Feel too old for this

[emily0709]

I think it's because we never paid attention before?

I find myself staring at people's teeth like on TV shows. I LOVE the show Friends and habitually watch reruns at night, and I like, size up all of their teeth. LOL. Never used to do that.

[Beckett]

I'll admit I am a habitual mouth watcher when people talk. But now I'm also analyzing their teeth trying to figure out if they had braces in the past (it's usually obvious) why they haven't had them if I notice a big problem, (probably money) or why someone had them on top but didn't fix the clearly crowded bottom ones. I see that on lots of actors and it boggles my mind, because as you age, your bottom teeth show more than the top when you talk. You'd think a fancy dentist to the stars would have told them that.

Now I'll have to pull up Friends on Netflix and do a dental check on everyone.

[emily0709]

I'll admit I am a habitual mouth watcher when people talk. But now I'm also analyzing their teeth trying to figure out if they had braces in the past (it's usually obvious) why they haven't had them if I notice a big problem, (probably money) or why someone had them on top but didn't fix the clearly crowded bottom ones. I see that on lots of actors and it boggles my mind, because as you age, your bottom teeth show more than the top when you talk. You'd think a fancy dentist to the stars would have told them that.

Now I'll have to pull up Friends on Netflix and do a dental check on everyone.

Joey has nice ones

[loridee76]

They have the smoothie mixes online that coffee shops use and they are really good and quick to make on the go.
Just add milk and ice to it and blend.
The brand I buy is called "Jet tea smoothie". But im sure there are other good brands.

Lori

[loridee76]

After reading some experiences of the first 2 weeks.. I am praying. Lol j/k
It will be ok though. Seeing the pictures I am able to see makes me smile. Hope to be able to see more pictures.from y'all soon.

I dont think anyone is ever too old . I want my real teeth until I am gray. Nobody wants dentures. Lol
And I for one dont care what my friends , family or people will think after I get them.
I may be self conscious after I get my braces, but I am self conscious about my crooked teeth now.
Another thing is I am a nurse and the first month or.2 may make communication difficult with patients. Lol

I watched my son all through his teenage years.be self conscious about his very crooked teeth and I swore I would put him in braces. He was 17 when he got his and 20 when he got them then removed. (3 years). I will have to post his results when I can post pictures.

Anyhow my point was... Do what is best for you. Who cares what othersbthink. Like someone else said... Others put money into big vacations, boats, cars.. At least braces are going to help you medically and emotionally.

Kudos to all.
Lori

[Paisley]

I understand your feelings; got my braces on in October at 63!! Very happy for all of you that you are getting this done
at such young ages.

Interesting that the main awkwardness comes when I am in the women's bathroom at work brushing my teeth!! I try to be
really discreet, but still get the curious looks. One woman said "well, oral hygiene IS important".

[Beckett]

I found a premolar that had the ligature off one corner of the bracket the tiniest bit. I slipped it back on and holy moly, everything up there hurts now! Who knew such a tiny slip would make such a huge differed in how tight that wire felt?

A week and a half until my first adjustment. I have a fear I will go into a power chain. No idea though, really. But I am having some wicked looking spaces open up between the 4 lower central teeth and the incisors next to them. It's weird. But so cool too.

[emily0709]

I found a premolar that had the ligature off one corner of the bracket the tiniest bit. I slipped it back on and holy moly, everything up there hurts now! Who knew such a tiny slip would make such a huge differed in how tight that wire felt?

A week and a half until my first adjustment. I have a fear I will go into a power chain. No idea though, really. But I am having some wicked looking spaces open up between the 4 lower central teeth and the incisors next to them. It's weird. But so cool too.

My next adjustment is in June and he already told me he is putting the power chain on the bottom.

[Beckett]

My 10 year old has had power chain on top since his first adjustment. So 6 weeks with normal ties, then chain since then.

It's weird, I'm seeing lateral movement in my lower teeth, but nothing on top. I really really need my top central teeth to move forward because now I'm biting down on the teeth, not just the bumpers. If I really use my jaw muscles to pull my jaw back I can just barely clear the lower teeth, but they still scrape. It's so annoying I'm tempted to ask him to remove those lower 4 until my uppers gain a bit more of an over jet.

Adjustment is this afternoon. First for me, 3rd for my kid. We go in together which is kind of fun.

