2nd go Jo's Story - 2nd adjustment (with piccies)

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#1 Post by **2nd go Jo** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 1:02 pm

Well, here it is......

I've decided, like a lot of you, to journal my "road to straight teeth" story here (with piccies) so that I've got a complete record of every up and down that happens.

The first time I got a brace I was about thirteen years old. I was given a removable appliance on my upper arch by my dentist who was using me as an experiment as I really don't think he had a clue what he was doing. The idea was to get rid of an overbite caused by sucking my finger as a young child, so he removed two upper teeth (sorry don't know the names) and used the brace to move the teeth round. He told my mother that the overcrowding on my bottom arch would get better as I reached adulthood.

Fast forward 25 years and as you can see from these "before" pictures, there's not alot of improvement (if any)!!

Over the years I have enquired with my different dentists about the possibility of having a brace and was always told that I was too old. And, until three years ago, I believed them!

I got chatting to a woman at the gym who had just got herself braces and found that I was not too old and (eventually) after changing dentist again, got a referral to an orthodontist.

I am about to get ceramic "Mystique" uppers and self-ligating lowers on the 27th and although I'm not looking forward to the prospect, I am looking forward to having lovely straight teeth at last!!!

#2 Post by **LongInTheT** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 9:57 am

Hi, 2nd go Jo, and congratulations on deciding to get braced! It's good that you finally got the right advice about orthodontics and adults.
It looks like I had a similar experience to you as a teenager ie a removable brace on the top arch and 2 teeth out (although in my case a lot longer ago as I'm in my 50s).

Have a good BraceDay on the 27th, and keep us posted!
Oh, and other people here recommend putting vaseline on your lips before having the braces on as they can get dry. That worked for me, too.

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#3 Post by **2nd go Jo** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:48 am

Thanx for that, LongintheT

It seems that a lot of mistakes are made to british teenager's teeth which need fixing later on.

I'm still very nervous as I don't really know what's going to happen, but I keep telling myself it'll be worth it.

Jo x

#4 Post by **LongInTheT** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:24 pm

Don't worry about the BDay, 2nd go. It will be fine. The braces will feel strange at first because your mouth isn't used to having extra bits in it, but you will soon get used to this. Discomfort varies, too, from person to person (as you can see from vaious posts on this site), so don't anticipate as you may not get much when the braces are put on. Good luck!

#5 Post by **2nd go Jo** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 1:41 pm

Not long to go now!! Had a birthday party on Sunday for my 4 year old and you should've seen my mum-in-law's face when I mentioned I was getting braces fitted on Friday!!

LongInTheT - I've got myself some extra strength painkillers just in case. Best to be prepared!!!

bracedagain - I've planned a soft food week for next week and on Thursday we are having best roast beef with all the trimmings for my final brace-free meal!!

Thanx again for all your encouragement.

Jo

#6 Post by **2nd go Jo** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 12:45 pm

Well, I'm just beginning to get nervous - brace day tomorrow!

I had my first toothy dream last night where my wisdom teeth were falling out and tonight, for my last supper, I made us roast beef with all the trimmings and I couldn't eat it all because of my nervous tummy!!!

Only 14 hours to go and counting.

Jo

#7 Post by **Miranbrady20** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 1:01 pm

OMG im soooo excited for you !!! good luck with your brace day and try to take it easy... its normal to be nervous... i know im gonna explode on my brace day! keeps us posted and take more pics!!!!!!!!!!! GOOD LUCK!!!

#8 Post by **2nd go Jo** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 5:13 am

Hey up!

I'm an official brace-face!

It all went well at the ortho's. He first took my 'before' photos, then put me in the lip retractors and polished my teeth with pumice(!) so that the brackets would stick better. I then spent about half an hour with a suction tube in my mouth while he attached my brackets a quarter at a time.

When that was done he filed down some of the sides of my teeth to give a bit of room and then attached the archwires. Done!! Took about an hour or so.

