Spacers
were attempted to be put on the Thursday
before braces. They, two assistants and
the orthodontist, were able to get in
two of the eight they wanted. It seems
my teeth are vry close together. She,
the ortho, had told me that I might need
to have a tooth removed. But she is
trying first, I am sure after my
reaction, to straighten them without a
removal.
I never
had a recommendation to have braces, but
as I aged my teeth have become crooked
on the lower in the front and my right
incisor kept hitting my bottom tooth. I
wanted to save my teeth, and so I
requested braces. We have pretty great
dental insurance and I thought I would
only have my bottom teeth done, but the
ortho said for both upper and lower to
be done. I did not realize that my
upper teeth had started to become
crooked.
I did not
want to pay the extra for white braces -
my teeth are somewhat yellow (genetics,
coffee??) so ...
The
spacers were (ok, only two of them) were
not really bad; a little sore, and we
celebrated Cinco de Mayo afterward,
anyway! The next Monday when I went to
have the braces put on the assistant
attempted to put on bands around the
spacer teeth. Try as she might, she
could not get it to go all the way down
over the tooth. So I ended up with all
brackets. My lower molars have no
brackets as they are all crowned and she
said the brackets would not hold.
Having the
braces put on, to me, was almost like
having your hair done. I just relaxed
through the whole thing. I did take two
ibuprofen about an hour before the
procedure, and took about a total of
four more until the end of the second
day. The ortho and assistant were
extremely nice and informative. They
kept asking me if I was OK. The only
bad part was the bonding material that
they told me would taste bad, sour. It
was sour, but not horrible, and only
lasted for a few seconds. They put a
device in my mouth to keep it open, but
I have had more annoyance with having to
keep my mouth open during a regular
dental cleaning. All in all, I was very
happy with this part of the procedure.
They were very efficient, kind, and
worked well together.
The shock
was seeing my mouth full of metal. I
guess I really thought the appliances
would be all nice and straight in my
mouth. I went to work after treating
myself to a malt at a local ice cream
shop. I had talked with a few other
adults who had had braces where I work
(I am a teacher at an elementary
school). They stopped me and asked me
about it and were supportive. The real
embarrassment is greeting people and
seeing their surprise with you in
braces. Some do not say anything, but
sort of stare. Some comment and state
they want to do this but are afraid.
Some have told me their braces story.
My students just comment and I get the
typical children type of questions,
inquiring, but not mean-spirited. No.
I do not like the way I look in braces.
No. My husband does not like the way I
look in braces. Yes. I am glad that I
did this. Yes. It will really only be
for a short while -- life is flying by
quickly. (My quite humorous husband has
come up with all kinds of zingers.)
It has now
been five days since the braces were put
on. I can eat things on the approved
list if they are cut into small pieces.
Trying to bite something harder than a
ripe banana feels like it would hurt if
I attempted to fully bite down. Chewing
is done on those back molars without
brackets/bands. I have not had any
pain. They have not hurt. I am almost
constantly reminded that I have them on
because I feel pressure from they being
pulled, but that is what they are
supposed to be doing. After eating the
first few days the teeth were somewhat
sore. But I can take this soreness.
What is
painful is keeping them clean. I guess
as an adult you realize the importance
of it and are more careful. Snacking is
out. You cannot reach for a few tiny
carrots to eat, (Giving up raw veggies,
and I have not attempted a greens salad
yet, is the worst foods to give up!) or
drink a diet soda anytime you want. So
now I really eat a meal, because I know
I will be hungry and will have to have a
time frame when I can eat and get to the
restroom to take a good ten minutes to
clean my teeth. Going out to eat with
colleagues a few days ago I did not talk
much during the meal!