My new braces
Moderator: bbsadmin
My new braces
I finally have some time to post about getting my braces today. It really went quickly and I'm happy to say that so far they don't feel quite as bad as I thought they would. It's definitely strange having all this stuff in your mouth but I expected worse.
The entire bracing took less than an hour. For the most part it wasn't too bad. The hardest part was getting springs/coils put on. There are 3 on the lower teeth. It took two people to get them on and there were all kinds of wires hanging out of my mouth from the wire ties on the brackets with the springs. Good thing there wasn't anyone there taking my picture.
I have ceramics on the top six teeth right in the front and the rest are all metal. I can't tell that the ceramics are any bigger than the metal. I wanted black and blue ligs on the bottom but with all the springs most brackets have wire ties. She was able to give me one black and one blue so I'm happy with that.
As the day goes on my teeth are aching more and more and I'm getting a headache. I was warned that the springs/coils are going to really make me hurt. I have no idea how I'm going to floss with all those springs everywhere. It was almost impossible to get floss between those teeth before the braces.
I am going to start a web page to document my journey but since I haven't gotten that far yet I'll show you here what's going on so far. Click on the thumbnail to see a larger view.
My braced smile:
Here's another view:
And another (can you see all the springs on the bottom?):
The entire bracing took less than an hour. For the most part it wasn't too bad. The hardest part was getting springs/coils put on. There are 3 on the lower teeth. It took two people to get them on and there were all kinds of wires hanging out of my mouth from the wire ties on the brackets with the springs. Good thing there wasn't anyone there taking my picture.
I have ceramics on the top six teeth right in the front and the rest are all metal. I can't tell that the ceramics are any bigger than the metal. I wanted black and blue ligs on the bottom but with all the springs most brackets have wire ties. She was able to give me one black and one blue so I'm happy with that.
As the day goes on my teeth are aching more and more and I'm getting a headache. I was warned that the springs/coils are going to really make me hurt. I have no idea how I'm going to floss with all those springs everywhere. It was almost impossible to get floss between those teeth before the braces.
I am going to start a web page to document my journey but since I haven't gotten that far yet I'll show you here what's going on so far. Click on the thumbnail to see a larger view.
My braced smile:
Here's another view:
And another (can you see all the springs on the bottom?):
Kelly
See my WWW link below.
See my WWW link below.
Hi Kelly,
Congratulations on getting your braces. I'm glad the process went smoothly. Your braces look great! You will be amazed at how quickly your teeth will move into alignment.
Keep us posted.
ssfw
Congratulations on getting your braces. I'm glad the process went smoothly. Your braces look great! You will be amazed at how quickly your teeth will move into alignment.
Keep us posted.
ssfw
Quad-Helix expander: 1/20/06 - 1/16/07
Upper braces: 5/19/06; lower braces: 9/7/06
Braces removed: 8/19/08
Received retainer: 8/26/08 - wearing retainer 24 hours/day
Next appt.: 11/18/08
Upper braces: 5/19/06; lower braces: 9/7/06
Braces removed: 8/19/08
Received retainer: 8/26/08 - wearing retainer 24 hours/day
Next appt.: 11/18/08
Happy brace day! Your braces look great. Do you happen to know what brand of ceramics you have? My teeth have a similar amount of crowding as yours, so I'll be curious to see your progress (I get my braces on in two weeks.
Uppers placed 2/8/06--Inspire ICE ceramics
Lower (stainless) placed 2/23/06
Treatment time: 17 months (estimated was 12-18 months)
Debonded: July 11th, 2007
Next appointment: June 2008 for retainer & nightguard check
Lower (stainless) placed 2/23/06
Treatment time: 17 months (estimated was 12-18 months)
Debonded: July 11th, 2007
Next appointment: June 2008 for retainer & nightguard check
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- Location: Washington
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- Location: Clackamas, Oregon
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I got through the flossing last night. The top was okay but the bottom is near impossible. It's always been hard to do and with the braces, wires, and springs it's really, really hard. Just now I just noticed some floss stuck in one of the springs. I can feel it but can't see it. I need to go and dig that out now.Flossing is easier than you think, it just takes some extra effort to squeeze the stuff in there.
Kelly
See my WWW link below.
See my WWW link below.
My advice - take some pain meds now. Don't wait for pain. That way, you may head it off and you won't suffer and be unhappy.
Re: flossing, consider a waterpik. I still floss, but the waterpik makes my mouth feel nice and clean. When flossing is hard, I'm sure the waterpik helps.
My tech gave me a kiddie toothbrush, small and soft. It is great for brushing in tight spaces, and because it is soft, I rock it back and forth so that the bristles get under the archwire (and in your case the coils and springs) and get food particles out.
Best of luck!
Re: flossing, consider a waterpik. I still floss, but the waterpik makes my mouth feel nice and clean. When flossing is hard, I'm sure the waterpik helps.
My tech gave me a kiddie toothbrush, small and soft. It is great for brushing in tight spaces, and because it is soft, I rock it back and forth so that the bristles get under the archwire (and in your case the coils and springs) and get food particles out.
Best of luck!