Hello everyone!

[chlorine23]

So I'm new here! I was searching the web for info on braces and came across this site. I love it! Here's my mouth story in a nutshell:
Huge TMJ issues (when life gets a little too stressful I can't even chew scrambled eggs). So I went to the ortho who did a full workup on my mouth. My bite is horribly aligned (adressing the clenching and grinding issues with stress relieving techniques) and I've got impacted canines in my uppers. So I've got a Nance appliance in right now, and recovering from my exposure and bond (in which the bond didn't happen but should be completed next week). As my canines are pulled in, I'll get full upper braces, and once my upper teeth are aligned ok, I can go full lowers. Apparently my braces are "damon hybrid". Sounds like a fancy kind of car, and just as expensive. After all that, we'll look at whether or not I need surgery on my jaw to pull the mandible forward a little more. Hopefully not.

My personal story in a nutshell: I'm a wildland firefighter for the USDA Forest Service and absolutely love it, even though it can be a bit tough at times. I'm a petite female so I get my work cut out for me. In the winter I also coach high school swimming, which I also love. I like to swim and workout, and love quiet times to myself.

Thanks everyone for sharing so much of your personal experiences with braces and gadgets, and pics of your lig colors and everything. It really helps with my experience!

[onny]

Sounds like similar issues we share, just that I chose cheaper traditional brackets (treatment is worth a car anyway) and don't (yet) have a nance or similar.
Feel free to contribute to the lig color thread later as well

I btw also love swimming.

Keep us updated and best wishes to you...