And So It Begins!

[stevo1985]

Hi all,

Just starting a thread so I can keep progress of my treatment. Tomorrow I will be getting my upper brace fitted, its all come around quick as I only had the consultation last week! Though I've been consdering it a while.

I need 4 extractions and the lower brace at a later date, but they want me to see how I go first.

My teeth are pretty poor, so i'm desperate to make some improvements but I know they'll never be anything to show off!

[stevo1985]

Pics will follow once the message board allows... is it just me or do teeth look 100 times worse on a photo compared to in the mirror

[resort454]

I Agree I was taking my picks and they look terrible too haha

[Domino]

Hey Stevo. How did the brace go today? I'm getting mine tomorrow :O

I also needed 4 extractions Are you getting braces on before any extractions? That's an interesting idea. I've had mine out already before my braces go on, which I expect is the most common order. The only issue there, though, is now I must finish my whole treatment. If I get the braces on and find I hate them and can't cope, tough! I have gaps that need to close, so I have no choice. Bit nervous about that, but I've thought it over for months and months before I decided to get the teeth extracted, so I know I'm prepared for this and will see it through. It's something I really want!

I agree about the photos thing. I find almost all pictures that involve me, whether it's my face or teeth or anything, end up looking worse than what I can see in the mirror. That is until I started photography and got a Canon EOS 600D, hehe. It's all down to lighting! Most pictures with anything but a professional camera are probably going to make things look worse than they really are

Look forward to seeing the pics!

[stevo1985]

Hi guys,

It went well, pretty straight forward. My mouth feels a little tender and brushing feels weird but nothing too bad yet - haven't taken any painkillers. Ceramics are so discreet my colleagues can hardly tell. Yes I will be having 4 extractions before my next ortho visit. I think it was just to be safe I'd be ok. But I'm also determined - so whatever it takes.

Only eaten chilli and rice for lunch, I wouldn't liked to have had anything requiring chewing even with just the top brace!

Anyone know how they predetermine which way the teeth should move? I don't know whether they have put much pressure on yet being my first trip.

Good luck tomorrow. Heres to 18 months...

[kellyb]

hi stevo good luck with your braces journey. i can't wait to see some pics
i am also on an 18 month journey so i know the feeling. for me, the tenderness subsided about 3 or 4 days after the initial fitting and about 2 days after the 1st adjustment. this saturday will be 8 weeks since i got my bottom braces fitted and i am loving the progess so far. my top arch will be fitted on 17th march when i go in for my 2nd adjustment of the bottom. it's kind of scary thinking about getting the top ones on as well but hopefully it will be smooth sailing.

all the best

[stevo1985]

Heya, just had my tea - mash, sausages, carrots and brocolli. All chopped up very small! I'm looking to really cut out the sugar, so will need to rely on veg instead of orange juice for vitamins I think.

Not sure about pics.. mine look so much worse than everyone elses on here!

Steve

[stevo1985]

The day before... ugh this just reminds me why I have done this to try and make things better!

[stevo1985]

Day 1

4 extractions and bottom set at a later date

[Domino]

Oo, those are really discreet with the white wires too! I hope I get white wires to begin with as well, but my ortho has never mentioned that. Won't be long to find out anyway.

Looking good

[jem]

Hi Stevo,

Your braces look really good. I hope you see some early progress with them.

I only have an upper brace and also have clear brackets and a white wire. It is so discreet that hardly anyone notices, although the second wire is thicker and slightly more obvious. I was quite self conscious about getting my brace but because it is so discreet, it has been very easy socially and professionally for me so far. I may have silver coloured wires and perhaps powerchains in the future, but I will be more used to being a braceface by then.

Be aware that the white coating does come off the wires, so take care of them. Even so, I think they are still worth having.

Jem

[kellyb]

looking great stevo. i also have clear braces with white wire and as jem pointed out, wire coating does come off eventuall. when my bottom arch was fitted, the coating was gone in 2 weeks! now i am wearing a thicker wire and 2 weeks after my first adjustment, coating is still there. please try not to brush too rigorously. i think this is where i went wrong first time around.

[stevo1985]

Hi Kelly,

Do you mean you brushed too hard making things tender or with regards to the coating coming off the wire?

I'm not that fussed if/when the paint comes off. It's a lot better than the steel ones aesthetics wise so I'm happy with it. Mash potato for tea again me thinks! Steve

[stevo1985]

6 days in with the top set. Still pretty tender - just ate a tuna and cucumber roll from M&S its the incisors which hurt, is this normal?

Will be visiting my dentist on Friday to arrange the extractions. Joy!

[kellyb]

Hi Kelly,

Do you mean you brushed too hard making things tender or with regards to the coating coming off the wire?

I'm not that fussed if/when the paint comes off. It's a lot better than the steel ones aesthetics wise so I'm happy with it. Mash potato for tea again me thinks! Steve

hi stevo, sorry for the confusion. regarding brushing rigorously, i was referring to the white coating coming off. i actually didn't mind the metal wire after all the white coating had gone, but was abit annoyed when half of it was white and the other half metal. it took about 2 whole weeks for the whole thing to disappear.

now 2 and a half week after my first adjustment, i can see some of the white coating slowly going as well but not much.