Over 50's club ?

[plugnickel69]

I'm just happy to have a full head of hair. Genetically I should be bald!

[Realizingadream]

Um. Am I hallucinating or can teeth move as quickly as mine seem to be moving? I only have braces on the bottom teeth, the teeth that have that lovely one forward, one back, one forward, one back type of configuration, like some back yard fences I have seen.

Well, the little tooth that is "back" from the two middle ones, looks and feels to me like it has brought itself more in line.

YOWSA! I hope I am not hallucinating and a victim of wishful thinking. It has only been a few weeks. I feel these braces ALL.THE.TIME. ugh.

Come on teeth git along little dogies.

Real

[911emd]

Hello I just joined this community. I turned 50 in Sept. I started my braces journey Nov 1st and am anxious to meet others and discuss the ups and downs of the process.

[marybee]

Just joined and glad I did! Very informative and positive feedback..that's what I need now....

Just a tiny bit older than 50 but this will be my second go round. First braces were applied 25 years ago, wore them for 3 years. I had a retainer for the bottom only but when you don't wear it like you should........ (I have SO learned my lesson!) My teeth are in pretty good shape but the bottom front teeth have shifted and overlapped just a little and the top have spaces that need to be corrected. I put the decision off for over a year and decided this is the time. One ortho consult down, estimate of 16 months in braces. Two to go in 2 weeks. I decided full metal due to compliance. Easier for me to be good, actually

I have a question.....if you had braces once, is it easier the second time around?

Thanks!

[marybee]

Two consults this week, both orthodontists were very good but went with ortho #2 . Even had the impressions done (bad gag reflex) but after counting the spots between the florescent lights a few time (...and 3 tries for the bottom impression...), I was good...no, I was great! My reward - vanilla latte from the third best place on Earth - Starbucks! In seven days, I will be riding the Tinsel Train to Metal City. Destination: Straight Teeth Town with a few stops along the way for minor repairs. Arrival time will be 16 months (barring any detours along the way).

Until then, consuming mass quantities of crunchy goodness......

[marybee]

Tomorrow's the day, be there at 9AM!

I felt like I should eat everything I won't be allowed for the next 16 months. That blueberry bagel didn't have a chance at breakfast...neither did the multigrain chips for lunch. My DH and I went to what he referred to as "The Last Supper" tonight. Chicken wings...bye bye. Celery and carrot sticks...adios muchachos for now.

Weird, but since I know more about my "second rodeo", than the first, i'm not as nervous. Even got a letter from the orthodontist today welcoming me (what a sweetie!) Thought it a little weird that my picture and pictures of my teeth were on the letter, too. Something to compare to once the work is completed.

[Realizingadream]

Good luck tomorrow, MaryBee.
I will be thinking of you.
Let us know how it goes for you. Great news you had a good feeding to last you 16 months, or so. Heh.

I got my CTX test done the other day and am awaiting results. I now have braces on the bottom row, I suppose in April will get the tops done, pending a good CTX report, and probably an extraction. Ew.

Real.

[marybee]

I survived! My teeth are no longer naked...i'm a member of the Mightly Metal Brigade!

My appointment was at 9 ( I took 2 Advil at 8:45 before the procedure started as suggested) and by 9:05 I was in the chair, raring to go. I was asked if I was nervous and yes, even us "second timers" get nervous. They were very thorough in explaining each piece of equipment on the tray and every step they were going to do. First up, the lip spreaders: quite an Interesting device.....think of Halloween movies with really weird face masks. Once this is on, it's a picture you definitely don't want on Facebook! Bonus: there is also something for your tongue so it won't get in the way, too! Once it was placed, they started the cleaning...this is good. Next, something that was brushed on my teeth but made my gums tingle. Then came the etchant. Bitter tasting....no just plain nasty tasting! Drying and more drying. Next, the glue. Kind of curious why they would glue all the top teeth at once instead of each tooth and place each bracket until I saw the reason. There were NO BANDS for the back teeth!! (this seals the deal - I LOVE my orthodontist!). I have self ligating braces (metal top and bottom) and they made trays out of my impressions, pre arranged the brackets in the trays and did 1 tray a a time, using the blue drying light. A little snug to remove the tray but it was really quick and painless! Same with the bottom, no problems! Wires were placed easily and only 1 bracket needed to be removed and replaced (the bracket was too high on the right back molar). After it was fixed, I got a good look at the handiwork....not too shabby! We went over the brushing process and the only thing that hurt at the time was writing the check! (LOL). I bought a smoothie since I didn't eat and went to work (never did get to finish it...). That's when it got interesting. The more I spoke and moved my mouth, the more tender the inside was getting. Okay......so I stopped talking. But, I couldn't believe how thirty I was! But, no wax yet!

Since I missed breakfast and lunch, I needed dinner. I stopped at the local barbecue and picked up mac and cheese and loaded mashed potatoes. Eating the first meal was quite an experience! Potatoes went down okay since you can kind of roll them back with your tongue. Mac and cheese.....not so much. One noodle at a time and just a few. Solid food is different now and i'm sure it will get easier (or I have succeeded in finding the perfect diet!)

The challenge: brushing these little suckers! Yes, I did pay attention but brushing the first time was WEIRD! Took a very long time. Thank goodness for floss threaders - they are da bomb but once I get that Water Pik charged, I can't wait! I'll still user the floss threaders and floss but the Water Pik is just a little piece of heavenIy mouth massaging! The adjustment to the "new grill" is an experience. Glad to see I am not alone for this long ride. Can't wait for the (GOOD) changes to take place!

