Metal Mouth Message Board

I've had ceramic uppers fitted to correct some crowding. This is the second time I've had braces (I had the full 4 pre-molars removed & 'train tracks' at school) as I was never given any retainers so they drifted a bit and when my wisdom teeth came in (all healthy) the crowding re-appeared.

The treatment will be ceramic uppers and metal lowers, a little IDS to avoid the black triangles on the upper incisors and possibly slight widening of the bite if the IDS doesn't create enough space for the teeth.

It's only the first week with them on and apart from the pain when trying to chew anything, they have been fine. I actually quite like the feeling of pressure on the teeth, knowing that they are being moved back into alignment. In fact, I can't wait for the lowers to go on. If I'm lucky the front incisors will have moved forwards enough to give space for the metal brackets on the lower teeth.

Day 0 - Fitting day



You can see all that crowding and staining

Day 9

I can't see much progress.



Oh well, I'm sure they are moving a little as I can feel a bit of extra wire appearing at the back of the braces.

Congratulations on getting started! I'm on week 1 right now. My advice would be not to worry about the staining. Your teeth don't look bad and most people get whitening after removing the braces anyway.

MakeKeyOver wrote:Congratulations on getting started! I'm on week 1 right now. My advice would be not to worry about the staining. Your teeth don't look bad and most people get whitening after removing the braces anyway.

I think after I've paid all that money to get them nice and straight then I will do something about the staining. No point doing half a job eh?

I'm getting impatient to post the week 2 progress shot.

Not that there seems to be much, anyone else take a while before the teeth started moving?

I'm mid-30's if that helps.

I just want to see stuff move!

Well here we go - picture update time.

I must be really impatient, I just can't see any movement yet but I'll keep taking the pictures every night.

Day 0


Week 1


Week 2


Oh man I'm getting desperate, I just want to see those damn teeth moving. Still, at least I've been lucky and the pain has been quite manageable and I've been lucky not to get any ulcers from the brace rubbing in my mouth. Front incisors have that pressure/pain thing going on and they feel a little wobbly so I know they brace is doing something at least.

Has anyone else got the Radiance system? I have to say that I'm quite pleased with how clear they are. I have been told that the next wire will be white, so it should look every better. Although the lower ones (when they go on) will be regular metal ones.

They are miles better that the big old train tracks I had as a kid!

I've not even used the wax so far, I hope that keeps up.

BTW how long does it take before you stop bearing your teeth at almost every mirror you see? I just can't help opening my mouth and and having a good old stare at the brace, checking for signs of movement.

Hi there!
I've had braces for over 5 weeks and I still spend time in front of my mirror checking if things have improved and moved. I can understand your impatience, I want proof that the pain means that things are working.

Good luck and keep updating.

Don't worry, I'll keep with the updates! I'm taking loads of pictures, so when I look back at the end of it I will know exactly how my teeth have improved.

Everyone does that, right?

Everything still going nicely, got a bit of extra ache from the right lateral incisor today - hopefully that's it starting to get going.

I love that pain, makes you feel like something is happening.

Hi unspec!

We seem to have similar problems from the crowding. You are a few weeks ahead of me in the treatment and it will be exciting to see what is happening.

Viking wrote:Hi unspec!

We seem to have similar problems from the crowding. You are a few weeks ahead of me in the treatment and it will be exciting to see what is happening.

I had a look at your story - we both really do seem to have a similar problem. Your lowers look all too familiar

It's been 3 weeks (already??) so I will post a picture later today before I go to sleep. I don't want to over-state it but I think I can see some movement now in the pictures...we'll see in a few hours!

Ok, time for the update.

Day 0 as usual for comparison


And Week3!


I hope it's not just me that can see it, but I'm convinced I can finally see some movement.

There has been a lovely ache in the front incisors of late, finally feels like stuff is on the move. I had to use some wax today for the first time as well as a bit of wire has started snagging on the back of my mouth now.

Hey there unspec! I can see changes - Woohoo!!

I was doing the same thing with the constant picture taking and staring in the mirror. Within the first 45 days I really did see some crazy movement with my lower teeth, but I just didn't see it on the top. I stopped taking pictures every week at about that time and just concentrated on the days that I had my ortho appointments, and now I am NEVER disappointed to see the comparison pics! Once things get moving, they really seem to get moving. It's an amazing feeling.

Hope you're having a great day and can't wait to witness your progress!

~Jana

Thanks Jana, it's really nice to know I'm not just imagining it!

Anyway another week has passed, pretty much incident free. The only thing is I now have a very odd 'loose' sensation with my front 4 incisors. Most activities makes me feel like I'm pushing them backwards and they are wobbling around like mad, although it's impossible to see so I'm guessing my mind is playing tricks on me and it's just a weird sensation I'm getting from the nerves as my teeth move a bit. There is no real pain apart from if I push at the teeth, and that the familiar 'pressure ache' I think most of us can relate to. Happy to say that I've been ulcer free and not needed any painkillers or wax this week. Long may that continue!

So on to the pictures. As usual it's the Day 0/current comparison - can't believe I'm at week 4 already!

Definite movement this time, there can be no denying it! I wonder at how much of an overbite this might give me but once the ortho does the inter dental stripping and possible opens up the arch it should be fine. I think she wants to get the centre line exactly right and remove the black triangle before changing anything else.

So, Day 0


And Week 4 - check those out!

Oh I forgot to mention the lovely sensation I experienced the other day. I felt the back of the lateral incisors for the first time in years. It was so odd to feel them start to line up, I keep running my tongue over the back of them as it is so nice not to feel the gaps those protruding theeth used to leave.