Penny's Braces Story **2 mo/1st adjustment pics on pg. 2**

[pennysfbay]

Hi everyone! So, I'm 33 and this is my second time around in braces. I had them when I was younger, maybe from ages 11-14? At that time, I feel like I had "the works" -- braces, palette expander, tongue thruster, headgear for my overbite, and about 8 rubber bands. When my braces finally came off, I remember being so happy and my teeth and smile were great! I had a removeable top retainer and a permanent bottom retainer. Over the years, my top retainer wire got so bent out of shape that it wasn't helping much anymore, so I stopped wearing it. At some point (I can't remember when), I had my bottom retainer removed. Now I wish I hadn't! My teeth have all shifted and I have crowding problems.

So for a few years now I've wanted to get my teeth back where they're supposed to be, but didn't really want to go through the braces ordeal again. I had really hoped I'd be a candidate for Invisalign since I work in an office and I'm an adult!! I didn't want to be walking around as this grown-up brace-face. It's embarassing! Anyway, I went in for a consultantion and the doctor told me she could get my most of the way there with Invisalign, but she didn't recommend it because she wouldn't be able to fix all of my problems. So, on Tuesday, June 17, I'm getting braced!

I'm definitely getting ceramics for the top teeth, but I'm torn on what to do for the bottom. I had assumed I'd just get ceramics on the bottom also, but it costs extra for each arch of ceramics, so maybe I should just do metal? I don't know -- I want to hide my braces as much as possible, but maybe I'm being overly sensitive?

My treatment is supposed to be about 18 months in braces, with some rubber bands at some point, and then a couple of years of follow-up in retainers. They don't have any surgery or other appliances planned, but I supposed we'll just see how it goes. They're also going to file down my two front top teeth -- they're a little too big in comparison to my other teeth and they want to make them a little less prominent.

I'm married and my husband is supportive of my decision to get braced because he knows I've wanted to do this, well, probably as long as I've known him. He promised to go get my frozen yogurt after my adjustments.

I'm trying to enjoy my last days of tooth freedom -- eating corn on the cob and steak. I feel like the braces are all I can think about! I'm excited and nervous and anxious about the whole thing. I just want to get them on already and get this over with! I don't really remember what the pain was like when I had them as a kid. It's been 20 years! I'm hoping it's not that bad. Wish me luck!

[Flaka]

Welcome Penny and Congratulations on taking the step to get braced again

You might think that once you get your braces, everybody is going to notice them, but the reality is that most people don't care or don't even notice as much as we think as Ken mentioned before.

Before you leave the ortho's office, ask any questions you may have, that way you don't go home with the doubt (personal experience about not asking what the propper way to wear my elastics was)

Good luck on Tuesday and let us know how it went

[LongInTheT]

Hi, Penny, congratulations on deciding to get braced!
As for which brace to choose, I really think that people don't notice or care about the braces and that either metal or ceramic will be fine. I kept looking for shock reactions in shops etc., but they just didn't come...! I think you should choose what feels right for you, though. I have ceramic on the top and metal on the bottom (I couldn't have ceramic lowers because of an overbite) - I'm a teacher so because of talking a lot it seemed a good choice. This mix if fine for me, and I've not seen anyone picking out the lowers. However, knowing you've made the right choice on a personal level, whatever you prioritise when you make it, will be good once the braces are on (in my opinion). Having said that, there is a downside to all choices: my ceramic uppers cost £300 more than metal, so I'm reluctant to buy clothes at present - and clothes honestly do show more than braces!

Have a good BraceDay! Oh, and steak is easy to eat once you get used to the braces. Maybe gorge on nuts...

[*melissa*]

Hey penny! Welcome to the AW forum!
Thanks for stopping by story!!

[pennysfbay]

So tomorrow is the big b-day! Today I started feeling light-headed at work, so I grabbed a snack - a big granny smith apple! I bit into it with gusto since biting apples is going to be challenging for the next year or two. Anyway, I got little apple bits all caught between my teeth on the bottom and top, and it just reminded me of why I'm doing this whole braces thing again. Food gets stuck all over in little crevices now since my teeth don't line up well, and it's hard to chew food, clean my teeth, etc. I went to go floss to get it out, and signed because it was so quick to floss, but that will be gone by tomorrow!

I'm still trying to decide what I should eat for dinner tonight. I just had a couple of chocolate covered almond clusters....mmmm! I'll miss those!

[OhNicole]

Happy Brace Day Penny! Hope all goes well for you and can't wait to see pics!

[*melissa*]

happy brace day, penny!!
let us know how it went

[pennysfbay]

I got 'em! Yay! It wasn't too terrible. I made sure I wore lip balm like some people here suggested, and that helped a lot since they pull your lips and cheeks so far open. I have ceramics on top and bottom, and maybe 8 of those have hooks for rubber bands. (I won't start using the rubber bands for at least 6 months.) They put clear ligs on most of the top teeth; but two on top have tie wires. On the bottom, the ceramics all have tie wires except for one with a clear lig. Wonder why they didn't just do them all? I have brackets only -- no molar bands or extra goodies in there.

