Metal Mouth Message Board

So I thought since I have been on this site for a while and have had my braces for 3 months that I should start my journey to the wonderful world of braces. I unfortunately did not take an "before" braces pictures so I had to find the best picture I could that shows how my teeth started.



Here is my smile pre-braces. As you can see I have some gaps and an uneven "manner" about them.

I also unfortunately did not take any pictures right after I got braces. I started with upper brackets and spacers which were applied August 25, 2006. The archwire was not put on until September 15th so I have only had the archwire about 2 months in this next picture.



As you can see my teeth are not so uneven but the gaps are still there. I've only had the archwire 2 months, as I said, so much work to be done on closing those gaps. This picture was taken one week after I had the bottom brackets and spacers put on. As you can see my right canine needs to be pulled in with the rest of my bottom arch, but other than that my bottom teeth are pretty in line.

Now for the "real" problem in my teeth. The tooth I have deemed the "wayward molar".



As you look at my arch everything looks in line except for that pesky little molar on the right side. That is where most of the work lies. I should add that before getting braces I had my two wisdom teeth on the right side (#16 and #17) removed. The bottom wisdom tooth (#17) was impacted and as a result grew in sideways. The upper wisdom tooth (#16) was removed as room was needed to be made for the wayward molar. You can see in the above picture where that wisdom tooth used to lie.

My next adjustment is Dec 8th where the bottom archwire and bands will be put on. I will post pictures of all that after the appointment.

The journey has begun...

Thanks Kiwi. I wasn't that unhappy with the aesthetic appearance of my teeth except for the gaps. I also forgot to mention I have a crossbite that will need to be corrected. But as you can imagine that wayward molar is quite an annoyance. My tongue sits sideways, I am constantly biting it, and the wayward molar and the tooth it resides behind are both not very easy to clean. I also didn't like my crossbite or the canine that sticks out on my lower arch.

With the exception of the wayward molar your teeth will be corrected in no time. I look forward to seeing your wayward molar get tucked back inline with the rest.

Thanks for the support M1k3y and linda21. I am excited to finally get the pesky molar out of the way. I have been dealing with it for a a vast majority of my life.

It's definately not a silly thing Maryaten. That tooth is a big pain in the rear. At least it has never been very visible but I have still always been self-conscious about it especially with the guys that I have dated. I always wondered what they really thought about it like if it grossed them out or something.

I was able to take a much better picture of my upper arch and consequently the wayward molar. I also took a picture of my lower arch in which you can see my spacers and that annoying little canine thats sticking out.

the lovely upper arch with wayward molar


and the bottom arch which will wired in about 5 days



As a side note, all the pictures of spacers I have seen have been a blue. Mine are turquoise. I don't think I have seen any pictures of people with the same spacers as me and in fact they are constantly referred to as blue. Just thought it was a little funny...and random.

I was able to take a much better picture of my upper arch and consequently the wayward molar. I also took a picture of my lower arch in which you can see my spacers and that annoying little canine thats sticking out.

the lovely upper arch with wayward molar


and the bottom arch which will wired in about 5 days



As a side note, all the pictures of spacers I have seen have been blue. Mine are turquoise. I don't think I have seen any pictures of people with the same spacers as me and in fact they are constantly referred to as blue. Just thought it was a little funny...and random.

Sorry for the double post

Hey Ken, thanks for stopping by. Actually the bottom spacers were not troublesome at all. My upper spacers were a big pain. It was a major relief that they did not cause as much pain. In fact I got one of my uppers wedged up all the way against my gum... that was very painful.

Yes that WM does have much work ahead of it but I am hoping it wont take too long. I am SO anxious to have that tooth moved in. I will probably jump out of the chair and hug my ortho once he says we can start moving that bugger in.

I'm excited to get my lowers wired. It was really neat to see how quickly things evened out on my uppers when the wire was first put on. I am hoping I am going to get a new wire on my uppers sometime soon. I don't see what else needs to be done up there with the current wire. My arch is all in line. The only problem is that wretched molar and I know a stronger wire will need to be placed in order to start moving it in.

Hmmm... maybe just a different spacer color for a special person? Royalty shouldn't have to wear the same colors as the commoners, right? Glad to hear that they aren't giving you too much pain.

haha, I like your thinking cowlypso I am above all the rest of you simple folk, haha. TOTALLY kidding folks. I don't think like that, I swear.

Nice smiley there braced again. Oh man, you guys are making me laugh. I am second thinking the nickname I made on here, lol.

Let me explain the nickname... I am obsessed with all things Disney which includes the Disney princesses. I live about 15 mins from Disneyland and I got there ALL the time (helps when you have an annual pass) so I consider myself a princess. Plus my mommy says I've always been her little princess, hehe

Thought it might be nice to give a little background to myself since you are examining my teeth so closely, lol.

I've unfortunately never been to Disneyworld, or even Florida for that matter. I live in Orange County, California. People always say Disneyworld is better, but hey I'm loyal to the original house of mouse You should come to Southern California instead of Florida. The weather is much better here... less humid.

P.S. You spelled Kissimmee correctly

San Diego is BEAUTIFUL, but I am sure you have visited your relatives so you know. I frequent Sea World down there as well. Orange County is right in between LA and San Diego. Of course everyone knows about OC now because of the movie/ TV show(s).

Telling people where I live used to go like this:
random person: "Where in California do you live?"
me: "Orange County"
random person: ::blank stare:: "Where's that?"
me: *sigh* "I live about 15 mins from Disneyland and an hour and a half from downtown LA."
random person: "Oh ok"

now they go something like this:
random person: "Where in California do you live?"
me: "Orange County"
random person: "Oh yeah, you guys got that movie and TV show"
me: ::blank stare::*sigh* "yeah"

OK wow so now for being very off topic. What's this whole forum about again... oh yeah, braces! hhmmm, on topic on topic...I am excited for my adjustment Friday. I'm planning red and green ligs for Christmas, but for some reason I have a feeling I am going to have power chains thrown at me by my ortho. I have a sneeking suspicion that the one time the color of my ligs are important to me I won't get what I want.
I'm only 3 months into braces and I am super ancy to find out when the WM will be moved into place so I think I am going to ask my ortho when/how. But I have the last appointment in the day and the last time I had a late appt. I felt so rushed. I just hope he is up to my "quizzing"

LOL, yeah I never watch the show(s) either.

My ortho has colored power chains I just really want alternating red and green for Christmas.
Actually when I was in there at the end of the day it wasn't too bad because he did EVERYTHING for my adjustment. Typically it's the techs that put on my new ligs or put the wire on, but they were busy cleaning things up and getting stuff together so he oversaw. I see very little of him usually so it was nice. So hopefully he will be there the majority of my adjustment Friday. We'll see. I really want WM to join his friends. I am going to be obsessed with taking progress pics once they start working on it.