Meemoo's journey

[Meemoo]

The braces are on! Man, they feel weird They don't actually hurt but I can feel them scraping on my inner lips and gums, it's quite odd.

I chose metallic purple for the ligatures - it's nice

I've been warned to expect pain over the next couple days and I'm not allowed to chew or brush my teeth til tomorrow.

[ninath1]

Oh Meemoo well done!

My brackets are on but the wire is still to be done - next week. The inside of my cheeks feel like they have been slashed to pieces, but I'm hoping that the wire will make them less ouchy!

Glad your on your way, can't wait till I'm wired up and starting out too!

[Meemoo]

Ninath - hope that it all gets better when the wires go on!

OK update so far. I'm actually doing really well with these things in my mouth Sure my cheeks are cut up from the molar bands (I keep biting them) but apart from that there's no real pain. I've got those ridges/tubes on the inside of my molar bands too but my tongue is already pretty much used to those.

I know I should be using wax to make it easier but I really don't need it and I want everything to toughen up faster anyway.

Tonight was my first night eating "real food" for dinner and I learnt a couple of important lessons - 1. Noodles WILL get hilariously wrapped around the wires over my extraction gaps, 2. Hard foods are much easier to eat than soft foods right now (by that I mean something actually chewable like beef or vegetables), 3. My bite has already changed so eating feels really, really odd.

Oh, and my teeth all hurt, especially when I accidentally knock them together. I don't mind in the slightest though 'cause it means they're moving well already

[ninath1]

Meemoo - I'm sooo jealous! I wish my wires were on too! I want my teeth to start moving! I've got my appointment for the wires and molar tubes tommorrow.

Meemoo, what exactly are the molar tubes and how do they get them on? I'm imagining they are like rings around the tooth but I can't figure how they will slide them on - I haven't had spacers or anything so I'm worried the force of getting them on will probably hurt?? I dont really know what to expect?!

I'm glad you are getting on nicely with your new braces - it gives me renewed conviction that it's the right thing to do as we will all have wonderful, fabulous and magnificent smiles eventually!

x

[Meemoo]

Meemoo - I'm sooo jealous! I wish my wires were on too! I want my teeth to start moving! I've got my appointment for the wires and molar tubes tommorrow.

Meemoo, what exactly are the molar tubes and how do they get them on? I'm imagining they are like rings around the tooth but I can't figure how they will slide them on - I haven't had spacers or anything so I'm worried the force of getting them on will probably hurt?? I dont really know what to expect?!

I'm glad you are getting on nicely with your new braces - it gives me renewed conviction that it's the right thing to do as we will all have wonderful, fabulous and magnificent smiles eventually!

x

The molar tubes are part of the molar bands - imagine like little tubes being attached to the metal. It makes the bands feel ridged on the inside instead of smooth. The molar bands themselves are essentially rings with hooks on the outside (cheek side) that go around your molar completely and are cemented on. My ortho used a slow release fluoride cement to help keep the molars healthy. Only, I have orange cement still showing on my molars!

As another quick update to all that might be reading - I can still eat corn chips - yeah! Of course I have to break them into tiny pieces first but still. Went down the candy aisle of the supermarket today too and was pretty saddened to realise that pretty much all of my favourite candy is on the "no go because it's too sticky" list

One side effect of braces that I completely forgot about is that braces means that I can't bite my nails - so I'm quitting my longest held habit by force now, not by choice!

[ninath1]

Oh God! The molar bands sound painfull! I don't know how my ortho will get rings around the molars - there doesn't seem to be enough space in between!

Oh well, come what may, the little blighters will be going on tommorrow!

Feeling nervous

x

[Meemoo]

OK it's been quite a few months so sorry for the long time between updates.

I've adjusted really well to life with braces - I think it's because I know that it's the right thing for me to be doing My teeth are also doing amazingly well! My ortho is always remarking on how well they're moving

Anyway, I went for my third adjustment today and boy, it was a busy one! I've gotten a new wire, powerchains and elastics! The elastics go from my bottom back molars to the top canines. Powerchains are only on the tops for the moment.

It's kinda funny how cheery my ortho is - he's all "These are gonna hurt later so don't forget panadol!" hahahaha.

[Meemoo]

So, time for another update! This afternoon was my fourth adjustment. The ortho is still happy with how things are progressing and he estimates that I have 9 to 12 months left of treatment (I got the braces on in mid-June last year so that means that braces could be off anywhere between October and January, assuming that my teeth keep going as well as they are!).

Today he put another powerchain on my top arch, replaced the ligatures and gave me elastics that go from the bottom back molars to the top canines - same configuration as last time only he's doubled up on the elastics, I presume to try and close my extraction gaps faster. I don't mind but it is a pain to have to put 4 in instead of 2! Luckily, I'm allowed to take the elastics out to eat - eating is near impossible otherwise!

Next adjustment will be in 10 weeks time. I'm still at the stage where every 10 weeks or so is the norm, I guess. My teeth are getting tender now but it's all worth it