You will do fine, Realizingadream and let us know your progress!

Marybee

[Realizingadream]

Hi folks:

Well, my teeth are moving, but not as fast as my ortho had thought they would. So he had the tech change the wire on my bottom teeth to a heavier one--there are only 8 teeth with brackets on the bottom jaw, I don't know why. So, stronger wire, 7 more weeks and he'll peek in there again and see what's up.

I got to floss them nicely while the wire was off. Boy, did that feel good!

I went into this wanting prettier teeth, but now that I've been in braces for 9 weeks, I've noticed how very crooked my teeth are, and how much improvement there may be made in my bite and how the teeth work. I am really excited, hoping this will all work out and the teeth will be beautiful one day, AND with the added benefit of easier cleaning once they aren't all twisty, and easier eating once they are lined up nicely.

Yah. So I'll see what 7 more weeks brings. Hopefully, teeth that behave properly, and a little less rain.

Real

[marybee]

I am really excited, hoping this will all work out and the teeth will be beautiful one day, AND with the added benefit of easier cleaning once they aren't all twisty, and easier eating once they are lined up nicely.

I definitely feel your pain regarding easier cleaning. The first 2 weeks, the floss would shred and I constantly picked pieces out of my braces. Embarassing...you betcha! But, I found a different kind of floss and now, no problems! Eating is still a little weird and I drink mass quantities of water.

Braces are great icebreakers! Today as I was checking out from shopping, the cashier also had braces with cool blue ligs and we talked the whole time, comparing why we had them. Bored my husband to tears but he's the lucky one that has great teeth and no problems!


TTFN......

[Realizingadream]

Well, I have had these things on my bottom teeth for 11 weeks. My goodness this crooked bunch of teeth have straightened up! I am surprised and very pleased. There are 2 teeth, about 3 back from the very front ones, on both sides, that are kind of canted inward. Like they have leaned onto their sides, kind of. The tech assured me these 2 teeth will be straight one day! I am so excited.

One thing I have noticed on this site, is people commenting on what number of wire they have in now, and maybe when they will have bite blocks, stuff like that.

My orthodontist has mentioned NOTHING to me about the plan of treatment other than we agreed that he would try "make my teeth straight." That's why I came in--I want pretty teeth, and easier to floss and brush teeth than this assortment of back and forth scraggly teeth. A couple of the women who work for him have had him "fix their teeth" and they all have lovely smiles. He didn't tell me this, THEY did, when I was considering having braces. I figure if they had him do their teeth, and they still like and respect him enough to work for him and to help me the way they do, that he must be an intelligent, honorable orthodontist. Right?

Also he comes from a long line of dentists and orthos, uncles and stuff in his family. I mean, it is almost a dynasty, if we had those. It is quite impressive, actually.

I just wondered if I am missing something, not discussing all this technical stuff with him. I am pleased with the treatment so far. I really don't mind not learning all there is to know about teeth straightening, I have learned a little bit, enough to keep me from pushing him for treatments. Like when he mused aloud that he didn't want to put "too much force on the teeth" I understood completely (from this forum) that too much pressure, or too quick treatment, can harm the roots. So I duly honored what he had said, and promised him I could let the treatment take as long as it will take -- as my teeth seem to be slow movers.

Hey what do you think about this? Am I an idiot for being poorly informed and not knowing the name of each little tweak and tool he uses? Cuz, I don't want to have poor treatment due to my lack of knowledge, but I just kind of figured he knows what he is doing.

Well?

Real

[klobird]

Hey Realizing--I think it just depends on your personality. Most people like you probably don't even come on this website, because they don't feel the need to know every little thing. Wish I was one of them...To feel in control, I want to know EVERYTHING. I do not like surprises! Going with the flow is not my gift...

If I didn't know what the Forsus was, or what an adjustment normally feels like, or what rubber bands do--well, I might be shocked, not prepared for the discomfort, or feel like the ortho wasn't doing anything because nothing was visably changing.
So, because of all my research, I'm not surprised that some adjustments hurt and some don't, that rubber bands really do make a difference, but sometimes it just takes a while, and that the Forsus really is the appliance from HELL. ( )

If you trust your ortho, and are pleased with the progress, then you sound like you are doing just fine being you!!

[Realizingadream]

Ah, so. Thank you Klo. I DO trust my ortho so I guess I'll just hang in there.

Thanks for the advice.

Real

[jem]

Hello Real,

I am also an over 50 with a sectional brace just on my upper front teeth. My ortho appointments have been quite short and she does not take extra time to tell me what she has done or is planning to do. But she adopts a "thinking aloud" approach, talking while she works, so I know that I am in a size 14 wire because she asked her nurse to pass one ("14-aesthetic") and I knew that I would have additional brackets placed on my premolars last time because she mentioned it to the nurse at the end of the previous appointment to be put in my notes. No real information at my last adjustment, so I am assuming my next one will be uneventful. I think I will have more IPR,though.

Good luck with the rest of your treatment,

Jem

[plugnickel69]

Hi Real,

There are always ways to get information about your treatment without feeling that you are being pushy or making you uncomfortable. For instance, at the end of your appointment you might say, "So, what are we going to be doing at my next appointment?" Or maybe you can email your ortho with a question if you find it difficult to ask in person. We're just seeking information, not finding fault. I find that my ortho seriously takes my questions and concerns into account.

Good luck with your treatment!