working right after getting braces on???

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#1 Post by **Sunnybee** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 7:25 pm

Well I finally did it! 34 years of waiting and I'm getting my braces. My orthodontist told me for $5500 I will get top and bottom Damon brackets with elastics and have to wear them for 18-22 months. I was told on my next visit she will finalize the details of my treatment and actually put the braces on my top teeth since they need the most work. (They're crowded and the front two teeth on top make a V shape I HATE) She only does these procedures in the morning. So my question is if I can go to work right after? Or will it be in my best interest to take the day off to whimper and try and get sympathy from my hubby? What do you guys think?

#2 Post by **LCARA** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 11:33 pm

It doesn't hurt until a few hours, or even a day after.

It isn't the type of pain that makes you bed ridden. It's basically an aching in yout teeth and it can be rather painful to chew. You'll become accustomed to this pain as youll have it every adjustment...

#3 Post by **danish** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 7:44 am

hi Sunnybee,

Being braced is usually not painful because the ortho will use a very flexible wire at the beginning of your treatment. However,if you had extractions on the same day, it's another story...

Right after being braced it takes some time to get used to the look and feel of having something in your mouth 24/7. The most likely discomfort which you will experience in the beginning is from brackets/wires touching the inside of your lips and mouth. If you use dental wax and remember to stay hydrated I don't think that you will have problems.

As for myself I was braced on a day off because I wanted to adapt a little. There was no pain. Only the mentioned discomfort. I could definitively have gone straight to work after being braced, but am glad that I didn't.

Danish

#4 Post by **switchblades** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 2:21 pm

I've ended up having to work after my brace days (top were on 6 weeks before bottom!) and every adjustment, just take some advil before you go ad get some food into you before the pain starts and you should be okay

I work in customer service in a busy mall, and got my lower braces on three weeks before Christmas, and ddn't have any problems, with the exception of a slight lisp. You'll be fine

#5 Post by ***tap*** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 3:50 pm

i went straight from work to the ortho's where they suprised me with just putting them straight on, it was about an hour for the bottom to start aching then two for them all, my wires were put on tight cos they need to do alot

so the next day i took the day off needed to get used to the way they felt glad i did plus eating is a nightmare. just see how you feel

good luck.

#6 Post by **Sunnybee** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 5:39 pm

Thanks for the advice. One thing I guess I'm confused about is how staying hydrated helps during this process. Why????

#7 Post by **switchblades** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 7:00 pm

It keeps your lips and the tissues in your mouth from drying out, so they get less cut up, plus the body heals much faster when properly hydrated.

A glass of wine or some other such beverage can take the edge off as well

#8 Post by **allisun** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:00 pm

I went to work straight after being braced. If you do have pain it'll likely be a dull throb, not a sharp pain. OTC painkillers should help.

Personally I'm a little cranky for 1-2 days after an adjustment (4 days when I got elastics!) but it's never been enough to make me want to stay home or alter my everyday activities.

#9 Post by **PfectPitch** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 1:52 pm

Congratulations! You will not regret it. You can still go to work if you want. I have learned to EAT before going to the ortho because by the end of the day or the next morning I usually couldn't chew anything. (I would actually eat dinner-type food for breakfast.)

Put on lots of lip balm, too, as your lips will be stretched out for a long time and take ibuprofen about an hour before you go. If you like pudding and soup, have some on hand for dinner that night.

#10 Post by **MetalGerald** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 10:51 am

I took the day off to get my braces on, but it was a waste of a vacation day. I could have gone straight to work with no problem.

#11 Post by **blueeyedboy** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 7:35 pm

I went straight to work. No problems here; just slight discomfort that was easily handled with OTC pain meds.

#12 Post by **descantus** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 4:59 am

I went straight into the office after my brace was fitted but pain wasn't the problem - it was shock.

Despite planning for the fitting for months it felt so overwhelming to finally go through with the whole thing that I just sat staring into space for the next few hours, not quite believing what i'd just done. I got over it by the next day, mind you, so just assume you won't have a very productive time on brace day