Metal Mouth Message Board

Heyho!
I am in my late twenties and, like so many here, had braces as a teenager. First premolar extractions, half a year of some sort of functional appliance (only at night), then fixed braces for two years or so. My orthodontist wanted to work with headgear, which I simply refused . That didn’t help our doctor-patient relationship. I also moved away towards the end of the treatment, the ortho was about to retire, so in short: I finished with a decent, but not great result and more or less immediately stopped wearing my retainers.
Fast forward: my lower front teeth started shifting in my early twenties. I went to an ortho to maybe get a fixed retainer, hoping to stop the shifting. He suggested full braces and talked about my overbite and overjet, slightly off bite, and my upper midline, which was also off. I ran. Two years ago, second try. My teeth had shifted even more in the meantime (crowding and gaps - yes, both, in different places). I thought I could get some sort of removable appliance. I went to a few orthos, neither was convinced that removable would work, I got quotes for Invisalign or full braces. Couldn’t bring myself to do it, as I was about to start university again and thought I’d feel silly, being one of the older students amongst the young crowd.
So, now, a few weeks ago, third try. I went back to an ortho I actually liked, specialised in adults. Turns out my teeth shifted again to the worse (including a newly acquired crossbite on my backmolars). They thought that it would be hard to reach a great result with Invisalign, by which I was a little put off, but I guess that if I am putting down the money to get this (finally) fixed, I might as well try to get the best possible result. So, full braces it is - clear on top, metal on bottom.
Next slight bummer: while bands were not recommended two years ago, they are now. Ugh, thought I’d get around this one. So I had spacers put in last week. They were very hard to get in, and actually couldn’t be put in in one place (wonder what will happen there). I have the appointment to get my braces on on Wednesday. To be honest, I’ve had some second thoughts, so I am actually glad that I don’t have to wait to long to start the process (so I cannot talk myself out of it - again).
Still, I am nervous, and maybe a little bit excited. I have a significant overbite/overjet, so I wonder what they'll do about that - the way it is at the moment, I would likely bite the lower brackets off. Also, does it feel different the second time around? I can hardly remember my first time in braces, but I think the brackets never felt very big or annoying - are adults more sensitive? Would love to hear some experiences

And they are on. Or, at least half of them.
I went in yesterday. They attached the upper brackets and all four bands (on first molars), but not the lower brackets yet (due to my overbite). My lower teeth are much more in disarray than my uppers, so I hope they’ll get the brackets on there soon (the ortho hasn’t given a timeline for that yet). This makes it a little easier to get used to the braces though - they are also not very visible, especially when standing a few feet away (even though I honestly cannot say things like “No one noticed!”).
Pain so far is totally manageable; I have an elastic (?) wire, the same they use for the Damon, which supposedly helps. I am annoyed by the bands though. They have a lot of things attached to them (hooks, tubes, something on the inside). I thought I wouldn’t need that much stuff, but I guess they just come like that as standard configuration. Also, they are cutting into my gums - it doesn’t really hurt, but it looks like the bands are partially in my gums, like, lower than my gum line - is that normal? Is keeping them clean going to be a problem? In any case, I ordered a waterpik

I also had braces as a teen, with extractions, elastics, headgear, the whole nine. Wore retainers religiously into college when wisdom teeth came in and they didn't fit. Noticed shifting in my 20s on the bottom. My orthodontist was long retired, so saw a new one who tried to resolve it with a spring aligner and ipr. It worked but for various life reasons I didn't complete treatment . Now at 60, continued worsening shifting damaging upper and lower incisors because of overbite as well. So back in braces, all metal. Didn't think it would be an issue as don't remember much of a problem from the first time. Got top and bottom at the same time, no molar bands, but bite blocks to prevent hitting bottom brackets. Very different as an adult. It seems so much harder to deal with everything! But not a single regret 8 months in (about halfway). Good luck.

So, it has been over a week, and I feel like I have gotten used to the upper braces. Almost no awkward reactions, even though a lot of people have asked me about them or mentioned them. I am happy though that I finally started doing something about my teeth so I don't mind questions. Also, honestly, if no one noticed the braces, then there would be less point in getting them in the first place, as clearly no one would notice that my teeth are not straight.
Even the bands are not as annoying as I thought they would be. I had some slight soreness on my tongue for two days or so, buy it passed quickly. No big movements to be seen so far, but small gaps are opening up, so I guess something is happening.

Almost three weeks in.
I am still annoyed that I only have my uppers in, and fear that this might make the whole treatment time longer. Tomorrow, I have an appointment to have my ligatures switched, and will voice my concerns then. My big hope is that I'll get an appointment to have the lowers in very soon. With summer and holiday time coming up however, I am not sure.
Apart from that, I am quite happy with my decision for clear braces. Keeping everything clean is a bit of a nuisance, but not impossible (I floss, then brush, then waterpik in the evening, and a manual toothbrush throughout the day) even though I am definitely happy that I did not end up with Invisalign, because of snacking etc. The brackets feel still a bit weird, but not too bad at all - I mostly don't notice them anymore. I have to use chopstick though, as my lips otherwise sometimes get stuck, especially on the incisor hooks.
Also, I feel like I have developed a slight lisp, which is worse in the mornings, but that could be paranoia as well.

I had a good appointment today. Originally, they were only going to change my clear ligatures, as the practice will be closed for 2 weeks for a summer break, but the ortho even put in a new wire (14 Ni Ti or sth like that?), as my teeth are moving along well. They said that my taking care of my gums and teeth helps moving the progress along - not sure why, and probably just trying to encourage me to continue being diligent, but ok.
I voiced my concerns about prolonging treatment time by not having my lower braces on, and it was explained to me that otherwise bite blocks, which are uncomfortable, would be required; I said that I'd prefer that, and so I'll have them on at my next appointment. Yay to that! They really tried to find an appointment as soon as possible, but with them being on holiday and then me also being on holiday, it won't be for another 6 weeks. Oh well. But, still, it is good to have a date set - I want to move things along as quickly as I can! The earlier they are in, the earlier they'll be out

Bite block are really annoying, so probably they were trying to be helpful. It's difficult to chew anything properly. Glad things are going well for you.

Yes, that is what I heard, and I am not looking forward to the annoying bite blocks at all - I guess one gets used to them somehow, just like with everything else? I definitely hope so.
And I am sure that they were just trying to be nice and helpful at the ortho office! They are quite accommodating with appointments and everything.
My teeth were a little bit sore after the adjustment, but nothing too serious or uncomfortable. There is definitely a certain tightness, but no real pain - only my molars (with the bands) are rather sensitive when brushing.
There is a gap that has been opening between two of my front teeth on one side, which my ortho warned me about would happen. It has something to do with shifting my midline. Honestly, I find it kind of fascinating to watch - it is progress!

Please see this survey on health and aesthetic consequences of premolar extractions. Might anyone have had any of these consequences?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1O0_EIJ ... be7Yx/view