Braces @ 24! Woo hoo!

[Roboto]

Hey everybody! I'm so excited to start my braces story.. although I'm not there just yet.

As a long time lurker, this board has really helped me with the decision to go back under the wire. For a long time I've debated getting braces again. I had them during my middle school/early high school years (4 years total- yikes!).. Unfortunately, due to a combination of factors (sucky follow-up, a root canal that changed the fit of my retainer, wisdom teeth, etc...) my teeth shifted. My problem has always been my overjet (yay thumbsucking!), which I don't think was ever fixed. Now I have moderate crowding on the bottom (never had a bottom retainer.. poo) and, in the words of my ortho, an overbite that is "severely excessive".. (a 12mm overjet!).

I've met with 3 orthos who all told me that surgery was my best bet. Having my jaw cracked is not my idea of a good time (I've been married less than a year.. I don't think hubby is ready for that level of cranky, haha), so I went with ortho #3 who told me that while surgery would be a surefire way to fix my jaw, he could give me a beautiful smile without. SO, we're pulling 2 molars on top and my 3 wisdom teeth. Then he'll go ahead and pull those front chompers back with rubber bands to rejoin the gang. Estimated time is 24 months.

I'm so excited! I've been putting this off for about 5 years and am finally sucking it up and going for it. All that remains until brace day are my 5 extractions and having a root canal checked out to make sure I don't need it to be retreated.

Woohooo!!

[GypsyinBraces]

Good luck Roboto! I looked around for an ortho who wouldn't break my jaw(s) too. I'm sore now, but the surgery would have been ten times worse!

[BraceFace2o1o]

Hi Roboto . Just wanted to stop by and wish you luck! I was 24 when I got my brace (now 25) and I too have been wanting a brace for quite a few years, but only recently had the money to do it (I am paying monthly though).

Looking forward to reading your update

[Roboto]

All of your stories are so encouraging!

I just went in for my extraction consult today. I need my wisdom teeth removed and 2 upper bicuspids. I'm a little nervous after reading some horror stories about how pulling teeth might turn out, but when I get pics up here I think you'll all see that if I want my overjet to decrease, I need to make some space in there. I guess I don't really know what the negative outcome(s) from extractions would be, but I'm afraid of finding out.. does that make sense?

..and by the way, who the heck knew that pulling teeth was so darn expensive! I sure hope the tooth fairy will reimburse the cost!

[Roboto]

Today is extraction day.. no turning back in a couple of hours!! (Unless I decide I like the toothless look)...

I'm still a little nervous about getting 2 healthy teeth taken out , but I keep telling myself that it has to be done if I want a beautiful smile.. and that it's less teeth to brush! haha. I've requested that the tooth fairy just leave his credit card under my pillow in the morning... seems reasonable, right?

I also have my bracing date! April 29th... eee! The receptionist was so supportive on the phone, "Yes, I remember you! I'm so happy to hear you're coming back!"

Take care, guys!

[Roboto]

Okay, let's give this a whirl. Now that I'm at the point of no return (unless this gappy mouth look grows on me), I'm going to post some pics I have from the ortho. As you can see, my teeth have some decalcification and staining from my first time around with braces. I was young and dental hygiene wasn't exactly enforced. I'm working hard now to get them back into fighting shape.








(I think the nose ring and earrings add a touch of class in the x-ray.. don't you? )

I'll try to get some better pics of my bite soon too. It's very noticeable from the side.

[catgyrl]

OMG... Roboto, take a look at page2 1 and 4 of my story. Our teeth are almost IDENTICAL!! The overjet, the "sloping" of the upper teeth (page 1), and the lower front teeth (page 4). That is too cool! I have a twin!! Only difference is that you don't have any fillings (darn you!) Oh, and I have no nosering. You will be so pleased with your results. I'm only a year into mine, and am thrilled that my overjet is pretty much gone. Of course, there are lots of other things to fix, but I don't have "Mr. Ed" teeth anymore.

Take care of your extraction sites. I look forward to following your story.

-Cathy

[tashay1985]

best of luck, congrats on taking the plunge!!! you have beautiful teeth that will Look amazing when all is said and done! its tough in the beginning especially with having extractions but it will all be worth it in the end

[Roboto]

The teeth are out. I'm so glad I got the IV sedation. One second the doc was talking about last night's episode of Frontline to the assistant, and the next they were asking me if I could sit up yet. (The answer was no haha).. Yesterday (the third day) was the worst day for pain. I had minimal swelling the first two, but yesterday I was swollen and my jaw was sore where the impacted teeth were. Luckily, the meds make me sleep. It'll aaalll be worth it soon enough!

