All is well except one weirdness...

[teechr2b]

I'm three weeks in today, and all is well! Three more weeks until first adjustment. I can't wait! You might think I'm strange, but do you guys ever experience like anxiety because of your braces? I have anxiety problems anyway, so it's probably just me. But probably like once a day I get an overwhelming feeling of like, claustrophobia or something and I just want nothing more than to get these things off my teeth!! I think it's just their annoying presence plus the knowledge that I couldn't take them off if I wanted to. It usually passes quickly but it's an overwhelming feeling for the few moments that I do feel it! I hope you guys are doing well in your braces adventures!

[klobird]

I can so relate--I will be 3 weeks in on Friday--I had the claustrophobic feeling last week pretty bad...it's pretty much gone now. I think it's the thought that these are not coming off for 2 yrs--which seems like forever. But I keep thinking how much I appreciate that I can actually have them--and the more I do that, the more I really, really and getting to like them and the possibilities...

I bet when you start to see the real changes, you will get excited about having them...I look at all the pics on other journals, and I get soooo encouraged.

Good luck to you fellow newly braced!!!

[francis29]

I have had the same thing happen to me and felt totally claustrophobic in the braces, it really sucks when that happens. I am 9 weeks into braces and the anxious feeling still comes and goes and I think for adults is totally normal. I ditto the pp and when you see changes just look in the mirror and it will calm you down. My 15 yr old has been in his braces for a year and never thinks twice about them, but for me I know they are there every. single. second. of the day.

What I can say, is you CAN get them off sort of if you really wanted to, and just knowing that does make me feel better even tho I would never do it. You can get the wire off if you really wanted to by taking the wire cutters to the wire and take the ligs off but DON'T! I had a loose lower bracket on the bottom front tooth last weekend and it was rolling on the tooth, and going side to side and I took the lig off and the bracket fell right out...naturally my ortho was like OMG what is your problem but for me I sort of just panicked and wanted it off and not rolling on my tooth; (I have an over bite and this bracket has come loose everytime we have tried to put it on) so now we are keeping it off and have a power chain on the rest of the bottoms.

Anyway...I have been there with the anxiety over the braces being stuck on me but...I was at a party this weekend and I was talking to my brother in law who was looking at my teeth and I was looking at his teeth (bc clearly if I am back in braces as a 42 yr old I am obsessed with teeth) so he is looking at my teeth and said wow braces, omg, ouch, how awful and I was thinking to myself looking at his crooked, yellow, chipped teeth -- THANK GOD I am doing something about my teeth bc his teeth were horrendous! Even my husband (who lucky him his braces worked like a charm as a kid and has perfect teeth, his brother didn't get so lucky nor did I) but my husband said wow my brother's teeth are awful, and he was pitying you for your braces and you were pitying him for having such awful teeth! Also, every time someone starts looking at my face too long I know its bc they don't know what is in my mouth and I say I have braces and almost EVERY person I have seen since I have had them on then points to a tooth or teeth they hate in their mouth and said they wished they had the guts to get braces! Only one person so far said she liked her teeth and she has a full set of veneers which I was NOT going to do which is why I am in braces. *Not that there is anything wrong with veneer's but, for me I wanted my teeth - just straighter.

Hang in there, and the first adjustment is great and I just had my second one last week and it is truly amazing what braces can do.

Good luck!

Frances

[teechr2b]

I can so relate--I will be 3 weeks in on Friday--I had the claustrophobic feeling last week pretty bad...it's pretty much gone now. I think it's the thought that these are not coming off for 2 yrs--which seems like forever. But I keep thinking how much I appreciate that I can actually have them--and the more I do that, the more I really, really and getting to like them and the possibilities...

I bet when you start to see the real changes, you will get excited about having them...I look at all the pics on other journals, and I get soooo encouraged.

Good luck to you fellow newly braced!!!

I know what you mean, klobird! I spent like the first 2 weeks in braces reading blogs, looking at pictures, and watching youtube videos of people sharing their braces experiences. So exciting to see the kinds of results that are possible! I, too, try to think about all the people who would kill to be able to have treatment, and it helps me to quit being silly!

Congrats on your first three weeks! How long are you in for?? It's nice to connect with someone who is at the same stage as me!! Take care

[teechr2b]

Francis29-

I am glad other people understand what I'm feeling! I felt kind of weird trying to explain it lol...
I would never try to take my own braces off, especially since my teeth have already started moving and actually look a little worse than they did before! (I'm not worried, this is typical) So for me I've reached the point of no return!

I too have been amazed at how kids don't ever seem to even notice their braces!

Speaking of people who stare, I will have the last laugh at all the people who stare at my braces when I am the one with the perfect teeth before too long!

I also would never get veneers unless it was a last resort, to me preserving my own real teeth is very important!! (Although I might have to get bonding done on one of my teeth which is comparatively small)

How long are you in?

[francis29]

I am glad you are seeing some improvement already and my upper front teeth became uneven right before my second adjustment and are now perfectly even so they do seem to get worse before better sometimes. And yes, we will have the last laugh with our perfect teeth soon enough. No one will remember the braces once they see our beautiful smiles.

