Hi posted this over on metal mouth forum, oops! repost

[lydime]

Hi everyone. I am a 34 year old mom of two and am getting my braces (ceramic on top, metal on bottom, traditional) later in the week. I am so excited, but of course nervous too.

I am getting braces for an overjet and open bite. I am a night time tongue thruster and will be working on therapy to break the habit so I do not have to have spurs (not sure my husband would like that much ). I did not want surgery (insurance isn't great) plus I can't deal with the downtime or risks with having small children. Plus I like my face, overall and honestly, scared I would look too different. My orthodontist feels confident I have enough room to widen the top arch by pushing out side teeth and then moving the front back. And I think tilt out the bottom a bit. He did mention some filing, maybe, but no extractions, which makes me happy because I would be worried about such a thing at my age. Of course rI know I will have to wear my retainer as much as possible for the rest of my life to maintain but that is cool. Oh, he estimated 18-20 months. I hope that is what it really is, I hear about things happening slower sometimes!

If anyone has similar teeth issues, I would love to hear your experiences!

I will put pictures soon, but think I need more posts first.

[SpottedPickle]

I get my my braces upper braces tomorrow. Are you getting tongue thrusting therapy exercises through your ortho or elsewhere? I giggled and snorted at your tongue spurs comment. 18-20 months is not bad. I have seen some long treatment plans! mine is a lower one, 14-16 months, but you never know sometimes!

[Anna5]

Good luck with your treatment!
I have similar issues: an open bite, a bit of an overjet, assymmetric teeth and jaw, a crossbite, narrow upper jaw....
I was also recommended surgery, but went the braces only route to get the best results possible without surgery.
I think my ortho did a great job, my teeth have really improved with the braces (I am having them for 15 months now), although for perfection I would need surgery. But by seeing the result of my braces, my ortho and surgeon don't recommend surgery anymore, they think my deformation is too small to take the risk of jaw surgery.

I am looking forward to hearing about your progress and maybe seeing some pictures!

[lydime]

Wow, 14 months! Lucky! I just really hope these are off by my stepdaughters h.s. Graduation in 22 months! They live in Los Angeles and want to be looking good to met hubby's old friends, hanging with his ex and family and lots of pictures! I am not going to therapy yet, I am trying techniques from youtube and blogs everyday first, which includes, sealing mouth during day, facial and lip exercises, and taping my mouth at night to breath through my nose. My main problem is nights and it seems like once you stop sleeping with mouth open, the tounge will pretty much be in the right place, so hopefully that works. If I can't correct in in 4 months, I will go pay a professional.
Yes, Anna it does seem like he have similar bites, I will post soon, my braces were delayed because I got food poisoning and had to cancel my appointment. With 4th of July this weekend, they didn't have an appointment until next fri. Too bad, I really just wanted those babies on! I just was to start the moving of my teeth, lol.

[lydime]

I love looking at pictures of progress and before/after. Especially if they seem similar to mine. So here is my contribution to that! My before pics until I get braced on Friday!

This is how I smile, not too bad, but then I have the "closed smile" perfected, haha.

[Anna5]

Yes, I think we have similar bite issues. Do you also have a crossbite/is your upper jaw too narrow? I think you look lovely, so I understand you don't want to change your face too much!
I think the exercises you found on the internet are great, I am doing more or less the same exercises, as well as shallowing exercises (tip of the tongue against the palate and then shallowing).

I think you have already seen my thread with my progress pictures? Here it is:
http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... 1&start=15

I wish you very good luck with your treatment!

[SpottedPickle]

Let me know how that all goes! I hope you get them off by the time the graduation. The closed mouth smile has been my thing since I was little. I hated how the photographer would not take my picture for school pictures until I was doing the goofy open smile. Even my friends harass me for open smiles. What stinks is that in order to be comfortable with my braces I have to open mouth smile. It feels strange and I feel goofy.

[lydime]

Yep Anna, I do have a small upper arch. My orthrodontist feel I have enough bone room to widen it with braces. I am sure the resting tongue postion has not helped it stay broad. Your progress looks awesome. Very inspiring!

Goofy is a good word, that is how my smile feels too...goofy!

[lydime]

So, I have had braces for about three months now. I don't know, kind of discouraged...it don't see much progress yet. The rubber bands have only been on about 3 weeks though. I wear them 24/7. It's been pretty painful. I go get molar bands on the 9th and more rubber bands, I think.

[lydime]

Tried to add one an "up" shot and tongue through bite pic so I can keep record.

[nicolie825]

Hi Lydime. Sorry to hear youre feeling discouraged. I think since your teeth are already pretty well aligned and your issues are mainly bite itssues, its going to take longer to see progress. You just have to keep the bigger picture in mind and know that itll be worth it in the end

[lydime]

You were right, took a while to notice, just stopped worrying about it for a few months...and wow, comparing these pics to the ones I posted on my new thread, it is like night and day already !

[oldfart]

Don't you love trying to eat with the triangles in?

I have almost the same, but one side is one moved one tooth back. Especially when I first put them in I can barely open my mouth.

of

[lydime]

Oh yes. Usually I take them out to eat, especially now with my super small ones. But I have probably eaten a couple rubber bands...yuck!