Metal Mouth Message Board

hey everyone

just though i'd share my story too...

I'm 20 yrs old, from Sydney, Australia.

i've got an expander on top, which i've had for 6 weeks, and lower braces, which i've had for 5 days, no pics atm, but i'll add some later.

the first week i had my expander on (esp the first few days of that week), was horrible. i work on the checkouts at woolworths (a supermarket) and i had a terrible lisp "i shounded like shtans shishter for shoush park" and everyone laughed at how i was talking. but i'm really good at talking now i can even say $66.60 without sounding too retarded.

i've had a fun time showing off my braces to all my regular customers, its really quite a novelty.

its funny now i've got braces i cant even feel my expander anymore!
i've got these little stabby bits on the inside of my molar bands that cut my tongue (or would if i didnt attack them with wax) my boyfriend said he didnt have them on his braces, i was wondering if anyone else has them, or knows if they serve a purpose other than to attack me?

i'm most likely getting top braces in about 6 weeks and hopefully i'll get my expander off then too

keep you updated

Welcome, Jenni! It's always nice to hear from other adults who have been dealing with an expander. I had mine in for 4 months, so if you're getting rid of yours that soon, lucky you! There is one really good thing about an expander: They say braces feel like no big thing if you've worn an expander first!
Good luck with your treatment and keep up the positive attitude I can pick from your post

*Jenni* wrote: i can even say $66.60 without sounding too retarded.

Yes, but would $66.66 prove that one step to far?? lol - Sorry about that, hope you get the results you rightly expect from having braces, and welcome to da club.

photo's!

my expander:


my braces after 5 days:

I HAD A EXPANDER TOO AND IT DOES GIVE YOU A LISP SORT OF..IM GETTING MY BRACES IN ABOUT A WEEK.EVERYONE AT SCHOOL MADE FUN OF ME BECAUSE I COULDNT SAY SCIENCE OR SOCIAL STUDIES THEY WOULD SAY WHAT CLASS DO YOU HAVE 3RD PERIOD AND I WOULD SAY SHOSHIAL SHUDIES AND THEY WOUD SAY WHAT ABOUT 7TH PERIOD AND AS HARD AS I TRIED TO MAKE IT SOUND NORMAL IT ALWAYS CAME OUT THE WRONG WAY AND THEN ID SAY SHIENSH

yeah, every time i said "next please" at work it'd be like "neshed pleash" and half my work mates world start laughing.
but i can talk heaps good now.
no-one even notices

yipeeeee!!!
my ortho just called to see if i wanted metals or ceramics on top (i went with ceramics)
and he said i might be able to get my top braces on next week!!! and most importantly get my expander off
that means i'll have had it on for only 2 months!
and i'll get it off before i start my new job (in a call centre) on the 6th July.
and he's going to grind my cleats off too
sooo exciting *dances*

Wow, you're so lucky! 2 months with an expander!!


I've had mine in for 6 months... and one more to go! Doesn't yours need to stay in for retention?

Good luck with the top braces!

i dont know???
i didnt ask
maybe it does... i'm used to it now anyway.

my top jaw is a lot wider than my bottom jaw now, so i am hoping that the braces will hold my jaw out enough.

one thing i noticed is my expander seems to be different to everyone elses...
i know its not officially approved for use in Australia yet
but it seems better than most of the ones i've seen, its not sharp and didn't give my tongue much trouble

my problem there was that i couldnt close my molars properly, so started resting my tongue between my teeth - ow that hurt a lot. but once i figured out what i was doing, i stopped it.

Yes, your expander looks like it's a lot more comfortable than mine! Seems like it would be less hard on your tongue.
My top jaw almost seems too wide now... I wonder if the braces will fix that when the RPE is removed...

mine feels like its too wide also...

i didn't get my expander off... 2-3 months till i do
when Louis (my ortho) can put a heavier wire in.

but i got my top braces yesterday... ceramics, "pearl" ligs.
got light blue ligs on the bottom.



so i'm back on a mushy diet for another week... bottom teeth dont hurt at all though really

i also got my cleats ground off (w00t - so muchbetter)
and the bits that attach my expander to the front molars taken off, so at least i can shut my mouth a bit better, although i think my bite had changed and i cant shut my teeth properly anyway.

had an adjustment this morning, and i have a spring!!!
its amazing, i could swear my teeth have moved already

anyway, i've had quit a lot of movement in my top teeth, i have 2 gaps but the wire is pretty much straight now and i have one wire tie on the top canine cuz the wire moved out of the groove with just a lig.



i found out i get my expander off the appointment after the next one, and my next appointment isn't for 7 weeks so i have an absolute minimum of another 11 weeks *cries lots* so that about the 11th of october...
3 to 6 months but probably 3 my ass...

Wow, your teeth are looking awesome!! I wish mine looked that good...

Also, great news about the expander... at least you have an actual date to look forward to now! 11 days until mine's removed, so excited!

Don't worry, the last little while will go by fast!

yours arn't bad! (i had a look at the last pic in your story)
just remember in that photo you cant see the tooth thats behind those other teeth... and the gaps on either side of my front teeth are normally a lot more noticable!
and its only MY estimation of the expander removal date, and thats the very least it could be... it could be another 14 weeks away. and i've just started a job in a call centre
but i'm sure it will go fast, if what has already past this year is anything to go by!!!

How is your progress now Jenni?