Braces on for 2 weeks

[KH88]

Hello,
I'm a 28 year old male from Merseyside in the UK. I've had a bit of a nightmare with teeth my entire life. So much so that I decided to just give up on dentistry for good at around the age of 21/22, I know very stupid but luckily my overall teeth and gum health is still pretty good, they just don't 'look' great. Because of this, as I got older I really took a dislike for my teeth and became incredibly envious of people who had a good smile. I toyed with the idea of taking the plunge and getting the smile I wanted for years until my sister had braces on the NHS in her last couple of years of High School, the results were amazing and seeing the change in her smile made me finally go for it. I could've had braces in my youth but turned them down as I feared getting bullied at school!

I first had an invisalign consultation as I have a professional job so I wanted them to be as discreet as possible. It just didn't feel right and I also didn't trust myself to keep the retainers in at all times. I knew a couple of people a few years younger than me who were also paying for ortho treatment so I bounced off them and found out I had an ortho with a great reputation near where I live. So I paid out for the consultation and immediately felt at ease in this place. They asked why I wanted this work doing and had a good look round, took x rays, photos etc and discussed the various options. I then went back the following week and the options were put on the table, well I say options. The ortho was very honest and suggested that if I wanted the best results possible then the only way for me to go with my case was with fixed upper and lower ceramic braces. I have a severely protruding upper canine due to over crowding. Severe overcrowding in the lower arch as well as an overbite and cross bite! He suggested I take some time to think about it and give them a call, I said I'd already done all the thinking and I wanted to go straight ahead and start the treatment. That was in October.

Fast forward 2 months and I've had the Radiance Ceramics clear brackets fitted for 2 weeks as of today. I first had to have 3 extractions, 1 upper and 2 lower - easily the worst part of the treatment to date. I then had the elastic spacers fitted which I despised, they made chewing with my back teeth almost unbearable. As far as having the actual appliance fitted I have to say it's not been anywhere near as bad as I feared. I also have a TPA fitted in the roof of my mouth, which having read some of the horror stories on here I was concerned about. However I can honestly say that after 2 weeks I'm used to it all. The most pleasing thing so far is that people haven't really noticed the braces, they are very discreet. I have used a little bit of wax when wires were poking my cheeks and took some painkillers 1 night before bed but other than that no major issues. I've even noticed the protruding upper canine is on the move already which is great!

My 1st adjustment is on 10th January and I just want to fast forward now so I can have a curry the night before getting the elastics changed!

Anyway, I've been reading this forum for a couple of months prior to going for it and it's definitely been a big help so thanks for that! I thought it about time I get involved and hopefully I'm able to help people considering braces with my story over the next 18 months to 2 years.

[cocomacd]

Welcome!!!! I am fairly new myself, our timing is about the same. Will look forward to seeing your progress!!

[Kmmulligan]

Hey, KH88! How's your progress been?