Metal Mouth Message Board

When I first thought of braces I was thinking the clear ones, too. When I talked to my Dr she preferred the metal to the clear - claiming fewer popped brackets and quicker treatment. They were going to do clear on the top front six and metal elsewhere. Not knowing much at that appt I didn't ask anymore questions.

Then when I had my records appt they told me they were now using Damon 3's and the clear would really only be a clear base with metal on the remaining bracket. The admin (who's almost done with treatment) has clear brackets and wishes she'd waited for the Damon's just based on the size of the bracket and her perceived comfort.

Now, two weeks in, I'm glad that I went metal. I feel like I can't talk and at least people can quickly tell why. And I've discovered that (like everyone says but I didn't really believe) nobody really cares about braces but the one wearing them.

I've posted my pictures with Damon 3's in my stories thread if you're interested in some real pics (not the web site where they looked very tiny).


Good luck,
JDub

I had a similar delima when I first got braced. I wanted ceramics so as not to be the old lady with a metal mouth. I ended up going with the Damon 3 for a couple reasons. The main reason was the ortho I went to for the ceramics gave me an estimated treatment time of 22 months. The estimated time I was given for the Damon's was 10-14 months. Because I wasn't thrilled about being braced to begin with I chose time over appearance. I found after I got them on that it was awkward to begin with, I didn't want to smile for anyone but as time went on and I got more comfortable and now the metal appearance doesn't bother me. It's great entertainment for my daycare kids too they love me to make funny metal faces. Because of my occupation the damons were also benificial for me because of only having appointments every 10 weeks vs. every 4. As everyone has previously stated only you can make the decision as to what is important to you. Good luck in your decision.

Maryaten directed you to my page and since I have them only on my lower fronts, maybe that's not a good picture for you...

Kim has them on top front and some of her pictures are really good examples of how they really look. Try this link. viewtopic.php?t=8901&highlight=

Good luck with your decision!!

Thanks again everybody for your input. My mom is the only one I've told about archwired - I call it my online braces support group.

I decided to go with Inspire Ice. I'm a little nervous because my ortho has not used ceramics that much ... however, I decided that he wouldn't have offered me that option if he couldn't do it (I don't want to hear any horror stories of incompetent dentists). I have a feeling every ortho prefers metal because it's obviously stronger. I think I would too.

Anyway, the notion that other people don't notice or care if you have metal braces wasn't enough for me. Those same people also don't mind or notice my crooked teeth, which are really crooked on the bottom and a little crooked on top. My teeth bother me and I'm fixing them for me ... and whether I wear metal for 20 months or ceramic for a bit longer -i t's a really long time to hate my smile even more. I have already been lisping with my tmj appliance since last june ... and that will continue ... so I'm going to lisp with ceramic braces.

I'm 26 and over Christmas I was looking at my high school grad pic with my mom, who has said that my teeth have worsened, and they actually have. They were never straight but I thought she was justifying not getting me braces when I was a kid (my older brother had them). So I don't resent my parents for having to deal with this now ... especially since they have generously kicked in about a third of the cost. But really, I wish I were putting my hard earned money towards paying off my student loan more quickly, a vacation or upgrading my bachelor apartment to a one-bedroom (it seems so many of my friends are home owners these days).

I know that I'll never regret the results so that's the end of my complaining (about that aspect).

I'm getting my braces on January 19 ... I'm eager to get this dental show on the road. Maybe by then I'll figure out how to post some pics.

and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!



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