Metal Mouth Message Board

I guess I will start from the beginning.

I'm 24 from California and got my braces installed yesterday. Ever since I was 15-16, I wanted braces. I noticed most of my friends had braces in middle school, some in high school, and I felt left out. And the fact that I had one tooth (not sure of it's proper name) I think it's right canine that was crooked, well I needed them. And my parents never, and still don't, feel that braces are worth the cost. But I beg to differ, and that is why I took the plunge.

I've had many consultations, x-rays, pretty much everything but the impressions, but I felt really good about the decision this time and knew if I didn't go through with it, I probably never would. I've always been self-conscious about my teeth, and my friends love to take pictures, so I was always stuck photoshopping or coming up with a new way to hide my crooked teeth. I usually just have them taken from my left, but one way or another someone gets one from the front and I have to look at that tooth, rub my tongue against, and am just irritated by it.

I've also had quite a bit of dental work. Some from Western Dental, which I later found out wasn't even needed. So I had some silver fillings replaced but that became too painful, and now I need a crown in a tooth that's been twice-filled, but that will hopefully happen after the braces.

Hmmmm, the install wasn't too bad...I took a couple Aleve before everything got started, so I didn't feel too much pain. The big plastic thing digging into the bottom of my mouth was by far the worst part of it.

After that I went to the store for supplies, picked up a waterpik (lifesaver!) floss, toothbrush, mouthwash, soup and yogurt.

SO far so good. I do miss snacking so I feel like I'm gonna be constantly hungry, but I could stand to lose some pounds, so even that's not a bad thing.

Today is the second day, haven't take any medicine, so I'm feeling a little bit of pressure and sensitivity; last night I felt some pain when I moved my mouth in my sleep so I think that's lingering. Spent about 20 minutes cleaning, waterpik-ing, flossing this morning. I had scrambled eggs and strawberries for breakfast and I'm already hungry. I think I'll have another cup of coffee

I have to go back to work tomorrow
I work at a call center so needless to say I'm anxious about that situation. I've been talking aloud, practicing phone calls, saying the alphabet, and I think I sound pretty normal. The only problem is the "s". Saying the letter "s" or words with that sound make my lisp pretty obvious. I'm hoping over time that will go away...it is the second day after all. I'm also just anxious for everyone to see my braces at work and what kind of reaction I will get. And I also wonder if my supervisors will be more critical of me due to the fact that I do have braces.

But I'm trying not to give it more energy than necessary, but I do need my job in order to pay for treatment so it does cause me some stress. I'm just trying to remind myself...this is the second day...things will become normal. And after I get them off...well the retainers are a concern, but that's a year away. Who knows what my life will be like at that point?

I've been stuck in the house since I got them installed, so tomorrow will be my first day in the "real world". Not sure if I'm ready for that. I think I'm gonna go with Jamba Juice before work and bring a banana or something. I had a baked potato for dinner last night, and that wasn't too messy. I'm just feeling weird about cleaning my teeth in public already so I need to eat neat foods. Still figuring what those are.

More on the teeth situation...I have been diagnosed with a malocclusion 3, which needs jaw surgery. But I have special brackets which should shift my top teeth forward and the bottoms back to correct my cross bite. If I wanted absolutely perfect teeth with a perfect bite, I would be jaw surgery...but it's just not worth it to me. My biggest concerns are the right canine and the food that gets stuck in my molars causing extreme pain. I have to wear braces for 10-12 months. I hope that stays the same. And of course retainers after.

I guess that's my story...I'm trying to think of other details but that's probably enough for now. I'm a so-called writer so I apologize the length in advance.

So yesterday was my first day back at work since I had my braces put on. And it went surprisingly well. In fact, no one really noticed until I brought them up. Which makes me wonder...but any who, once I did start talking about them, my co-workers were incredibly supportive. The ones who had braces told me how they didn't wear their retainers and told me to make sure I do! But they still have nice teeth imo! I loved getting all that support, it was great. Makes me realize why I love my job, even though it can be stressful.

I also had to go to an appeal hearing, and that was...fun. I knew I was being recorded so speaking made me nervous but after awhile I just wanted to prove my point so a lisp here and there was no big deal. I'm hoping the decision comes out in my favor.

I've been singing really loud in my car to help with getting used to talking, it really helps, and is fun. I just hope the metal in my mouth isn't blinding anyone on the road!

