Newbie

[lillie32]

Hello everyone out there with metal in your mouths!!!!
I am a 32 yr old mother of two who just got these "thingys" put in my mouth last Friday (exactly 6 days ago). I've been needing to get braces for a long, long time. My story in a nut shell - I still have my primary canines, or my baby teeth! Dentists say it's very common, when there's not enough space in the mouth for them to come down, so they never did-'til now! My right side is coming down straight, but the left side started traveling sideways, and has already started decaying a neighboor tooth (2nd incisor). I was told if I didn't do something very soon, I'd be left with more problems worse than crocked teeth-like no teeth at all in the front of my mouth! So I decided to instead of implants or bridges, take advantage of my perfectly healthy teeth God gave me. I wish I had gotten them when I was in my teens, when I was supposed to, but my poor mother raised us girls by her self, and couldn't afford braces then. Anyway, I'm just so tired of explaining my story to all my clients, cause they always say "but your teeth are so straight!-why do you need braces?" My teeth have always been very straight, and I never had any problems with showing a smile, until now, that is! I find myself hidding my smile now. This is embarrassing. And only 18 more months to go. And not to mention-can't eat hardly anything without pain-When is it gonna stop? I've been living on Slim Fast for the past week-yuck! It's a real adjustment, but can't wait for the final results! Oh by the way, in about 3 wks, I get these babies out, then I'll be toothless for a while-oh no!!!!!!! Any one out there with similar situation?

Looking forward to hearing from some of you. Thanks for your support!

[lillie32]

So you'll have that tooth up in there forever?

What if it starts to move on ya?

[lillie32]

My left canince is also lying horintal, with the front pointed a little down, and it's low enough to take a small portion of the root of the tooth next to it (2nd incisor). Only my luck! But I guess the orthodontist was right in saying that this is a common thing.

One more thing, hate to be a bother, but did you loose your primary canine or did they have to extract it? And did it hurt after they extracted it, if so?

I'm getting both mine extracted in a few weeks, and then a chain attached to the one that's "floating around up there". I'm very nervous about this.........

[gena]

My canine was lying horizontally in the palete. My ortho pulled the tip down, then rotated it and pulled it toward the opening all at the same time. I had to have my baby tooth pulled. It didn't have any decay and wasn't the least bit loose. They pulled it at the same time they did the exposure surgery so I had an empty space for a while. It really wasn't all that noticeable though because he had a spring in the front to keep the space open for the adult canine.

The impacted canine thing is pretty common because they are the last adults teeth to come in and if you have crowding and there's no space for them, they just stay impacted. My ortho says they can eventually decay and become abcessed and cause major problems. Can also ruin the roots of the other teeth in front.

Needless to say, I have been in braces for 3 years and still have them at 36 years old but I don't regret a minute of it.

[lillie32]

Gena,

Yeah, the ortho told me the same thing about the impacted teeth becoming abcessed, and something ruinning the roots of neighbooring teeth. That's what happened to me. The tooth in front of it, which is the my 2nd incisor (#10) already looks like some of the root's been decayed away. But the doc's said should still be early enough to save that tooth. A couple more years, and I'd have more serious problems!!!

But anyway, how long did it take for your horizontal tooth to brake throught the gums, since they pulled the baby tooth? Was it hard to eat that way? (Harder than it is now?)

[lillie32]

Thank you linda21 for your warm welcome. Yes, my concerns are a bit alleviated since I read on about KK and gena. I'm glad to know that I'm not the only person with this problem. ALso, glad to know I'm not the only one wearing braces as old as I am (32)! But as everyone keeps reminding me: it's all so worth it in the end!

[sjsarre]

Congrats on starting your brace journey...

[lillie32]

Thanks

[lillie32]

Naahh, I never whine (heehee)!!!! No, seriously, save your ears, or in this case, eyes and as well as your shoulders too, cause I'm sure that during the next 18 months, I'll be needing a shoulder from time to time. But actually, no complaints here, so far so good. I went to Walmart and bought some of that Superfloss someone on here (can't remember who) suggested, and it works wonders, cause I had a little problem flossing, but everything's good now. Other than that, no sores, and no more pain when eating, either. The only thing that's annoying, is I keep having severely dry lips (go figure). I can eat anything I want, except candy and gum, or nuts, which I have no business eating anyway! Finally, I'm not as self consious about my new, temporary smile. Getting more used to it, I guess. [/url]

[>tRoUbLe<]

Congrats on being braced. I'll be 30 in December and will be braced on September 7th. Single mother of 2, knew I needed ortho, and the whole nine.

IoW - I understand your plight

I've been coming to Archwired/Metal Mouth for over a month and just had the nerve to join today...especially since I'll need advice after my appointment this week!

[lillie32]

Yeah, I always have to have some kind of moisturizer with me everywhere I go! And lots of water too! (Just sometimes I get too busy and forget.)

Thanks

[lillie32]

Hey there Trouble - welcome! I'm in my 30's (32) and have 2 kids as well. And I also live in beautiful Florida, (Central Florida) not too far from you! I just got my braces on a few weeks ago, and adjusting quite well, well, better than I thought, for sure, compared to some stories I've heard, anyway. I joined this group about a week ago. I also have known for a while that I needed orthopedic braces-just was in denial I guess, but finally decided it had to be now or never, so here I go. And hopefully, in about 18 months, the results will all worth this journey.

[>tRoUbLe<]

I feel I've been lucky as well. I had major discomfort early on (last 2 weeks) and my teeth are REALLY loose! I guess that means the braces are working! Not so bad now, I'm actually kinda used to them!

I have self-ligating brackets - no ligs (colors) for me! and I know that this will be a very interesting journey.

I've been using Blistex for my lips and it's really helped. My WaterPik is a God-send and I won't be caught eating without an interdental brush (the cone shaped one)!!!

Good luck - I'm in for 28 months, looks like we may be on the same timeline!

[lillie32]

That's great! Glad you're adjusting so well! I am also surprised at how well this is going. I can eat anything I want, with great caution, of course. No candy, though.

I won't be happy until after my surgery I will have my surgery (canine expusure) in about a month. Which by the way, I'm really dreading. The oral surgeon told me that there's only a very small chance that this tooth will come down, since it's lying inside my palate horizontally. The other baby tooth (canine) is already loose! I think the spacers are already doing their job! Maybe it won't too dificult after all to bring the adult (right side) canine down after all! And maybe I can prove Dr Davis, the OS wrong, and with time this tooth (left canine) WILL come down!!!!! I'm praying and hoping anyway!

P.S. have any pics?
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[lillie32]

Let me get this straight, so your canine is still floating around up in there?

Yeah, Dr. Davis, my OS, said he'd do the surgery, but he's having me sign a waiver allowing him to extract my tooth if when he's in there, it doesn't look like the tooth can come down at all. But I'm really upset about this, and I have been trying to get ahold of my Ortho for the last two weeks, and he still hasn't gotten back with me!!!!! I mean, these canines, are the whole reason why I got these braces, and I'm paying for this thing out of pocket, because my insurance, METlife, doesn't pay for my braces, apparently, I'm too old. If Dr. Davis removes this tooth, then what? I am gonna have to get a bridge or implant, anyway? And won't removing that tooth be even more risky then attempting to bring it down?

I don't understand why he still wants to attempt to do the surgery, if he thinks there's only 30% chance that the tooth can come down. Maybe it's because the tooth looks like it's already going over the wrong teeth. It's lying in such away, that it may make my front incisors loose, cause it's already on top of the root of the 2nd incisor, next to it. I was so blown away, and emotional that my mind drew a blank, and couldn't think straight to ask the right questions.

Lillie