Em-"brace"-ing metal braces!
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 1:35 am
Pardon the pun!
I'm 53, first time getting braces. I had my consultation today. I confirmed some things I already knew, and learned some new things too. Without this website I wouldn't have known what questions to ask.
The condyles of my jaw have some bone loss, which is thrusting my lower jaw forward and creating a slight underbite and contributes to my open bite. My tongue thrusting also contributed to my open bite, and I guess will always be an issue. (But I'm certainly not wearing tongue spurs!) I've also got a crossbite, and there are some big gaps in my teeth. When you put it all down in writing, it sounds awful, doesn't it?
So I'm embracing braces -- Metal! I had previously talked with an ortho that deals only in Invisalign, and I just don't think it will work for me. I am sure I'd wear them, but...after a few months, I'd probably start wearing them less than the required hours, and then taking them out if they're uncomfortable, and then I've blown it. I don't want to have the option of backing out.
I debated clear brackets on top, but...I realized (after looking in the mirror) that when I talk, my lower teeth show as much or even more than my top teeth. If I'm trying to disguise the fact that I'm wearing braces, clear brackets on top aren't going to help much. So if I'm going metal on the bottom, I'm going with metal uppers.
I was a little nervous before the consultation, but because I was prepared (thank you Archwired!) I got all my questions answered and now I just want to get started. In 22-24 months, I'll be done. What I'm also really excited about, is that once my teeth are straight, my regular dentist can put veneers on my four front teeth. My lateral incisors are undersized, which has always made my two front teeth look too big. And I have tetracycline stains on the front, and no bleaching or whitening can get rid of that. I've thought for years about getting veneers, but now I have a definite plan and the rest of my smile will look great (and my bite will work right).
I'm getting both uppers and lowers done on Monday January 13. Lucky me, the gaps in my teeth are so big, I don't need spacers! I am really happy about that. Can't wait for Monday, I'm really excited! Now the big question is, what color ligatures should I get???
I'm 53, first time getting braces. I had my consultation today. I confirmed some things I already knew, and learned some new things too. Without this website I wouldn't have known what questions to ask.
The condyles of my jaw have some bone loss, which is thrusting my lower jaw forward and creating a slight underbite and contributes to my open bite. My tongue thrusting also contributed to my open bite, and I guess will always be an issue. (But I'm certainly not wearing tongue spurs!) I've also got a crossbite, and there are some big gaps in my teeth. When you put it all down in writing, it sounds awful, doesn't it?
So I'm embracing braces -- Metal! I had previously talked with an ortho that deals only in Invisalign, and I just don't think it will work for me. I am sure I'd wear them, but...after a few months, I'd probably start wearing them less than the required hours, and then taking them out if they're uncomfortable, and then I've blown it. I don't want to have the option of backing out.
I debated clear brackets on top, but...I realized (after looking in the mirror) that when I talk, my lower teeth show as much or even more than my top teeth. If I'm trying to disguise the fact that I'm wearing braces, clear brackets on top aren't going to help much. So if I'm going metal on the bottom, I'm going with metal uppers.
I was a little nervous before the consultation, but because I was prepared (thank you Archwired!) I got all my questions answered and now I just want to get started. In 22-24 months, I'll be done. What I'm also really excited about, is that once my teeth are straight, my regular dentist can put veneers on my four front teeth. My lateral incisors are undersized, which has always made my two front teeth look too big. And I have tetracycline stains on the front, and no bleaching or whitening can get rid of that. I've thought for years about getting veneers, but now I have a definite plan and the rest of my smile will look great (and my bite will work right).
I'm getting both uppers and lowers done on Monday January 13. Lucky me, the gaps in my teeth are so big, I don't need spacers! I am really happy about that. Can't wait for Monday, I'm really excited! Now the big question is, what color ligatures should I get???
