,How are the spacers going? Good I hope....hope those buggers are staying in there. Nice pics by the way. Love to look and compare. Not long now and you'll have your bottoms....and then, the fun really starts!!!
mikesmile's Orthodontic Journey
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jensceana73
- Posts: 289
- Joined: Tue Feb 23, 2010 1:11 pm
- Location: cow country
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Hey Mike ,
How are the spacers going? Good I hope....hope those buggers are staying in there. Nice pics by the way. Love to look and compare. Not long now and you'll have your bottoms....and then, the fun really starts!!!
,How are the spacers going? Good I hope....hope those buggers are staying in there. Nice pics by the way. Love to look and compare. Not long now and you'll have your bottoms....and then, the fun really starts!!!
If God wanted me to have straight teeth, he would have made my parents rich..or so I was told....
Click
to view my SAGAHi 
That's funny, Cathy, that we have similar damage on the lower teeth. I looked again at your pics. Yours look a little twisted/tilted like mine too. What's so curious is that you have an overbite and I had more of an underbite or edge-to edge bite. But trauma nonetheless...
Thanks for the encouragement about my progress. Yea, it's funny how people can be when they see braces on an adult. If you're teeth aren't outright crooked, they wanna know "Why d'ja get braces?"
I really don't mind showing them why...I find it fascinating, so what the heck! But I do notice that no one is as interested in our teeth as we are!
Jen thanks, the spacers are still in there. Ironically, they are bothering me more now than the first couple of days they were in - especially when I chew. I still have more than a week to go before lower b-day. I'm probably going to ingest one by then...
Second Time In Braces - Estimate 12-14 Months
That's funny, Cathy, that we have similar damage on the lower teeth. I looked again at your pics. Yours look a little twisted/tilted like mine too. What's so curious is that you have an overbite and I had more of an underbite or edge-to edge bite. But trauma nonetheless...
Thanks for the encouragement about my progress. Yea, it's funny how people can be when they see braces on an adult. If you're teeth aren't outright crooked, they wanna know "Why d'ja get braces?"
I really don't mind showing them why...I find it fascinating, so what the heck! But I do notice that no one is as interested in our teeth as we are!Jen thanks, the spacers are still in there. Ironically, they are bothering me more now than the first couple of days they were in - especially when I chew. I still have more than a week to go before lower b-day. I'm probably going to ingest one by then...
Second Time In Braces - Estimate 12-14 Months
Mike-
Strangely, I have no problem opening my mouth and showing people the "damage", but for some reason... they don't particularly want to see it. Can't imagine why... With certain coworkers, I actually have to pause my after-lunch clean-up because they get grossed out by it. I can understand the proxy brush part making them queasy, but not the actual brushing. I tell them "What, you changed your kids' dirty diapers, yet you can't see someone brush their teeth?"
When my ortho first looked at my teeth, he commented "Your bottom teeth are pretty straight... oops, except for these front 4!" I truly never realized how crooked they were until I got that lovely "mirror view". I wonder if they photoshop these things to make them look worse to us? haha
I responded in my thread to your question about the hooks/elastics. I tell ya - the things I go through to get a proper pic to post here.
-Cathy
P.S. Hang on to those spacers as long as possible! It probably won't hinder your actual bracing (I got all my brackets, except for the molar ones, on my first day, and got wired all the way up to the bands.)
-Cathy
Strangely, I have no problem opening my mouth and showing people the "damage", but for some reason... they don't particularly want to see it.
Can't imagine why... With certain coworkers, I actually have to pause my after-lunch clean-up because they get grossed out by it. I can understand the proxy brush part making them queasy, but not the actual brushing. I tell them "What, you changed your kids' dirty diapers, yet you can't see someone brush their teeth?"When my ortho first looked at my teeth, he commented "Your bottom teeth are pretty straight... oops, except for these front 4!" I truly never realized how crooked they were until I got that lovely "mirror view". I wonder if they photoshop these things to make them look worse to us? haha
I responded in my thread to your question about the hooks/elastics. I tell ya - the things I go through to get a proper pic to post here.