I'm cooking some cheesy potatoes and cupcakes for the pot luck today at work. I know I can at least have a few bites of my dishes, if I can't eat any others. And I have my kit with me although I feel awkward about cleaning my braces at work. Wax and my waterpik have been m two favorite tools lately.

And yesterday was the first day where my teeth felt jailed. I'm getting over the excitement and into the "wait, how long do I have to deal with this again? feeling.

So yes...just wanted to update. Happy St. Patty's Day everyone!

*pounces and throws confetti* Congrats on the big step!!

I do hope your appeal goes well. I doubt the metal is that sparkly/shiny though it would be fun to sit somewhere and just throw a sun glare by smiling XD.

Cleaning the braces when you are somewhere other than home, will get easier. In the end it's either that or having to go around with food clogged in the braces..O_O.

Good luck with your treatment! I also have a class 3 malocclusion that is being treated with braces. Your bite looks similar to mine. I got braces 4 months ago, but haven't noticed much movement yet. I will be interested in reading your updates.

and I had gum...twice! Sugarfree of course...and I realized I haven't had soda since I got braced. I'm not sure why, I definitely haven't been avoiding it but for some reason haven't craved it.

One of my front teeth is moving, feels quite loose. So much so that when I accidentally bit down on it, it hurt. So I bought a mouth guard and am hoping it's a good investment. I was also considering a Sonicare, but I'm gonna hold off. I want to wait until my first tightening appointment. Sort of like a reward. And besides, I've been investing so much money into my mouth/braces/oral hygiene, I just can't afford it. Well I can, but I'd be broke.

So I have about 3 weeks to go until my second appointment, and I'm nervous! I feel that because I'm noticing some movement, the tightening will be painful so that my teeth can move again. But I will keep you all updated. I'm excited to see more progress

Oh yeah the wobbly feeling! I used to dread going back, but ever since the braces i can't wait to go, because it means im that much closer to the finish. The adjustment might not hurt as much as you'd think. Mine didn't and i did have some movement the first time. I guess it also matters on your ortho, and how gentle they are.

It's been awhile since I've posted.

I've been working and working, and then sleeping and eating on my days off.

I will be happy to report I've had a hot dog...one of the foods I've missed most, with all the fixings and it was sooooo goood! A little messy, but still so amazing.

Not too much pain except when I accidentally clench at night and my front teeth snap shut. That happened the other night and boy was I in pain the next morning. I have my first adjustment in 9 days and counting. It's not next week but the Monday after. I'm definitely not looking forward to it, at least not the pain, but I am anxious to see if I've made progress. And I also will be asking about the clenching, and some advice on that.

Other than that, everything has been going smoothly. No one really notices, and I'm keeping up with oral hygiene. Still holding off on that new toothbrush until that the adjustment. I'm excited to buy it, I've heard it makes your mouth feel ultra clean.

Hope all you braced friends are doing well. I will be posting again after the adjustment.

If you have checked this entry lately, you will see that I have not been around in awhile.

Here's why: I honestly had nothing much to say. My car completely died and I had to deal with that situation so that meant not dealing with the metal I had just put in my mouth. It cost me about a thousand bucks to have the engine rebuilt so that meant all the money I had been saving for my braces had to go there and in getting me back and forth to work on the trolley.

But luckily, my ortho's office was understanding, somewhat, and I went back at the beginning of the month to get them tightened after about two months of not being seen. Well, what really sucks is that I kinda got a lot of work done for free. I mean I still have to pay the balance but my teeth look really good, like my treatment will go quicker than the estimated time, which means I've been working late so I can catch up on my payments!

The tightening was painful, and I did take extra strength ibproufren beforehand. He actually had to loosen them up a bit and rebracket a tooth. But I'm so glad to say that my problem tooth, my crooked one that I've stared at for hours in the mirror is getting straight! It's almost totally facing outward, just a tiny gap left. I will post pics soon. I would like to wait until next month after the appointment, just the change will be more evident.
I have yet to buy my sonicare but that's definitely going to be a six month give or so. But I think my waterpik, floss, and oral b electronic brush shall do for the time being.

Well just wanted to say I haven't left...still threading and flossing...

I should probably change the title because I am no longer 24, I'm a 25 but oh well.

