32 and (soon to be in) bracers

[Sadia MJ]

Firstly I must give kudos to archwire for all the invaluable information and discussions. It have really been so helpful to me and my family in understand the process I'm about to embark, so a sincere thank you.
As a child, my parents never really identified the need for dental visits and as such, I never even ventured inside a dentist office until my late twenties when I ended up with an issue with a wisdom tooth. As an adult, I've always had very bad headaches and what appeared to be earaches. Eventually I sought medical help in the way of an E.N.T specialist. As it turns out, the issue was not my ears but my teeth. He suggested I see a Dentist because I may be grinding on my teeth. After seeing a Dentist and X-rays was taken, it turned out that I was grinding on my teeth so badly that I had in essence grind all the cartilage surrounding my jaws completely. He made me a "jig" and sent me on my way. After destroying two jigs I eventually found another Orthodontist who could provide a better solution. My second recommended a tenure appliance but after four failed attempts at a mold (took the molds but on returning the molds where not lining up), I eventually gave up entirely. That was two years ago. Needless to say, my headaches got to the point where I was surviving on pain killers on top of which I felt like I had to constantly "pop" my ear to relieve pressure. I also heard a clicking sound everytime I open and closed my mouth which was very painful at times. Fortunately last Christmas a friend of mine was telling me about her recent braces experience and how much better she was for it (she had taken them out that very said day) She recommended me to my current orthodontist who, I must say, was extremely helpful in me understanding what was happening to me. In the end, he started me with my braces. I am currently in spacers, not the most pleasant feeling I have to say. Tomorrow I will have my braces put on, opted for sapphire crystal (clear). I am very nervous and I have to admit even a little excited. My doctor have promised me that one day I'll wake up with no headaches or with out any pain. I look forward to it. I will post my experience with my braces as I have them. Keep up the good work guys! Thanks to this site, I'm better prepared!

[Ciara]

Firstly I must give kudos to archwire for all the invaluable information and discussions. It have really been so helpful to me and my family in understand the process I'm about to embark, so a sincere thank you.
As a child, my parents never really identified the need for dental visits and as such, I never even ventured inside a dentist office until my late twenties when I ended up with an issue with a wisdom tooth. As an adult, I've always had very bad headaches and what appeared to be earaches. Eventually I sought medical help in the way of an E.N.T specialist. As it turns out, the issue was not my ears but my teeth. He suggested I see a Dentist because I may be grinding on my teeth. After seeing a Dentist and X-rays was taken, it turned out that I was grinding on my teeth so badly that I had in essence grind all the cartilage surrounding my jaws completely. He made me a "jig" and sent me on my way. After destroying two jigs I eventually found another Orthodontist who could provide a better solution. My second recommended a tenure appliance but after four failed attempts at a mold (took the molds but on returning the molds where not lining up), I eventually gave up entirely. That was two years ago. Needless to say, my headaches got to the point where I was surviving on pain killers on top of which I felt like I had to constantly "pop" my ear to relieve pressure. I also heard a clicking sound everytime I open and closed my mouth which was very painful at times. Fortunately last Christmas a friend of mine was telling me about her recent braces experience and how much better she was for it (she had taken them out that very said day) She recommended me to my current orthodontist who, I must say, was extremely helpful in me understanding what was happening to me. In the end, he started me with my braces. I am currently in spacers, not the most pleasant feeling I have to say. Tomorrow I will have my braces put on, opted for sapphire crystal (clear). I am very nervous and I have to admit even a little excited. My doctor have promised me that one day I'll wake up with no headaches or with out any pain. I look forward to it. I will post my experience with my braces as I have them. Keep up the good work guys! Thanks to this site, I'm better prepared!

You have described my experience of the last 20 years. I had constant earaches and headaches. I have spent so much time at various ENT clinics and was getting to the stage where I though I should have stocks in pharmaceutical companies. I was living on painkillers!
Almost 2 years ago, and ENT dr. suggested that my issues may be my teeth (I had been receiving dental treatment all the time). He suggested I find a good dentist and a functional orthodontist. I did; I got several old filling replaced, my wisdom teeth removed, was told that I have extremely tight facial muscles and unbalanced muscle development (due to poorly executed dental work) and that I clenched my jaws all the time. I then signed myself up for orthodontic treatment. I have a ClassII division2 malocclusion (a deep bite which makes TMJ issues much worse). I got braces on in November and within a month of getting them, I noticed that I was no longer getting daily headaches and they earaches were much better. Now, 3 months later, I have NO earaches and only the occasional headache.
I have ceramic upper and lower (only got the lower last week) and have found them to be pretty painless. My teeth have moved a lot and my deep bite went from 80% to 30% in 3 months just with upper braces! I am so happy I decided to do this. It has been worth every penny. I hope you have a similar experience.
Ciara

[isthistaken]

You must have amazingly durable teeth to go so long without ever needing a dentist! I'm afraid I would have had nothing left to straighten if I had not seen a dentist in all that time. It's pretty standard for everyone here in the US to trudge to the dentist every 6 months starting at an early age, and most definitely by the time the permanent teeth start coming in, during which the teeth are cleaned, xrayed, flouridated, drilled and filled. I'm fascinated by this, and I've heard it before, some people never having seen a dentist until well into adulthood.

[Ciara]

You must have amazingly durable teeth to go so long without ever needing a dentist! I'm afraid I would have had nothing left to straighten if I had not seen a dentist in all that time. It's pretty standard for everyone here in the US to trudge to the dentist every 6 months starting at an early age, and most definitely by the time the permanent teeth start coming in, during which the teeth are cleaned, xrayed, flouridated, drilled and filled. I'm fascinated by this, and I've heard it before, some people never having seen a dentist until well into adulthood.

I know someone here who went to the dentist once when he was 20 (wisdom tooth removal) and the next time was when he got a toothache at 75. When he went to the dentist at 75, his dentist was amazed at the condition of his teeth, specially since he only brushed once a day! He got a root canal in the tooth that was painful and that was it. Everything else was fine - he'd chipped the painful tooth about 20 years earlier with his pipe (yes, he smokes too). Some people are very lucky!!!

[isthistaken]

Despite all the guilt trips, it's most likely genetics. One of my kids is almost 30 and has never had a cavity. The rest of us are swiss cheese.