-Cathy
P.S. Hang on to those spacers as long as possible! It probably won't hinder your actual bracing (I got all my brackets, except for the molar ones, on my first day, and got wired all the way up to the bands.)
-Cathy
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jensceana73
- Posts: 289
- Joined: Tue Feb 23, 2010 1:11 pm
- Location: cow country
- Contact:
Thanks Cathy and Jen for your encouragement. 
Today was my 4th adjustment...and also Brace Day #2.
I got my bottom braces on (and got rid of those dreaded spacers). Now I finally have a full metal mouth, and feeling very good about it too! I feel like my treatment is definitely tweaked up a notch now.
So this is how it went... I was a little nervous, but not like the first time. The first thing my tech did was ask me if the spacers stayed in. We were glad they did
. Then she removed them and began fitting me with different size molar bands. The ortho took over and they installed my 2 bottom molar bands. It was a little unpleasant and my tongue got chewed up a bit. Before the cheek retractors went in, I had a chance to bite down and noticed that only my very back molars touch now. Somehow the bands prevent me from fully biting down now. The tech assured me later that this is only temporary. My bottom teeth have a lot of leveling to do and will make proper contact eventually when that is achieved. The cheek retractors then went on, and my tech began her preparation work. Once that was done, the ortho came over and began glueing the brackets on. He explained regarding the bottom front teeth that "it will look really weird" at first. My brackets (and now the wire) are really uneven because so much leveling has to happen. By the position of the brackets, it appears that I may get a little more length in those damaged lower incisors.
When the banding stage was completed (and the cheek retractors off), the tech asked what color ligs I wanted. These girls just won't let me get away with boring lig colors. I picked burgundy. She liked my choice...I actually think they look very cool too. Overall, I like the way my braces look.
I'm doing fine so far (no pain yet except for my chewed up tongue) but the bottom braces do give me a feeling like I have a wad of something
resting against my lower lip. They do make me lisp a little when I talk - more than the top ones did, but I think that will go away.
I can whistle, but haven't tried kissing yet.
Here's some photos taken today. Just Click to Enlarge.
Today was a good day. I'm very excited now to have my bottom teeth involved SPAM SPAM SPAMMING.
Second Time In Braces - Estimate 12-14 Months
Today was my 4th adjustment...and also Brace Day #2.
I got my bottom braces on (and got rid of those dreaded spacers). Now I finally have a full metal mouth, and feeling very good about it too! I feel like my treatment is definitely tweaked up a notch now.
So this is how it went... I was a little nervous, but not like the first time. The first thing my tech did was ask me if the spacers stayed in. We were glad they did
. Then she removed them and began fitting me with different size molar bands. The ortho took over and they installed my 2 bottom molar bands. It was a little unpleasant and my tongue got chewed up a bit. Before the cheek retractors went in, I had a chance to bite down and noticed that only my very back molars touch now. Somehow the bands prevent me from fully biting down now. The tech assured me later that this is only temporary. My bottom teeth have a lot of leveling to do and will make proper contact eventually when that is achieved. The cheek retractors then went on, and my tech began her preparation work. Once that was done, the ortho came over and began glueing the brackets on. He explained regarding the bottom front teeth that "it will look really weird" at first. My brackets (and now the wire) are really uneven because so much leveling has to happen. By the position of the brackets, it appears that I may get a little more length in those damaged lower incisors.When the banding stage was completed (and the cheek retractors off), the tech asked what color ligs I wanted. These girls just won't let me get away with boring lig colors. I picked burgundy. She liked my choice...I actually think they look very cool too. Overall, I like the way my braces look.
I'm doing fine so far (no pain yet except for my chewed up tongue) but the bottom braces do give me a feeling like I have a wad of something
resting against my lower lip. They do make me lisp a little when I talk - more than the top ones did, but I think that will go away.I can whistle, but haven't tried kissing yet.
Here's some photos taken today. Just Click to Enlarge.
Today was a good day. I'm very excited now to have my bottom teeth involved SPAM SPAM SPAMMING.
