Finally Braced!

[phenyx]

After all the delays and rescheduled appointments I got my braces without problems this morning. I didn't think my bottom teeth needed any straightening but witht he brackets on they look obviously crooked and the wire waves up and down like water on the ocean.

So far, they don't feel nearly as bad as I thought they would. I haven't formed any hotspots on my lips or cheeks yet. My bottom teeth are a touch sore and sensitive to hot and cold, but it's not bad enough to require tylenol at this point.

The damon brackets are pretty cool. I held a mirror up while my archwire was being placed and it was just pinch pinch pinch all the way around and the little trap doors were closed and the wire was in place. It's a pretty flexible wimpy wire right now but they tell me it'll get stronger.

I still have my bite plate. Ortho says he's going to try and take it out at my first adjustment which isn't until February.

The whole "ugly betty" thing just makes me depressed and self-conscious.

[ghostmyimag3]

Congratulations.
My teeth looked even more crooked when i had my braces put on 4 weeks ago also. But now they've improved alot and people are noticing its really nice but at the sametime you wonder what they saw and thought before hand.
The first week was rough for me because i was trying to eat things like rice krispies and pot pies because the whole soft diet thing wasn't getting it. I was staying hungry.
I dont have a bite plate so i can't say i know what that is like, but the first month will fly by so fast you wont know it.

[iBorg]

Okay.... but do you LOOK like a Bady girl

Seriously did he/she say anything about bracket choice and lisp? Mine doesn't think it matters a speech therapist says it might. I'm confused and am tired of talking like Elmer Fudd.

To hear you might ditch the Bite plate is great news. I expect to have mine for at least a year (man I slowed down when I started to type that).

Congrats and take lots of pictures to see your progress!

Mike

[phenyx]

LOL! My hair's reddish brown rather than gold, but I almost had a "Marcia Brady moment" when I first saw the finished braces!

As for the lisp, I haven't noticed any additional speech issues since I got the braces this morning. The lisp might be a little more pronounced now but nothing like it was when I first got the bite plate. My kids loved it because for the first 2 weeks or so I could do a dead-on impression of Sylvester the Cat!

"Thhhhhhhhufffferin' Thhhhhhhhhucotash!"

[Sweet L]

Hi phenyx!

Congrats!!!! and remember the salt water rinses!!!!

[iBorg]

Mine is getting the better part of me. When I go to the store or order at a restaurant I have to repeat myself 40% of the time. I teach college and have got to the point I leave it in for one on one discussion but remove it when I lecture. My students say its not that noticeable of course it’s near finals time and that's great brown nosing.

If anything it seems to be getting worst. I sent my ortho an email saying that I'm not self-conscious about the braces but am very self-conscious of the lisp.

Have a great night and be prepared for the day after being a bit more tender.

Mike

[lionfish]

You fair crack me up, phenyxth!

My first bottom wire looked like it was waving all over the place too. And I'd always thought my lowers were pretty straight.

[Eleni]

First, congratulations!

It's a pretty flexible wimpy wire right now but they tell me it'll get stronger.

It's probably too late in the night for me, but when I read this line I had an image of Arnold Schwarzenegger yelling at your archwired, sorta like this: "What's the matter you wimpy wire? You're too girly wimpy, aren't you? You're a choir boy compared to me! A choir boy!..... I'll be back!"

The whole "ugly betty" thing just makes me depressed and self-conscious.

What chou talking about, phenyx? Come Halloween next year you are going to have the most hooked up costume. All you need is bangs, a pancho and some really bad clothes and you are all set.

On a serious note, the self-conscious thing lessens with time - really. I can't believe I waited so long to get colored ligs, and lost all that opportunity to have fun with them. Just think of the braces as accessories on loner, and play them up while you can.

Best of luck with speedy progress.

[lionfish]

[vivi21]

Congrats!!