My journey with braces story; This is my third braces attempt, my first time in braces I was a teenager and was in them for 3 years, headgear, elastics the works and my ortho was not very good and very old and I was his second to last patient he accepted because he knew he was retiring, literally one day I walked in still no where near done (still had Class II overbite, left canine was a fang, two front teeth tipped in) and ortho said it was debanding day, as I was 18 I was thrilled to get them off even tho my smile was NOT perfect, and my teeth looked absolutely no different than when I had the braces put on at 15. I got my retainers a few weeks later, hated my teeth and my smile for the next 20 years and got married had kids..etc., then heard about Invisalign, and went into Invisalign for 11 months at 36, but even with refinements we could not finish the job with Invisalign so my ortho said I would have to finish in fixed braces which at the time I could not even fathom and in fact left his office in tears, but we took molds for retainers which never fit and that was the end of round 2 in braces and my teeth again looked exactly the same after Invisalign as when I got them on.

So, my son goes to a great ortho and I asked her about braces for me, she said Invisalign might work but I knew I could not wear them 22 1/2 hours a day and I knew I was going to have to finish treatment in fixed braces as we ran into trouble with Invisalign last time because even tho my teeth are "straight" the top 6 are all tipped either forward or stick out and are not actually straight. On the bottom I only have one tooth out of place, so when my son's ortho said 5-6 months in fixed braces to straighten my teeth, I just said ok lets do it once and for all. I started 9 weeks ago in braces round # 3 and my upper 2 front teeth for the first time are now out in front of my two lateral uppers which is making my left canine fang fall into place and it's going well.

When I am out of these braces, I do have to veneer the bottom two front teeth bc my bottom two teeth are worn and shorter than the rest of the bottom teeth from 35 years of tapping the backs of my top teeth (bc of the overbite) and both have had root canals bc of that and are darker color than the rest of the teeth. I have bonded the two lowers before but they wore down too, so that is the only reason I will veneer any teeth and I am with you, keeping my real teeth was of the utmost importance but the ones that are just worn out will have to be bonded or veneered. As my two front teeth have FINALLY been pulled into place the bottom teeth no longer tap the front two teeth so my veneer'd bottom two will be safe from tapping off.

Sorry for the sermon! lol

Hang in there and congratulations. I have severe claustrophobia in general so even being in the braces for me is a huge step. I have two children and I even had moments of severe claustrophobia being pregnant which I didn't even mention to my OB bc it seemed so insane to feel like that after wanting to be pg for so long! **p.s.. No I am not nuts. Lol

Frances

[klobird]

I am in for 2yrs...I have full metal Damon Q upper and lower...I can so relate about the comments. When someone looks at me quizically, the first thing I look at is their teeth-and then I feel like I am the winner!! I think a lot of people look curiously because they themselves had not considered the possibility at their age. But that's exactly how things change...when a minority of people take a step...I really believe that someday braces on adults will be the cool fashion statement that it seems to be for kids. Really!

How long and what kind for you--and when is your first adjustment--I am curious because I seem to be the only one who has 3 months from bracing to 1st adjustment...

[teechr2b]

Hey --

I am in for 2yrs...I have full metal Damon Q upper and lower...I can so relate about the comments. When someone looks at me quizically, the first thing I look at is their teeth-and then I feel like I am the winner!! I think a lot of people look curiously because they themselves had not considered the possibility at their age. But that's exactly how things change...when a minority of people take a step...I really believe that someday braces on adults will be the cool fashion statement that it seems to be for kids. Really!

How long and what kind for you--and when is your first adjustment--I am curious because I seem to be the only one who has 3 months from bracing to 1st adjustment...

I do agree with you, actually, that a lot more adults in the future will be sporting metal mouths, lol! I'm proud that we are among the brave few who went there first. (sorry I like to use these smilies a lot, lol).

Anyway, I have ceramic uppers and lowers and I was braced April 27th. I was told 12-15 months. My first adjustment was scheduled for six weeks out (June 11th), so I'm about halfway there. Sometimes I regret getting ceramic, because constantly worrying about the ligatures getting stained is really annoying. Also, a lot of people say the brackets are larger when you go with ceramic.

Perhaps it's because you have Damon brackets that you can go so long without an adjustment?

[teechr2b]

,

I am glad you are seeing some improvement already and my upper front teeth became uneven right before my second adjustment and are now perfectly even so they do seem to get worse before better sometimes. And yes, we will have the last laugh with our perfect teeth soon enough. No one will remember the braces once they see our beautiful smiles.

My journey with braces story; This is my third braces attempt, my first time in braces I was a teenager and was in them for 3 years, headgear, elastics the works and my ortho was not very good and very old and I was his second to last patient he accepted because he knew he was retiring, literally one day I walked in still no where near done (still had Class II overbite, left canine was a fang, two front teeth tipped in) and ortho said it was debanding day, as I was 18 I was thrilled to get them off even tho my smile was NOT perfect, and my teeth looked absolutely no different than when I had the braces put on at 15. I got my retainers a few weeks later, hated my teeth and my smile for the next 20 years and got married had kids..etc., then heard about Invisalign, and went into Invisalign for 11 months at 36, but even with refinements we could not finish the job with Invisalign so my ortho said I would have to finish in fixed braces which at the time I could not even fathom and in fact left his office in tears, but we took molds for retainers which never fit and that was the end of round 2 in braces and my teeth again looked exactly the same after Invisalign as when I got them on.

