I am now on a 2.5 year journey which will combine dental appliances as a pre-treatment followed by Invisalign. We are trying to correct my bite as well as crowding on my lower front teeth. I have a very deep bite with the typical wearing and chipping that goes with that. I also have a clenching/grinding issue and a click on both sides of my jaw. I have a seriously strong/dense jaw bone, so I am very hard on my teeth.
On Monday I got my first appliance. It is a removable retainer for the top and it is for increasing my palate size in all three directions plus correction for my deep bite, so it has three pieces of acrylic; two along the insides of the molars and one behind the front teeth. The acrylic on the sides wraps up over the back molar on each side, which is the bite plate component. Everything is wired together.
My bite looks great with it on but I talk like I have a serious speech impediment. It is so embarrassing. When I say T, D or J, my tongue stops dead on that acrylic behind my front teeth and I can’t get the word going. I read somewhere to talk or read very loud to get used to a retainer, so I’m going to try that. I also think the piece behind my front teeth is a bit bulkier than it needs to be, hopefully I can talk my dentist into seeing it this way
On Monday I am supposed to get my lower appliance, which is a fixed appliance, also for making more room in my arch. There is a lot of work to do down there, as it is very crowded. I most likely won’t get the appliance because I keep chewing up my spacers, so Monday will most likely be for getting brass spacers instead of rubber bands.
So far I am feeling WHAT THE HECK WAS I THINKING??? My head hurts, my talking sounds funny and I feel like someone parked a Volkswagen in my mouth. I’m very discouraged. Everyone says that my mouth will adjust and all will be well, but it is hard to believe from where I am right now. Does anyone have any good talking tips???
