Can I do it?

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

hey yeah that IS a great idea.

[EbonyQ]

Thank you guys! I’m so glad that I have you!

Sometimes thinking straight with anxiety is not the easiest thing to do, I so feel for those who have anxiety for everything… This braces anxiety is killing me slowly


To be honest with you guys I don’t want braces at all but I want straight teeth. I need braces or else I might lose my teeth either because of cavity or periodontics when I get older. They are almost impossible to keep clean, I’m the only one in my family who floss every day, use mouth water, brush with electric toothbrush and use the longest time on my teeth, but I’m the one who has the most cavity. So if I don’t do it now it’s something that I will need in the future.

I have this stupid feeling about braces that I have had since my childhood, that braces is a punishment you get if you have crooked teeth. Know that this is not the truth, that braces are an opportunity to fix your teeth, not a punishment, but this is a feeling I have had since my old dentist tried to get braces on my teeth.
So I feel January 11th is a day I’m going to get my punishment for my crooked teeth, I’m not going to look forward to it at all

And the thought of having something on my teeth that will give a tightening feeling and pain without the ability to take if of scares me… I feel I’m losing control if I can’t take it off.

Lol I have 7 pages on my journal and have not gotten my braces ONE yet

[klobird]

It's your fault that your teeth are crooked????? Believe me, if we all believed that, I think we would build a community in a hole somewhere to hide our shameful selves!! My bucky beavers were never my fault--it's just the way it WAS (not any more ). I understand the shame dentists can inflict. My life was full of it. When you take care of things by your own choice, not only will you love the results, but you will never have to hear those stupid things again. (And you do know that things are slowly changing in the way dentists interact with their patients.)

Even if it were you fault, which it isn't, well, you're taking care of it--and that's a good thing!

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

My crooked overjet thingy was my fault. I made it that way and when I went to go get braces I got denied very single time I went. I even have my denial letters. At least the most recent one. So in my case it IS my fault. Despite being the one in my family with the most healthiest teeth (not position in the jaw waise) But no periodontis (I am the only person that flosses). No teeth falling out. I Have all 28 and only 4 small cavities.

Mine may have been my fault but Ebony, yours are not your fault. I know how the anxiety of getting braces can feel I went through the SAME thing, glad I did it though.

[EbonyQ]

Well, what can I say? 3 months of bad sleep, weight loss and stomach aches… Still don’t know if I can do it next week. It’s more tempting to just take pictures that day and wait with the braces… That we are just going to take pictures. I wonder if I should call my ortho this tomorrow and tell him that. I don’t feel ready at all….

Had a cleaning appointment with my regular dentist today and he keept telling me how glad he was about this, that I was going to get braces. He told me that I would not regret this choice

Found the courage to post pictures of my mouth. I absolutely hated to take these pictures but if I can go through with this braces thing then I will have something to look back to.

Both upper and lower teeth


As you guys can see my molars do not meet as they should, I don't have much of a bite; just one side of the molars is touching each other. And I got teeth that don’t meet at all
Right sideview


Left sideview


lower


Upper




As you can see my front teeth are pointing inwards, not outwards which is more common (it's those in the back, you can't see them as well as I thought...)



I took these with my cell phone and they made them look yellow. They are not that yellow in real life

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

Hey I took before Pictures Ebony, I want to post my imporvement in just 3.5 months. I know the angle of the first picture looks different but it is just how much my teeth stuch out in my face.

You CAN do it though, everyone's rooting for you. Not to place any pressure upon you. But you will be soo glad eating will be better, once the back teeth align. Smiling will be fun even WITH the braces on. Now I cannot HELP but smile. I can CHEW actually CHEW my foods. It's amazing you will be glad of all the positive results even in braces. Trust me you can't go wrong.

You should keep the appointment. Do you what what type of braces you will be getting: Damon or Self Ligating, Traditional, Ceramic or invisalign?