People at work have been nice about it and said it's hardly noticeable unless you're up close. Since I have the ceramics, it mostly looks like I'm wearing a retainer. I'm carefully trying to eat some chicken noodle soup, and it's going okay so far, but the small chicken chunks are hard to eat. I can smoosh up the noodles and swallow them without much chewing. I also have some applesauce, but now I'm thinking I didn't bring enough to eat today.

I took one quick pic to email to my husband, but I have to figure out how to crop out my face (well, and how to post it at all!) before I can add it to the site.

I feel like I'm 12!! My next adjustment will be in 8 weeks. That seems like a really long time away!!

[grneydfairy]

It sucks cause you want it so bad but don't want to wear the braces... yet you know when its done they are going to look so great! Good luck with them!

[HkyGrl s2k]

Happy B-Day!! Glad to hear it went well

[pennysfbay]

So now it's Day 3 in braces and I'm hanging in there. My teeth are definitely sore, but it isn't unbearable. I'm mostly taking some ibuprofen to ease the aches, both in my teeth and in my body. (I just started a new exercise program and I'm sore.)

I haven't had to use any wax because I don't feel like there are any rough spots, so that's been nice. I'm still super cautious about what I'm eating because I don't want to have my teeth hurt. I've only had really soft food, like mashed potatoes, refried beans with melted cheese, chicken noodle soup, applesauce, pudding, cottage cheese, yogurt and ice cream. Not sure if I'm losing any weight, but I do feel hungry and not satisfied after I eat. *sigh* Oh well, my teeth hurt less every day and I'm sure I'll be eating normally again soon.

I have a business networking lunch on Monday and I'm a little worried about eating in public. I tend to just want to get through the food and then rush to the restroom to brush and clean out my teeth. I don't want to be chatting it up with people who stuff stuck everywhere! Ack, I'm sure it'll all be just fine and I'm worrying for nothing.

Reactions from people have been polite. Most people hardly notice, and if they do they ask if I got a retainer (since the wire is all that's really noticeable with the ceramics). A lot of people have shared their own childhood braces stories, or that they've always wanted to get braces, or that their teeth have shifted again since they had braces and they know how I feel for wanting to go through this again. So far the only one making fun of my is my husband! I told him that I'm a bit sensitive about the jokes so hopefully he'll ease up some. He supports what I'm doing, but I know he just can't resist the little jabs. :p

[pennysfbay]

[OhNicole]

Yay Penny, those ceramics look fab on you! I was so happy I got them because they really blend in well. I'm glad to hear they aren't giving you too much pain I'm not sure what kind of a reaction I was expecting from everyone but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by how infrequently I actually get one!

[pennysfbay]

So last night I flossed for the first time with the braces on. I know I should have done it sooner, but it seemed like too much trouble with all of the tooth pain and I was only eating mushy food anyway.

Well, it totally sucked! I don't remember having this much trouble flossing when I was younger and had braces. Maybe I just didn't do it much? Anyway, it was easy to get the threader through most of the front top teeth, but the back teeth were a total chore. I couldn't floss between my two top back molars at all. On one side, I couldn't get my cheek out of the way enough to get the floss through the wire, and on the other side I got it in, but then couldn't get the floss between the teeth because my teeth are too tight. *sigh*

Then I moved onto the bottom teeth, and since most of the ceramics on the bottom are tied on with tie wires instead of ligs, I had trouble with them. The twisted end of the tie wire is pushed back between the teeth, so I got the floss threader and the floss caught on the wire several times. I totally shredded some supposedly non-shredding floss, and even shredded the floss threader. It was a total pain and the first time since I got the braces on that I felt completely frustrated and helpless.

Moving on, I've started eating more normal food again, but I'm not snacking as much as I used to so that's good. Maybe I'll finally drop some weight! Last night I tried to eat some of my favorite potato chips. I managed to chew them okay, but the food just didn't taste as good and I wasn't enjoying it. So again, I guess that's a good thing because I won't mindlessly eat stuff like chips that I don't need to eat anyway.

The past couple of days have left me feeling a little sad about my mouth. I was excited at first, and thought they kinda looked little-girl cute, but now I just feel like a dork and I'm a little sad.

[braces4astw22]

Hi Penny

Thanks for stopping by my story I think your braces look fabulous!! I know what you mean about feeling like a dork...It is such a drastic change to have all this metal in your mouth.. im a month in and still not really used to it.. after a bad weekend things are feeling a little bit better this week.. im hanging in there.. Its great to have a forum like this where we can all come here and give support to each other... I hope you start feeling a little better about your braces and start seeing lots of movement!