Metal Mouth Message Board

Well I'm having one of those down-in-the-dumps kind of days. I got my closing loops in january and was really hoping my extraction gap would be close to or finished by june so my ortho can start closing up my other gap. I looked in the mirror today and the gap still looks too big to be closed up by june:( I really wish my teeth would move faster. It'll be 3 years in june and I know that once my extraction gap is closed, I will finally start to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Sorry to sound so depressing. Is there anyone else out there who has been in braces for awhile? Any words of encouragement are welcome:)

I feel your pain. My treatment was estimated to take 30 months. 30 months is up next month. I really don't feel my teeth are ready and my ortho has not given any indication that I am nearing debrace day. I still have bite issues so am wearing cross-bite elastics as well as class 2 elastics. (With all these elastics crisscrossing everywhere, it's quite a site when I open my mouth.) B/c of the class 2's I have gaps between my canines and laterals. Those gaps will need to be closed. Eventually. It just seems like "the end" will drag on and on. Even thought I am chomping at the bit to get these things off, and the light at the end of the tunnel is so close I can touch it, I really don't want to settle. I've paid a lot of money and come this far so I mind as well see everything though to the end and get as close to perfect as I can. It's OK to have a down day. I do too. Your braces WILL come off eventually. Hang in there.

I think most of us get a little frustrated once in a while. I'm coming up on 17 months of an estimated 18 month treatment timeline. Although my teeth are straight, I still have a ways to go to correct some bite/crossbite issues. My guess is it will be at least another 6 months. So hang in there, it will be so worth it in the end!

I've seen my estimated time in braces come and go and I had such a hard time dealing with it. I've got a big wedding and my holidays coming up in the summer and I'm still not sure if I'm going to be brace free by then! I have given up asking "how much more to do" as it just gets me down. Instead I've just taken the approach of buckle down and I will get there in the end!!
Good luck, I think most of us go through what you are right now, regardless of how long we have been braced for.

I feel your pain. It's just one of those things, try and focus on other stuff in your life, it will help and your braces treatment will go to the back of your mind again. I felt absolutely awful about 6 weeks ago, but 2 weeks later it had passed and then I found out I was getting them off in what is now, 2 weeks time!