Second Time In Braces - Estimate 12-14 Months
Well, as expected I woke up this morning with some pain across my bottom teeth. I haven't tried to eat anything yet, but when I do it will definitely be something soft. I see that my new bottom wire was hard at work while I was asleep. Good news is...I don't feel any irritation from the brackets (not yet anyway), so haven't had to use any wax on them.
I forgot to mention yesterday...At my appointment, both my ortho and tech commented on how nicely my teeth have moved. The tech asked me if I had noticed. Noticed? How could any of us bracefaces not notice movement when we stare at our mouths in the mirror every day repeatedly.! I'm just as obsessed with my teeth now as most folks here on this forum report. Nevertheless, it was huge for me to hear that confirmation coming from the "professionals". I told my tech that I enjoy taking a lot of pictures to record my progress. She thought that was awesome.
My littlest daughter (2-1/2 ) took a long look into my mouth yesterday and was thrilled to see more braces (and red ligs). "Daddy, they look so cool.....your braces are so cool. You got a lot of 'em now."
Another thing I wanted to mention regarding us ortho patients' obsession with our braces...My oldest daughter graduated from college last week, so of course there was a party for her. At this party were a number of family members whom I had not seen for a while (at least not since I got my braces). Despite my mingling socially - all the while smiling and opening my mouth to talk - not one person commented on my braces!
Go figure...
Second Time In Braces - Estimate 12-14 Months
I see that my new bottom wire was hard at work while I was asleep. Good news is...I don't feel any irritation from the brackets (not yet anyway), so haven't had to use any wax on them.I forgot to mention yesterday...At my appointment, both my ortho and tech commented on how nicely my teeth have moved. The tech asked me if I had noticed. Noticed?
How could any of us bracefaces not notice movement when we stare at our mouths in the mirror every day repeatedly.! I'm just as obsessed with my teeth now as most folks here on this forum report. Nevertheless, it was huge for me to hear that confirmation coming from the "professionals". I told my tech that I enjoy taking a lot of pictures to record my progress. She thought that was awesome.My littlest daughter (2-1/2 ) took a long look into my mouth yesterday and was thrilled to see more braces (and red ligs). "Daddy, they look so cool.....your braces are so cool. You got a lot of 'em now."
Another thing I wanted to mention regarding us ortho patients' obsession with our braces...My oldest daughter graduated from college last week, so of course there was a party for her. At this party were a number of family members whom I had not seen for a while (at least not since I got my braces). Despite my mingling socially - all the while smiling and opening my mouth to talk - not one person commented on my braces!
Go figure...
Second Time In Braces - Estimate 12-14 Months
Just thought I'd update a bit today. This past week has been awful since I got my bottom braces on. I thought they'd be a breeze to deal with, compared to the tops. Not! First of all, I have a small mouth & lips. The bottom braces feel like I have a wad of chewing tobacco in my lower lip. (Not that I've ever had any, but can only imagine.) I can't stand that feeling of fullness in my lower mouth, but I'm slowly getting used to them - until I eat.
Every single time I eat - even snacking - I bite up all inside my mouth. The hooks on the insides of my molar bands particularly bother me and hack up my tongue as well. My lower incisors are very loose and tender still, and it hurts to bite into anything that's not real soft. Arghhh! I'm already a slow eater to begin with...family and friends like to tease me about it...but now I have to eat at a snail's pace. I'm also still lisping somewhat when I talk. I sure hope this is all temporary! Sorry for venting, but for the first time in my treatment I'm truly uncomfortable.On a good note, I already see some movement in my lower teeth. The tops are continuing to move as well, so I'm happy about that.
The other day I ran into my old dentist. I run a sign business, and his practice needs a new sign, so they called me. Remembering I had braces years ago (he originally referred me for ortho treatment the first time), he got a kick out of seeing me braced up again. I told him I was "revisiting" orthodontics, and explained how my bite issues came back to haunt me. He said he remembered how tight everything was in the front of my bite. Then he told me he was getting braces too, and showed me how crowded and overlapped his own teeth had gotten.
I sure hope this week goes better than last...
Second Time In Braces - Estimate 12-14 Months
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jensceana73
- Posts: 289
- Joined: Tue Feb 23, 2010 1:11 pm
- Location: cow country
- Contact:
Hey Mike,
Sorry to hear about your soreness....I'll be sending good vibes your way in hopes that you have a better week.
