New to this board and getting braces very soon!!!

[MelissaMUA]

Nice! Sounds like it was easy for you. I do bleed easily, hope that's not a problem. My initial reaction to my ortho telling me he was going to do IPR when the braces go on - "So you're gonna saw part of my teeth off?!" Pretty sure he hadn't heard it like that before. lol. It helps to know so many people go through these things.

[2XRound]

Now that I have bright metal archwires in my mouth I am getting a number of looks and it makes me feel awkward.

[isthistaken]

No, there won't be blood! I've heard it referred to as "slenderizing" (which creeped me out,) and "polishing" which is extremely euphemistic but I was okay with it. I had the braces on when he did it. You do have to rinse with a special flouride rinse every day for I'm not sure how long. I read this is to build up the flouride that has obviously been removed. I wasn't sure "damaging" several teeth was preferable to removing an entire tooth, but there is absolutely zero recovery time or anything with this.

[plugnickel69]

I found the IPR to be totally quick and painless. He did my 4 lower incisors and it didn't take more than a minute. Try not to worry about it.

[MelissaMUA]

isthistaken - Yeah, my ortho said he is doing it when the braces are on, so I think he might do it the actual day I get them on, but I didn't ask. No recovery time? Yay! Are your teeth any more sensitive than before IPR?

plugnickel69 - Awesome! I don't know why, but imagined it taking an hour or something. Haha. I will try not to worry about it, there are plenty of worse things that I could be getting done. Thanks!

[isthistaken]

I was the same way, thought it would take as long as a major filling, but it was over in seconds. I have not noticed any sensitivity.

[plugnickel69]

They do IPR with your braces on, as needed, but most likely will remove your archwire. Unlikely they will do it at the very start of treatment. There should be no sensitivity as the nerve is not involved so there is no recovery time needed.

Please note that sometimes it can be detrimental and scary to read too much. It's common nature to complain about problems and part of the reason people are on these boards is to get help when they are having a problem so it's easy for some people to get needlessly worried. Remember we all have different pain tolerances and react differently to situations. You'll be surprised at how fast the time in braces flies by.

[isthistaken]

I did get mine the first day my braces went on, though. They might do more later, if necessary.

[MelissaMUA]

Awesome! Thanks guys!

And.......I finally have a date for my braces!!!! April 25th! They are only putting the top ones on that day, then I will go back a few weeks late for the bottoms. Is that the normal way of doing braces now? I remember my last ortho did everything the same day.

[isthistaken]

I remember that feeling when I had my date scheduled. OMG I was so happy. I got both on the same day but I've read many on here that had separate days. It took almost four hours though so they were probably wishing they had split it up.

[Tobilei]

Haha, that's awesome! Do you find that a lot of people awkwardly stare at you trying to figure out if there really is something on your teeth? So funny.

Yay! I love that they don't stain. I do use whitening toothpaste, that wouldn't make a difference while the braces are on, right? I'm trying to get my teeth as white as possible before the brackets are on my teeth. Probably going to do Zoom whitening after they are off, not sure about that yet....I have super sensitive teeth and gums.

Sweet! That's a very short amount of time to see movement, I was expecting 6 or more months before I see changes. Yay! I just saw your pics! I can't believe how fast they moved already, your teeth are going to be even more beautiful than they are now!

You are making me a lot less nervous about this process. Thank you!!!


**Once I get my braces I will post some photos. Going to ask my ortho for the before pictures he took as well.

Yay, glad you have a banding date!!

I've had one or 2 people sort of try and stare at me out of the corner of their eye, ususally people who have stood on the side of me and noticed something protruding from my teeth. I generally turn around and just give them a big grin so they can get a better look these days

Aww thank you! I hope so! I've always hated them!

I've been using whitening toothpaste the whole time. My ortho told me it was fine seeing as it doesn't really work anyway I figure I'm at least keeping as much staining away as possible. I'd like to whiten mine afterwards too but I'm in the same boat. Super sensitive teeth and gums so not sure about it.

With the IPR, it must be different at every office, or perhaps something to do with tooth age, my daughter didn't have to do any flouride rinses beforehand. Just went in, they removed the archwire, 2 seconds later it was over (it took him longer to get everything out and set up than it did to actually do it).

[MelissaMUA]

isthistaken - Yes! I am so happy it is finally scheduled! I am both excited and nervous! It'll all be worth it in the end though.
Wow! Four hours!!!! That is a crazy long time! I could never do that!


Tobilei - Haha, I love that you just turn around and smile at people! Something I would totally do!
Ah! Yes! Gotta love the sensitive teeth! My ortho took my permanent retainers off today and I seriously thought I was gonna die. I felt like such a baby, but I was pretty much in tears from how sensitive my teeth were with the drilling and the air. Not fun.
I'm sure the IPR is a little different at each office, as is everything else. As long as it gets the job done, I'm okay with it.

[Tobilei]

Ugh, I'm the same. I just about jump out of my chair when I go in for cleanings (and when I'm not leaping about I'm sitting there holding onto the chair so hard my knuckles turn white). I'm always having to ask my dentist to stop doing things because it's just hurting way too much! I'm not sure what's worse, the air or water!

[isthistaken]

Tobilei, do you have sensitive toothpaste over there? I think it helps a little.

[Tobilei]

Tobilei, do you have sensitive toothpaste over there? I think it helps a little.

We do I already use it, it does help a little.