Metal Mouth Message Board

I have enjoyed reading other’s stories on this site and viewing their photos, and thought I would share my own. I’m a 48 year old male living in northeast Ohio. I never really thought my teeth were “badâ€

Amazing progress Doug! A big pat on the back for being brave and taking the braces plunge! I don't have mine on yet, getting them on May 17th, and after reading your post, I am so excited to get started. My estimate is only 8 months, but I hope my progress will be as good as yours! Congrads once again

Great progress there Doug, your ortho and assistants have done a great job closing up those gaps you had. A mighty fine transformation. It certainly gives you a feel good factor about yourself, when you get something fixed that's been weighing you down for a lenghly period of time.

WOW..THAT IS AMAZING!!!!! CONGRATS ON UR PROGRESS SO FAR! i hav a q tho..did u have 2 get ur gums "cut" since u had spaces?? just curious!! thnx 4 sharing ur storyy!

Manda, Dodger & 2Hot,
thanks for the kind words! I am quite pleased with how things have progressed so far - but I must admit I am really getting anxious to be
done with the whole process. Oh well, patience is a virtue, right?

2Hot, I didn't have to have any gum work done (fortunately). Just those
wires pulling things around gradually. It is really quite amazing how this
whole orthodontics thing works!

I think this forum is a wonderful thing, it's great that we can get and give
support to each other as we all struggle through this process.

(I've already posted these on the main forum, but for the sake of completeness of my whole process here are my "after" photos.)

I had my braces removed July 28, 2005.

The removal process took about one hour. It was quite uneventful and pretty much pain-free, although it did take a little bit of prying for the ortho to get all my molar bands off. He did a little bit of grinding to even out a few teeth that had rotated during the process, and he may do a little more after I have been in retainers for a while. Following the removal they took impressions for my retainers, then after cleaning all the dried pink rubber off my face and staring disbelievingly at my reflection for a while, they took another few x-rays (including another panoramic) and a few "after" photos for the records.

My corrected smile:


My teeth still feel really big and unusually smooth - which I guess is very typical after having the hardware removed.

I should be getting upper and lower Hawleys tomorrow. My next step is to schedule a good cleaning with my regular dentist, and then explore the world of tooth-whitening products. And then learn how to smile without it seeming forced.

All in all the whole braces process was just about exactly what I expected - thanks in no small part to all the good info on this forum. I am very pleased with the results and feel it was well worth the time, expense, and aggravation.

Wow what an amazing journey. You gave me some hope because I have a few minor spaces and wasn't sure that they would fully close, now I KNOW. That's great Doug...I hope you're enjoying your new smile!

Wow doug! your transformation is unbeleivable! What determination and patience you have shown over your journey...It is truly an inspiration...I am 34 and have been going through the surgery/expander process and hope to be braced the beginning of September...congrats again and thanks for sharing your story!

Your smile is beautiful! Congrats

Woahh those results are wickid, id go as far to say one of the best brace cases ive seen!