I've not had too much trouble so far apart from rubbing from some of the brackets and the fact that my mouth feels HUGE! The worst for me has been that the ends of the archwires are very sharp and keep digging into my cheeks. I keep putting wax on them, but it's not very nice eating as this knocks the wax off and it starts rubbing again. Do you think I should try to bend the ends so they don't rub or should I contact my ortho?

Jo

#9 Post by **Miranbrady20** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 5:44 am

WOW they look great! im glad to see it went smoothly for you! As far as the wires i think you should contact the ortho and he should be able to cut them down for you if they are hurting that bad... again congrats and keep us posted!

#10 Post by **2nd go Jo** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 4:32 am

Just thought I'd let u all know how I'm getting on - I'm at the end of my first week!!

I was fine until day 4 and then I got really bad pain (also got a bug which didn't help), but it's eased off since. Don't know if the bug made me feel worse or if that was my body's way of adjusting to the braces.

I'm still tender but I'm able to manage it with ibuprofen and anyway it'll be worth it in the end.

I'm not sure if I've seen any movement yet, just wishful thinking, but my teeth seem looser if you know what I mean.

To all you seasoned brace-faces - was the pain you experienced with the fitting of your braces the worst and adjustments seemed less painful or was it the same each time?

I'm out for tea tonight for the first time which I'm really looking forward to! LOL

I'm managing to eat most things but I've not had chocolate - don't fancy trying to clean my teeth after a mars bar!! I must say though, that it's true about eating something when your teeth hurt - I had some toast cut into strips on my worst day and it was just fab! I can see now why teething babies like to chew everything!!!

Anyhow, that's me for now. I'll keep you posted!

Jo x

#11 Post by **2nd go Jo** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 4:32 am

Sorry, double posted!

#12 Post by **LongInTheT** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 5:51 am

Congratulations on getting braced! Your braces look really nice. Did you get the wire clipped, I wonder, or did your mouth just toughen up?
Glad the pain is dying down. As for the pain at adjustments, I don't know - maybe it depends what/which wire is put on ie how much pressure (but I'm no expert..).

#13 Post by **Jill52** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 7:41 am

Hi Jo, great picture. I just posted on the other thread before I looked here. Your configuration looks the same as mine - metal on the bottom and clear on top. Yes, your teeth will come loose at the beginning. After three months I am not noticing that as much, but in the beginning it was VERY noticeable and a bit disconcerting.

Eating out or in public for the first time is definitely an event. Congratulations on doing it so soon. I keep a little mirror and a small interdental brush in my bag so I can nip to the loo for an inspection and clean up every now and then.

I still enjoy things like Mars bars. I cut them into very small pieces and suck them. Actually, it makes them last much longer!

If you're still having trouble with the wire tie ends, my ortho suggests taking the rubber end of a pencil and pushing them back gently. I haven't had to do it myself, but he assured me that it works well. However, if it's the end of the arch wire that's rubbing, he suggests going in to have it bent or cut.

Anyway, good luck with your journey. The worst is definitely at the beginning. It will get easier and easier from now on.

Jill

#14 Post by **angel84** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:14 am

Congrats on getting your braces! They look great! I am 4 days in and hoping to see some movement soon, too.

#15 Post by **2nd go Jo** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 11:50 am

Hi again!

LongInTheT - No I didn't go to the ortho's. I carried on with the wax and salt water rinses and it's a lot better now.

Ken - The soreness is only minimal now and I don't really need painkillers. So if that's the worse, then I'm a happy chappy!

Jill - OOoooh I like your Mars bar solution!

My meal went well, I even had "normal" food and as it was with my family, it wasn't too bad. I made sure I had a glass of water though! Thanks for the tip from your ortho; I'll mention it next week when I get some more wax but I've got self-ligating braces which has some sort of wire that bends when it's cold, so I'm not sure it would work.

Jo