braces really aren't that bad

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#1 Post by **kim22** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 2:54 pm

for anyone out there whos looking to get braces, you must be scared to death from all of the horror stories just like i was. i'm 18, so compared to most people i got braces pretty late. 2 of my friends who were the same age got braces just before i did. i had always wanted them since i was younger because i was so self conscious about my teeth. i had a really severe over-bite and my two front teeth were turned inwards so they stuck out alot. my mom had never really taken my requests for braces seriously because she knew how expensive they were and we had no idea about payment plans. so when my 2 friends had just gotten braces they explained to me everything i needed to know about setting up a consultation and cost and what not. They both complained about an extreme amount of pain, and how terrible life with braceswas. but i really didnt care i just wanted to fix my teeth.

i went for the consult where she told me i'd need both top and bottom braces, even though my bottom teeth a perfectly straight, it's to correct the over bite. the ortho said the cost would be $4000 right on, and handed me a pamphlet about the braces she would be using. her office uses only speed braces. they're much smaller and less noticable. i'm also assuming much more comfortable in your mouth. she said i'd need 2 teeth pulled from the top and that due to my over bite the treatment time would be anywhere between 1.5 -2 years depending on how quickly my teeth move. also at this ortho, every patient gets their top braces first then a few months later, bottom braces are placed.

2 months later i went back to get the top braces placed. the entire process only took about 25 minutes. since i was having 2 teeth pulled, one from each side, they only connected my front 6 teeth. the teeth being pulled were the ones right after the fangs before he first molar. brackets were still placed on the back molars but with no wire.

when i first looked in the mirror i though to myself "oh no what have i done". the braces enhanced everything i hated about my teeth. they made the two front teeth seem to stick out even more. she assured me that within a few months they would look normal. i went home waiting for this pain my friends would always complain about when they had gotten their wire changed. i waited, and waited. 3 hours later, still not really any pain. i mean it would hurt to bite into something, but i could still eat everything normally if i just cut it.

getting my teeth pulled wasnt bad either. the noise you can hear is probably the worst part. i got my teeth pulled about 3 months after the braces were placed. by this time, the front 6 teeth were already straight. i was amazed at how fast the braces had worked. 10 days after the teeth were out, i got a new wire which connected all of my top teeth. i'll admit there was a little more tenerness with this wire. still not as much as i was expecting. my friend keeps saying just wait till you get elastics. but then again thats what she said about the rest of the treatment stages.

my top teeth are now almost completely straight, i just have a bit of the gap left from where the teeth were pulled. its still in the process of closing up. i get my bottom braces in a couple of days, they'll all be connected that day since i didnt need teeth pulled from the bottom.

take it from me, you wont know what it's like until you do it for yourself. don't let all these stories about "the pain" stop you from getting braces. i have yet to experience this pain, im starting to think i never really will. another tip for someone looking to get braces, dont just take the first orthodontist you're recomended to. alot of ortho's do alot of unnecessary pre-treatments to get more money out of their patients, which isnt fair. so shop around, find one who's good at what they do, recommended by others, and gets straight to the point with sorting out your teeth. you'llbe glad you did in the long run.

#2 Post by **Miss Smiley** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 5:09 pm

Wow, you lucky girl! Sounds like you ran into the right ortho. I'll keep up with your progress since you're so positive about it. You'll have to throw me a little of your optimism.

#3 Post by **kim22** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 9:26 pm

i actually didnt take pictures lol. when i first got them i thought it was gonna take so long to see any progress that it wouldnt matter. i regret that now, i wish i did because me teeth already look so different. and yea i have no idea why my ortho only puts the tops on first. they told me even if they have no overbite they still get the bottoms on at another appointment.

#4 Post by **AmybettyB** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 2:10 am

Hi Kim,

Sounds like things are going smoothly for you! I'd take some pics If i were you, I've only been braced for a couple of weeks but the progress I can already see from my pictures is really good for when I'm not feeling so positive! Though with all your positivity you probably don't need it!

