Forsooth, Gap Tooth! [Getting Braces at 23 & Other Insanity]

[Mitch11]

Hi Krystal,

I've developed a longer front tooth as well, but it's my left tooth. The doc gave me some spiel that this tooth was weaker than the rest and thus has moved the most. My friends call me snagglepuss now. I hope this sorts out a I do not want to shave the edges.

[Angel269]

Sorry to hear you're unhappy with your ceramics. I'm chuffed to bits with how discreet they are, for me metals were a no no as I wouldn't want everyone seeing what I'm doing and besides I think the metal would draw attention to my mouth for my son to play with (he is a year old).

[GillyWeed]

Good luck with the first adjustment tomorrow girlie!

[Glandyover]

Sorry to hear you're unhappy with your ceramics. I'm chuffed to bits with how discreet they are, for me metals were a no no as I wouldn't want everyone seeing what I'm doing and besides I think the metal would draw attention to my mouth for my son to play with (he is a year old).

My 15 month old didn't notice them and my 4 year old thinks they're cool. Nobody at work has really said anything except people who've had braces before and people who are thinking about doing it again.

[fulldiastemahead]

Hi all!

Thank you for the well wishes and please excuse the lateness of my update. I've been crazy busy some new responsibilities at work and soaking up the last traces of Summer in the Pacific Northwest. Lots has changed since I checked in last...

I had my first adjustment on September 10th. When I sat down in the chair, the assistant asked how things were going. I said that everything was great except for a slightly pokey wire I'd developed on the upper right, but that it shouldn't matter since they were going to change my wire out anyway. She said that they weren't planning to change them out and that I shouldn't expect new wires on each appointment

She popped out my wires and let me go brush and floss. Holy crap, that was liberating. I've never enjoyed flossing so much in my entire life. When I got back in the chair, she decided to try the next wire up in my top arch! While she was snapping it in, one of my ceramic brackets broke - again. She decided that it hadn't broken due to too much pressure from the new wire but due to the pressure she had to use to open and close the door in the first place, so she still decided to use the thicker wire. This is the second time a bracket broke in as many appointments which seemed to annoy the assistant and my orthodontist. I’m their first patient in these brackets (American Orthodontics Empower Clears), so they kept the broken bracket to show to their sales rep. I asked whether they would consider taking them all off and replacing them with metal brackets if this kept happening and she said that could be a possibility.

My orthodontist said that my top teeth are moving along nicely and more quickly than he expected. My bottoms weren’t ready for a new wire yet, but they’re on track. I have my original wire on the bottom arch and a new wire (16?) on the top arch. My next appointment is 6 weeks out from my adjustment – October 22nd. I also have a teeth cleaning that day and I’m looking forward to that. The only thing that still bothers me about my braces is that I feel like my teeth are never truly clean. I brush them upwards of four times a day, waterpik twice, and floss at least once. I still feel like they look weird and grey in some light

Regarding what I said before about hating my ceramics.. I take it all back. I was frustrated and still not used to having all this stuff in my mouth. They are bigger than the metal brackets, but I do appreciate how discrete they can be – especially in low light situations. I’m also still having people at work exclaim “When did you get braces?!” and I know that wouldn’t be the case if I was a full metal mouth. I still think I would consider moving to all metal if my orthodontist asked me to, but I’m over most of the misgivings I had about my ceramic brackets. Because of the way I smile, you can definitely see the metal brackets on the bottom. When I talk, however, the clear brackets make a difference. I was recently awarded a spot on the board of directors for my company’s philanthropy which requires me to do quite a bit of public speaking and presentations. For the sake of professionalism, I will probably keep the metal brackets.

And, of course, some photos:

Day 1


Week 2


Week 4 (1st Adjustment)


What do you think? Progress?

[NICURN85]

Wow Krystal you have had some great progress. It's amazing how fast braces work. Your gap has closed up. Yours closed and I have formed one!! Also congrats on your award at work. I hope your ceramics cooperates and stop breaking off! I am glad to see everything is moving and continue to keep us updated.

