Getting braces again.

[border]

So I already made a thread about getting braces for a second time but I have some concerns. During my first treatment I wasn't very compliant, I didn't wear my elastics as instructed, didn't wear my headgear as instructed, etc. But I was just wondering if anyone thinks the treatment will be the same way the second time around? I am in college and honestly don't know if I would want to comply any better. I had cervical headgear with my first set of braces and I never really wore it, but somehow I got it off after about 5 months. If cervical headgear would be apart of my treatment again I'm not sure if I would do it considering I have 4 roommates and wouldn't want to wear it around them. Has anyone else experienced this? Thanks

[brenner]

I wore headgear when he was young, but did not use the recommended amount of hours. Now I am an adult I have to wear headgear again.

[ItsFreyja]

Hi border, I think you haven't had a lot of replies because most of the folks here are VERY motivated to get the full results they're paying for from their treatment. If you think you're not going to be a compliant patient, you're probably right. Why not wait until you're in a place in your life when you're able to get your (or your parents') money's worth? If you're determined to go ahead with treatment now, I would suggest being extremely candid with your ortho so that he/she can choose a course of treatment better suited for a noncompliant patient -- there are alternatives in many cases.

[djspeece]

Hi border, I think you haven't had a lot of replies because most of the folks here are VERY motivated to get the full results they're paying for from their treatment. If you think you're not going to be a compliant patient, you're probably right. Why not wait until you're in a place in your life when you're able to get your (or your parents') money's worth? If you're determined to go ahead with treatment now, I would suggest being extremely candid with your ortho so that he/she can choose a course of treatment better suited for a noncompliant patient -- there are alternatives in many cases.

I would agree completely with this response -- especially if you are not the one paying for treatment (as I recall you are relatively young, in your 20's). Best of luck to you in any event.

[deathorglory]

From what I understand, headgear is something given to adolescents in order to try to curb or encourage skeletal growth. As you're in college already, headgear would likely not be part of your treatment as your skeleton is already fully grown, and no other growth will occur. ...unless you're secretly 12 and a genius in college.

I had braces when I was younger and I didn't comply at all. I never wore my headgear. I never wore the elastics. And I never wore my retainer. And I'm back in braces again. Yes, I am paying for my own treatment (and definitely don't want to pay for it again), but I also understand that if I'm not compliant now, the issues I want changed won't get fixed and I may have to go through this all over again. Not just the payment part, but also the pain, the inability to eat after an adjustment, the frustration of having braces as an adult, etc. I for one am a lot more conscious that this is something that will better my quality of life both immediately after having my braces off as well as for the rest of my life. That's pretty darn motivational for me. Also, being able to chew properly is something I look forward to, as I've never been able to do so before.

Do you think you'll be compliant? I'm not in school so I don't have distractions like classes, clubs, etc, but I am a working adult. Life gets in the way, but make taking care of your teeth routine and you'll barely even have to think about it. I wore elastics for about 6 months. I got used to putting them in in the morning, taking them out for eating and brushing, and immediately putting them back in. I didn't even think about it anymore after a while.

Good luck in your endeavors!

[kelly88]

I can't say I know much about headgear so can't comment on that. I did want to say, however, that I agree with ItsFreyja. Why not wait until you are out of college and feel like you are going to comply more? I had braces as a teen and did comply however when treatment wasn't free anymore and my retainer broke I did nothing about getting the retainer replaced. Mainly because I hadn't paid for treatment I guess so I didn't appreciate it as much. I have know I needed to and wanted to get braces for a few years but for different reasons I just couldn't commit to it. I know that right now, though, it is something I definitely want to do and something I have obsessively researched and will be doing everything my orthodontist tells me. I think it's different for me this time because I am sure it is something I want to do and it is something I am paying for. I am very motivated whereas I probably wouldn't have been a few years ago.

Good luck!