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.
How many of you "naked" people were unhappy with the way your teeth looked in braces when you were approaching your final month or two with them on? And if you were unhappy, did you feel different after you saw your new smile, or were you still disappointed even after they came off?
In other words: Can you really tell what your smile looks like while still braced, or do you need to be all done to really see the full effect?
Obviously this doesn't pertain to me, as I'm many months away from even having to think about it ( )...but I was just wondering.
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
For me, they looked WAY better the minute they came off. I was shocked at how straight they looked and also at how yellow the brackets had made them look.
Paramedic student
Full Braces (all metal) 5/12/1999 - 4/20/2005
Class II (overjet) on the left only
Upper and Lower Hawleys
I was unhappy, but the day they were gonna take the braces off (Aug 23) he decided to wait until November. Either way, in October I was fretting little things about my teeth. I even had dreams that my teeth were worse than before I got braces and he insisted on taking off the braces. HA! After they came off I expected to hear, "oooh. I think we're gonna need to put them back on." But instead he was very pleased with how straight they were. The first week they were off, I was afraid of my smile. Now I love it! There's just an adjustment period too. However, I think most of us who are older than 18 were told that the results would not be totally perfect since we are adults, but it would be a close to perfection as possible. Either way, it's way better than before!
I know that the initial post is pretty old, but currently I am feeling that my teeth do not look straight and I am worried about what my final results will be. I get my impressions for my retainer done in the 23rd of this month and I guess I will just have to wait and see what the final results are. After all, the ortho is the subject matter expert. Right??
Wow. I totally don't even remember writing that post. lol.
(Of course, poor Alexa has had the devil of a time trying to get her concerns sorted )
This is true, but I don't regret voicing them. It let them know I was paying attention to what they were doing. Plus, I think I'm their least favorite patient, as I've caused them ample grief. That brings me some joy.
Really, you should voice any of your concerns before you get retainer impressions done. Most orthos aren't as difficult as mine. Generally, orthos will listen to your concerns if you voice them and will try to accomodate any changes you'd like to see happen if possible.
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
I definately found my teeth looked way better as soon as my braces were removed. I just got them off last Monday. My ortho appeared to be pretty skillful with bends in the wire (rather than repositioning brackets). So, particularily on one side of my upper arch it was hard to see past all the bends. Some of you may have read this in another post I did, I was supposed to get retainers last Thursday but there was a problem at the lab and I won't get them until Monday (tomorrow). My ortho told me to chew alot of gum and chewing in general to encourge settling. I have noticed a difference in just under a week in how tightly certain teeth fit together and the over all tightness of the upper over lower teeth (overlap). For me this is good because I had a tremdous open bite. So because it seems to me that there has been "good" shifting, I wonder how my retainers will fit since molds were done last Monday????? I actually like the look of them now vs the day I got them off, they just look more settled and feel more settled......weird!
Personally i thought my teeth had some minor gaps and imperfections before my braces came off but when they were removed things looked much better and because i have an upper hawley my teeth will settle
Whilst they're the experts, that doesn't mean they don't sometimes miss little things, or perhaps view some tiny details as being below the threshhold taht we as the patient might see as being above it.
That is very true Meryatan and I do have two concerns that I plan to bring to his attention. I already had to go back to him last Monday to tell him that tiny spaces had developed between my left canine and lateral, and my left lateral and central incisor so it was almost like my lateral was standing alone (I hope you get my description, I can post a pic). He had the tech remove the ligs, the rotatonal wedge from the lateral, and place a power chain onto my teeth, the spaces are closing, but still not enough to be settled by the 23rd. I plan to tell him that I would feel more comfortable with a PC on for a few more weeks before impressions. I also see that my left lateral is tilted back a little bit, plan to bring that up too.
I would like a nice straight, non-gappy smile and to acheive that I know that I have to bring those things to his attention. I have realized that I will not have that "hollywood" smile, but the best smile that I can!
I am totally having this experience right now - for several reasons! For one, I have a flipper in place for one lateral that's missing, then I have a smaller peg type lateral that will get bonded some time to match the implant I'm getting for the missing lateral, I'm not sure when. For those things, braces aren't the final step. Also, I have a deep bite, which I still thought was "deep", but I asked the ortho about it and he said his goal is for the top teeth to come down just above the bottom brackets, and they are. I'm in the tweaking phase, so I'm assuming that means it will be things I will likely not notice. I have a lot of faith and trust in my ortho as he has been amazing, so that does give me some piece of mind. I'm still terrified of having these things off!
I am so glad this question has come up as I am concerned a tooth that isn't conforming as well as I'd like.... I am afraid to mention it in fear of telling the ortho how to do his job...lol. But after reading, i think i will mention my worry at my next appointment.
)...but I was just wondering.
)
