My Journey into Braces -(tazunemono)

If you want to share the detailed saga of your braces story, this is the place to do it. You can use this forum as a braces journal, editing and updating your posts as your treatment goes on. Remember to also visit the main ArchWired.com site for additional stories from other readers!

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tazunemono
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2009 5:30 pm

My Journey into Braces -(tazunemono)

#1 Post by tazunemono »

Well I'll start off by saying that I had wanted to get braces for some time but was put off by the cost and the social aspects - I'm a 32-year old male from Louisville, KY - currently I'm a Sr. Manager for a local health care company. However, after seeing several ladies at work with braces, and noting their age (late 30's to 40's) AND after getting a sizable bonus this year, I decided to take the plunge.

My teeth before beginning treatment had a rather large gaps between all the front teeth on top, and a large gap on the bottom. Over the past few years they have moved even more away from ideal, so I was highly motivated to make 'em straight.

I got my brackets and spacers fitted on July 10, 2009. The process involved a general cleaning, followed by photos and application of an etchant solution to my teeth. Next, the doc used a variety of metal tools to attach the brackets to my teeth using a UV lamp to cure. The process took around 2 hours for upper and lower brackets. I left his office and went straight to dinner with some friends, who all enjoyed watching me struggle to eat foods I probably shouldn't have tried to eat ;)

I have an app't tomorrow to get 'banded' (still don't know all the terminology yet).

So far, my impression is positive. I can't wait to see some movement!

Will post more as time allows.
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PrincessPeach
Posts: 251
Joined: Mon Jun 22, 2009 3:18 pm
Location: Manchester, UK

#2 Post by PrincessPeach »

Good luck with getting your braces on! Its a decision you'll never regret, i'm 3 weeks in & already seeing major changes!

Remember to take pictures, i hadnt realised what changes i'd had until i looked at a pic from the day before i was braced!
Lower Braces = 22nd June 09 - 2nd Sept 10 (14 months, 1 week & 4 days)
Upper braces = 10th August 09 - 2nd Sept 10 (12 months, 3 weeks & 2 days)
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SweetT
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:36 am
Location: S.Jersey, United States
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#3 Post by SweetT »

I got my braces put on the same day! fun stuff right!! lol. its going to be a fun journey :o)
::Braces went on July 10,2009::

A smile of encouragement at the right moment may act like sunlight on a closed-up flower; it may be the turning point for a struggling life.
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sarahlynn
Posts: 193
Joined: Fri Jun 05, 2009 8:08 am

#4 Post by sarahlynn »

Welcome and congrats on getting braces! Hopefully you'll see movement soon. You'll be very glad that you did this, I know I am.
Brace days:
uppers - June 11, 2009
lowers - August 27, 2009

My story - http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... highlight=
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tazunemono
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2009 5:30 pm

#5 Post by tazunemono »

Update - 3:00pm - today I got my tooth spacers removed and anchor bands were fitted around my back teeth. This was kind of a difficult process for me, because I didn't have a whole lot of space between my rear teeth (proximal). At one point, my oDoc was sawing at my teeth with a saw and a nail file. Finally, he cemented them on and applied the wire - wow! Could really feel it working. I have Damon brackets.

Update - 9:50pm - OWWW! Wow my teeth are really sore now. I went for a run and that helped me forget about the pain and pressure. I took 6 300mg Ibu before bed, plus a sleeping pill, so hopefully I can get some z's...

I swear I can already see some movement, could be my imagination! Hope tomorrow is better, but according to my more experienced friends it gets worse before it gets better....
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PrincessPeach
Posts: 251
Joined: Mon Jun 22, 2009 3:18 pm
Location: Manchester, UK

#6 Post by PrincessPeach »

I think you do see the most movement in the first 24 hours, after that you never notice it until you look back on the pictures!
Lower Braces = 22nd June 09 - 2nd Sept 10 (14 months, 1 week & 4 days)
Upper braces = 10th August 09 - 2nd Sept 10 (12 months, 3 weeks & 2 days)
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Takako
Posts: 279
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 7:50 pm

#7 Post by Takako »

It was different for me, PrincessPeach. I didn't see movement in the first 24 hours. But the first 4 weeks over all were like a speedy race! I saw the most movement in my first 8 weeks... the last 6 weeks have been fairly calm, but now I have new gear so everything is moving again lol!
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tazunemono
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2009 5:30 pm

#8 Post by tazunemono »

What can I say but OWWWW. The pain returned today, I'm eating ibuprofen and advil like candy now.