[klobird]

OK Eb--If your mom has to drag you there like last year when you were afraid, then give me her phone #--I'll call her
all the way from the U.S. !!!! ---And as I recall---you were very happy she went with you; and as I recall--it made quite a difference in your life because you did go.... (What's her phone #....??????????????!!!!!!!!!!!)

Ebony--I guarantee you that in 2 years you will be elated that you went thru with it---like I always say-In 2 years, you will be 2yrs older anyway--why not be 2yrs older with perfect teeth!!!??? Every single minute-with all my whining and complaining--has been worth it for me when I see the results that a few months has made. My friends tell me they see the changes. When I look at pics from last year and now--well, the change in my overall facial appearance has been something for which I am truly grateful. I'm starting to feel like a "normal" person. It's the best feeling in the world!!

I know that it took a huge amount of courage to post your pics....but looking at them, it's easy to see that they will be TOTALLY AMAZING, and maybe in just a few months. I've read that the visible changes happen quickly--it's the bite and all those other dumb, annoying things that take all the time...Sooooo, by summer--well--you figure it out....

No more messing around. You are an amazing intelligent person. In a few years, you could be lecturing if you don't already.
Don't you want all the additional confidence you deserve? All the added confidence that is so easily attainable right now?

Now, I want you to march your booty right into that ortho next week and get those braces!!!!

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

well said klobird. Id even go with you if I could

[EbonyQ]

Guess who called her ortho today and cancelled the braces day?

Yup, that was me. I called his office when they opened (after been awake the whole night) and asked his assistant if we could just take pictures that day, not putting on the braces. When she asked my ortho I could hear him say my name in the background and "Just take pictures? Yes, of course!”

I think he was expecting this

I just don't seem to be able to take that last step, to put this thing on my teeth

[jem]

Ebony,

I am a 57 year old male in the UK. I got my brace put on yesterday and it really was no big deal. I feel fine about it this morning and am glad I did it.

You have your whole life ahead of you. You obviously have the potential for a great smile-enjoy as many years of it as you can by starting now. Just do it!

Good luck

Jem

[klobird]

You know what Eb--it's really OK...you have to do what is right for you. I truly just want the best for you--I hope you know that. I really wish I could just take that fear away so that what you want so badly wouldn't be so hard to get.

At least you're getting the pics right? One more step in the right direction!

[EbonyQ]

Klobird: Thank you! I really appreciate the support, I really do. I would not have come this far without you.

I feel really relaxed now; I thought I would start to fuzz about it. Yes, I will go to my appointment to take pictures but the read from there… not looking forward to it at all.

Thank you Jem. How do you find your second day with braces?

[jem]

Hi Ebony,

Thanks for asking. I am on day 2 but not quite 24 hours yet. The brace felt strange in my mouth yesterday but today it is already starting to feel like part of me.

I thought I was going to have soreness on the inside of my lips today because my mouth was dry overnight. I woke up early and put on some lip salve and went back to sleep. My lips were fine when I woke again and I have been drinking a lot of water today to try keep my mouth moist and avoid any friction between brackets and lips. That seems to have worked and my lips are fine. The brackets are completely smooth and there is little scope for friction unless my mouth is really dry.

I have not had any dental pain at all but am keeping some neurofen handy just in case. All I can feel so far is that the brace has a gentle grip on my teeth which is actually quite reassuring.

I have eaten well so far including pizza and an apple, but have been careful to cut everything up. If I do get any dental pain in the next few days I will not starve and will start on the soups and yoghurts I have stocked up on.

Brushing has been quite funny- messy and time consuming but I am sure I will get more proficient in time.

Overall he whole experience so far has been far easier than I expected. I was especially worried about what other people would think, but so far, other people have either not noticed or are not interested. Friends I have told and family are very positive.

