Metal Mouth Message Board

Friday is the big day! At 32, I'm finally going to get started on fixing the thing that's bothered me for soooo long...MY CROOKED TEETH.

I am so glad that I found this site. I've been agonizing over all the planning and the decisions I've had to make and you all have been a wealth of info. You have set my mind at ease about this big step and armed me with all the info I'll need on my new journey. I'm really excited, but nervous - I can't believe it's finally going to happen! Three consults, and three weeks later, and we're now moving full speed ahead. I've been so impatient to get things moving and now that it is I'm kinda nervous.

I've been told that I'm looking at 20 - 24 months of treatment; of course I'm hoping there is always the chance that it will go faster. I guess I'll see. I'm definitely going to take pictures so that I can track my progress. I'll try and post some soon.

Thanks again for all the info!

NerdGirl

Thats great your so excited. I just got my spacers in today and I get my expander fixed on 04OCT. I found this site to be a blessing. I never realized how many adults have braces. Best of luck with your braces, I am sure you will love your results.

Welcome

Good luck and keep us posted


I have had braces over a week now and doing great.... but did live in wax for the first couple days

Welcome! "Nervous and Excited" is a great combination for getting braces!

Thanks for the welcomes! Only about 7 1/2 hours to go...

I'm so anxious I can't sleep. Anyway, I hope all goes well tomorrow. I went to the store tonight and bought all my "supplies". Extra soft toothbrush, threaded floss, sensodyne toothpaste, dental picks, wax, ora-gel, and IBUPROFIN (the biggest bottle they had). So, I think I'm all set and ready to go. I was planning on going into work afterwards. I guess I'll see how I feel once they are on.

It will be weird at first, but I know it will be okay - thank in large part to all the positive info I've read on Archwired. So thanks again! I'll check back in once I've got them on. Woo hoo!

Are you braced yet???

Best of luck with your braces Nerdgirl!

Look forward to seeing progress pics!

Okay, so they are on...what the heck did I do to myself!

Everything went smoothly getting them on. They were really fast! I was in at 8:30 a.m. Had my full head scan done (pretty good lookin' skull!) and then I was in the chair getting them on. I had to get molar paddings though because of my how two of my teeth meet each other and the brackets & teeth would be hitting each other. But, I was out the door by 10:30 a.m. My biggest complaint right now is the stupid molar paddings. Can I just say they SUCK! I can't close my mouth all the way because of them and it just makes everything feel that weirder! I feel like I can't talk because my lips keep getting caught on the brackets, and smiling...well, that's a whole other problem!! Please tell me it gets better than this.

I'm going to try and post a picture, but I've already had problems trying to get an Avatar OR Ticker...so, we'll see.

Congratulations!! It really does get better, I've read how others have used the build ups to mash or imitate a chewing motion their food. Keep hydrated, it will help with the lips getting caught on brackets. Lip balm also helped me with the lip sticking issue. Soon as you know it, your teeth will be moving into those beautiful arches. Welcome!!

Okay, so I totally can't eat.

Not because of any pain - I'm actually doing pretty good so far (Just a bit of a tension headache).

But these pads on my molars are really awful. I tried to eat some macaroni and cheese and it was impossible since I can't actually bite down and chew because I only have the use of 2 sets of molars (bottom 2 against top). Has anyone else had this problem? I don't know how I'm going to survive the next 6 weeks like this.

Hi nerdgirl and welcome.

I didn't have the bite blocks, so my sympathies to you.

At one stage in treatment, only two of my second molars made contact so I had to learn new ways of eating. I sort of managed until teeth started making contact again. I seem to remember bringing my tongue into play. Having to do this is a bit of a pain, but know that it won't last forever.

Hi there nerdgirl. I totally feel your pain. My back molars don't meet and I don't have the little buildups and I almost wish I did. My ortho just told me not to bite down too hard and sent me on my merry way. Well three weeks later I bit off the bracket on my lower right canine and I can't get it put back on until next Wed.
I did find that after a week in braces I found ways to eat. The human body always finds a way to nourish itself. Hunger is a BIG motivator. So get a lot of soup and garlic mashed potatoes. Smash anything you like in the blender. My husband and friends have gotten used to me cutting everything into minute pieces. Keep your eye on the prize - a gorgeous smile!
Moosie

Thanks Moosie, Smiley & Lionfish - Nice to meet you.

I think I needed some encouragement, so thanks a lot! . It still seems impossible but I'll keep trying. Dinner tonight...tomato soup, YUM! (really glad I decided to make that trip to the store)


Have another question: I noticed that neither of my lower back molars are bracketed (one of those is actually a wisdom tooth that has been moving into the place where the molar that was pulled used to be). Is this normal to not have those done.

By the way, I don't think that I mentioned what my issues are yet, so here we go:

I was classified as a Class 1 with a slight crossbite on the upper right side, Moderate overbite, crowding on the lower 4 front and the upper 2 teeth (on each side of the 2 front - not sure what those are called)

Estimated Length of treatment - 20 months

Thanks for the helpful tips KK! I will also definitely search those threads on molar build-ups! Day two and it still is really frustrating eating - Boy, at this rate, am I going to lose weight!

Anywho, I'm glad I got braced on a Friday so I have the weekend to adjust. I knew it was going to be an adjustment, but that still doesn't make it any easier - it really, really helps that I have somewhere to go to when I'm totally freaking out about things. I don't have any friends that have gone through this and my boyfriend is kinda in the dark about what I'm going through too - although he's been pretty good about it so far.

I took some pictures of my newly crowned metal-mouth and I was going to post pictures, but I seem to have misplaced my camera cable to upload the pics to my computer. arg! I'm going to have to look some more (or go buy the store to get a new one if I can't find it) once I'm feeling better and little more energetic.

I have to say though that I really haven't had any problems with the braces rubbing against my cheek yet. (Fingers crossed that it stays that way.) I guess the real test will be once I'm at work and having to actually talk!

Have another question: I noticed that neither of my lower back molars are bracketed (one of those is actually a wisdom tooth that has been moving into the place where the molar that was pulled used to be). Is this normal to not have those done.

My second molars and a wisdom tooth were bracketed a couple of months into treatment and one wisdom tooth has been spared the journey (what a joy it is to floss back there - I leave that area till last so that I can savour it!). But as KK says, some people go through treatment without these teeth coming into play.