Hi all! I just recently found this forum and find it very inforamtive and supportive. I am 27 and have gotten braces for the second time, after having been braced at 16 for 14 months. At that time I got ceramics on the top only, with a retainer on the bottom to fix very minor issues (I flat out refused to get bottom braces). After I got them off, I was diligent with the retainer use for a few months, and then I stopped.
Since then my teeth have shifted back, but not as badly as it was before. My bite is fine, but I have mild crowding on the bottom and moderate crowding up top, and my main problem was with the way that my two front teeth were rotated inwards and stuck out. Other people say that they don't notice it at all, but I do, and it bothers me, so I figured I might as well get it fixed.
Since I made the decision to get rebraced things have moved very quickly. I went back to the same orthodontist that I went to 11 years ago. I had my initial consult on 2/7, when I had an x-ray and lots of pics taken. I went back yesterday morning and got everything done. After my molds were made and I had my periodontal screening and did more x-rays, I got 8 ceramics on top and 8 metals on bottom.
So now I'm on day 2, and though I think "Why am I doing this again?" from time to time, it's not too bad. I'm trying to get used to the mouth feel and haven't eaten anything where I have to chew yet, but I'm sure it'll pass in a few days. I am very self conscious about speaking and smiling (the metal bottoms are more noticeable than I thought they'd be) but that too, I'm sure, will pass. My treatment time is only 4 months, so it should go quickly. I'm already counting down!
new here and just braced for the second time! (update 6/21)
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new here and just braced for the second time! (update 6/21)
Last edited by jujubee on Tue Jun 20, 2006 9:45 pm, edited 2 times in total.
update 2/28: first adjustment
It's been 2 weeks since I got my braces (again!), and I luckily don't have much to complain about. I haven't needed to use any wax, and unless I talk a lot, I don't get much irritation. The first few days were a bit rough, but I kept to eating soup, and the pain passed. Flossing is quite a chore, but it's getting easier. Food getting stuck everywhere hasn't been too much of a problem.
Today I went in for my first adjustment. I had three broken brackets on the bottom, which I don't know how I did, because I didn't eat or bite into anything hard, but it happened. I got a bit of a scolding for not calling in and letting them know ahead of time, but I just noticed they were loose a few days ago and figured that since my appointment was so soon that I didn't need to. I guess that they need to know so that they have enough time scheduled for me to do the extra work. Next time I know!
So I got the brackets replaced. The remaining glue getting sanded off was quite disconcerting and uncomfortable. They left in the same wires from before but did replace the clear ligs (which I wasn't crazy about because of the staining) with white wire ties, which are REALLY bright white. Hopefully they'll mellow. These really do feel much tighter than the rubber bands. I'm just waiting for the next round of pain to settle in.
Next adjustment in 4 weeks!
Today I went in for my first adjustment. I had three broken brackets on the bottom, which I don't know how I did, because I didn't eat or bite into anything hard, but it happened. I got a bit of a scolding for not calling in and letting them know ahead of time, but I just noticed they were loose a few days ago and figured that since my appointment was so soon that I didn't need to. I guess that they need to know so that they have enough time scheduled for me to do the extra work. Next time I know!
So I got the brackets replaced. The remaining glue getting sanded off was quite disconcerting and uncomfortable. They left in the same wires from before but did replace the clear ligs (which I wasn't crazy about because of the staining) with white wire ties, which are REALLY bright white. Hopefully they'll mellow. These really do feel much tighter than the rubber bands. I'm just waiting for the next round of pain to settle in.
Next adjustment in 4 weeks!
update 3/28: second adjustment
I went for my second adjustment today. It seems that I'm on track and on the earlier end of my treatment length. I was initially told 4-6 months, and they think it'll be 4-5. Not much new was done today: just got my bands changed, but I did get a powerchain on my lower middle four teeth to close some small gaps, and they already look much better! I must admit though that one of my powerchained teeth is hurting a lot. I took some advil, and hopefully it won't keep me up tonight.
Next adjustment is in three weeks. They tell me that I'll get a wire with some bends in it to help along the rotation of my top front teeth. They already look great, but I can't wait to get them completely in line!
Next adjustment is in three weeks. They tell me that I'll get a wire with some bends in it to help along the rotation of my top front teeth. They already look great, but I can't wait to get them completely in line!
update 4/25: third adjustment
I went in for my third adjustment yesterday. Last time, I got a powerchain on my lower 4 middle teeth, which caused one of them to turn and get out of line with the others after only a day. So this time I got the powerchain on only my 2 middle teeth, in addition to a new wire. The wonky tooth has already aligned itself, so yay! I also got a new wire on top, but my ortho put two elongated loops in it, and the ends are looped over the last bracket. He said that this will help to push my front teeth in. I had to get the sides and back of those teeth filed in order to make room. That filing sure is unpleasant! This new configuration is causing some pain, but it's not unbearable. Hopefully it won't last too long.
