Stacy's Story

Message

#1 Post by **stacy19201325** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:06 am

3/10/2009 I got my top braces on!

I'm 25 years old, and I've wanted braces since I was a kid, but my parent's couldn't afford it, at least not for all three of us kids. When I got my raise this year, I decided to put it all towards getting braces. I have a flex plan with my employer that will allow it all to be pre-tax, but I don't have any insurance that will cover even a part of the $5200 treatment.

I had a lot of trouble with the thing they put in my mouth to bite down on and suck the saliva out. I kept gagging till I thought I was going to throw up! So they ended up just having me bite down on the thing by placing it very far forward in my mouth and not using the suction part.

So far everything feels fine. The brackets lie almost where my lips come together, so they aren't really rubbing on anything yet.

About six months from now (though I can hope for sooner...) I will get 4 wisdom teeth and one other tooth on the bottom removed, and I will get the bottom braces on.

Hopefully in 6 weeks when I go in for my first adjustment I will have some progress to show off!

My estimated treatment time: 2 1/2 years. Though I'm desperately hoping for earlier, since I have some "tentative" plans for a Sept 2011 wedding, and that's the month they would be coming off. I will NOT be married in braces!

Here are my teeth without braces (spacers in on top):

And with the top braces, first day:

#2 Post by **kayleighkelley** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:08 am

Good luck with your braces, I should have mine on in two weeks. I'm 23 and wanting my teeth straightened because I also don't want to be married with braces or crooked teeth. Good luck!!!

#3 Post by **stacy19201325** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:14 am

I really hope that once I get the bottom braces on that they will be able to open up this space in my mouth. It isn't even wide enough for my tongue to fit unless I turn it sideways!

I just have a massive amount of bone in there

When they took impressions, even the small tray cut into the gum there around all that bone.

Can anybody tell me if the inside of the arch changes that way?

#4 Post by **brika** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:23 pm

Hi Stacy! Congratulations on being newly braced! I'm glad you haven't had too much trouble since getting the brackets put on. :)
I'm not sure how much the width of the arch changes...it's probably different for every case, though! Next time you're in, you should definitely ask your ortho. He should be able to tell you!
I wish you the best of luck, and I look forward to seeing all your progress!

#5 Post by **stacy19201325** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 5:28 pm

Gaah! I just need to rant, I'm HUNGRY!

My teeth are still too tender to crunch anything, and they've moved so that my bottom molars no longer line up with my top molars, and they only hit at one "pointy" spot.

And I'm Greek Orthodox and it's Lent right now, so I can't eat anything with meat, dairy, egg, or olive oil in it. I'm getting VEERRYY sick of vegetable soup, applesauce, and hot cereal.

I just want to CHEW something, for goodness sake!

*sigh* I just needed to say something...

#6 Post by **Rachel B** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 12:22 pm

Hi Stacy,

Congratulations on getting braced.
The first bit is hard - I remember dying to eat something properly. Just think, the first proper meal you have will be soooo good. Mine was. I remember my first proper meal when I could chew and it was great.
I think you'll see tonnes of progress.
I've got narrow arches and mine are changing already. xxxx

Rach

#7 Post by **kittenmaisey** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 5:38 am

Hi Stacey,

sorry if I have already posted this question! but my lower arch is also v narrow, difficult to get a tooth brush there. Does it cause problems with your tongue? you said there was hardly room, any other problems linked to this? For ages I thought I may have been imagining it. Or maybe that was my general Dentist!

I also believe that it affects my breathing a lot, as my tongue is pushed back.

Good luck

#8 Post by **stacy19201325** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 6:45 am

Hmm, no, I don't think I've ever noticed problems with my tongue. It usually rests against the roof of my mouth, on top of my bottom teeth. Although I have a tendency to accidentally bite it fairly often, which is probably due to it having nowhere to go while I'm chewing!

#9 Post by **Rio UK** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 5:28 pm

Hi Stacy.
You replied to my message about the swallowed wire

so i thought I should check out your story. Congratulations on getting braced! Your teeth are very white! They will look great when they are all finished! - Hopefully in time for your wedding!

#10 Post by **stacy19201325** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 10:05 am

Thanks Rio!

I'm finally able to eat normally, just a bit of tenderness left around the molars with the bands on. I just wish they'd hurry up and move already! It's been 10 days and I haven't noticed a bit of movement, no loseness, nothing.

Patience, I know

#11 Post by **stacy19201325** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 4:22 pm

...11 days later

ok, 3 weeks with my braces on, and finally I notice some movement, and there's some wiggling going on!

Day 1 vs. 3 weeks:

#12 Post by **ripchord** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 4:31 pm

There's definitely some movement going on! Congratulations

#13 Post by **catfish** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:04 pm

Yay for progress! I always had mixed feelings about the tooth wiggling thing. It was good because it meant progress, but creepy because it seems like teeth shouldn't wiggle! I just had to remember I'm in braces reality, not regular teeth reality.

Way to go!

#14 Post by **Jenn S** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:22 pm

WOW- that is crazy fast! Congratulations on the early progress!

#15 Post by **stacy19201325** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 6:02 pm

Hey hey, my top midline is actually about at the middle now! And I'm really pleased with how far outward my molars have moved. Except it's weird to bite down because they are hanging so far off the edges of my bottom molars since they aren't braced yet.

Check this out:

Day 1:

4.5 Weeks: