So the spacers went in on Jan. 8. I had 3 plastics and one metal. It felt similar to the feel of the TMJ appliances I have had, the pressure and not being able to make full contact between upper and lower teeth. On the 3rd day, one on the right kept loosening, and i got it shoved back in. It was in the space that was already the widest. I had my "last supper" of ribs. The rogue spacer was there when I brushed after supper, but then I had dessert, and it wasn't there anymore. Yum. The next day was bracing day, and it all went pretty well, except for when Dr. Mark was using a little rotary device to crack open the bonding on those 2 teeth, he also opened my lip. The bands took the longest time because of the sizes. He was also a little sloppy with the adhesive, and there is some left in small patches on my bracketed teeth. When they were on, I was aprehensive to feel how big and sharp the brackets attached were. He used very small brackets, and when placed, they are really close togther because of the angles of the teeth and the fact that the teeth are so small. (I am only 5' tall.) Thankfully I didn't smell or taste anything that was used. The wire was placed without trouble, although I got a little trembly feeling when he was doing this. It didn't seem like very much pressure after the ligatures were placed. When he gave me my cleaning "tool kit" and held the mirror up to me to show how to use some of the items, I almost freaked at what I saw. I didn't think that the braces would show, but I barely had to crack my lips open and they shined right through. They are really up front and they show some when I talk, too, depending on the words spoken. So by the time I got home, my cheeks were raw from the back brackets. The pressure had increased on the teeth-- it also felt like the TMJ plastic appliances I had used for years. I toughed it out until bedtme before putting wax on those back brackets. My husband felt the sharp brackets and the front ones, and was suitably empathetic. I ate soup for supper that night and breakfast the next day, and potatoes at lunch. Then we went to a friend's for dinner. I had told her in advance about getting braces the day before, and since she had had them for 3 years, she told me her story, and said there wouldn't be anything difficult to eat. But even the really tender chicken in teeny weeny bites was difficult, the beans were too crisp even in tiny bites, I passed on the salad, and chowed down on the sweet potatoes. I went to clean my teeth, only to find that I had also eaten one whole pice of wax (double yum), and that I couldn't even get that tiny little flossing brush in between those really close together brackets.
Flossing in general has been a candidate for "America's Funniest Home Videos." The spaces between my teeth have been so tight, that I could only use special thin non-shredding floss. I tried the floss threader and the first one came apart. No good. In the meantime, the drool is puddling on the sink top below. I also tried the threader floss which just bent at the edge on the first try. And, another saliva fountain. (Since first writing this I thank one of you who suggested bringing the floss from the top down for the bottom teeth, and it works better, but is still a slobbery hassle.) So far my favorite cleaning devices are the ole standby orange dental picks and the tiny flosser brushes. And the waterpik.
It is 5 days later now, and things have begun to change. There is a little space between the 2 teeth that were slightly overlapped! The flossing brush now fits in where it didn't before. And a minute space (only big enough to floss) is developing between the sideways and tipping tooth that was formerly bonded together, and maybe it isn't quite tipped as forward as it was. This is exciting.
My mouth feels different from moment to moment, with the focus seeming to migrate from one tooth to another. The only time that I don't notice the braces so much is upon awakening. I keep wanting to flip them out like I used to do with the plastic splints. One of the banded molars is sometimes sore-- i am thinking it might be due to the band pushed into the gum line there. And that is the tooth that was just crowned, so that is worriesome. I still can't imagine a year of this. I have to applaud all of you out there who have full mouths of hardware and appliances and have been at this a long time. One moment I wonder what can of worms I might have opened, and another time I am thanking myself for finally getting on with a really old and worriesome issue.
That magical time that you all have spoken of happened most of yesterday and continues into today. I noticed that I didn't focus so much on the mouth of metal, but felt that it is part of who I am now. Those banded teeth aren't so bothersome now, except when I try to chew. Ham, broccoli, and pierogies didn't work last night. I added them to a can of potato soup and put it in the blender. It was delicious. Sorry, I really do like pureed soups. My husband thinks it is a crime.
Next day, January 22. I asked my hubby to take some pictures, and we got into a giggle fest which also showed up at odd moments through the day. I guess i have reached the "if you got 'em, flaunt 'em" stage. So now I wait patiently for my first adjustment on February 8th, the day before our 43rd anniversary.
A couple of days ago I got my Medicare card! Yikes, it will activate on May 1st. I don't consider myself a senior (except when there are discounts available!) and think of myself as more of the middle-age club. If there are any others in there pre golden years, I'd like to hear about your experiences. And I have really learned a lot from the younger crowd, so keep the stories and the advice coming.
Thanks to all.
Peace and joy.
Ruth
↓↓ below for my story.
I also found out that I am not his oldest client-- someone suprasses me by 4 years. He mostly has adult patients (TMJ specialist).
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