Taking the Plunge...

Message

#1 Post by **mm92280** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 11:43 am

I've known for a long time that I needed braces, but I avoided getting them because I thought it would be the worst year and a half to two years of my life if I did. Well, I recently revisited the possibility of doing it. After looking into it and seeing how things had improved, I finally got serious about getting my teeth fixed, as I didn't want to live the next 50 years of my life with crooked teeth. I really had my site set on ceramics, but my ortho did not see that as an option for me. The next best thing to me would have been Damon 3's, because they have a ceramic back, which makes them a little less noticeable, in my opinion. However, he doesn't use Damon 3's, only what he called "high-tech" braces, which I'm assuming are Damon 2's.

After the braces were put on this morning, I noticed immediately that they were more visible than I would like them to be, but I know that it is best that I not turn back at this point. Thus, I'm going to try and just suffer through them for the next 18 months and hope that I see rapid improvement and that people won't notice them as much as I think they will. Anyway, I'm anxious to see the outcome but nervous about the journey. Here are my beginning pics:

Before braces:

Just after being braced (please forgive the ultra-chapped lips):

I feel like my teeth have the potential to look really good, and I'm trying to stay focused on that during this time. My treatment is expected to last from 18 to 22 months, but, like everyone else, I'm hoping I will finish up early. I will update this as I see progress or as I get adjustments.

#2 Post by **jennandtonic** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 11:52 am

Congrats on getting braces...I can't see the pictures, but I'm sure they look great!

I know how you feel about the visiblity. I was really self-conscious about that, but after already making some progress, IT IS WORTH IT! Believe me, you will feel the same way.

#3 Post by **mm92280** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 12:28 pm

is anyone else having trouble seeing the pictures?

Website · #4 Post by **Kell** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 12:35 pm

Congratulations!

I can't see the pictures either. The first one is very, very tiny and the second is only a little bigger.

#5 Post by **mm92280** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 12:53 pm

They have resized on me. I changed the size because originally they were huge, but its taken several hours for it to take effect and its made them way too small.

#6 Post by **mm92280** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 1:06 pm

They are back to their normal way-too-big size. I will repost them in a smaller size later on today.

#7 Post by **Leslie022** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 6:15 pm

Good job for deciding to get braced! You won't regret it when all is said and done! Don't worry about how visible your braces are. When I first got my Damon 3's on, I was worried about how visible they were, so I tried to hide them. People told me I looked silly trying to hide them, rather than acting normal. Also, time will fly! I've had mine over a month already and it doesn't even seem like it!

Good luck and I can't wait to see your progress!

Leslie

#8 Post by **mm92280** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 11:42 am

Okay, I am 2 months into my treatment and there has been some progress, so I decided to do a little update, including pictures. For the first 3 or 4 days, I will say that I was very uncomfortable with my braces and I had a lot of second thoughts about it. However, after about the 1 week mark, I started to get used to them and now I basically don't even think about them that much. Also, in the beginning, flossing was a real pain, and I dreaded it, but I've gotten better at it, and much quicker as result. Anyway, I have my first adjustment coming up in a week or so, and I'll post some more pics after that.

#9 Post by **mm92280** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 12:53 pm

Its been quite awhile since I have visited the board, so I decided it was time to do an update. It has now been almost 6 months since my braces went on. I just had my 2nd adjustment a couple of weeks ago. Just like the first adjustment, they put in a new wire and my teeth were pretty sore for the first few days. Overall, I've made some nice progress, though I have developed a couple of stains/spots on my front teeth. I assume I will simply have those taken care of when the braces come off. I took these pictures myself just a couple of weeks ago (right after my 2nd adjustment).

#10 Post by **joney** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 1:34 pm

Wow mm92280

Your teeth look great. I'm curious, did you have any extractions? I ask as my teeth are crowded and the orthodontist thinks that I won't need extractions.

#11 Post by **jennandtonic** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 3:14 pm

wow! That looks amazing, and you said it's only been almost six months! Here's to six more months of progress just like that!

#12 Post by **mm92280** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 10:24 pm

joney wrote:Wow mm92280

Your teeth look great. I'm curious, did you have any extractions? I ask as my teeth are crowded and the orthodontist thinks that I won't need extractions.

I had 4 teeth removed prior to being braced but that was purely because my wisdom teeth were coming in. My ortho told me he didn't think having any teeth removed would be necessary after taking care of the wisdom tooth issue. He did tell me that if I had gone with ceramic braces/invisible braces that I likely would have had teeth removed, as he feels that those braces don't move teeth as well as the Damon braces.

#13 Post by **joney** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 11:14 am

Thanks for the response. Good to know that things are working out so well for you without extractions, it gives me hope as it just amazes me to think that space can be created as previously I would have needed extractions.