Metal Mouth Message Board

Braces were placed on my upper teeth this morning. It was an easy process. When I went in, I still had not decided between the metal or clear brackets - my orthodontist said both would have the same outcome. I spoke to the ortho assistant and she showed me both types of brackets. She said they were very close in size and this would be a personal preference decision. I was thinking about the metal these past 3 weeks because my ortho had told me that these did not require ligs and the clear brackets takes about an additional 3-4 months but the outcome would be the same in my case. I finally decided on the clear because I was concerned about the visual aspect even though everyone will know I have braces. I was also considering the metal brackets because they did look alot smaller (self-ligating brackets) than the traditional metal brackets. I'm happy with my decision with the clear brackets. I chose opaque colored ligs and I can't even see them. I'm hoping one day to be brave enough to choose colored ligs - I love colored things, but don't want my braces to be so noticeable at this time. They said these may stain in about a month but the clear/white ones stain faster. I'm sure that I would have adjusted to the metal brackets but I think there would have been an adjustment period for me.

I have been so busy in the last three weeks and I think this is why I wasn't nervous when I went in for my appointment today - I didn't have the time to think about getting the braces and to be nervous. The appointment took about an hour but it only took her 30 minutes to place the brackets.

I'm just glad that the braces were placed and I'm also glad that I didn't get the soonest appointment available because I felt like I needed to be emotionally ready for the braces - my initial time to get the braces was in July 2006 but my expander did its job 3 months early, so I was not ready to get the braces so soon. I took the day off today so that I would not feel rushed and I'm glad I did - it doesn't make it as stressful.

Thanks to KK for her advice about the chapstick and using the restroom prior to the appointment - great advice!

I'm able to eat and feel no discomfort and hope this continues throughout my ortho. treatment.

ssfw

Congrats! I'm glad to hear it was a pleasant experience for you. Good luck with your treatment and may it continue to go smoothly!

Congrats on starting the journey, I'm a little jeleous myself. I have to wait another month for mine to go on.

Congrats on getting your braces put on! That's great that you weren't stressed and that there's no discomfort. I can't wait until I get my on soon.

>Hey I got braced on Friday too!
Looks like everything went well!
Good luck!
Joe

Thanks for your posts.

I'm glad the process went smoothly and I wasn't nervous. I think alot of this is due to my great orthodontists (2 in my office), their assistants and support staff. Having these great people that you can tell care about their patients and are so nice to the patients makes you feel so lucky that you're a patient in their office and makes getting braces a great experience. I had asked a few questions after the brackets were placed and as always they took the time to answer my questions. I think all of this is why I have such a good attitude about having to go through orthodontic treatment. Of course, this great website has been so helpful to me. I know that for some people, it doesn't matter to them if people are nice or not - they just want to get the ortho treatment done. Everyone's different, I just know what I look for when I need medical/dental services.

I should know in about 4 months if I will need lower braces - if he can't get my bite corrected and reduce my overjet with just the upper braces then lower brackets will be placed - not a big deal to me - I just want my teeth to look the best they can.

ssfw

I want to know what to expect at my adjustment appointments. If I get a new archwire, a thicker one, does a thicker archwire place more pressure on the teeth? What else can I expect. I know everyone's case is different so what is done at the appointments can vary.

My archwire is a very light one, probably because my orthodontist wants me to get use to having braces. Even though it is a very lightweight archwire, I know it is doing something because if I press on the bracket, the tooth is a bit sensitive but otherwise there's no discomfort.

ssfw

If I get a new archwire, a thicker one, does a thicker archwire place more pressure on the teeth?

Yes. In fact, I feel the pressure as soon as the new wire is "clicked in" to the brackets, even before the ligs are added. But that means progress!!

I hope all is going well for you.

If I get a new archwire, a thicker one, does a thicker archwire place more pressure on the teeth?

Yes. In fact, I feel the pressure as soon as the new wire is "clicked in" to the brackets, even before the ligs are added. But that means progress!!

I hope all is going well for you.

Hi ssfw, just to add to what has been said before, you will feel additional pressure with a thicker wire. You will feel additional pressure even if a ligature is replaced.

Congratulations on finally getting braced

As everyone else has said...each adjustment is different and you will have different things put in...you will feel pressure at times and such...but it's nothing you can't handle

Thanks again for all of your posts.

I truly think if it wasn't for this website, I would not be going through orthodontic treatment now or in the future. This website has so much information and most important alot of support and encouragement from other members that are also going through orthodontic treatment. Also, a person can ask any question and not feel like it's a stupid question and some people also use this website to vent, which can be healthy when going through orthodontic treatment.

I still haven't had any major discomfort from the braces - just wondering if it may still happen before my first adjustment appt. - any thoughts on this? Does pain/discomfort happen soon after the braces are placed/ archwire is changed/adjustment appt. or can it happen weeks later?

ssfw