[Dee17]

Best of luck to you, Krystal. I hope it went well. I'll be anxious to see how you fare over the first few days. I'm getting my braces on October 25th. And, like you, despite all the research I've done already, I am filled with great anxiety about the whole thing. I'm getting Damon brackets so I won't get to choose any wonderful colours for my wires. But that's okay. I'm a little old for that kind of thing anyway, I think! So, post some pictures for us to look at when you get some done.

[Ashybear]

I'm glad to see I'm not the only 23 year old with braces. I opted for the ceramic uppers and metal lowers too. I've only had my lowers on since last Wednesday so almost a week. The pain was excruciating at first and the fact that I have a few ulcers on my mouth doesn't help. Anyway, your progress has been amazing already!

[Mitch11]

Your teeth are really moving. Isn't it cool when you review the photos over time and you can see the progress?

[fulldiastemahead]

Hello there braces friends,

It's been awhile since I've checked in. It's funny -- I think I spent at least 10x more time in these message boards stressing out about getting braces than I do now that I have them. I'm not sure if anyone reads these but, if you're thinking about getting braces and you're afraid because you think it's the end of the world, you're wrong. You'll live. I'm only four months in and I can't even remember what it's like not to have braces. No one I know could care less about them and I don't even have to look in a mirror anymore to tell if there's food in my teeth. I built up this such an irrational anxiety about braces over the span of my childhood that I wasted YEARS in which I could've already had them and had them off. What would you rather have: A lifetime of crooked teeth or a few years of metal mouth? Suck it up and get them now!

Anyhow, I'm seeing some nice progress I think. Not as much between current photos as I did at first, but I'd seen this with other posters so I'd prepared myself for something of a plateau.

Day 1:



4 Weeks:



4 Months:




At my last adjustment, I got this fancy little coil thing that's making room for the implant that will replace my missing tooth!



I'm really excited about it because, when I was initially doing consultations with my orthodontist, he said I shouldn't expect to start making room until the 6 month mark. I take this little springy to mean that I'm ahead of schedule

My next appointment is just after New Year -- January 4th. I think I may need to go in sometime before that, though, because I've already gotten a pokey wire.

How are all of you?

[NICURN85]

Hey Krystal,
It's good to see you are having such great progress. Your teeth are looking good!!! I have my next adjustment a day before you. I am now in power chains which I got at my last adjustment. I was in pain for about 5 days after I got them and it felt worse than my first day in braces. So, if power chains are in your future make sure to take some pain meds before you go. I hope everything continues to progress well for you!!

[Dee17]

Hey Krystal,
The difference in the way your teeth looked then and the way they look now is amazing! I can hardly believe it! I also have a mid-line gap and I'm hoping that I get closure like you've had. My orthodontist said, though, he would likely not be able to close it all the way. I think you are well on your way to getting the perfect smile. I'm happy for you!

[fulldiastemahead]

Hello Archwired masses -

Gosh, I've been awful at keeping this up to date. Nonetheless, here I am - another adjustment down. Valentine's Day will be my six month anniversary, which means that I could be as much as 1/3 of the way through my treatment (depending on which end of my estimated range I land on)

Everything has been fine. I'm truly just getting bored of having stuff in my mouth and I feel like nothing is moving as fast as it used to, though the little coil guy has been doing his job - I have quite a gap forming for the implant they're planning to throw in there in future. As far as the ones you can see go, it's getting to the point where my tiny upper lateral incisors are my biggest cosmetic criticism. Nothing can be done about those (veneers) until I get my braces off, which is frustrating to say the least.

Anyhow, without further ado..

Day 1


Month 4


Month 6


Cheers.

[Ellabelle]

Fabulous progress, Krystal, I really enjoyed reading your funny, honest story! What's the purpose of the curve on the wire in front ?

Your braces are really working, that's so awesome to see! Your teeth look fantastic!

[junglejulie]

awesome, it closed up quite nicely!