Missing braces

If you have finished with your orthodontic treatment and are wearing retainers (or will be soon), this is a special place to connect with others in your (enviable) situation. Ask a question or make a comment about life post-braces.

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Tin Indian
Posts: 1027
Joined: Sat Aug 19, 2006 11:14 am
Location: Michigan

Missing braces

#1 Post by Tin Indian »

Now that I'm coming close to my one year mark in braces they seem to be shall we say a part of my life. In less than a year I'll be naked like most of the people on this forum and I came to realise that I will miss my braces. It's not that I just love them but I realised how much they have improved my smile and I just can't help thinking about how I will feel once they are off. Yes I will always be glad of what I did because I have always admired and wanted a better smile and now that is well within my reach and the tunnel does have a light at the end of it.
Do you or will you miss your braces?
Cheers. -T.I.
Braces on 9/01/2006- Braces off 4/14/08

Jillianleab
Posts: 924
Joined: Fri May 19, 2006 5:00 pm
Location: Northern Virginia, USA
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#2 Post by Jillianleab »

It's funny you mention this, TI; I have a friend who had braces about five years ago (she was 20) and I went to lunch with her a few days before my uppers came off. She told me I'd actually miss my braces - I told her she was nuts, lol! My uppers have been off for just over two weeks now, and I have to say, I don't miss them a bit! I'm still actually getting used to them NOT being there, which is really weird. I certainly appreciate what they've done for me (my looks, health and confidence level), so I guess you could say I have a new respect for braces which I never thought I'd have. I also don't hate braces like I did when I first got them. Right now I still have my lowers, and honestly, I could care less about them being there. If my ortho tells me they have to stay on for another two months, no big deal.

So for me, as of yet, I don't miss my braces. I can't see that I ever will because I'm just so much happier with them off. It's not that I hated them for the duration of my treatment, but I LOVE not having them! I never "loved" them when I had them!
~jlb~

Braced 5/19/06 - Full Metal Mouth!
Went topless 07/27/07!
Totally NAKED 08/30/07!

See my braces story with lots of pics here:
http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... 2806#92806

alexa
Posts: 1055
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2005 10:50 am
Location: San Francisco, CA
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#3 Post by alexa »

Nah. Don't miss 'em one little bit! 8)
Spacers: 1/26/05; 2/6/06; 3/15/06; 4/24/06
4 First Bicuspids removed: 2/2005
Metal Braces, top and bottom: 3/1/05; Debanded 7/26/07
Hawley retainers top and bottom

eoberhauser
Posts: 133
Joined: Sat Oct 22, 2005 7:53 am
Location: St Paul Minnesota
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#4 Post by eoberhauser »

I honestly have loved having braces. I definitely feel like I will miss them.

Erin
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Granola
Posts: 540
Joined: Sat Nov 19, 2005 3:58 pm
Location: Earth

#5 Post by Granola »

Hi TI. :)

Nope, I don't miss them the least little bit!

Having had them on for a total of 5-1/2 years of my life was enough! :D

I haven't missed them for a moment, not even when a friend who just saw me without them told me how cute I looked in them (I don't agree, but I appreciated her comment).
Uppers placed 2/8/06--Inspire ICE ceramics
Lower (stainless) placed 2/23/06
Treatment time: 17 months (estimated was 12-18 months)
Debonded: July 11th, 2007
Next appointment: June 2008 for retainer & nightguard check

joplin
Posts: 639
Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2004 1:38 am
Location: Europe

#6 Post by joplin »

Personally I doubt that I'll ever miss these things, but like Jillianleab I too have met a person who said she missed her braces when they were gone. Not having them, really, but the feeling of constant support they gave. I think she meant something similar to being denied of wearing a bra at all occasions all of a sudden :P
Case: Impacted canines, crowding & crossbite.
Treatment: SARPE 2004/10/6, RPE 2004/9/28 - 2005/1/31, w-arch until 2005/11/22, impacted canines extracted 2005/5/18.
Braces on: top 2005/6/2, bottom 2005/8/30.
Braces off: 2008/6/9.
Retainers, phase one: expanding Hawley retainer 24/7, bonded retainers on top & bottom.
Retainers, phase two: Hawley on top, bonded both top & bottom, positioner for night time use.

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jennielee81
Posts: 2144
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2005 2:31 pm
Location: The Old Line State

#7 Post by jennielee81 »

I have to say I also thought I'd miss them, but I DON'T!!

As soon as I saw those bits of metal and opal laying on the tray all piled up together (after they were removed), I thought, "YUCK!" WHen I look at pictures of me with braces on, I cringe.

I really liked them when I had them, but I am very happy to be done with them.


Joplin, I really like your brad analogy!!! :D
"Life is an occasion; RISE TO IT!" --Mr. Magorium
I wore Damon 3's and Opals for 20 months at age 42. Braces off January 2007
http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=3535 a little more about me here: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/co ... 961130.htm

lilpikachu
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2006 9:06 pm
Location: Melbourne, Australia

#8 Post by lilpikachu »

I am missing them at the moment as I just got debanded and won't be getting my retainers until Saturday.

I think missing them is more to do with the fact that I'm hoping my teeth don't shift too much between now and Saturday.

Once I get my retainers I don't think I will miss my braces as such.

Mmmmuuaa
Posts: 196
Joined: Sun Jul 16, 2006 1:16 pm
Location: Manitoba, Canada

#9 Post by Mmmmuuaa »

I'm getting debraced next month and I won't miss them at all! Not that it's been horrible with them on. Besides seeing the final results, I'm really looking forward to eating with out food getting stuck EVERYWHERE!

lionfish
Posts: 2635
Joined: Wed May 18, 2005 4:16 pm
Location: emerald city, oz

#10 Post by lionfish »

Miss them? Flipping heck, absolutely no way. I don't miss the endless cleaning ritual, pulling veggie bits out of my mouth, etc.

Lilpikachu, I waited a week for retainers in which time my teeth shifted very slightly. Once the retainers went on, everything quickly went back to where it was on the day I was debanded.

HeadgearJoe
Posts: 574
Joined: Wed Sep 08, 2004 12:36 pm
Location: NASHVILLE TENN
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#11 Post by HeadgearJoe »

well i'll see next thursday at 8 am , i realy don't think i'll miss them at all , i haven't missed my HEADGEAR at all , but agian is not like i'll be totaly ortho free anyway , bonded upper an lower retainers , with full wrap around upper an lower hawleys , with a big bulky nightsplint that fits the upper an lower to hold the jaw foward while sleeping , my TMJ/ORTHO want's to see me 6 weeks after the braces are removed then every 3 months for a year , an yes 24/7 retainer wear three years , then after that retainer wear for life at night , with i think he said every six months , so i guess i'll never realy be free, headgearLESSjoe
braces off 1/31/08 wearing bonded retainers with a nightsplint, will get removable hawleys 2/21/08

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