Ellebraced is getting braced- PICS !!!!!

[mikesmile]

Hi Elle

I'd like to add my well wishes and share in the excitement of your brace-day! We've all had that initial first shock moment and you described it so well. It's so cool when you first get started with this. I know there's a lot to get used to, but it really doesn't take too long...

You've obviously been through a lot to get to this point. I hope your self confidence blossoms as you slowly watch your beautiful white teeth straighten out in the months ahead. You will literally watch that wonky wire straighten out...

Don't worry...it's kind of normal to obsess like you are now at first! Keep Smilin' The braces look good on ya! Lots of Luck...

Mike



Second Time In Braces - Estimate 12-14 Months

[Ellebraced]

Morning everybody

THANK YOU Soooo much for all the wonderful encouraging replies. I am so glad I found this website.

I really do not mean to scare anyone, I am 100% happy that I decided to do this. Okay more like 90% right now.

I told a couple family members and of course you get the negative, OH I would never do that but that's okay because they are not me.

Soooooo I told my Grams and she was happy for me right well my Mom talked to her later in the day and she said did you know what Elle did?? Mom said yeah and Grams goes................ I DON'T KNOW why see had to get braces she WAS such a pretty girl !!!!!!

SERIOUSLY Grams SERIOUSLY, ummmmmmmmm does she realize she was the one that pushed this decision along. That her comments cost me $7,000. Poor thing says that she never made any comments on my teeth either. So the conclusion is
a) Grandma is crazy
b) Grandma has a drinking problem and doesn't remember stuff
c) Grandma has multiple personalities
d) Grandma is the liar

I am just joking, I have learned a huge lesson. You never listen to people that are 95 years old and think people break into their apartments. Poor Grams is losing it.

I must say I laughed soooooo hard when My mom told me that, it was good to laugh that hard after such an emotional day

[Ellebraced]

Okay so all kidding aside...... I am really enjoying this experience, I hope that people are enjoying the humor because it's the only way I can make this experience enjoyable. I hope I am able to make you laugh and cry and know that I am so grateful for this experience no matter how much I complain, mostly I am joking because it feels better than getting mad or sad.


DAY 1 review

My braces
I got CERAMIC 3m clarity self ligating on top ( meaning they don't have any elastics on each bracket, GOOD NEWS!!!! no staining (maybe the glue she said). So I can hopefully eat whatever I want. I am a bit surprised how noticeable they seem though. I think because my teeth are so big and stick out so much they seem more visible.

Lowers are 3m victory brackets with silver elastics.

Normally I would not have an adjustment for 8 whole weeks but....

My teeth were so tight and even with spacers she could not get the lower back molar bands on. So in 4 weeks I will go back and have those put on. I will put the spacers in myself for 2 weeks or so to get them loose enough.


1) I was shocked on what it felt like in my mouth for sure.....as you recall...... OH GOD WHAT HAVE I DONE..... but as the 2 hours went on and the wire went in it felt better.

2) I have a bad overbite, overjet so it was very hard to close my mouth anyway, now it is really hard but 24 hours later it is feeling better, though I sound like a squeaky toy trying to keep my lips together.

3) It was hard to eat, I am not really in pain but just sore. I got home and had peanut butter on soft seedy bread then I had a protein shake later and for supper I though crackers on cheese with soup. Ummmmmmm that hurt like h$&l to bite into the cracker so I just ate the soft cheese and soup. I am not really hungry but am going to try to eat 3 meals a day at least. Before this I ate 6 small meals a day but that would mean a lot of cleaning and those involved a lot of crunchy foods which will not happen for awhile

4) BUY A WATERPIK. It was so easy to clean all the food out of my teeth after I ate. I do not think brushing a lone would work very well

5) I had to use a bit of wax here and there and it feels a lot smoother. My back lower cheek is very "chewed up" not sure if its from biting my cheek because my bite has changed or rubbing but I put wax on it.

Have a great day everyone!!! I think I am going to leave the house today. I don't think I can last 2.5 years and I know there is probably Christmas gifts waiting at the post office for me to pick up

[jensceana73]

Congradulations!!! on your new journey!! You'll be so glad you did it! Welcome to the club. The club of "My Smile's Gonna FRA-REE-KIN-ROCK!!!!!!!!"

[Ellebraced]

Day 2 in review

Sooooooo I left the house. I am very proud of myself. The funny thing was I did not run into one single person or have to talk to anyone No one laughed at me and no one pointed.

I didn't even have a parcel at the post office and the post office which should have been crazy busy didn't have one person in there huh. Oh well I did have to talk to my plumber later and I was very very very shy and self conscious. I sure hope this feeling passes because I feel like an awkward teenager.

I am feeling more comfortable as the time passes. I think my biggest concern is that I can't really close my mouth. I almost want those scary forsus springs so it forces my mouth closed.

I saw my husband for the first time since getting them on (he works out of town, so he is my weekend p/t husband) I was really nervous and cried when he saw me. I don't know I was just really nervous. He said I looked cute and a lot younger. He also said I looked like I have been punched in the face. He then was raiding the cupboards and eating all my favorite foods and Christmas nuts and bolts And said these are the best nuts and bolts ever. OMFG are you kidding me, I can barely eat soup. That is the best thing about him being out of town is I do not have to see what he eats or make him something that I can not eat. So I drank VODKA. yummy. Had soup for supper and after taking some advil had a hot dog cut up (gross I know) but ohhhh so good.

The best part of all this. I FEEL SO SKINNY !!!!!!!!!!!!! I guess not snacking or eating lots for a week will do that, BEST DIET EVER.

The real test is tonight. I have a Christmas party to go to. With lots of people. I hope I can at least eat somethings so it doesn't look that odd. It will be a good test to get over this feeling of looking like a freak show.

