Hello, newbie here. =)

Message

#1 Post by **stephy79** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 5:51 pm

Hi, my name is Stephanie. I am 27 years old and I'm getting braces on my top teeth on June 15th. I got my spacers put on today. Are they supposed to hurt? My orthodontist told me that they would start to hurt in 4-6 hours. Well, it has been about 10 hours now and they are not hurting yet.
Anyway, I am so nervous about getting braces. My husband is in Iraq and has been there for almost a year. He will be home next month and I will already have my braces. I am so scared that he is not going to like me in braces.
I am so glad that I found this forum. Reading other people's experiences has already been very helpful. =)

#2 Post by **stephy79** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 4:09 am

Thank you for the welcomes and words of advice. It has been almost 24 hours and the spacers are still not bothering me!! =)

#3 Post by **sydguy** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 5:43 am

Hi stephy
Newbie here also, and all I can say is this site has made my day!

You are really lucky not to have to have the spacers bother you - I found my gums became really sore and had to avoid 'hard' food.

I've been 'braced' now for 3 days and reading other people's stories has made me feel so much better....especially about the lisp I've gained...looking forward to that going away, as well as eating solid foods again!

KK - I wish I'd read the bit about going to the bathroom first - so true!

George

#4 Post by **fitchick** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 6:31 am

Hi Stephy,

I am new to this site too. I had my brace fitted just 2 hours ago!

I had the spacers for 2 weeks and they didn't hurt at all. I had to keep checking in the mirror after I had eaten to make sure that they were still there. I didn't even think about them.

Your husband will be so happy to see you next month and he will be so proud of you too for taking this first step.

Congratulations! You are on the countdown to that perfect smile!

Julie

#5 Post by **stephy79** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 6:48 am

Hi Julie,
I keep wondering if the spacers are going to start hurting me. When I got them put on yesterday, the doctor told me I better go home and eat right away because they were going to start hurting in about 4-6 hours and I wouldn't be able to eat. So I went home and ate a lot thinking I wouldn't be able to eat for a while. But they never did start hurting.
As for my husband, I know he will be so happy to be home. He has told me I should get braces for a while now.

How is it going with the braces?

Stephanie

#6 Post by **stephy79** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 6:50 am

Sydguy,
How long after getting the spacers on did they start to bother you?

Stephanie

#7 Post by **eaglesoaring** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 7:09 am

Stephy,

First of all, tell your husband THANK YOU...for doing all that he is doing over in Iraq. I support the troops, and my heart goes out to them, as well as the spouses staying at home, keeping the home fires burning...and make sure you tell him so.

Secondly, I spend a fair amount of time away from my husband throughout the year. I'm getting braced on Monday, and hubby will be here, but then he's gone again for a couple of months. He's leaving the day after I get braced, (Monday, June 5th). So, I hear your concern. I, too, worry that he won't find me attractive when we see each other again, but I know that's just in my mind. You are doing something positive for yourself, and I'm sure he will support you!! Don't fret. Plus, I wish I'd have done it when I was 27!!! Good for you!! (I'm 36).

Smile, and have a beautiful day!

#8 Post by **fitchick** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 7:13 am

Hi again Stephy,

The spacers were no problem whatsoever. My ortho told me before he put them in, to expect a little pain . Due to my teeth being packed so tightly together (I can't get floss between some) he used a lot of pressure to get them in and he then said to expect more pain than usual. This bit is funny, I went to the supermarket to arm myself with painkillers, and I was asked for ID. I'm 40 next month! With the braces on I'll be lucky if they even let me in the supermarket on my own!! Anyway, the painkillers are still in the packet, I honestly never felt anything. I never thought about them, unless I was checking to make sure they were still there and that I hadn't swallowed them.

I am amazed with the lower metal brace. The fitting was quick and painfree. The brace is so small and hardly noticeable. I can feel tighteness, but that's good because it means it's working. I am having trouble talking though with the plastic plate thing on the roof of my mouth. I suppose I'll just have to talk more than normal to practice getting used to it!!

I hope this helps. Best of luck, but you won't need it.

Julie

#9 Post by **SmileyGirl** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 7:32 am

I've had to wear metal spacers twice on top (nothing on the bottom so far) and they were very uncomfortable and quite painful. I was very sore and it was extremely difficult to eat. Next to spacers, the braces have been a breeze! So far anyway! No adjustments yet, just an expander...

Always amazed to hear of people who've not had any discomfort/pain/soreness from spacers.

I can still remember when I had mine that I had a constant overwhelming urge to clench my teeth as hard as I could so I could relieve some of the pressure. Luckily I wasn't able to because the teeth had shifted enough that they wouldn't come together anymore.

#10 Post by **stephy79** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 7:40 am

Yeah, I stocked up on Advil and Tylenol, and I bought lots of soft food just incase I couldn't chew. But so far the spacers haven't bothered me at all. Mine are rubber though, maybe the metal ones are more painful.

Stephanie