Kristine's Metal Mouth

[Kristine]

My story started earlier this spring, when I finally dragged my cowardly butt to the dentist for the first time in about... (hangs head shamefully) 8 years. To my amazement, I only had two tiny cavities that had actually been there since I had seen a dentist previously. They said my teeth looked great.

(Not to get too far off topic here, but I credit my great dental health to the low carb lifestyle I've been living for several years now. When you don't give those mouth bugs sugar and starch to feed on, your teeth stay very clean indeed.)

By the time I went back a week later for my cleaning, I had had an awakening. I was determined to take care of my teeth, darn it! (Insert cheesy patriotic music) I want these pearly whites for the rest of my life. So if I'm going to be stuck with them for decades, I reasoned, I better do what I should have done as a teenager - braces!

I requested an ortho consult.

My problems: (a) I'm missing a lower bicuspid, and now my front bottom teeth have been migrating into the gap. I should have listened to my dentist as a teen and had an implant put in. (b) I also have a heck of a crossbite. My upper bicuspids point inward, and are always irritating my tongue. I also have canines a la 'vampire fangs', but I kinda think they're neat, so I'll miss them.

So: I had my records appointment in July and my consult in August. I was really shocked when I saw the molds. I'm used to seeing my teeth in the mirror, so to see them the opposite way of how I usually see them really emphasized the problems. Sometimes I'd look in the mirror and think I was imagining the misalignment, but wow... the molds don't lie.

What's next: I get those little fillings on Sept 7. My spacers go in on Sept 13, then I get metal-mouthed on the 20th!

I'm going with plain old boring metal braces because I still have to eat. I don't really care how visible they are. I walk around with tattoos and piercings, so the braces are nothing.

To be continued!

[Chris]

Are you going to eventually put in an implant on that missing molar or are you going for a bridge after ortho? I hate missing 2 bottom molars (will have implants), my tongue seems to gravitate to that area and to the remaining isolated back molar ( I guess it wants to reassure itself that its still there)

[Kristine]

Hi! I'm not sure how I'm going to fill the gap yet. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. *groan*!

[Kristine]

Well, I'm one step closer to braces. I got a couple of small fillings today. My dentist used that 'sandblaster' thing instead of the traditional drill, so I didn't even need Novocain. I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't feel a thing! The only painful part was a little bit of drilling at the end, to polish the fillings off. But I prefered that to that big ol' Novocain needle. Forget that!

The dental assistant wished me well with the braces. She said she had them, too, when she was 27. I think it's cool that so many adults are getting them. I think it's a sign of the times; that teeth are no longer considered a lost cause once you're an adult.

I'm going out for chicken wings this Sunday, for what will probably be the last time for a year or two!

[Dodger(UK)]

Maka the most of your chicken wings Kristine and try to pop in an Indian curry or two if you can before you get your braces lol (oh how I miss a good curry mmmmmm)

Nice hearing your story and Good luck with your treatment.

[Kristine]

Thanks, Dodger! I refuse to give up curry. Metal brackets and coloured ligs... I should be able to get away with it.

[Kristine]

I got spacers today. They feel... wierd. They didn't hurt, but I know I was on an endorphin rush afterward. I felt shaky and strange the way I did after I got my tattoos.

I had some shopping to do, and I took myself out for some chili at Burger King. Perfect texture for not being able to chew properly.

My teeth are somewhat achy... more annoying than anything. I took some ibuprofen. I'll be making salmon and mashed cauliflower for dinner.

[Kristine]

Gah - I popped a spacer out!

It took me a couple of tries, but I popped it back in with my thumbnail. Not before taking a minute to floss and rinse with mouthwash, though. (Yuck!)

At least I didn't swallow it!

Tomorrow's my big day.

Protein shake mix: check.
Cauliflower, squash, and other mash-able veggies: check.
Hard boiled eggs: check.
Anbesol: check.
Advil: check.
Vodka: check!

[Leslie]

Good luck tomorrow, Kristine !

Sounds like you've got your checklist in order (don't forget the Ice Cream and Baileys .

Looking forward to hearing how it went .

[Dodger(UK)]

Yes, good lukck, Kristine. Tomorrow is the start of a most amazing adventure lol

[Kristine]

Okay, I didn't get full braces today. I wasn't sure about that. When I sent my treatment plan off to my insurance company, I accidentally sent both copies, so I don't have a copy to refer to.

Today was molar bands and elastics. I guess they need to line up my molars better before the braces go on. That's where the teeth are in a cross bite.

They're scratching up my tongue already.

The elastics go from the back of my top molars to the front of my bottom molars.

The orthodontist was really nice. He commented that I'm a very good brusher! I'll credit my fancy little Oral B 'lectric toothbrush!

[Dodger(UK)]

Nice one, at least you made that first step.. when do you get full braces, have you been given a date?

[Kristine]

I go back in four weeks, so hopefully then.

[johnt89]

yah they're really not that bad, but its better just to get started sooner so u won't be kicken ure self later!! good Luck!!

sam

[Kristine]

Thanks, John!

I'm half way to that next appointment. My teeth have really moved. I can't see it as much as I can feel it. My bite is really out of whack!

On the negative side, I think the upper molars are moving forward and worsening the crowding somewhat. It's really painful to floss around the bicuspids, so they must be moving. But that's probably temporary, and I guess once the brackets are on, things will change.