I am asking SANTA for one thing this year.....To be able to close my mouth oh and maybe to not care so much what people think because I know it doesn't matter

[plugnickel69]

I think we all obsess about the possible negative thoughts of others. As far as your braces go, most people don't care. Many will envy you for having the courage to better yourself and wish they could summon the courage themselves to get braces. Take some solace in knowing that those few people who make insensitive comments are probably very insecure, and the only way they know how to make themselves feel better is to put someone else down.

You'll be fine and will look back on this in a year or two and wonder why you were so concerned about what others would think.

[RedDress]

Hi, Ellebraced,
Congratulations with taking the decision!

May I ask you something,
your lower braces look to be relatively high in order to make your lower teeth go down. Do your upper teeth touch the braces when you bite down?
I have a similar case that is why i want to know. In my case my ortho placed the braces very low on lower teeth and it made them errupt even more. I was wondering if you have a deep bite too?

[Ellebraced]

Hi, Ellebraced,
Congratulations with taking the decision!

May I ask you something,
your lower braces look to be relatively high in order to make your lower teeth go down. Do your upper teeth touch the braces when you bite down?
I have a similar case that is why i want to know. In my case my ortho placed the braces very low on lower teeth and it made them errupt even more. I was wondering if you have a deep bite too?

Hi RedDress

I have a moderate deep bite, very large overjet. Vertical growth pattern with a small lower jaw I think like 9mm??

Ideally they would want me to see a surgeon (and have lower jaw surgery) but I do not have the $$ or really agree with elective surgery, I don't want a perfect smile, I just want almost perfect, straighter teeth and reduced overbite/overjet so I can close my mouth easier.

I will try to post more side view pictures later. I think the idea is to get my teeth down and straight. I am not really sure I will ask more next visit. This is so overwhelming I forget to ask a lot of important things

I heard the ortho say 4mm a lot when he was placing the brackets, not sure what that means ??????

When I bite down naturally they are not even close to touching my overbite is so bad. I feel like I chipped/irritated a tooth on the bottom from my bite changing but not related to brackets touching. I think when my bite starts correcting they could touch but by then they should be lower??

Sorry I hope that helps.

I was told that no ortho in my area will put ceramic brackets on the lowers for fear of chipping teeth.

[Ellebraced]

Okay so I went to the Christmas party........... I HAD A WONDERFUL TIME

I think I am a drama queen and over react to things and then realize nobody cares and everybody was really supportive. It was something interesting to talk about and laugh about.

I even ate REAL FOOD !!!!!!!!!! and I drank too much and am now drinking gatorade, I sure wish I could have a juicy burger to feel better

Thank you to everyone for your support.

The first couple days are hard but once you get over it and you are able to eat it gets a lot better.

drama queen Elle

[VancouverJude]

Yer a breath of fresh air Elle.

After our delightful Forsus conversation I've finally realized you're blogging. Yay.

Double double's on the house!

[lu lu]

Congrats on starting your journey

Honestly your teeth didn't look bad at all to begin with. Nothing like mine. I'd hate to think what your grandmother would say about my teeth if she saw them lol

I guess at the end of your treatment when you have your beautiful smile you'll be thanking your grandmother. If it wasn't for her hurtful words (although she didn't meant to offend / upset you) you probs wouldn't of taken the plunge.

[MarciLouWho]

Ellebraced,

I'm so glad I found you on ArchWired! You might recognize my nickname from the My Braces app.

I've only read your first post, but I intend to read the whole thing through -- but I HAD to reply to two things:

A snappy comeback is what's in my signature. "To heck with the 'second childhood,' I wasn't finished with the first!" I really believe that I have to make this fun or I'll spend the entire two years I'm supposed to be braced feeling sorry for myself. I fully intend upon trying every ligature color available and making my two years as fun as possible - always with my eyes on the prize as they say.

As for your comment/wish "That I can stop being so sensitive" - oh BOY did that hit home. I'm 45 (almost 46) and I guess since I'm still this way, I'm going to assume I'm not going to change. You will probably always be sensitive but you can certainly work on those snappy comebacks, right?

Okay. I'm back to reading your story. I'm not braced (the one-week countdown begins today!) and I'm the type of person who tries to gather all information I can in preparation. I'm still not looking forward to the dental dam/brick/whatever the heck you call it being shoved in my mouth for TWO HOURS but I'm trying to remember that I can control my breathing and do the whole "mind over matter" thing. I hope. Heh.

Anyway, thanks for creating your story thread. Back to reading. . .

[seriousthinker]

Hi,

I had to post a reply because we have the same braces! Clarity SL! I've had mine on for 4 weeks now and I'm due for my first adjustment on Jan 4th, can't wait.

It didn't take me long to choose between this type and clear with elastics. I have had no staining at all and I have eaten lots of foods that would have stained clear ligs.

Check out my blog to see my pics, got a link somewhere. I haven't updated in a few weeks but will be when I go for my adjustment.

ST

[RedDress]

I have a moderate deep bite, very large overjet. Vertical growth pattern with a small lower jaw I think like 9mm??
.

Hi, Elle,
9 mm is what?

I have all the same lovely things otherwise. Thank you for you detailed answer.

[Ellebraced]

I have a moderate deep bite, very large overjet. Vertical growth pattern with a small lower jaw I think like 9mm??
.

Hi, Elle,
9 mm is what?

I have all the same lovely things otherwise. Thank you for you detailed answer.

Hi reddress

I think the 9mm (I measured before with a ruler) lol... is the gap between my lower teeth and upper teeth. So my lower jaw needs to move forward 9mm to be in the correct position.

Oh I forgot class 2 malocclusion. I will post some pictures of my overbite soon