Countdown to brace day!

[Fidget77]

T-4 days till I get braced. I've spent a bit of time over the past week or so reading stories about everyone's adventures with braces. I am 36 and finally got the courage (and insurance) to go ahead with braces. I had a consult back in high school, but it just never progressed further than the molds. According tot the ortho, I have minor crowding on top, a bit worse on the bottom, and a 3mm overjet. I will have ceramic braces on top and metal on the bottom. Treatment time is estimated at 15-18 months.

[chichi]

Welcome and congrats on setting a date!

Based on the 15-18 month estimate, sounds like you'll be in Damons or some other self-ligating bracket?

[Fidget77]

Yes, I was told they will be self ligating.. But not sure of the brand yet. T-3 days!!!

[Fidget77]

Reading through my handouts last night and found out that they use Empower self-ligating braces. Anyone else here have them?

T-2 days now !!!!

[Cenazdollx3]

Hey congrats!
I'm getting ceramic braces on top and bottom in 3 days! Excited and nervous at the same time.. They said my treatment will take about 24 months.
I'm not sure if mine is gonna be self ligating or with elastic ties.

[Fidget77]

These are my before pics.

[chichi]

Reading through my handouts last night and found out that they use Empower self-ligating braces. Anyone else here have them?

T-2 days now !!!!

No Empower here... I have Damons and love them (as much as I can love braces, anyway). The adjustments are quick and easy since they just open the doors, take out the wire, put a new wire in, and close the doors... no messing with ligs My adjustments have also been 8 weeks apart because there are no ligs that need replacing. They stretch out and lose their elasticity over time so they need to be replaced often. The benefit of this is that I've gotten something new at every adjustment - wires, elastics. You'll see that the traditional braces-wearers often go in just for a lig change where nothing else is done... I think that would frustrate me lol

[Fidget77]

It's official. I'm a bracketeer. So far, so good, I can feel a bit of tension and I have bumpers to prevent me from biting all the way down and hitting the bottom brackets. Let the journey begin!

[metalmomma]

Congrats! I'm counting down days till my braces go on also... 5 days to go!

[Fidget77]

Braced for 4 days now. I finally had some "solid" food. I baked a frittata for dinner, essentially scrambled eggs. It was still tough to eat, I have to chew with my very back molars (no brackets there) and only on the right side as the left is still too sensitive for any pressure. I had to put some wax on the bottom front bracket on day 2 as it was scratching inside my lower lip and by day 3 it had healed up enough to not require any wax. Today the wax went on the top.. Both left and right incisors as they are rubbing against the corners of my lips..ouch. Thankfully, the overall achy jaw tenderness seems to have dissipated. So far, so good..