Just got my Damon clear braces today

[cocobear]

Hi all, I just got home with a full mouth of mostly ceramic braces, the Damon clears. I must say, this was quite a different experience from the first go around when I was 15. It's been a long journey to finally decide at the age of 38 to fix my teeth again. Apparently my jaw grew when I was in my early twenties, and I was very bad about wearing my retainer when I was 17, and I grind my teeth, so the combination made my teeth more and more occluded over the years to the point where only two teeth touch each other when I bite, which I can't really do because its so uncomfortable. The TMJ issues come and go, but have been getting progressively worse over the last few years. My jaw is always sore when I chew. After consulting with multiple orthos and avoiding taking action, I finally decided that I can't live like this anymore and as much as I hate the idea of having braces gain, the alternative is no less compelling.

So far, I can say that it's incredibly awkward, but not as painful as I expected. I can tell that areas of my mouth will get sore. The ceramics are quite smooth but bigger that I had thought they would be. The main issue for me is just vanity, I'm incredibly embarrassed to have braces at this age. I know I will not regret it, but its hard to fathom how I'm going to do this for two years! One day at a time I guess. Luckily, my wife finds it endearing and my kids think I look like a monster. My speech is different, I seem to have a lisp. I'm hoping this goes away as I get used them.

[RedQueen]

Hello cocobear!

Welcome, congrats on your braces! You are a step closer to perfect teeth!
Hang in there, you will get use to having braces after awhile. Sadly, I had lisp through out my 15 months with braces, but my friend didn't have any lisp so I guess it depends on the person. Hopefully yours will go away eventually.

[jem]

Hi Coco

I also have Damon clear (top only). I am a 50+ male in the UK where you never see men of my age with braces. I was also worried about peoples reaction to my brace, but I have to say after 12 months that it has not been an issue either socially or professionally.

I think the Damon system is set up to apply only gentle forces and I have had very little discomfort. In the early days, I had occasional soreness from brackets rubbing the inside of my cheeks and with more brackets than me you may also find this a problem. But your cheeks soon toughen up and judiciously applied wax always helps.

From what you say, you will obviously have considerable health benefits from getting braces and I am sure that very soon you will find your braces much easier than you expected.

Good luck with your treatment.

Jem

[alibongo]

I have clear Damon braces on top, and metal on the bottom. I've had them for a month. I'm 45, about to turn 46. I've noticed an improvement in the placement of my teeth already. I'm more than impressed with the Damon system.

I agree, the ceramic ones are larger than I thought. I have a permanent pout, which I'm trying to embrace as sexy, and not goofy. I had a lisp for the first 3 weeks, and it comes out again now and then. I've had to work more at speaking clearly. It's not really a problem though. I'm used to it now and can control it much better.

I had bite stoppers (the glue on your bottom teeth to stop the teeth touching) for about 2 weeks. Apparently they're supposed to last for a few months. Not on me. I must grind my teeth at night more then I thought. So they're pretty much gone, and so is my lisp. I think that's what was causing the lisp, not the braces. I'm glad to be rid of the bite stoppers. It was a nightmare trying to eat with those things. Now I can eat most things, including pizza and pasta. Mmm.

Stick with it. After a month I'm already over the embarrassment, and can see improvement. I'm more than happy. In fact, I quite enjoy when people notice and I like to see their reaction. It's a little game I play to amuse myself. Most people don't care at all.

[Tobilei]

Hi I'm another one with Damon Clear (self ligating on top) clarity 3m's on the bottom and am 34. They were much bigger in my mouth than I was expecting too. 1 month in they're more comfortable than they were when I first got them on although I do still have a bit more of a pout than I used to.

I got the lisp too. It's easing up a bit now but reappears when I'm tired or talk too much (easily done for me ).

I haven't really found them to be as much of an issue as I thought. Most people don't notice them unless I'm talking to them and nobody has commented at all.

Good luck with your journey, I look forward to your updates

[MakeKeyOver]

I had a lisp for a week or so but it went away. I also have Damon braces. Congrats on starting your braces journey. It'll be over before you know it and your new smile will be totally worth it!

[cocobear]

Thanks all, your stories, experiences and support are very encouraging. Day two, pain and soreness but not unbearable. I can't eat anything, nor do I want to. Just smoothies for then next few days. Flossing was an hour long ordeal last night, didn't need to but I had to see how hard it would be. With the soreness, I think I'll wait a few days to floss again! The wax is very helpful on the large molar brackets, otherwise the ceramics are quite smooth. The permanent pout will take some getting used to, and I hate these stoppers he put on my molars, I can't talk properly. Hopefully they will fall off or he will take them off at my first adjustment. The lisp is annoying so I'm trying to speak without using the letter "S"!