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[class3citizen]

Hi all,

This seems like a really great board.

I just got fitted with braces and am feeling very overwhelmed at the moment. Please tell me I won't feel this bad for long!

I have a serious underbite, which one ortho wanted to correct with major surgery including having my mouth wired shut for 6-8 weeks!

Luckily I found another ortho who came up with a more reasonable (but still rather scary) plan. Instead of major surgery I had yesterday a small procedure to open up the seam in my palate. This will allow it to grow with an expander, which I will turn once a day to make it wider. The expander is incorporated in a twinblock device, which keeps my lower jaw back.

I just got this device today and it is bothering me tremendously. It feels like my whole mouth is taken up by plastic. I have spit all over, and I can't talk at all. Eating has been really hard too, even with soft stuff. I am supposed to keep it in all day and only take it out to brush. The ortho says keeping it in during the first days is critical to getting used to it. So far I have done as told, but I really feel like yanking it out just for a little break... I cannot imagine how sleeping with this thing is going to be.

After I get expanded enough (about 2 months), I am going to have a facemask to pull my teeth forward. Although I was assured I would never have to wear it in public, I am very freaked out about it, having seen some scary pictures on the internet. Also looks very uncomfortable.

Up to now I am seriously wondering if I did the right thing to get braces.

[Love4Law]

Just remember that when everything is over and done with, your smile will be worth it! You will look in the mirror and say "I'm happy I did this".

[Lisa65]

Sounds like you have signed up for a lot! I am not sure there's anyone else here now who has a twinblock appliance, but like with any other appliance, the more you wear it the quicker you will get used to it, so try and resist the temptation to keep taking it out if you can.

There are a few others here who have had protraction headgear. There's a thread here viewtopic.php?t=24539
I have "normal" headgear, and although it was hard to sleep with it in initially, I got used to it within a week or so.

A feather pillow is invaluable for sleeping, because you can mould it to the right shape leaving a little groove for the HG to fit into.

Good luck with your treatment!

[class3citizen]

Hi,

Today was my first day at work with my new braces, so I decided to be bold and post a note on my desk saying "New braces + speech problems, please be patient". It worked wonders! Everyone was real nice to me, told me their favorite braces stories and reassured me I would be speaking normally in no time.

They also said I look good in braces. It is true that they have instantly pushed my bottom jaw back, changing my whole face shape. I hope this is something like I will look like at the end. Also, you can't really see the braces themselves since the top part is all behind my teeth and the bottom part is pretty well covered by my lower lip. In terms of aesthetics, I have to rate these these as an A.

A few other things have improved. I seem to be producing less saliva (maybe I ran out for good), and I am learning to swallow semi-solid food. Talking is still my biggest challenge. I've been practicing, but I have not noticed much of a change. I also find the braces very uncomfortable and distracting, but I am hoping I will get over thinking about them all the time soon.

[class3citizen]

Hi,

Thanks for the help. Thanks to this site I have kept my faith and stuck with my braces for a full week! They still feel strange, but I have learned to eat quite well with them. The secret is not to be scared to bite down on the plastic!

I am now trying to work on my lisp. I can talk a little better, but there are many sounds I CANNOT make at all (lisp = withp, for example).

I am a little nervous about next weekend. Not only is my boyfriend coming (he lives out of town and we see each other 1-2 times a month). I don't know what he'll think about my new look. He has spoken to me on the phone, so he knows how I sound, but I'm still apprehensive. To add to that, I'll have my first ortho visit after the fitting.

On the plus side, I already see my front teeth moving apart! I was told this would happen in phase one and would later be corrected in phase two. Sounds like progress to me.

[iBorg]

The salvia you refer to as stuff will diminish as your mouth gets more used to your appliances. Basically the salvia is to help soften it u so you can chew it like a piece of bread. As for speaking with your new device, try singing loudly and get every word right. That's one of the best ways to learn how to speak with a hunk of plastic in your mouth. That method helped me adapt to my first bite plate.

Good luck, you're among friends.

Mike

[class3citizen]

Hi!

I survived another week, and am feeling quite good about the whole process by now. I decided to relax and live with my lisp. At least I look good, as my lovely boyfriend has confirmed that for me this weekend!

I was going to have an appointment this weekend, but it was postponed for next Saturday. wish me luck.