everyone's treatment is different, but whatever happens just think about the positive outcome of your treatment (A beautiful smile)! Best of luck!!

#8 Post by **Dolfan** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 1:21 pm

Thanks for all of the responses and support so far!!!

I'll definitely keep you all updated.

I just really hope I don't end up needing extractions. I keep picturing a string tied to my tooth and the other end to a door and the door slamming shut!! I'm sure they don't do it like that nowadays, but I still can't get that mental image out of my head...

#9 Post by **gracie381** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 1:24 pm

Maybe you want have to have extractions. Just wanted to tell you though that now they can put you completely out. I didn't know a thing had happened till I woke up and it was all over. They took out 4 and it was over in about 20 minutes. I was a little sore, but nothing major. Best of luck on everything!!

#10 Post by **true_jaat** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 4:42 am

I keep picturing a string tied to my tooth and the other end to a door and the door slamming shut!! I'm sure they don't do it like that nowadays,

They dont? I must have gone to the wrong dentist then.

#11 Post by **Bracefacegirl** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 8:06 am

The same thing happened to me, but i'm 13. I had to get 2 extractions the 2 top front bicuspids, about 2 weeks ago. I went to the orthodontist this monday. He adjusted them, and the one hole is closing up.
If your worrying about the extractions hurting, i was crying before i went into the room and i didnt even feel a thing. The only thing that barely hurt was the needle.