So, my son goes to a great ortho and I asked her about braces for me, she said Invisalign might work but I knew I could not wear them 22 1/2 hours a day and I knew I was going to have to finish treatment in fixed braces as we ran into trouble with Invisalign last time because even tho my teeth are "straight" the top 6 are all tipped either forward or stick out and are not actually straight. On the bottom I only have one tooth out of place, so when my son's ortho said 5-6 months in fixed braces to straighten my teeth, I just said ok lets do it once and for all. I started 9 weeks ago in braces round # 3 and my upper 2 front teeth for the first time are now out in front of my two lateral uppers which is making my left canine fang fall into place and it's going well.

When I am out of these braces, I do have to veneer the bottom two front teeth bc my bottom two teeth are worn and shorter than the rest of the bottom teeth from 35 years of tapping the backs of my top teeth (bc of the overbite) and both have had root canals bc of that and are darker color than the rest of the teeth. I have bonded the two lowers before but they wore down too, so that is the only reason I will veneer any teeth and I am with you, keeping my real teeth was of the utmost importance but the ones that are just worn out will have to be bonded or veneered. As my two front teeth have FINALLY been pulled into place the bottom teeth no longer tap the front two teeth so my veneer'd bottom two will be safe from tapping off.

Sorry for the sermon! lol

Hang in there and congratulations. I have severe claustrophobia in general so even being in the braces for me is a huge step. I have two children and I even had moments of severe claustrophobia being pregnant which I didn't even mention to my OB bc it seemed so insane to feel like that after wanting to be pg for so long! **p.s.. No I am not nuts. Lol

Frances

Congratulations to you too, Frances!
Thanks for sharing your story; I love to read about other people's experiences in working toward their perfect smiles. I'm sorry to hear you have had such frustration at times in your journey, but it really sounds like you are going to get it right this time! I'm sure it will be worth all the heartache you've endured.

My husband and I are actually trying to conceive, and I have worried about the same feeling that you have described! I'm sure it will be fine though. You're right though, if you suffer from claustrophobia then getting braced is a HUGE step, and you should be extremely proud of yourself!!

[Foxsong]

... almost EVERY person I have seen since I have had them on then points to a tooth or teeth they hate in their mouth and said they wished they had the guts to get braces! ...

Isn't that just the weirdest thing??? I've had perfect strangers in checkout lines at the store strike up a conversation about my braces, and then lean closer to me and start pulling their lips back with their fingers so I can see exactly what they think is wrong with their teeth. I was always curious about adults in braces too, but it would never have occurred to me to overshare at that level.

[JulieFL]

I am so glad that someone else thought this. I have that claustrophia feeling a lot without braces (I don't even like closed-toe shoes!), and I told my husband that I was really worried I would freak once I got braces on. So far so good, but I am wary about it still. I think I am somehow staying ahead of it mentally to keep it at bay, but I have no idea how I'm doing that.

[teechr2b]

I agree with you, foxsong, I don't think I would be pulling my face apart in front of complete strangers like that!! Lol

JulieFL- I know what you mean about the shoes. I get that way and kind of "freak out" sometimes if my feet are momentarily "stuck" under the blanket, I get kind of stuck in a hooded sweatshirt, etc. Basically any time I feel like I can't escape I guess. So I've had moments when I actually cried bc I felt like that about the braces. Now, however, I have had them on for almost 6 weeks and they pretty much feel like a part of me. I'm glad it was just a phase! I'm sure if you make it to the point of being quite used to them, like I did, you will avoid that feeling altogether. How long have you been braced?

[JulieFL]

Basically any time I feel like I can't escape I guess.

Exactly! It'll be two weeks on Thursday, which is when I go back for a "comfort check." On day one, they gave me elastics and hooks for crossbite, bite turbos and coil springs. It was a lot at first, but I figure that if I get used to this, then everything else will be smooth sailing; they'll take these things out at some point and it'll never be bulkier than now.

Glad you are feeling better about your now

[bracketeer]

......I can so relate about the comments. When someone looks at me quizically, the first thing I look at is their teeth-and then I feel like I am the winner!! I think a lot of people look curiously because they themselves had not considered the possibility at their age. But that's exactly how things change...when a minority of people take a step......

I LOVE THIS!

[bracketeer]

... almost EVERY person I have seen since I have had them on then points to a tooth or teeth they hate in their mouth and said they wished they had the guts to get braces! ...

Isn't that just the weirdest thing??? I've had perfect strangers in checkout lines at the store strike up a conversation about my braces, and then lean closer to me and start pulling their lips back with their fingers so I can see exactly what they think is wrong with their teeth. I was always curious about adults in braces too, but it would never have occurred to me to overshare at that level.

Hahahahahaaa!! Oh my goodness, that's crazy!