I can only eat soft foods, like mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. French fries are out (too hard to eat!) but burgers are in, if I tear them into small pieces first.

Milkshakes = good! The cold really makes my teeth feel better.

Does anyone else have little burrs on their bands (shelves?) that irritate their tongue? I'm thinking of asking my doc if he can shave them off, because they are very annoying (bottoms, mostly)...

I have 014 wires (0.014 inch, I assume?) if that makes any difference in the level of pressure applied. A few teeth I cannot even touch without recoiling in pain (touch with tongue = pain) Is this 'normal' pain for initial braces, or should I talk to my doc?
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PrincessPeach
Posts: 251
Joined: Mon Jun 22, 2009 3:18 pm
Location: Manchester, UK

#9 Post by PrincessPeach »

Takako wrote:It was different for me, PrincessPeach. I didn't see movement in the first 24 hours. But the first 4 weeks over all were like a speedy race! I saw the most movement in my first 8 weeks... the last 6 weeks have been fairly calm, but now I have new gear so everything is moving again lol!
I wish i was that way round, i'd rather have 4 weeks of fast movement that just 24 hours of it since i have to wait 6 weeks for each adjustment!
Lower Braces = 22nd June 09 - 2nd Sept 10 (14 months, 1 week & 4 days)
Upper braces = 10th August 09 - 2nd Sept 10 (12 months, 3 weeks & 2 days)
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tazunemono
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2009 5:30 pm

#10 Post by tazunemono »

An update on my teeth - I initially had a lot of pain over the first 4-5 days of braces, but now it's subsided from pain to just a dull ache. I found that 500mg of Naproxen worked for me, every 4-5 hours.

Now I am able to eat 'common' foods like burgers and fries (albeit carefully!) and I still enjoy a good milkshake. I have a pretty high metabolism even in my early 30's so when I couple that with my usual 10-12 miles a week of running, I can tell that I have lost at least 5-7 lbs, if not more this week due to not eating like I normally do.

Had to go to my ortho to have him grind off the 'saddles' in the inside (lingual) side of my molar bands. Those things were killing my tongue! It was hurting so bad I could barely talk, so once he removed those I felt like I might actually relax and enjoy braces!

I've been brushing my teeth after every meal but haven't gotten very good at flossing yet. I'm using a floss threader but it just takes too long! Don't want to get scolded by my doc, so I guess I'd better get to flossing!
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xnicole
Posts: 26
Joined: Sun Feb 22, 2009 3:33 pm

#11 Post by xnicole »

Congrats on starting your journey in braces!
About the bands, my ortho shaved both of them off on the bottom molars for me because he believed it would make it more comfortable and help to stop the top molar bands from coming off.
Yes, I look froward to my orthodontist appointments :D
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PrincessPeach
Posts: 251
Joined: Mon Jun 22, 2009 3:18 pm
Location: Manchester, UK

#12 Post by PrincessPeach »

glad things are getting easier for you :D
Lower Braces = 22nd June 09 - 2nd Sept 10 (14 months, 1 week & 4 days)
Upper braces = 10th August 09 - 2nd Sept 10 (12 months, 3 weeks & 2 days)
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tazunemono
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2009 5:30 pm

#13 Post by tazunemono »

Attached are some images of me with my new braces (sorry about quality, I was in a rush!) showing all my gaps.

Bottom Teeth
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Top teeth - my front teeth are not aligned/parallel in any way/shape/form :(
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My attempt at a grin :E
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tazunemono
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2009 5:30 pm

#14 Post by tazunemono »

Latest pix are below:



[img=http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/971/im ... 303.th.jpg][/img]

and
[img=http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/5107 ... 303.th.jpg][/img][/img]
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tazunemono
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2009 5:30 pm

#15 Post by tazunemono »

Oops try this one (why can't I delete or edit

Notice my front teeth are pulling together slightly...I see some movement! I an in an 0.018 wire now.

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and

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