If you want to share the detailed saga of your braces story, this is the place to do it. You can use this forum as a braces journal, editing and updating your posts as your treatment goes on. Remember to also visit the main ArchWired.com site for additional stories from other readers!
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Tomorrow is my big Brace Day so I am starting my journey right here! I have been unhappy with my teeth for quite some time now, and have decided to take action and do something about it-no more talking-I'm walking the walk!! While I have been thinking of getting braces for as long as I can remember, I finally had my first consultation last week..and yes, I am getting braced 1 week later!!
I was told that my treatment time will be 18 months...I am going to have ceramic uppers-metal lowers..here is hoping that the ortho's estimate is right on track. I am getting pretty nervous at this point because this is going to be such a big change to go through these next couple of years. Plus, I am finding myself looking in the mirror more to see what my smile looks like.....it's almost like making sure you can remember somebody's face because you're not going to see them for a while..or ever again! I know it will all be worth it in the end and I am so thankful that I have everyone on here to share my story with! Below are some pictures of my teeth today....tomorrow I will post pics with the braces...I can't believe this is going to happen in just a few hours! WOW!!
Thank you KK, Linda and Swiss for your support! I have done it-I'm officially braced! The appointment wasn't too bad...i just didn't like having the mouth expander on-i felt like I was going to choke on my tongue! It was a very strange feeling..luckily I didn't really taste anything too bad, but the sealant went down my throat a little, and I do believe that it tasted like rotten eggs!! But that's all over with now!
The assistant had to put some sort of contraption on my back molar to keep me from biting down all the way...all I feel right now is a little pressure, but I can tell that my jaw will probably hurt later because my bite has changed. I went and bought myself a vanilla milkshake after the appointment before heading back to work...milkshakes always make me feel better! I feel like I've got 3 arms or something right now, but my friends say that it's not bad and they aren't that obivious at all...i think i just feel this way because it's my mouth!
I am just glad that I went through with it and didn't chicken out. I'm not going to lie, before she put the brackets on I was eyeing the door and thinking, "It's not too late, run! Run for your life..What are you doing??" It's done and over with now, and I can't wait to watch the progress. Here is hoping that I won't be too impatient-you guys are going to have to help me with that!! I will post some new pictures tonight when I get home..right now I am work so it isn't exactly the right "photo opportunity." Thanks again for all of your support!
Here are some pictures of my newly braced teeth! I am on day 2 now, and don't feel too much pain-just a lot of pressure. However, when I try to touch my teeth together or push them a little it REALLY hurts! Guess I should learn not to do that, right??
The brackets are rubbing against the inside of my mouth, and is resulting in the beginning of some sores..I've been coating on the wax-and slept with a mouthful of it last night. I had spaghetti for dinner and wine and was surprised that I had no staining and that the food didn't really get caught up in the brackets (of course, I mostly just put it in my mouth and swallowed because chewing is near impossible at this point!) Also, flossing should be considered an Olympic sport! There are spots that I cannot possibly get floss into-it's just so tight and when I pull the floss out I am afraid my teeth will come out with it! So far so good though...i keep waiting for throbbing pain, but here is hoping that I won't feel anything of the sort. Ok, enough talking, here's the pics:
Can't wait for the railroad tracks to straighten out!!
Congratulations on your braces! I just had mine put on 2 days ago and you're right it is nearly impossible to eat at this point. I've been having soup, mashed potatos, yogurts, and lots of water!
Definitely read all the newbies info; it'll help you a great deal!
Thank you for the replies! Brunoise-I got ceramics on the upper 6 and metal on the rest...The brand my ortho uses is American Orthodontics...I think my ceramics are called "Radiance"..i looked on their website and that looks like their main brand, but I might be wrong about that...The doc told me I shouldn't need any extractions..i didn't need any spacers to get started, and haven't been told anything about an expander...i'm hoping the treatment plan can stay as simple as possible!
Sumendoza-yes, eating is a total task! I've been eating the soup and yogurt as well..maybe I'll lose a few pounds in this process...
Thank you everyone for your kind words! Flossing has become a little easier..practice makes perfect I suppose..On another note, I had one of my premolars extracted about 10 years ago and I never had an implant or any other work done on it because I was told it would make orthodontic treatment more difficult-anyways, i definitely feel like the gap is already closing a little bit..i can't fit my tongue in there as well as I use to and I took a mirror and looked at it closer and it definintely looks smaller to me...maybe it's all in my mind, but I'll take whatever I can at this point!
I just got off the phone with my little sister who has had braces for about 1.5 years now..she is due to get hers removed in less than 6 months..it's funny how I am asking my 15 year old sister for advice..she assures me things will get better soon and I won't even notice they are there. I can't wait until I can see the end of the tunnel like she can...they originally told her 4 years and never suspected her teeth to move as quickly as they did..I hope that's in the gene pool!!
Hi All! Today was kind of a bummer. I went to the mall after work, ate dinner, and decided to treat myself to an ice cream cone...it was soooo yummy, and I could hardly wait to get to the cone...but, oh yeah, I can't eat the cone right now, because if I do my teeth feel like they are going to fall out of my head! Oh, you should have seen the pathetic look on my face, my friend thought I looked like a little girl that just lost her puppy. I must admit, I made a valiant effort..I was trying to break pieces of the cone off so I could at least throw them in the back of my mouth and eat with the two teeth that actually meet at this point, but it turned out to be a total mess!! Alright, I'm really trying to be positive, but I miss eating food like a normal person!!! On a positive note, I've made it one week with braces and the world hasn't stopped turning like I thought it might..I'm just HUNGRY and would love to just bite into something without having to shred it into pieces first!! ARGHH!!!! Ok, I'm done ranting..i know it will get better...i PRAY it does!
Thanks Karen...I know it will get better..everyday it gets easier. My teeth feel less tender in the front today, so that's a step in the right direction..I'm already starting to get to the point where I don't even realize they are there...it's only a couple of minutes, but at least I don't feel like I have a third arm anymore! Saturday I am going out and having sushi...hopefully it will go down more easily then! This isn't going to be bad at all once I can get to the point where I can start eating more normally again..I'm sure the time will fly...it's the initial adjustment that seems to last forever!
i got those exact same ones yday.. they do feel a lil wierd now.. i guess i ll get used to it.. and am just kinda scared to go out..i dont want my braces to take over me .. but am a lil nervous....
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