Thursday is my big day too :/

[AmICrazy?]

But for me it's getting them on :( I swear if I hadn't already paid $1300 out of pocket I would probably back out :( I can't wait for the end result but I am very very concerned about talking like a fool with a lisp for 18 months :( I'm 28 and have a highly visible position in my company and have to communicate with lots of poeple on a daily basis.

[scorr77]

Oh it isn't nothing to worry about. I got mine on January 13th, and it's like they are not even there! Good luck!

[drgnchsr36]

I wouldn't stress about it. But, everyone is different. I don't really have a lisp, I only have my top braces on at the moment - but it really didn't bother me too much. It's been about a month, and I hardly notice them except for the brushing/flossing bit..

[AmICrazy?]

[quote="scorr77"]Oh it isn't nothing to worry about. I got mine on January 13th, and it's like they are not even there! Good luck![/quote]
I forgot to mention that my concern stems from the fact that I have to have a bite plate in addition to my braces, which is the part my ortho told me would make me talk funny for a little while :(

[scorr77]

Oh..... Well in that case I cannot give you advice on that. I did read somewhere about that though. Hope it all works out for you. Just remember it is all worth it in the end!

[drgnchsr36]

Oh it isn't nothing to worry about. I got mine on January 13th, and it's like they are not even there! Good luck!

I forgot to mention that my concern stems from the fact that I have to have a bite plate in addition to my braces, which is the part my ortho told me would make me talk funny for a little while

Is a bite plate worse than bite build ups or bite turbos? I'm not sure.. unfortunately, none of those options sound fun - but it shouldn't last the entire time you're braced.

[GettingStraight]

[quote="scorr77"]Oh it isn't nothing to worry about. I got mine on January 13th, and it's like they are not even there! Good luck![/quote]

I am also a member of the Jan 13th braces on club. Upper ceramics now, bite turbos and lower metal coming in a few months.

I'm 43 and a manager at my company. My biggest concern was how people at work were going to react and if it would make it harder for people take what I had to say seriously. I told a few people I work closely with ahead of time. They were all supportive and a few people were even excited for me. Outside of the group I told, there has only been one person at work that noticed and commented -- one of the chatty cashiers in the cafeteria.

Work-wise, getting braces has been a non-event. Actually, it's been a non-event all around. Very little pain and discomfort, and I adjusted to having something new in my mouth with a couple days.

[peach]

Congrats on starting your treatment:) the braces never caused me any issues with speaking but I had two expanders. My bottom expander was the real problem because it had this little bar that went right behind my upper teeth and my tongue had to get used to moving with it there. So I had a lisp for about two weeks. It got better with practice but there were certain word I had to substitute in order to avoid the lisp. My "s" sounds were pretty difficult. Anyway, like you, I have to talk a lot in my job and interact with people in person and by phone. During the first weeks, I just told people I had dental work done and they were all understanding. I actually had a few people say that their kids or themselves had the same thing. It will get better. Just practice talking out loud a lot. There's a poem on theis site somewhere to help you practice tough sounds. I think its the rainbow poem? Try to look it up in the search engine. Personally, I sang a lot in the car on the way to and from work....then I laughed at myself. Seriously though, it'll become more manageable. Best of luck.

[jambo532]

First off congrats.... it's not too bad. Don't worry, you wont have a lisp the whole time. I was worried about that as well. I work with the public and didn't want to sound like a dork. Mine only lasted maybe the first week or something.
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