If you have finished with your orthodontic treatment and are wearing retainers (or will be soon), this is a special place to connect with others in your (enviable) situation. Ask a question or make a comment about life post-braces.
Well 7 days to go so thought I'd have a practice posting pics, then I'll know how to do the after pics!
It's been 16 months since these were taken, a lot better than the 18 to 24 months I was estimated. I have some concerns about the de-bracing, mainly because I have very stiff jaw joints which won't take kindly to being held open for an hour. My ortho wants me to take muscle relaxants, but As I'm terrified and get v tense in the chair I'd prefer a couple of valium!! A medication-combining tool online advised me not to combine them, so as valium apparently acts as a muscle relaxant anyway, I think I'll be ok with only that. Anyone else had similar experience?
I got my friend to bring me some Crest Whitestrips over from the UK, and will dazzle you all soon I hope, fingers crossed. Time flew by when my teeth were moving and progressing, but the last 6 months of fine tuning have reallllly dragged! Don't get me started on the elastics either...
Here goes, One pic before (which I HATE, and really inspired me to get the braces!), and one pic when the top ones just installed. You can't see the bottom teeth v well but trust me they're just as impressively crooked as the tops, if not more.
Wish me luck
JJ
Top braces since 26 Nov 2007
Bottom braces since 24 June 2008
Getting 'em off 27 March 2009!!!!
Just got back from orthodontist and had to share the pics I'm so happy! I dosed up on valium due to my tense jaw so it wasn't nearly as bad as i thought. Brackets snapped off v easily (esp the metal ones at the back), although the ceramics ones I felt a little more, but still not painful. The sanding down wasn't too bad. He even filed the crinkly edges of my front 4 teeth, so massive improvement. And I didn't even realise he was doing it! Got the bottoms bonded, happy about that. Feels really weird now! Got to pick up my retainers tomorrow, Essix top and bottom to wear for 6 months full time, then only nights. I've got some crest white strips to make em nice and hollywood-white within the next 2 weeks. The centreline is still not quite lined up despite 2 months of elastics but I really don't care .
Looking forward to some corn-on-the-cob and treacle toffee (not together...). Basically eating anything i want without the aid of a knife! Apples, sandwiches etc.
Survived Ceramic top and bottom for 16 months.
Now bonded lower retainer and Essix retainers top and bottom.
Hi Allisun, I meant my bonded retainer, behind the lower 6 teeth, just a wire stuck on the back. I'm hardly know it's there and am glad I have it, cos they were so crowded I'd hate for them to jumble up again! I also wear an Essix on the lower at night only, and the upper Essix all the time.
I discovered the importance of wearing it the other day when I went out to dinner and left the upper off for about 4 hours- when I went to reinsert, it felt really tight- the teeth had started to wander!! So the scare means I'm now quite vigilant about wearing it as much as poss.
I'm hoping for some Cadbury's Creme Eggs for Easter- something I was unable to bite into last year! yummm
JJ
Survived Ceramic top and bottom for 16 months.
Now bonded lower retainer and Essix retainers top and bottom.
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