My Braces Journey at 25

[Heather1987]

I am getting braced tomorrow morning and am super nervous and kind of feel like a kid in Jr. High that is going to get poked fun of. Ridiculous I know (Haha) This blog will mainly be about my Braces journey but also some other things put in I am sure.

So, a little bit about me, I am a 25 year old University student. I am currently going to Texas Tech University for my BA in Nutrition to go on to become a Registered Dietitian. I have two years remaining and will be moving to Colorado after graduation with my boyfriend (hopefully husband by then ::wink wink::).

Going to Jr High and High school (which feels like AGES ago) I was always SO thankful that my teeth were pretty straight and so I wouldn't need to get braces. Well, I believe that God has a wicked sense of humor and is like..."weeeeelllll, actually you do" Haha. I am having to get braces because of my bite that has gone wonky because of my Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJD). I developed the symptoms of TMJD about 8 years ago and just did something about it 5 months ago.

My TMJD dentist put me into a splint thinking that my jaw would relax and heal, that way the popping when opening and closing my mouth as well as the pain would go away. Well, the pain and popping did go away. HOWEVER, during these 5 months my jaw is more relaxed and with that it has moved in to its "correct placement" it has moved forward. Now that it has moved forward I can no longer close my mouth all the way without my splint in. Whenever the splint is out and I bite down, only my front top two teeth and bottom front teeth touch. My TMJD dentists has informed me that I developed TMJD by my top teeth holding back my bottom jaw (hence why my teeth don't touch when in the correct placement)



With the splint ↑



Without the splint ↑


(Oh my left tooth next to the front (y'alls right) that not a cavity its like a calcium deposit and cant get rid of it. just an FWI hehe)

With my jaw moving forward my back teeth do not touch at all without my splint. Also I had a little bit of a cross bite (back teeth space wider than the top arch). So the plan is to broaden my top arch and pull them all forward (so I can bite down and have a correct bite) and straighten the bottom teeth. (As they is a little over crowding). Because I can't bite down all the way and have TMJD I get to have bite planes (aka Bite Turbos). They are pieces of some material glued to the back of your front teeth so that I can put the pressure there and not on my jaw.

So with all that being said, tomorrow is the start of my journey and I will def post pics and talk about my journey. I am super nervous as to what to expect as I have read MANY different outcomes of braces. I am getting the Damon Clears on top and the metal on bottom. Its a little bit more aesthetically pleasing and so being 25 that could def be a plus.

Not sure if anyone will follow but it is DEF therapeutic to write about all of this and I know I will be thankful I documented everything when its all said and done. Especially if one day I have kids and they have to get braces.

Stay tuned will post again tomorrow with pics of my braces and thoughts about the process.

I also have a blog at bracedat25.blogspot.com

wont be JUST about braces but about everything.

[junglejulie]

I will follow your progress! Let us know how the bracing goes

[Tobilei]

Welcome to the board and good luck with getting braced! You'll be fine. Getting the brackets put on is nothing. The lip spreader is uncomfortable but it's bearable and it's the worst part of it.

[Heather1987]

To start off....THAT was not near as bad as I as expecting. I have heard some horror stories about getting braces put on. I guess it is better to go in expecting the worst and your fears being put to rest than vise versa.

I got to the office at 8AM and they got me back pretty quick did all the drying and gluing of the brackets and then placed the wire and lastly the bite planes (aka bite turbos) behind my front teeth. People usually are dreading the bite planes BUT if you have TMJ they are definitely nice to have. Also not having to wear my splint is completely awesome. I was actually more self conscious with my TMJ splint than I am with these braces. It might be helpful that I got the clear on top so they aren't AS noticeable and they also give my upper lip some kind of pucker (which is nice since my upper lip is so thin haha).

When I looked at my reflection in the mirror, after completing the placement of the brackets and wires, I was expecting to be HORRIFIED by what I saw when I smiled. I was pleasantly surprised when I actually liked what I saw. Gave my smile some dimension that the splint MOST DEFINITELY did not. Whenever I had my splint people would look at me like "what the heck is in your mouth" I actually got told that it looked like I had stuck gum on my lower teeth. Haha yep gum. Its just going to be so nice not to have to explain whats in my mouth because braces are pretty much self explanatory. So that in itself is going to be super nice!

I am about 5 1/2 hours in and still no real pain unless I push on one of my bottom teeth then its achy but if I leave them alone no pain. My jaw is holding up nicely. Lets hope that after sleeping a night (usually when I clench my teeth) that it will still be okay. So we shall see tomorrow. I luckily am not getting elastics (rubber bands) until my adjustment (in 8 weeks). My ortho told me that since I have had so much mouth trouble for so long he wanted to ease me into this process haha. (Which I am so thankful for) Well, here are some pics of the DAY 1 )










So I am so glad that I decided to get the Clear Damon on top because (luckily my teeth aren't too stained from drinking Starbucks coffee) they really blend in well. I am still able to really eat anything for today. We will see how well tomorrow goes. Stay tuned )

Well, that its for DAY 1. Lets hope day 2 goes just as well as today )

[rhibee83]

Hello and Welcome

wow the braces look awesome on you and you have a nice smile haha love it how they give your lips a bit of "pucker" hehe

Hopefully no pain for you, let us know how you are going! I am hoping to get my braces in around 3 weeks. I have to get 5 teeth out next week, I am scared!! but see how i go!

Looking forward to following your journey



Rhi

[Tobilei]

Looking good! Glad you're going okay and no pain