I find that I get waaayyy more stuff caught in my bottom teeth than in my top...(braces). And as for a "lisp", yep...me too. It comes and goes though for me. Some days is worse than others, so when I least expect it...it'll creep up on me and sure as sugar...I'll say something and sound like I've been drinking. Real nice when your at church. NOT!!
Anyway, it will (as you already know) get better. I just had a god awful adjustment and thought life (eating wise) was gonna be miserable, but actually, this has been the best week yet. I can actually chew....MEAT. Ya..MEAT!!!
Sorry to hear about your soreness....I'll be sending good vibes your way in hopes that you have a better week.
I find that I get waaayyy more stuff caught in my bottom teeth than in my top...(braces). And as for a "lisp", yep...me too. It comes and goes though for me. Some days is worse than others, so when I least expect it...it'll creep up on me and sure as sugar...I'll say something and sound like I've been drinking. Real nice when your at church. NOT!!
Anyway, it will (as you already know) get better. I just had a god awful adjustment and thought life (eating wise) was gonna be miserable, but actually, this has been the best week yet. I can actually chew....MEAT. Ya..MEAT!!!
If God wanted me to have straight teeth, he would have made my parents rich..or so I was told....
Click
to view my SAGAmikesmile's orthodontic journey
Mike, wishing the coming days will be more comfortable for you. I will also be getting the bottom braces on four months after the uppers, and also have a very small mouth, so I am sure my experience will be similar to yours. I am also known as a very slow eater, so thanks for the "heads up" that this will be even worse.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Hope the tooth movement makes up for the difficulties.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Hope the tooth movement makes up for the difficulties.
Hey Mike!
Sorry for the delay in replying. I've been sick as a dog for the past couple of weeks, and am only now getting back into the swing of things.
First off... I LOVE your burgundy ligs!! Had I gotten traditional brackets, that was the color I was going to choose.
I'm sorry you're having so much difficulty with your lower braces. I know the feeling of the "tobacco behind your lower lip". It feels even worse when you're not hydrated, so be sure to drink lots of water. I had a bad cold, and my cough medicine helped the cough, but completely dehydrated me, so the inside of my mouth actually has bracket marks on it from my lips getting stuck to them! I'm even noticing that I'm biting the insides of my cheeks as I sleep, so I can no longer sleep on my sides. The insides of my cheeks are also rubbed raw from the brackets. I guess that means my bite is changing...? So frustrating...
But I'm glad you were able to get confirmation from your ortho on your progress. Mine is a man of few words, so I'll have to straight out ask him if he sees any progress. I'll tell ya now - my lower teeth that used to be pushed inwards, are now pushed out and, to me, look pretty jacked up. Some random upper teeth are beginning to hurt, so I'm actually HAPPY that there's some movement up there.
I think we're all "slow eaters" now, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I heard my doctor telling someone that we shouldn't be eating so fast, so we can give our brains a chance to detect when we're full.
Your lisp will probably come and go, until you get used to moving your tongue around in different ways, and as your bite changes. You will have good and bad weeks (as you know), so we all just have to hang in there.
Kudos!!!
-Cathy
Sorry for the delay in replying. I've been sick as a dog for the past couple of weeks, and am only now getting back into the swing of things.
First off... I LOVE your burgundy ligs!! Had I gotten traditional brackets, that was the color I was going to choose.
I'm sorry you're having so much difficulty with your lower braces. I know the feeling of the "tobacco behind your lower lip". It feels even worse when you're not hydrated, so be sure to drink lots of water. I had a bad cold, and my cough medicine helped the cough, but completely dehydrated me, so the inside of my mouth actually has bracket marks on it from my lips getting stuck to them! I'm even noticing that I'm biting the insides of my cheeks as I sleep, so I can no longer sleep on my sides. The insides of my cheeks are also rubbed raw from the brackets. I guess that means my bite is changing...? So frustrating...
