Frustrated and ready to quit

[Tweetypie1106]

So I have had my rpe and lower lingual arch for almost two months and I am ready to quit before I even get the braces. Its getting really frustrating. I still don't talk as clearly as I would like and its annoying trying to clean both appliances. I'm starting to question whether or not going through all if this us worth it.

Rant over

[Ciara]

So I have had my rpe and lower lingual arch for almost two months and I am ready to quit before I even get the braces. Its getting really frustrating. I still don't talk as clearly as I would like and its annoying trying to clean both appliances. I'm starting to question whether or not going through all if this us worth it.

Rant over

I'm so sorry you are feeling this way. I don't have either of these this time around but I did as a child. They early drove me insane. I couldn't speak clearly, took forever to clean and cut up my tongue. I had the rpe for about 6 months. I was dreading getting braces afterwards but they were a breeze in comparison. Sure, it still took forever to clean, I got the occasional mouth ulcer but I could speak clearly and the cleaning got faster and faster.
How long will you have the rpe and lla for? If it is only another few month, hang in there. Really braces are so much easier in comparison.

[Tweetypie1106]

So I have had my rpe and lower lingual arch for almost two months and I am ready to quit before I even get the braces. Its getting really frustrating. I still don't talk as clearly as I would like and its annoying trying to clean both appliances. I'm starting to question whether or not going through all if this us worth it.

Rant over

I'm so sorry you are feeling this way. I don't have either of these this time around but I did as a child. They early drove me insane. I couldn't speak clearly, took forever to clean and cut up my tongue. I had the rpe for about 6 months. I was dreading getting braces afterwards but they were a breeze in comparison. Sure, it still took forever to clean, I got the occasional mouth ulcer but I could speak clearly and the cleaning got faster and faster.
How long will you have the rpe and lla for? If it is only another few month, hang in there. Really braces are so much easier in comparison.

I am supposed to have the rpe for 6 months but the dentist said my teeth or moving so fast that I could get it out sooner. Not sure how long I will have the lla. He was about to start bracing the bottom with the lla on at one point. I'm just tired.only I could wait until the age if 34 to start caring about my teeth lol

[JumpTheDitch]

I hear you. I have an LLA, increased height molar build-ups, & an expander called a CD Advancer. It would be nice to take it out for a while to give my tongue a break from the TPA wire! Cleaning & flossing takes 20 mins or more. Particularly the sections where I have to thread the floss over/under wires on both buccal & lingual side. Argh. Just keep telling yourself - It is worth it, it is worth it, it is worth it. Every day brings you closer to freedom. Imagine how easy braces will be once the other stuff comes out!

My expander...

DSC_1328-2.jpg

Its not obvious until I smile, when you can see all the stuff on the sides. People dont seem to know what to make of it, so they just dont mention it. Which makes me feel weird. I wish someone would just ask! It is worth it, it is worth it, it is worth it...

[bracex]

I'm sure you'll look back and realise it was all worth it. Hang in there!

[klobird]

I had some really doozey appliances during my braces time. With one of them I started to get really depressed. The ortho took it out earlier than plannned and it didn't seem to affect anything as far as time in braces etc.

The minute I got my braces of 2 years off I knew--IT WAS WORTH EVERY MINUTE!!

[Tweetypie1106]

If I could just get this rpe out I would be a lot better. Hopefully I will get good news tomorrow.

[OldBikerBag]

I think far fewer people notice our hardware than we believe. Before I had braces, I never paid any attention to what was in somebody else's mouth. Sometimes I would see a flash of metal, but overall, I never really registered it. I was way more cognizant of other people's treatment while mine were in.

Now that they're out, I have returned to blissful oblivion. And it took less than a week!

Don't sweat what other people think. Look where their eyes actually rest when they talk to you. If you're female, things won't change much. They (especially healthy, hetero men) will still talk to your chest. That was my experience, anyway.

[bmueller]

Hang in there! How long are you expected to wear the RPE?

You are your worst critic! I promise! I have elastics that make me look like I have vampire teeth for 6 months now, I am very self conscious about it. Turns out, people at work have "forgotten" I had surgery and braces. I mentioned something to a coworker and he said he didn't even know I was still in treatment.

I also feel that I speak weird because I have lingual braces, an almost full set of outside braces and with 6 elastics, I can only open my mouth about an inch and cant stick my tongue out. The surgeon noticed that I speak sounding muffled and lispy, but I did a TV interview and my family thought I sounded and looked normal (even though I thought I sounded weird). People don't notice these things as much as you think. I gurantee it!

[duchiemarie]

I am sorry you feel this way as well.
I just got a new rpe to correct TMJ & cross bite issues and i feel the same way, ready to quit!

It will get better..its just doesnt feel like it now!

[Tweetypie1106]

Thanks for the encouragement everyone. I'm trying really hard not to go to the dentist and have him remove this mess. I know I will have wasted a lot of time and money if I do.

[djspeece]

You are doing great, try to visualize what you will be feeling and how you will look when this "journey" is completed!

[Tweetypie1106]

I had the rpe out for about 15 minutes for a cleaning. The cleaning sucked but it was the best 15 minutes of my life. I almost cried when he put it back in. Then he further burst my bubble when he said I may have to wear this for a year instead if six months.

[bmueller]

My heart goes out to you! I have struggled with the second half of my treatment and I know exactly how you feel!

Honestly, I don't think a day goes by that I don't think of quitting... and I'm almost done! But it keeps me going thinking of how great my teeth will look when I'm all done.

I sure wish my childhood orthodontist had fixed my teeth/jaws right the first time. I think kids can tolerate these things SO much better than adults.

[ajs604]

Hi, I have an upper molar intrusion device (reverse to your device) so I know its only slightly comparable to the lower lingual arch. I have only had it two weeks and am still struggling with talking eating, not to mention a chronic ulcer on my tongue.

I try and set my sites on how my teeth may look in the end. If it is affecting your speech that bad maybe ask for a referral to a speech therapist. Try and stick with it, I am sure the long term benifits will be worth it. If you stop now you will only regret it, in the future.