Amy

#5 Post by **kim22** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 9:28 am

yea im pretty sure it is just so it's easier to get used to. the speed braces though arent hard to get used to at all. the only two i've ever needed wax for was the fangs, because of the hook on the bracket. but after about 2 weeks, i just forgot i even had them. it's not always necessarily months later. it's jsut like the next available appointment. i have a really packed ortho, every time i go i get in at leat 30 minutes later than my scheduled appointment. sometimes you'd be lucky enough to get an appointment a week later, like i did with getting my tops all connected. but thanks for the support everyone, i'm hoping the bottom braces go as smoothly as the tops have. i think i will ask my ortho for my pictures. i mean i have just regular pictures but you cant see really closely, my teeth always looked really straight in pictures cuz of the flash im assuming. my next appointment is the 21st so i'll ask her then. thanks

#6 Post by **kim22** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 12:40 pm

ok so i've been trying to take pictures of my mouth. not as easy as i imagined ahah. i'll keep trying though, i'll get pics up as soon as i can lol

#7 Post by **kim22** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 4:04 pm

ok so i've taken pics of my upper and lower arch and my top teeth and bottoms, as well as my bite....now if someone could just explain to me how exactly i get them on here that would be great lol. sorry i have no idea about this kind of stuff. so if anyone could help me out id really appreciate it

#8 Post by **kim22** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 12:02 am

Upper Arch 15-Aug-07

Lower Arch 15-Aug-07

Tops 15-Aug-07, braced since 26-Apr-07

Bottoms 15-Aug-07, braces placed on 21-Aug-07

Bite 15-Aug-07

#9 Post by **kim22** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 12:00 pm

thanks alot karen. im working on getting the before pics from my ortho. i go on the 21st of august to get the bottom braces placed, so i'll ask her then. yea my teeth have made pretty good progress, the only thing that really bothers me about them now is how round the top teeth are. i think it looks really weird, but my dentist said she can easily file them down and shape them when the braces come off, but she said they'll most likely look different once the over bite is fixed and thinks i wont need to get them filed. but i still think they'll be sort of round

. i'll keep everyone updated with new pics. i'll take some after i get the bottoms on. thanks for the positive comments!

#10 Post by **Laurie** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 1:13 pm

It looks like things are coming along nicely!

#11 Post by **mrsphase74** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 9:35 pm

Looking good already kim!

#12 Post by **kim22** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 5:14 am

thanks laurie and mrsphase! i keep saying that if my teeth were naturally the way they are right now, i wouldnt have gotten braces. so i'm happy with my results so far. my mouth isnt really having a good day today though. this bare wire is really bothering me. it's leaving HUGE indents in my cheeks. it started about two weeks ago. the right side isnt really bad, it has a small line but it doesnt hurt or anything. the left side however is a whole different story. it's been digging in so much it's starting to hurt alot. i doubt i can put wax on bare wire? does anyone have any suggestions? me and my poor cheeks would really appreciate it, thanks!

#13 Post by **Clairey Fairey** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 12:33 pm

Your teeth already look lovely!! Your gonna look good

And yes I agree, braces aren't that bad, hardly notice them!!

#14 Post by **kim22** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 11:55 am

thanks KK. that helped. it had started to heal anyway. i wish i knew that earlier lol. it's mostly just when im sleeping, i'll wake up with huge ridges in my cheeks, it sucks. well there hasnt really been any movement lately. not that i can see or feel anyway. i get my bottoms on tuesday. theres only really one tooth down there thats out of line. im sure it will line up pretty fast. anyway i'll take pics when i get them and i'll post them for everyone. thanks again for the advice!

#15 Post by **kim22** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 7:06 pm

sooo the bottoms went on today. it took alot longer than the tops did for some reason. theres not really much pain. they just feel weird. they feel like they're gonna be a little harder to get used to than the tops were. i almost needed a bite plate, but once the brackets were on and she had me bite down she said i should be fine with out it but to call them if i have any problems with it. it feels weird like my molars arent all completely touching anymore. i'm hoping i get used to this relatively quickly. i took some pics but my camera battery died so i'll post them later.