My first question about braces

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#1 Post by **toothsome** » Mon May 18, 2009 10:07 am

Tomorrow I and going to have my braces attached, ceramic uppers, metal lowers. As I have bizarre teeth, I need "stoppers' between my teeth to stop my top teeth from smashing off the bottom braces. I asked if it were possible to stagger the timing of putting on the lower braces, to allow the upper teeth to start to move. I was told no. Was this for the convenience of the dentist or is there another reason?

#2 Post by **sdawdy** » Mon May 18, 2009 10:16 am

Welcome aboard, and congrats on taking the journey with us.

I had my tops put on first then about 3 months later (after the teeth had moved some) they put the bottoms on with the "ramps". So, its probably Ortho preference on how they put on the braces.

SD

#3 Post by **toothsome** » Mon May 18, 2009 10:22 am

Thank you for your quick reply! I suspected it was at least in part for the dentist's convenience. This dentists schtick is fast results, which isn't my prime concern. I chose him because he is very close to my office and he offers the braces with gates (which I learned about from this forum!).

I'll ask him again tomorrow if it is absolutely necessary.

Thanks again!

#4 Post by **sisi** » Mon May 18, 2009 10:51 am

Hi toothsome

My braces are being staggered - lowers only for the first 6 months. I am not really sure why my ortho has done it this way but it has made the transition slightly easier. I think she wants to see how my lower teeth get on before starting on the upper teeth (which require less work though they are my main concern).

Good luck with your brace-date!
sisi

#5 Post by **toothsome** » Wed May 20, 2009 11:55 am

I did get both sets at once. I have two huge stoppers behind my front teeth. Very annoying!

It's not half as painful as I expected, just really weird having all these foreign objects in my mouth.

I'm going to track my progress on my blog. I took some very gruesome close ups of my teeth, before and after. Soon, I'll be able to look back on all this and see how far I've come.