Metal Mouth Message Board

I've been waiting to get braces since I knew I needed them in junior high (I'm 25). My first consultation was supposed to be 22 days ago, but the doctor canceled because he had to take emergency leave. So I get there today, a half hour early for my 10:30 appointment. Then I waited until 11:30. I sit in the chair, he looks at my teeth for maybe a minute, tells some stuff to the assistant person, and says, "You need surgery. We'll put braces on, do surgery in about a year, and then you'll have a year in braces after that. Okay, you're approved, see you here in a few weeks!" And it's over.
I asked the assistant what the next appointment would entail. They'll take the molds of my teeth, take a hundred thousand pictures and x-rays (hopefully they'll schedule it on a day I have to work, hehe), and then the orthodontist will figure out what needs to be done.
So it's boiling down to me getting braces in about, oh, fifty million years. But I've got the ball rolling, so at least there's that.
They're also extraordinarily nice there (I don't know about other people, but I've always had a fabulous experience with military dentists). They made it sound more like I'm going on a field trip than getting jaw surgery. And they make it out to be a really positive experience, which made me feel better.
So, that's where I am. I just needed to vent.

Hey Nimo
I definitley agree with Karen. You want to make sure you get as much info as possbile and not just go with the first ortho you meet. My first consult was with an ortho similar to yours he did not spend but a few minutes with me and did not give me any specifics as to my deficts. Like he was too busy. But his office staff was really nice. At my next consult the ortho was a lot more thourough and spent about a hour telling me all the things that he would try to correct. He even accomodated me needing to get out of there early because of work. Any I ended up picking my second ortho just because I felt like he really understood what he was doing and would keep me informed.

Well, in this case I don't have a lot of choice, because I'm in the Air Force, and the military is paying for all of this. I didn't get a bad vibe from anyone there (the doctor was extremely apologetic about seeing me late, and he was just as encouraging as his staff about the whole process). I get the feeling that most people go into their braces experience not knowing anything about it, and not asking questions. But I've done tons of research (I told my husband I could probably put the braces on myself, hehe), and I plan on asking questions every step of the way.
The only question I asked yesterday was what the next appointment would involve, simply because I'm all about getting started. I've heard lots of good things about the office there, so I'm not worried about anything.
I told my husband what was going on, and he asked me how long everything would take. When I told him about two years, he was shocked. He thought the whole braces process would only take ONE MONTH!!!

I agree with kk. Doing research is essential. That is why I am so greatful for this website. You seem to have the same treatment plan as myself, braces for year 1, jaw surgery, then 1 more year of braces. My Ortho was able to do my initial consult and get all my x-rays and molds in one visit. It took about 2 hours, but that was because I had a lot of questions. After they get the molds back and he went over my x-rays, I went in for another consultation to discuss my actual treatment plan. They used the computer modules to show me what the surgery would do and why it was necessary. I guess I have been lucky. All of my Dr.s have been referrals and they have been great. My Dentist referred me to my Ortho and my Ortho referred me to my Oral Surgeon, and guess what, my Oral Surgeon is a patient of my dentist. He said he wouldn't go to anyone else. I feel like I've got trio of Super Dentist working on my mouth go give me the perfect smile. Here are some of my pictures I took on day two of having my braces on. And yes, my teeth are as close together as they can get. Only my back molars touch.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d153/ ... C00211.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d153/ ... C00212.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d153/ ... C00213.jpg

nimo wrote:They're also extraordinarily nice there (I don't know about other people, but I've always had a fabulous experience with military dentists). They made it sound more like I'm going on a field trip than getting jaw surgery. And they make it out to be a really positive experience, which made me feel better.

I agree - My general dentist was a military dentist for years before opening his private practice, and he's the one who got me so excited about orthodontics. Every time I've gone he always asked my new orthodontic progress, and then looks in my mouth and says, "Your mouth is going to look absolutely beautiful!" and "You are going to be SO happy with your results!"

I like him a lot

After almost two weeks I got my letter back from the commander giving me the go-ahead to start treatment. FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY.
Ugh...this is all taking for-ev-er.

I took my letter to them today, and the receptionists were like, Thanks, we'll give this to them. But I was not about to leave without an appointment!!!
So on the twenty-ninth I go in for records (molds, pictures, x-rays, etc.). And then they'll set up my next appointment for the ortho to tell me what the plan of action is.
I'm sure I'll have to have my wisdom teeth out. I'm scared and nervous about that. Also kind of scared and nervous about jaw surgery. And about having one of my canines exposed.
But also very excited to have the ball rolling!!!

Today they did the x-rays, which wasn't anything unusual, except for one that took an x-ray of my head. These two metal things came down on either side, with pokey things that had to go in my ears. Really bizarre.
The pictures were the worst part because of the lip retractors. I don't have a big mouth (the dentist makes a point of saying that every time I go), and so that was a decidedly unpleasant experience.
The mold stuff reminded me of bubble gum. Except that I was spitting out pink pieces of rubber for a few minutes afterwards.
I go back on Feb. 6 to discuss my treatment plan, and then I get braces on the 13th. I really thought I would have to get my wisdom teeth out first, or there would be more time in between appointments. But I'm definitely not complaining.

Was the ortho able to tell you this time if you were going to have to have surgery?

They've already told me I'm going to have surgery. The ortho office for the military here specializes in jaw surgery, and as a general rule they only take people who are candidates for surgery.
I don't know what kind of surgery yet. I'll find that out on the sixth of February.

do you know yet what the surgery will be correcting?

The ortho assistant asked me if I wanted vaseline for my lips after the lip retractors. I had lip balm, but it was Burt's Bees, and I wasn't sure how the tingly sensation would feel on lips that felt so sore.

Hi Nimo,
I know how you feel about waiting! My Consultation with my Orthodontist of choice isn't until February 24th
Seems like forever...
It seems like things are going good for you!

I just saw the thread about your good news, Jade. Congrats on getting that appointment a whole month sooner!!!

I took my own pictures of my teeth so I could have a means of comparison when braces finally go on. I was going to go ahead and post it in this thread (I always like the threads with pics better), but my teeth look awful. I mean, this is obviously why I'm getting braces to start, but I'd rather wait until I have braces to post the picture. At this point it's one of those things that I can't believe I'm finally able to do, and I still won't believe it until they're on.

I feel the exact same way Nimo...
I want them on, and on their way!

I think i'm getting obsessed with these braces
what's going to happen when I actually get them on...
I'll be a MANIAC