But I'm glad you were able to get confirmation from your ortho on your progress. Mine is a man of few words, so I'll have to straight out ask him if he sees any progress. I'll tell ya now - my lower teeth that used to be pushed inwards, are now pushed out and, to me, look pretty jacked up.
Some random upper teeth are beginning to hurt, so I'm actually HAPPY that there's some movement up there.I think we're all "slow eaters" now, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I heard my doctor telling someone that we shouldn't be eating so fast, so we can give our brains a chance to detect when we're full.
Your lisp will probably come and go, until you get used to moving your tongue around in different ways, and as your bite changes. You will have good and bad weeks (as you know), so we all just have to hang in there.
Kudos!!!
-Cathy
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LARRYBOY56
- Posts: 51
- Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2010 8:20 pm
- Location: Oregon
Mike,
I have been following your journey with great interest. You responded to my early posts on the journey I have started as a fellow boomer. I have appreciated your updates more than you can know.
I officially finished with the dentist today. I have been wearing a "deprogrammer" to get my bite to relax into it's "normal" position, so that we know what we are shooting for with the braces. dentist took some final impressions and will be shipping all of my molds, impressions, etc. over to the orthodontist.
I will have my consult with the orthodontist in a couple weeks. Nervous as all get-out. I haven't had the advantage of having been through this as a kid. At 54, I thought I escaped and was perfectly happy to put my kids through the torture, not ever thinking I would have to go there myself. Looks like I am in for a 20-month sentence. WOW ! Looks like my retirement party will be with braces!
Thanks again for the encouragement. I have been enjoying following your posts.
Larry
I have been following your journey with great interest. You responded to my early posts on the journey I have started as a fellow boomer. I have appreciated your updates more than you can know.
I officially finished with the dentist today. I have been wearing a "deprogrammer" to get my bite to relax into it's "normal" position, so that we know what we are shooting for with the braces. dentist took some final impressions and will be shipping all of my molds, impressions, etc. over to the orthodontist.
I will have my consult with the orthodontist in a couple weeks. Nervous as all get-out. I haven't had the advantage of having been through this as a kid. At 54, I thought I escaped and was perfectly happy to put my kids through the torture, not ever thinking I would have to go there myself. Looks like I am in for a 20-month sentence. WOW ! Looks like my retirement party will be with braces!
Thanks again for the encouragement. I have been enjoying following your posts.
Larry
I'm beginning to feel more comfortable now after my second full week with the bottom braces.
Eating is still somewhat challenging, but I'm biting the insides of my cheeks less now! Biting into anything hard is still somewhat painful, as all of my bottom teeth are loose - except for the very back molars which are banded. These teeth are on the move!! I'm also seeing and feeling more movement in the upper arch as well. I'm really pleased...Thanks, Jen, for your good vibes. I have definitely noticed how much more food gets caught in the bottom braces than the tops (gravity). I'm still "lisping" when I talk, but it's not continuous. I remember the lisping thing from my first time in braces (when the bottoms went on), so I wasn't surprised at this happening again. I run a business - and deal with the public on a daily basis - so it can be a tad embarrassing to talk so funny.
MegP60+, thanks so much for you well wishes. . Lots of luck with your treatment. Have you posted your story on here, yet? Cathy, thanks for looking in on me . Sorry to hear you've been so sick. Glad you're feeling better! Thanks for the compliment on my burgundy ligs. I really like 'em too. In the beginning, I never imagined getting colors - didn't really want to draw even more attention to my braces - but they have added an extra element of fun to the whole experience. I know what you mean about random teeth hurting. It's funny how much happens between adjustments! Congrats on your movement. Larryboy56OOPS...pressed submit by accident. Thanks, Larry. I'm glad we can all inspire and encourage each other through this. That "deprogrammer" sounds like a very interesting device. I never heard of such a thing until you mentioned it. Lots of luck getting started with your treatment! You'll be on your way shortly...
Second Time In Braces - Estimate 12-14 Months
Second Time In Braces - Estimate 12-14 Months
mikesmile's orthodontic journey
Glad to hear things are getting a little more comfortable for you. No, I have not posted my story yet, just individual posts. I go for my first adjustment in two weeks and will try to get some pics together and post my story then.
