Metal Mouth Message Board

I started the braces process after a break up in November 2005. I decided that I wanted to start doing things for myself for a change. My teeth have always been a self-esteem issue for me. I have a nice-sized gap between my two front teeth. Everything else looks fine to me. The ortho would tell you, however, that my bite is slightly off. I am looking at 18 months in braces and will have a permanent retainer fixed to the back of my bottom teeth and a clear retainer for the top teeth. I will also have to visit a periodontist after the braces are off to have tissue removed from between my front teeth. My ortho told me that if I didn't, those teeth would probably separate and go back to their original position with only a few hours (when not wearing a retainer). Now we don't want that to happen, do we?

I was braced on January 17, 2006. I have Damon 3's on the top and bottom. I have one picture from the first couple days after being braced and the rest are from today (Feb. 03, 2006).

This is from the first couple days.


February 03, 2006:

great progress

good luck for your treatement!

Thanks Lucy! I haven't really had any changes that you can notice, unfortunately! I can tell my teeth have moved slightly using my tongue. That muscle has some powerful senses!

KK wrote:Leslie looks like your gap has closed a little already ...

I think you're right, but I have another space forming on the other side of my left front tooth. Oh well!

Thanks for you kinds words!

wow yes the gap looks like its closing already! that's great progress :O !

oh wow you have lifters too I see- I have them for myimpacted tooth, so I can't take them out until it moves [tick tock, tick tock-] how long until you have to keep them on?

actually your teeth look almost identical to my sisters! I've been telling her she could do wonders to her teeth with braces, I should show her your progress and I bet she'll be inspired to take the plunge!

belmikry, they haven't told me how long I will have to keep the funky blue stuff in my molars! It's a pain to eat anything that isn't soft...seeing as I only have two molars on top and two on bottom to eat with! Please do show your sister the pics if it will inspire her!

Y'all might have seen my post on Jan. 27th about the blue stuff in my left molar coming out....Well it happened again! This morning, I was eating a hashbrown and I suddenly noticed that my teeth on the RIGHT side were no longer touching. So, I'm going to have to go back and have the right side filled so I can eat a little easier! Grr! I can't wait until I can go without the funky blue stuff!

Leslie022: oh wow- falling out? I wish mine would [lol] maybe I can chew something then ... I can't wait to get rid of them tooo

the one on my left molar when she was pouring the stuff on my tooth overflowed a tad onto the inside face of my tooth, so sometimes it really annoys my tongue when it brushes against it >_>...

I found you can use it to your advantage and chew on it with some foods, so at least I was able to have spaghetti last night!

I can feel that my gap has closed up a little. I used to be able to easily slide my tongue in between the gap but now it's a good bit harder to get it to go all the way to the gum line! Silly, I know.

I have an appointment on the 14th to have my molar filled with the blue cement. I started to worry that it might throw off my bite not having it in, so I called to make an appointment.

... wouldn't you know- today eating breakfast, I went to bite down, and voila! my left side lifter must've fallen out [which means it went with my eggs and toast I think as well o_o...] so alas, I know how you feel! and of course, it's on a saturday morning, so I'll have to go all weekend with being lop-sided ... oh wells- at least its the opposite side with the impacted canine

I've had my first sinus headache since being braced...It hurts so much worse that I'm used to. I had to leave work early tonight.

poor leslie! I hope you are feeling better!

I am terrified of getting sinus headaches, because I know i'm prone to them ... I had one since braces but luckily it was mild- just remember to take a nice candle-lit bath with lots of bubbles and a great book- always helps me

12 hours of sleep and I feel good as new!!

Thanks for the suggestions belmikry!

It's nice to discover great changes! I was at work today and I work in the jewelry department, so their are plenty of mirrors for me to look at my teeth. I was staring at them (I know I'm vain) and I realized that my space has closed up a little. I desperately want to take pictures and post them for comparison but I am determined to wait until my adjustment on the 14th of March. I'm so excited!!!