@catgyrl.. The similarities between our teeth and how much progress you've made are a huuuge source of motivation for me! It's one thing to see the amazing progress of everyone else, but to actually see a mouth that is similar to your own is fantastic. I've shown my husband your progress like a thousand times! lol ...I can't wait to start in 2 weeks!

@tashay.. Thanks so much! The extractions have definitely been a pain, but I think yesterday was the worst of it.. it's uphill from here!

[Roboto]

Ok, teeth.. it's getting a little old now.. is it normal for my teeth/lower jaw to still be throbbing like this? I had them extracted Wednesday morning and it's now Sunday evening. I woke up from a short nap a little while ago and was just about ready to rip my jaw off.. mouth pain is the worst, isn't it? I've got enough prescription pain killer to last me for today. I'll give the dentist a call when he opens in the morning. Dang.

[Roboto]

Relief! Sweet relief!

I went back to the oral surgeon this morning to have things checked out. Boy, I was one hurtin' pup. Turns out I had dry sockets for both the bottom teeth (that's what I figured). You could actually see the bone exposed back there. Nasstyyyy.. So the doc put a medicated dressing in the holes and I feel sooooooooo much better. The taste is disgusting, but the relief is beyond what I expected. It's like nothing ever happened!

[Roboto]

Friday's the big day, which means I've only got 4 days to scarf down my Easter candy!

[Roboto]

The day has finally come.. Prince William starts out his new life as a married fellow, and I start out my new marriage to these braces. (That's right.. I just compared my orthodontics to the royal wedding ) BUT since there aren't any news stations covering my new and exciting changes, I'll have to document them myself.

It was a very straight-forward procedure. I went back to the chair of doom, the dental assistant put the cheek separators in, and then she set me up for the ortho to place the brackets. (It didn't matter how much chapstick I slathered on before that appointment- Those cheek separators are the devil's handiwork!) The assistant put in spacers too. While doing so she said, "Holy crap. These teeth are tight!" She hammered away until they eventually went in. That was uncomfortable, but nothing hurt. ACTUALLY, one thing did hurt. Every time the ortho went around the top of the chair and leaned over my face to place certain brackets he would catch my hair between himself and the headrest. So I was trying to keep my head still for him while simultaneously fighting the pull of my hair in the opposite direction. I almost laughed right out loud a few times.

I took ibuprofren (for my scalp, apparently lol) before my appointment and have felt fine. Braces don't really feel as strange the second time around as I was expecting. So far (fingers crossed) nothing has been rubbing BUT I go back on Tuesday to get a nance placed so I will be complaining in no time

Oh! I got a little goody bag with a couple of proxy brushes, superfloss, wax, and a little travel case with a toothbrush, travel toothbrush, proxy brush, wax, and a dental mirror.. yay goodies!


I'm still getting used to taking pics of my mouth, but here's a blurry view of my spacers on the bottom. I have 4 on top also.


Tadaaaa! I got silver ligs for the first time. Once I get over myself I'll get some more interesting colors


The overjet.

I took some side views too, but my extraction gaps gross me out to look at so I'll post some of those when I can find a better angle.

Alright ladies and gents.. Looking forward to our next 24ish months together

-Kaleigh

[catgyrl]

HAPPY BRACE DAY, KALEIGH!!!

Girl, our teeth look so similar, it's scary! And my ortho did the same thing to my hair as yours did - leaned up against the back of the chair and darn near pulled my head out of my neck socket (or whatever...) I actually had to reach back and (gently) whack him on the arm. He apologized and said he had a bad habit of doing that.

Your brackets look great; and your comment about "getting over yourself" and getting colored ligs was hilarious! I do admit I got self-conscious about my metal brackets after a few months and switched to ceramic, but I did try colored ligs with them a couple of times. I may do it again when my teeth straighten out a bit more. My extraction gap looked gross, too! I called it my "Grand Canyon".

You are going to see fantastic progress. I'm eager to follow your story!

-Cathy

[Roboto]

Thanks so much, Cathy! I'm already wishing I had done ceramics but I suppose I'll get used to it. Right now they're the first and only thing I notice when I look in the mirror. I'm also applying for teaching positions and it's a definite kick to the confidence. Oh well! C'est la vie I've wanted this for a long time. It's sucky timing, but is there ever really a good time (besides high school )?