I am now wearing elastics on the left side to close the gap. I'm not sure how much longer I have in my braces, but I know I'm nearing the end of my stint. Once the gap is closed, I think it will be a little bit more clear if my bite can be totally corrected without surgery. I know that because I have cross bite, surgery would generally be necessary but I'm really hoping I will be happy with the end result and not have to do it unless I really want to after the braces are removed. I'm still waiting for the bottom teeth to shift back some more because they are totally straight and my top pretty much are too...it's just my darn bite!

I have less than a grand left to pay which is exciting...only about 700 more bucks...I never thought I would be able to afford braces and I'm so glad I went through with it, but each month, I battle with that feeling...you know the one where you wish you could just take them off? But then I just keep looking forward, and hope that one day soon, I'll finally have them removed with the smile I've always wanted.

I feel like I'm always on the site...just don't get around to posting.

Anyways I'm nearly done...my ortho says I'm really close but no official debrace date as of yet. My teeth are pretty straight, and I can definitely feel my bite changing, but not done quite yet, I'm in rubber bands but I can't wear them twenty four hours a day because I work somewhere I'm constantly on the phone. But I do wear them as much as possible and always at night. I'm doin my best because I know I'm sooo close to getting these darn things off!

Will keep updating and hopefully I will have a date next month...it will be my last payment so if I don't get a date at least I know I wont be paying anymore.

I am in pain. A lot of pain.

I went in on Thursday and had two crowns done on my back right molars and I wasn't expecting the pain to last this long. It's a dull ache but pretty constant, especially at night. I'm afraid to chew anything on that side because I don't the temps to come off.

Other than that, things are going okay. I want to take my braces off really badly. I'm just getting sick of them and because I don't see any progress with my bite, I feel like I'm going to be in them forever. I know it hasn't really been that long, but my teeth are pretty straight, compared to where they started and now it just seems like my progress is at a complete standstill. I'm hoping once I get the permanent crowns in, there won't be any additional time added to my sentence, but we shall see. I think I have to get new molds done after they're installed, which I must admit I'm kind of excited about. I want to see how my teeth look now compared to the first ones. All I want is my smile minus the metal...is that so much to ask?!?!

I want to post pics but it seems kind of pointless as much hasn't changed. Maybe after my next appointment.

I want them off!

I'm 23 and I had a very deep bite and TMJ before braces. I also had a tooth grinding problem, which was made worse by the fact that my top teeth hit my bottom teeth in the front. When I piece of my tooth fell out while I was talking on the phone, I decided then and there I had to get the braces I refused to get when I was 12 years old.

luckily I am getting them now, because my ortho is much more conservative than the one I saw as a kid. When I was 12 they wanted to extract four teeth! Zero extractions with my ortho now... she was appalled that they wanted to pull my canines because they are not impacted, and there is plenty of room for them. I am sortof appalled as well. Maybe going with my gut at 12 was a good thing, after all.

My ortho uses damon brackets, and they don't tighten your teeth in and make less room, they push them forward and out, making more room. I do have some pain because they move the teeth so effectively. If I get a new archwire at my visit on Friday, I will start to see a change by Sunday, and definitely Monday. It's kindof crazy how fast my teeth are moving, actually. I don't understand why insurance doesn't cover braces for people over 18. My teeth are moving just as well as a 12 year old's.

hmmm...

Thanks for your reply scully!

So today I went in to have my permanent crowns done, they look nice. It was kind of painful, to be honest, but I made it through although my gum is still a little store from the three injections I had to get completely numb. I'm glad that's all over, now I'm just waiting on the braces to come off. Still in elastics...forever in elastics...I don't think my bite was changed too much from the crowns; but I won't know for a day or so when all pain wears off and my mouth is feeling back to normal. I wish I could wear my elastics more often but it's just not feasible with my schedule. I think that would certainly help with correcting my bite as I've been in the same wires for the past two months. But I shall press on...that's really the only I can do, right?

sunnylocks wrote:Thanks for your reply scully!

So today I went in to have my permanent crowns done, they look nice. It was kind of painful, to be honest, but I made it through although my gum is still a little store from the three injections I had to get completely numb. I'm glad that's all over, now I'm just waiting on the braces to come off. Still in elastics...forever in elastics...I don't think my bite was changed too much from the crowns; but I won't know for a day or so when all pain wears off and my mouth is feeling back to normal. I wish I could wear my elastics more often but it's just not feasible with my schedule. I think that would certainly help with correcting my bite as I've been in the same wires for the past two months. But I shall press on...that's really the only I can do, right?

I have never had a crown, but I hear they're just awful. I hope you're feeling better! Things should get moving (literally) soon!