Four Months - Update
Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2011 11:48 pm
Its been 4 months since I had my braces put in.... so lets do a recap! I had my braces (metal for upper and lower set) put on 5 Feb 2011, and I am scheduled to wear them for 18 - 20 months. This is the second time i am wearing braces (had them in my very early teens, years ago), and so I am determined to do everything that the Orthodontist tells me to do. The change to my teeth, jawline and bite, has been remarkable, and the doctor is so impressed - he even joked that i should not rush him to want to get them off... I'm in no rush, they need to look perfect, so I'll go on his que as to when they need to come off. I must say that I've had fun with choosing colours so far: it started out as purple, then i went to neon pink and neon blue, then neon green... i think for my next follow up which is next week Monday, I'll do something a bit subtle for a change.... orange and red?? LOL!! 
The first three months seems fine as far as pain was concerned, the sensitivity only really lasted for a week and thereafter i could eat fairly normally and not be in any discomfort.... the last adjustment however was an eye opener!! They affixed the last of the brackets to my lower set, basically onto my wisdom teeth, and tightened them SO MUCH, i was in pain for 3 weeks, non stop, 24/7, no kidding!!! It was so bad, that i eventually went to my GP and he prescribed a schedule 5 pain killer known as Stilpane (in South Africa, not sure what its called elsewhere), and i had to take it late afternoon, into the night as that is when the pain was at its worse!! OMW.... i normally pride myself on a high pain threshold (I have tattoos and even that is not sore!), but this one just had me wanting to rip the stuff off my teeth!! 
Its only in the last two weeks that the pain has let up... and so to say that i am a bit anxious about Monday's appt is an understatement.... but i understand the benefits and will just have to go through this as pleasantly as possible 
People at work has become so used to it - thank goodness - i was getting bored with all the questions and stares. It never bothered me for a second knowing that age 33 and working in a semi-corporate environment in Sales and Client services that i would have to wear braces, and worry about what people thought. My mom gave me the best advice years ago which is dead simple: "If people want to talk about you, let them. It shows you are important enough to warrant their time and clearly they have nothing else to talk about!" THANKS MOM!!!
I have been taking photos of my teeth after each appointment, and so can see the improvements - when i have a moment I will have to remember to upload some of them.
Observation: If there is one thing i do miss, its biting into my food, ha ha!! I have to actually put the food into my mouth, as opposed to just biting into it! Ever seen anyone eat McDonalds with a knife and fork??? ME!!
Best part of all, is my lower set has straightened out completely, and my overbite has moved back enough for me to close my mouth very comfortably.... and yes, before i blink it will be 6 months, then 12 months, then time to take them off
Best of luck to all of you out there going through the same thing that I am - its hard, but worth it!!
The first three months seems fine as far as pain was concerned, the sensitivity only really lasted for a week and thereafter i could eat fairly normally and not be in any discomfort.... the last adjustment however was an eye opener!! They affixed the last of the brackets to my lower set, basically onto my wisdom teeth, and tightened them SO MUCH, i was in pain for 3 weeks, non stop, 24/7, no kidding!!! It was so bad, that i eventually went to my GP and he prescribed a schedule 5 pain killer known as Stilpane (in South Africa, not sure what its called elsewhere), and i had to take it late afternoon, into the night as that is when the pain was at its worse!! OMW.... i normally pride myself on a high pain threshold (I have tattoos and even that is not sore!), but this one just had me wanting to rip the stuff off my teeth!! Its only in the last two weeks that the pain has let up... and so to say that i am a bit anxious about Monday's appt is an understatement.... but i understand the benefits and will just have to go through this as pleasantly as possible People at work has become so used to it - thank goodness - i was getting bored with all the questions and stares. It never bothered me for a second knowing that age 33 and working in a semi-corporate environment in Sales and Client services that i would have to wear braces, and worry about what people thought. My mom gave me the best advice years ago which is dead simple: "If people want to talk about you, let them. It shows you are important enough to warrant their time and clearly they have nothing else to talk about!" THANKS MOM!!!
I have been taking photos of my teeth after each appointment, and so can see the improvements - when i have a moment I will have to remember to upload some of them.
Observation: If there is one thing i do miss, its biting into my food, ha ha!! I have to actually put the food into my mouth, as opposed to just biting into it! Ever seen anyone eat McDonalds with a knife and fork??? ME!!
Best part of all, is my lower set has straightened out completely, and my overbite has moved back enough for me to close my mouth very comfortably.... and yes, before i blink it will be 6 months, then 12 months, then time to take them off
Best of luck to all of you out there going through the same thing that I am - its hard, but worth it!!
- wow, so many have read my last post - thanks guys! And especially to Katie for writing to me!
Decided to go with red and pink as i have just become so bored with all the blue colours that i had for the last two appts. Very happy with my decision. I work in the print industry and have told the guys that one day i will do the colours CMYK for elastics (for those not in the print/design world, that translates to the four primary colours used, or process colours: Cyan Magenta Yellow and Black) Think it will look good, hee, hee!!! (Although just not sure about the black.... ???) 
