If you want to share the detailed saga of your braces story, this is the place to do it. You can use this forum as a braces journal, editing and updating your posts as your treatment goes on. Remember to also visit the main ArchWired.com site for additional stories from other readers!
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Hi all,
I am Nikkie, a 43 year old stay at home mom of 2. I have wanted braces for as long as I could remember. I was suppose to get them when I was 13 but due to a family crisis any money that was saved up was gone at that time. At the time I was relieved, I was so scared to get them. But as the years went on I became more unhappy with my smile. So now is the time and I am unbelievable excited!
I got my spacers put in last Wed. they are not that bad. I guess because right now I am distracted by the unbelievable pain of a molar that is in need of a root canal but I have opted for it to be pulled since a root canal would take all the money we have saved up for the braces downpayment. My ortho likes to save teeth but under the circumstances if I don't get my bite corrected soon I will loose more than just a molar. At any rate I can't get into the Oral surgeon until Aug. 16th for the extraction which seems like an eternity with this molar acting up like it is. Advil takes the pain away but I have to take it every 5-6 hours! In the meantime I get my braces on Aug. 11th. I am getting Damon 3's.
Here are some before pictures to give you all an idea of where I am starting.
I look forward to showing you all my progress.
Last edited by Nikkiekoala on Wed Jan 04, 2006 5:37 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Thanks for the support everyone!
My tooth ache comes and goes unfortunately when my tooth ache is gone than other teeth are aching due to the spacers. I broke one spacer, it is still where it belongs but I can feel the loose end when I eat and tend to play with it with my tongue. Very annoying. Advil is my diet right now until I get this blasted tooth pulled. Funny I dread getting it pulled, it scares my to death but at the same time I can not wait.
I will post pictures of my braces when I get them on. Not sure if I will have the wire put on the tops until after the extraction and the ortho is able to band the last tooth or not. The tooth to be pulled is next to another molar that needs a band but the temporary filling on the bad tooth is in the way of a spacer and therefore a band so it will be banded after the back molar is gone.
4 more days than the fun begins!
Well tomorrow at 9:00 am I get my braces! I have mixed feelings, it is weird I have been so excited (still am) and couldn't wait 'til the day came. Now here it is, tomorrow, I am getting really nervous wondering if I am doing the right thing. I know in heart of hearts I am. I think it is hitting me what a big deal it really is. I mean for the first time in my life I will have a smile I will be proud of. I wont have to be mindful of pictures being taken and at what angle the camera is getting me. I wont have to wonder what people are thinking of teeth (probably not thinking anything but in my mind they are) Wow, this is big. No wonder I am nervous!
I will post how it all went and will have pictures too. Here's to a better smile!
[color=darkred][/color]Good Luck! Make sure you have soft foods available. I know what you mean about being nervous but excited at the same time. I've been on vacation for 6 weeks and go back to work on Monday. I can't wait to show off my braces. Again GOOD LUCK :D
Think about the end result. When people see you with braces they will know that you care about your appearance.
Well, It is official. I am now braced and bejeweled. It took 2 hours and 15 mins. Had some difficulty with one band but finally got it to fit correctly. I have to say it wasn't the worst experience. I didn't experience any of the icky tastes I have heard of. It all feels very weird. I can't bring my teeth together very well they barely touch in the back. I am beginning to wonder if I will ever eat solid food again or not. I am sure I will but at this point it is hard to imagine. No pain so far just tightness and the feeling of a full mouth. My tongue is rubbing against the back molar bands when I talk which really hurts. Will wax stay on the bands in the back where the tongue is?
Anyway, I will post pictures later. Right now I am going to have some soup and lay down.
Managed to eat a bowl of split pea soup and was able to eat some of the ham in it.
All would be really good if the back bands weren't slicing up my tongue! OUCH. Only hurts when I talk so I guess it is going to be a quiet day for my husband today.
Last edited by Nikkiekoala on Thu Aug 11, 2005 10:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Congratulations , you are on your way to a beautiful smile. I go in for braces today. I am a little nervous but more excited than nervous. I hope my experience is as good as yours was.
Congratulations again, Hope you see changes soon.
Good luck ToothofTruth! Let us know how it went. I hope all goes smoothly.
I am still dealing with my tongue being sliced up. I used some wax yesterday and that was a real relief. I didn't sleep with the wax on cause my tongue gets sliced into only when my mouth is moving. Since my mouth doesn't move while I sleep I didn't need it. This morning, however, OUCH.
Brushing my teeth was interested, took a very long time. Flossing, well, I did what I could.
My main concern is whether or not I will ever eat again. My teeth aren't too sore to eat with but I hit my brackets in a couple of places which prevents me from being able to chew adequately. Please someone tell me I will learn to eat with all this hardware. Are any of your brackets in the way of chewing? Right now I can't imagine how to work around the brackets so some reassurance would be helpful.
Well, today is the second full day of braces. I am doing okay, not great. My tongue is so slice up on one side from the band in the back. Can the ortho file down the band or is sharp edges part of the deal? Anyway, wax does provide some respite from the pain. My cheeks and lips are fairing well. If I keep chapstick on my lips I am more comfortable. Eating is a nightmare. My teeth don't hurt at this point but my bite is screwed up due to my lower brackets. I can not bring my teeth all the way together in the back because my top front teeth hit the bottom brackets. It is really annoying. I did try eating a chicken pattie by cutting it in small pieces and chewing in a circular motion. That worked but it was a lot of work for a chicken pattie. One thing is for sure I will not be eating in public until my bite is more condusive to eating. I look like a cow chewing cud. Yuck! Please tell me eating will get better!!!!!! Anyone else having trouble hitting brackets while eating and not able to chew because the back teeth aren't meeting? Are you able to eat normally now that things have shifted? Oh Lord please tell me I wont be on a soft diet for 2 years.
Anyway, this is defintely an experience. I am keeping my eye on the prize, straight teeth.
Here's to a better smile!
