Starfish's braces
Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 1:08 am
I just wanted to introduce myself to all of you since I have lurked on here for a while but now I'm in the process of getting braces I feel I can finally join in!
Pre-braces
This will be my sort-of 1st sort-of 2nd time in braces. When I was a teen I got a funny plastic retainer thing to wear from the NHS but it was a bit of a disaster. No one explained to me what it was for (I think it was to correct my overjet); in fact none of the orthodontists really involved me in my treatment as a teen and it was really painful. I know orthodontia is uncomfortable at times but this thing was so bad that it pressed into the roof of my mouth and kept rubbing eventually causing an infection so bad I passed out at school. I still have the indent in the roof of my mouth. No one would alter it to make it more comfortable, just kept telling me this was normal when it clearly wasn’t. Luckily it broke (with a little help) shortly after and no one bothered to replace it.
I’m also a recovering dental phobic. As a child the dentist would encourage brushing by scaring children with the old ‘if you don’t you’ll get painful treatment as a punishment’ routine and even once told me off because one of my adult teeth was impacted...as though I did it to annoy him. Eventually the baby tooth on top of the impacted tooth cracked, was removed and the adult tooth grew in on its own...just slanted. I have been very lucky/careful with my teeth and despite a 4 year avoidance of dentists and have had very little treatment except that cracked baby tooth removed. I’m now back on to a normal routine of check-ups and cleanings. My main reason not to get braces was that I assumed, from my sister’s experience about 10 years ago, that I would need teeth out and no way was that going to happen. But when I found out I needed my wisdom teeth out that all changed. I had originally booked in to have my wisdom teeth and the slanted pre-molar removed as they made brushing more difficult but I realised that if I was having those teeth out and under IV sedation too, then I may as well have out all the teeth I needed for braces and get it over with. So I rushed to book a consultation with an orthodontist.
My first meeting with the orthodontist was a bit of a disaster. His first preference was to do SARPE and BSSO surgery to correct my narrow upper palate and massive 11 or 12mm overjet and I sort of freaked out and fixated on the surgery despite the fact he said he could get a pretty good result from just braces, just not 100% textbook perfect. At my next appointment it was much better, I basically refused the surgery from the start, I’m just not brave enough, not to mention can’t afford it, as I’ve now moved to Australia so no NHS. I did decide to go ahead with the braces only option and I also found out I don’t need any teeth out, except the wisdom teeth, not even the slanted pre-molar as there is nothing physically wrong with it aside from the slant, which will get fixed. The orthodontist said he would fix my overjet as much as possible but it was better to go without extractions because of the shape of my face. I booked in to get Damon clear on the front top 6 teeth and regular metal on the rest on the 28th June. They are putting all the backets on, top and bottom, and wires in, in one appointment.
On the 13th June I got my wisdom teeth out. It was a really easy treatment despite one wisdom tooth being completely horizontal. It wasn’t painful and the swelling wasn’t big at all although it still hasn’t completely gone away and the stitches are a bit annoying at times. I’ve been recovering and eating just liquids and mashed potatoes and expect to do so until I get my braces on. I’m half nervous, half excited about it. I hope that I’m not in too much pain from the braces as I’m going on holiday with my mum and sister, who I haven’t seen for months, a week after I get my braces and want to eat lots of food! I haven’t eaten anything solid (and don’t expect to) between teeth out and braces on and have the week after I get braces to get over getting them put on too, but any longer on liquids only and I might go insane! I already have fleeting thoughts of putting a pizza in a blender just so I can have some, although drinking a pizza sounds absolutely disgusting. I have told my family I’m going to get braces but not when so it will be a surprise when we go on holiday. I wonder how long it will take them to notice.
I’ll put some pictures up at some point of pre-braces so I can track my progress. I may even put up my x-ray, which my boyfriend said makes me look like predator from the film, so we can all have a good laugh. (My boyfriend isn’t mean it was just a brilliant comment...he tried to back pedal after saying ‘I didn’t mean you...just your face...err... your skull’). I especially can’t wait to be posting a picture of my braces very soon!
I feel like I’ve written an essay so I’ll stop there. It feels good to introduce myself after a good month of lurking. I’ve been inspired by so many of your stories, especially those of you who have fixed or are in the process of fixing big overjets. Good luck to everyone on this journey.
