A bad start and finally brace free!

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#1 Post by **AmybettyB** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 10:32 am

Hi,

I started my journey into braces a few months ago, I'm 22 and have always been embarrassed about my smile, a toothy grinned photo is a very rare occurance!

I took the plunge and decided to visit an orthodontist, who explained all the different types of brace to me, and I decided on ceramic brackets with a tooth coloured wire, in the hope that this would be the least obvious! The orthodontist predicted it will take 15-18 months of treatment and told me I would need 2 teeth out, so I rang the dentist and booked myself in.

A week later I was in the dentists chair and very nervous, I'm terrified of injections and so was in tears as soon as the dentist came near me with the needle. The nurse tried to calm me down but I stayed upset through the whole ordeal. The dentist went in with his pliers and began pulling at my tooth, which just didn't want to budge! He was telling me to keep my head still and I was trying, eventually the nurse had to hold my head still! After a few more tugs I heard a horrible crack. The dentist and nurse then went off into a corner and started whispering, before coming back to me and telling me they would need to refer me to a hospital. Both roots of my tooth had snapped off and were still in my gum!

As you can imagine this did nothing for my composure, I was sore and bleeding and catching a bus home, not knowing what to do next. They had told me I'd probably need to wait a few months on an NHS waiting list before anything was done! Fortunately when I got home I remembered I had medical insurance through my work, and along with some bullying from my orthodontist they agreed to help me out for free! So a few weeks ago I went under the knife, the knocked me out so I knew nothing of the procedure, woke up dazed and confused, complete with two missing teeth and some stiches!

I was very sore for the next few days and was living off mashed potato, milk shakes, and soup along with my antibiotics and painkillers! but after a few days I was back on solid food and ready to go back to my orthodontist. I booked an appointment for in a few weeks time ready for the first step in attaching my braces.

Yesterday I went to that first appointment, pain free and about two minutes and the spacers were fitted between my back teeth. I was pleasantly suprised at how quick and easy it was. However, within a few hours my gums began to get painful, and I sit here now the day after very uncomfortable. I'm back on soft foods, soups etc, and I'm incredible hungry trying to work out what mush I can have fore my tea!!

I go back on thursday for them to remove the spacers and put in some braket type things round my back teeth, then a week later they will put on the full brace and the countdown will begin!

Its been hardwork so far, and there has been pain and tears, I just hope things don't get worse and it all feels worth it in the end!!!

Amy

#2 Post by **metalmom** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 6:21 am

Good luck Amy!! That does sound like a rough start. I've had a pretty rough go of it too. haha I think it's not as uncommon as you'd think. Thursday will be here before you know it and those annoying little spacers will be out of there.

#3 Post by **markybwoy** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 7:51 am

Hi Amy

What an ordeal for your start. When you have an extraction a good dentist will never "pull" a tooth with pliers. It should be a gentle and slow circular motion, rocking round and round in a circle. When I had my extractions, the nurse held my head the whole time so I don't think s/he was bullying you by holding your head still! I think that's normal. I suppose losing a bit must be a fairly common complication. What a pain.

Don't worry, your molar bands will be much more comfortable than spacers. You forget you have the bands after 3 or 4 days.

Having spacers and then braces can be a rough week or two. But, trust me, it really does get better. I also hit a bit of a low after 7 days of spacers and then the first 2 or 3 days of braces - but it does get better, I promise!

Warm salty rinses every day are very soothing, keep lip balmed and chew s-l-o-w-l-y. Get a stash of dental wax from your ortho when you leave with your braces fitted - at least 2 boxes. He can't give you too much! I have never seen it for sale in Boots or similar shops here in the UK.

Tea? Humm. How about pasta? Get a range of sauces so you don't get bored of that too quickly. Or some baked cod with mashed potatoes. Full of vitamin D and goodies like that. Two weeks of imagination and you will be back on normal-ish foods. Do try and eat.

Good luck!

#4 Post by **kirjax** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 5:30 pm

wow that is some ordeal. Hopefully your managing better these days.