Take care,

Jem

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

Awwwwh Ebony but getting braces is not even as bad as you think, trust me as I got nearer I wanted to cry all the time. I was mostly scared because I would be getting a herbst appliace with braces. But they called and told me I was just going to get upper and lower braces after relooking into my case. I was much happier but still very angst. Getting braces is LITERALLY like getting stickers put on your teeth. It's really quite simple. In fact when you're in the chair it feels like 5 minutes has gone by. Of couse take it slow for now. For me I only had two appointments with her then at the thirds she put my braces on but the third appointment was 3 months later from the consults I had. I was just wanting to get it overwith.

See, now as a kid much like you I was told by my dentists that I need braces and expanders and all sorta contraptions but got denied by every orthodontist and their mother lol. The last time I had gone was when I was 15. Got denied again so I gave up hope. But then I know this actually might sound weird but one day my pastor was talking to me about my teeth and said I should try it again at least go for a consult with someone. Like He knew if I just found the right one I could go through with it. I had BCBS at the time for insurance which was a brand new insurance than the one I had with the denying orthodontists. i called up the company and I did not have dental insurance and was upset because I really wanted to do it.

So my friend builds dental offices for a living. One day I don't remember why but I was crying about how horrible my smile was and how people were on me about it even after the fact that I found out I had no dental insurance and kept telling people. I mean like you seen my overjet was bad. I looked worse than a donkey horse AND money COMBINED. So he said he would talk to one of clients to at least maybe take a look at me if not she would help me out. I wasnt sure what that meant but I went with it.

I remember being at the first consult she asked me "specifically what do you find wrong with your smile." And I broke down crying saying it was really hard for me to talk about it but I finally told her she said Awwww Jenn don't cry. So then at the next consult I was going to ask her what the price was. I was under the impression from my friend that she was going to give me a discount or only have to pay for the metal brackets and archwires and any appliances themselves out of pocket or something to that effect.

So it was the next/last consult and she was talking a lot of infortmation to me and of course sent me home with my very own copy of everything she said. But I wanted to be polite and wait until she is done talking before asking questions which my big one was "How much is it going to cost?" But before I could even say that she said "These braces are being done as a courtesy from the office and I." Literally broke out in tears because I come from a VERY LOW income family who barely makes it by week to week. I've never owned nice things if I did I had to earn it myself for a LONG time of saving. I literally started crying her thanking her so much because the Type ,Model of my braces, appliances and being up in the Boston area they go anywhere from 10-12 thousand US dollars. I still thank her everytime I go. She always says Nah it's not that big of a deal you're a good kid and I wanted to help you out. Although I am 20 but I'm probably still young to her. But she doesn't understand where I come frmo my mom told me to be greatful of anything I ever get in life. And coming from the situation I do, it's hard to come by anything nice. All the kids and adults that go see her are really loaded rich folk. I'm probably the poorest patient there

I been through a lot of road blocks and such but finally did it. AND I knew if I did not do it now I probably would never get it done and have to suffer from sadness all the time. I am appauled looking at my own teeth. or used to be. I was kinda hesitant towards bracing dday because I am a second year college student who works at a grocery store at the Front End registers and all I DO is talk to the customers to make their experiences enjoyable. So I deal with thousands of different people on a daily basis. I was freaking out about how that would affect everything and not to mention the time I have to take out of work to go to the ortho for adjustments.

I can definately say I been in your shoes about freaking out before getting the braces on and that's my story as to how I ended up getting the braces and I hope this helps and encourages you Ebony.

[EbonyQ]

I’m so relaxed and it’s feels so good. Slept through the whole night and this has been a while since. When my alarm went off on my phone I was in a too deep sleep to understand what the sound was, it was still night right? Nope, it was morning. I think I needed this

The dental association for my city is having its annual gathering where you can shop and watch all the cool new dental stuff, attend lectures and courses. This Saturday one of their lectures will be about orthodontic on adults, what option they have and what stuff ortho can use that are effective. I consider attending this lecture, to gain more knowledge about this. It might help me as my knowledge about odontology helped me a bit with my dental fear towards procedures done by general dentists. It’s interesting too, just not when I’m the pt, so I need to attend the lecture with a mentality saying that is to learn and not picture myself with those stuff

Jem: how is your third day?