Pre-braces
This will be my sort-of 1st sort-of 2nd time in braces. When I was a teen I got a funny plastic retainer thing to wear from the NHS but it was a bit of a disaster. No one explained to me what it was for (I think it was to correct my overjet); in fact none of the orthodontists really involved me in my treatment as a teen and it was really painful. I know orthodontia is uncomfortable at times but this thing was so bad that it pressed into the roof of my mouth and kept rubbing eventually causing an infection so bad I passed out at school. I still have the indent in the roof of my mouth. No one would alter it to make it more comfortable, just kept telling me this was normal when it clearly wasn’t. Luckily it broke (with a little help) shortly after and no one bothered to replace it.
I’m also a recovering dental phobic. As a child the dentist would encourage brushing by scaring children with the old ‘if you don’t you’ll get painful treatment as a punishment’ routine and even once told me off because one of my adult teeth was impacted...as though I did it to annoy him. Eventually the baby tooth on top of the impacted tooth cracked, was removed and the adult tooth grew in on its own...just slanted. I have been very lucky/careful with my teeth and despite a 4 year avoidance of dentists and have had very little treatment except that cracked baby tooth removed. I’m now back on to a normal routine of check-ups and cleanings. My main reason not to get braces was that I assumed, from my sister’s experience about 10 years ago, that I would need teeth out and no way was that going to happen. But when I found out I needed my wisdom teeth out that all changed. I had originally booked in to have my wisdom teeth and the slanted pre-molar removed as they made brushing more difficult but I realised that if I was having those teeth out and under IV sedation too, then I may as well have out all the teeth I needed for braces and get it over with. So I rushed to book a consultation with an orthodontist.
My first meeting with the orthodontist was a bit of a disaster. His first preference was to do SARPE and BSSO surgery to correct my narrow upper palate and massive 11 or 12mm overjet and I sort of freaked out and fixated on the surgery despite the fact he said he could get a pretty good result from just braces, just not 100% textbook perfect. At my next appointment it was much better, I basically refused the surgery from the start, I’m just not brave enough, not to mention can’t afford it, as I’ve now moved to Australia so no NHS. I did decide to go ahead with the braces only option and I also found out I don’t need any teeth out, except the wisdom teeth, not even the slanted pre-molar as there is nothing physically wrong with it aside from the slant, which will get fixed. The orthodontist said he would fix my overjet as much as possible but it was better to go without extractions because of the shape of my face. I booked in to get Damon clear on the front top 6 teeth and regular metal on the rest on the 28th June. They are putting all the backets on, top and bottom, and wires in, in one appointment.
On the 13th June I got my wisdom teeth out. It was a really easy treatment despite one wisdom tooth being completely horizontal. It wasn’t painful and the swelling wasn’t big at all although it still hasn’t completely gone away and the stitches are a bit annoying at times. I’ve been recovering and eating just liquids and mashed potatoes and expect to do so until I get my braces on. I’m half nervous, half excited about it. I hope that I’m not in too much pain from the braces as I’m going on holiday with my mum and sister, who I haven’t seen for months, a week after I get my braces and want to eat lots of food! I haven’t eaten anything solid (and don’t expect to) between teeth out and braces on and have the week after I get braces to get over getting them put on too, but any longer on liquids only and I might go insane! I already have fleeting thoughts of putting a pizza in a blender just so I can have some, although drinking a pizza sounds absolutely disgusting. I have told my family I’m going to get braces but not when so it will be a surprise when we go on holiday. I wonder how long it will take them to notice.
I’ll put some pictures up at some point of pre-braces so I can track my progress. I may even put up my x-ray, which my boyfriend said makes me look like predator from the film, so we can all have a good laugh. (My boyfriend isn’t mean it was just a brilliant comment...he tried to back pedal after saying ‘I didn’t mean you...just your face...err... your skull’). I especially can’t wait to be posting a picture of my braces very soon!
I feel like I’ve written an essay so I’ll stop there. It feels good to introduce myself after a good month of lurking. I’ve been inspired by so many of your stories, especially those of you who have fixed or are in the process of fixing big overjets. Good luck to everyone on this journey.
It's going to be a complete breeze for you! i think with damons they put your braces on in sections so hopefully you won't be there for too long. 
)
bloomin' coffee!) and the same sentence time too...BRACE BUDDIES! Lol! 
My teeth are still more painful than after my wisdom teeth were removed but I don't get to loll around and watch crap TV for a week. Also alcohol is a better painkiller than panadene forte!