Next appointment is in three weeks. It's been 10 weeks since I've gotten braces. I'm hoping they'll be off in two appointments! Three won't be too bad either...
Next appointment is in three weeks. It's been 10 weeks since I've gotten braces. I'm hoping they'll be off in two appointments! Three won't be too bad either...
Hey, same thing happened to me. Only I was younger. I was 12-14 when I got braces first time and then I completely negleted the retainers! Teeth have moved back too, not has bad as they were be4, but they never got to be completely straight 'cause I was tired of being a brace face and I didn't like my ortho.! Now, at age 20, I'm ready for it again!
Good luck to you,
Joanna
Good luck to you,
Joanna
Next Ortho. consultations: Dec. 26 & January 16
Next Higienist consultation: February
update 5/30: fourth and fifth adjustments
It's been about a month since I last posted, and I've had two adjustments since that time. Two weeks ago I got my top two front teeth filed again, my top wire activated and a few bends put into both the top and bottom wires in order to push my top two front teeth in and to perfect my bottom teeth. Pretty uneventful. But it did completely straighten my bottom arch. I'm very happy with it! I am just waiting for my top teeth to get in line.
Today was my fifth adjustment. More of the same: got the same teeth filed and the top wire activated again. But my next appointment in two weeks is going to be jam packed. I am set to get my bottom arch debanded, get a fixed retainer, get fitted for an essix, and get a mold done for the spring aligner that I'm supposed to get for my top arch. I'm in a huge rush to get these braces off because I'm leaving the country semi-permanently in a few months, sooner than expected. So it is not expected that I will be able to finish my treatment with braces, but I will use a spring aligner to (hopefully!) finish the job. My ortho said that if it doesn't, when I return in a few years they will complete treatment then. I've been very happy with my ortho and how accomodating they have been with my situation. Yay for great orthos!
Today was my fifth adjustment. More of the same: got the same teeth filed and the top wire activated again. But my next appointment in two weeks is going to be jam packed. I am set to get my bottom arch debanded, get a fixed retainer, get fitted for an essix, and get a mold done for the spring aligner that I'm supposed to get for my top arch. I'm in a huge rush to get these braces off because I'm leaving the country semi-permanently in a few months, sooner than expected. So it is not expected that I will be able to finish my treatment with braces, but I will use a spring aligner to (hopefully!) finish the job. My ortho said that if it doesn't, when I return in a few years they will complete treatment then. I've been very happy with my ortho and how accomodating they have been with my situation. Yay for great orthos!
update 6/21: sixth adjustment
I've been away on vacation and then got sick when I got back, so I haven't been able to post. But I've had my sixth adjustment on my top arch. I got some more filing done and a new wire. I'm surprised by how much more my two front teeth have gone in. I didn't expect much more progress before I got off the top braces and switched to the spring aligner.
And... I got my bottom braces off. Yay! Once they were off, I noticed that my midline is now completely aligned. It was off 1 mm, and I was told that it might not be possible to align, so that was a pleasant surprise. One thing I find funny is that I showed my brother and mother and they both asked me if they were my teeth. Apparently they think my bottom teeth look too straight and were questioning whether I got cosmetic dentistry. But I think they look great! Anyway, I now have a bonded retainer and will also be getting a backup retainer. I also did a mold for the spring aligner. Next appointment is in 10 days, and I think the appointment after that the top braces are coming off too! It's soon approaching!
KK: About "activating the wire", the ends of the wire that I had before were bent up so that they looped on top of the last bracket. When my ortho activated it, he used pliers or whatever it is that they use to pull the loops on both sides, which made the wire tighter. I'm not sure if I explained it correctly, but hopefully you get the idea. It put a lot of pressure on those two front teeth that I need pushed in!
And... I got my bottom braces off. Yay! Once they were off, I noticed that my midline is now completely aligned. It was off 1 mm, and I was told that it might not be possible to align, so that was a pleasant surprise. One thing I find funny is that I showed my brother and mother and they both asked me if they were my teeth. Apparently they think my bottom teeth look too straight and were questioning whether I got cosmetic dentistry. But I think they look great! Anyway, I now have a bonded retainer and will also be getting a backup retainer. I also did a mold for the spring aligner. Next appointment is in 10 days, and I think the appointment after that the top braces are coming off too! It's soon approaching!
KK: About "activating the wire", the ends of the wire that I had before were bent up so that they looped on top of the last bracket. When my ortho activated it, he used pliers or whatever it is that they use to pull the loops on both sides, which made the wire tighter. I'm not sure if I explained it correctly, but hopefully you get the idea. It put a lot of pressure on those two front teeth that I need pushed in!