Spacers are not pleasant. Once they're gone you should be okay. Good luck!

#5 Post by **cwatt1** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 8:10 pm

Wow Amy, I cringed when I read your story

Sorry you've had such a rough go of it so far, but here's hoping the worst is over now.

I'm sure you've read in numerous posts here that the spacers seem to be the most bothersome for may people. I can't comment on spacers since I didn't have them, but I can tell you that the process of being braced was pretty painless. You'll be in your braces pretty soon. The first few days in braces may be a little uncomfortable, but nothing that orthodontic wax and lots of water and salt water rinses won't help a lot

Then you'll be past the most difficult part and be on your way

Best of luck, and welcome! You'll find great people here and loads of support!

#6 Post by **Livi35** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:07 pm

Oh Amy, you certainly have a had a pretty ordinary start to your braces journey, hopefully it improves from here.

Whilst I haven't had spacers, the braces themselves haven't been too bad, nothing over the counter painkillers (in my case for only a few days), wax (loads of) and salt water rinses couldn't fix. And it really does get better.

And trust, it will be all worth it in the end.

#7 Post by **Miss Smiley** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 4:49 pm

YIKES! I have seen a good number of people come into the OS office because their GD broke the roots off during the extraction. Nothing uncommon but still a horrific experience if you already fear the GD. Sounds like you're doing better, hopefully this whole experience will open a new window.

#8 Post by **AmybettyB** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 1:40 am

Hey guys,

Thanks for all the advice and support!

I'm still mainly eating soup, but i did manage mushed up fish fingers and boiled untill soft carrots last night! Also I've discovered cous cous is really easy to eat no chewing required!!

I get my spacers out tonight, and replaced with the molar bands, so fingers crossed it all goes smoothly!

I'll let you know how it goes!

Amy

#9 Post by **AmybettyB** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 1:33 am

I had the spacers taken out on Thursday, so I've been back on solid food! They are fitting the brace on Thursday and I'm really nervous. I'm starting to get panicked about silly things, and worrying my partner won't be interested in me once I'm braced... I know this is all silly, but I'm a worrier!

Fingers crossed it will all go smoothly and then i'll get some pics on here.

#10 Post by **AmybettyB** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 3:49 am

The braces go on today, so here is a before photo, sorry about the quality, my webcam is a bit rubbish!

The picture doesnt really show my bite, as I pushed my lower teeth forward so you can see the crowding. When I smile naturally you can barely see my lower teeth!

I'll put on some post brace pictures later.... wish me luck!

#11 Post by **AmybettyB** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 10:55 am

The brace is on.

I feel like a monster. Turns out the spacers which had done their job and were taken out lst week need to go back in, apparently the gaps they had made for the molar bands decided to dissapear again! Now I'm going back next thursday to have the molar bands put in.

Here is another terribly focused picture of how my teeth look with my brace:

#12 Post by **kiwigirl83** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 7:29 pm

Wow- I'll be really pleased if my braces look that inconspicuous! They look great

#13 Post by **AmybettyB** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 1:51 am

Hey,

Thanks for the support, like I say the picture is blurry so to me they look huge!! especially on my canines which now to me look twice as prominent as before!

I'm in quite alot of pain, but i guess that means its working?? And maybe i'm imagining it, but i'm sure one of my lowers have started to straighten already!

When the ortho saw that the gaps has closed already from the spacers he was really confused, apparently you should still be able to fit the molar bands 2 weeks after... he says that means my teeth move quickly, so surely that can only be a good thing??!

I'll keep you posted!

#14 Post by **AmybettyB** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 2:01 am

P.s. here is a picture taken in the light, I've covered all the brackets with wax as they are reallly sharp!

#15 Post by **cwatt1** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 4:26 am

Amy, your braces look great! I'll be interested in following your progress -- your teeth are similar to mine and our treatments started pretty close together as well.

I'm sure the soreness will pass -- it did for me after just a few days. But you're right -- that means those braces are starting to do their job!

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A bad start and finally brace free!

A bad start and finally brace free!

what a start