[Beckett]

Holy crap, I got the works today. New, thicker wires with a reverse arch, power chain, and rubber bands. My kid got power chain and a steel tie because he has a tooth that's nearly laying down and it's so hard to get the wire to stay tied in. My bumpers were removed from the four lower central teeth because now I can't even bite down over my teeth. They have shifted so that even if I use my jaw muscles to pull my lower jaw back, I can't avoid hitting the teeth directly on top of each other. Ortho said that was good. I asked him how we were going to get my canines to rotate and he said slyly "oh I have some stuff planned. For today actually." He's awesome and is pleased with what's been happening so far.

I'm so gonna hurt tomorrow. Chewing is even more difficult than before when I just had the bumpers so I predict a bit more weight loss is ahead. Oh, I got smoke colored ligs, which look very grey as is, but once they get stretched they practically disappear! I don't have an online photo storage account so I have no way of really getting pics up.

[emily0709]

Oh man, they really did hook you up! Fingers crossed tomorrow isn't TOO bad. Your ortho sounds like mine. I have had a lot of movement the 2nd month in and when he looked in he pointed to the tooth that has really rotated and been hurting and said "How's THAT bad boy been feeling?"

I just really trust they know what they are doing. My midline on my top looks to be going the wrong way, shifting-wise, but heck if I know what they are trying to do.

[emily0709]

Oh man, they really did hook you up! Fingers crossed tomorrow isn't TOO bad. Your ortho sounds like mine. I have had a lot of movement the 2nd month in and when he looked in he pointed to the tooth that has really rotated and been hurting and said "How's THAT bad boy been feeling?"

I just really trust they know what they are doing. My midline on my top looks to be going the wrong way, shifting-wise, but heck if I know what they are trying to do.

ETA: I let my kids (8 and 6) pick the colors. Right now I have on bright aqua teal. Thanks, son. My luck the power chain month will be hot pink.

[Beckett]

My son got the same color I did. He thinks it's cool that we match. It makes our ceramic brackets even less noticeable. Stuff gets stuck easier under the power chain though. Thanks goodness I bought a Waterpik!

I've also discovered that you can't really see my rubber bands unless I'm really smiling. They are pretty much hidden by my cheeks when I talk. They are from my upper canines to my lower second to last molars.

Oh, one thing I managed to remember to ask (I always forget something) was that my very last molars are not bracketed. (The 12 year old ones) ortho said he likes to leave those alone if at all possible because if you screw those up your bite is toast. So right now my uppers are slightly more recessed than the rest because they are extruding all the molars to help fix my deep bite. (As well as s bit of intruding the front upper and lowers) He's going to keep an eye on it and see if they naturally come down a tad more, but for now he's leaving them. It's cool to be learning so much. I'm trying not to be that irritating client who asks a million questions instead of being patient, it's a 2 year process after all. So I preface some of my questions by telling him I know things often get worse before they get better and he nodded. It's just so different asking about myself than when my kids are in the chair!

[rcar79]

I definitely feel too old for this. I just joined this forum as I have my first orthodontic appt in a couple weeks, at age 37. I had braces in middle school, but still have a lot of issues with my bite. I didn't even know corrective jaw surgery was a thing until recently, so to think that I might be able to fix my mouth now is a huge deal. I'm worried especially about the recovery time and energy levels with three kids under 10. This site and hearing other's experiences has been so helpful already - has anyone in a similar situation made it through?

[emily0709]

I definitely feel too old for this. I just joined this forum as I have my first orthodontic appt in a couple weeks, at age 37. I had braces in middle school, but still have a lot of issues with my bite. I didn't even know corrective jaw surgery was a thing until recently, so to think that I might be able to fix my mouth now is a huge deal. I'm worried especially about the recovery time and energy levels with three kids under 10. This site and hearing other's experiences has been so helpful already - has anyone in a similar situation made it through?

I'm 37 as well, and also had braces in middle school. I've had mine on for 2.5 months now.

I don't have to have jaw surgery, so I can't add much there, just wish you well. I am a single mom with a 6 and 8 year old and I think by far getting my tonsils out as an adult has been the worst pain ever (more so than childbirth!!) so that's all I can add ... and I don't even know what help that is.

OMG. Beckett. Got the power chain yesterday. OUCH.