Search found 74 matches

by spragers
Thu Jun 01, 2006 8:24 pm
Forum: The Naked Tooth (Retainers and Life After Braces)
Topic: How to prepare for debanding?
Replies: 17
Views: 6180

I had ceramics in front on both top and bottom. They all came off without any of them breaking, or any other complications.

Hope that helps :)
by spragers
Mon May 08, 2006 11:44 pm
Forum: The Naked Tooth (Retainers and Life After Braces)
Topic: What to expect?
Replies: 6
Views: 2250

It is my understanding that teeth will, over time, try to return to their previous locations. They will also tend to settle in wherever they "fit" the best. I would imagine that his teeth will continue to ache and move until they find a new fixed arrangement, and they will continue to shif...
by spragers
Mon May 08, 2006 11:41 pm
Forum: The Naked Tooth (Retainers and Life After Braces)
Topic: Discoloration under brackets
Replies: 7
Views: 3722

After 2.5 years with braces, I didn't have any discoloration behind the brackets, although I have a few other spots that seemed to change. I don't drink coffee or smoke, but I also didn't ahve the best oral hygiene regimine. If yours is better, I doubt you have to worry about staining.
by spragers
Mon May 01, 2006 6:40 pm
Forum: The Naked Tooth (Retainers and Life After Braces)
Topic: Anyone with upper AND lower Essix retainers?
Replies: 5
Views: 2372

Hi, I have both upper & lower Essix retainers, had them for a month or so now. At first I had trouble with my speech, but it's pretty good now (better than with braces lol). I have had some jaw pain / TMJ-like symptoms though, because they do hold your jaw apart. I think they are doing an OK job...
by spragers
Wed Apr 26, 2006 4:55 pm
Forum: Metal Mouth Forum
Topic: Ortho slowing my progress cause of my debt? can this be true
Replies: 9
Views: 1558

I remember reading somewhere that there is a limit to the speed of teeth movement, and anything beyond that is actually doing more long-term harm than good. Teeth move slowly, after all, they're stuck in your jaw bone!
by spragers
Wed Apr 26, 2006 4:53 pm
Forum: Metal Mouth Forum
Topic: Why didn't you have braces as a child/teen?
Replies: 71
Views: 10261

My dentist firt mentioned braces when I was about to graduate from high school and take on the debt of a 4-year private college. Nice of her to wait until my teeth were set in their wonkiness. Eight years later I finally got up the nerve to go through it all (mostly because of the fact that I could ...
by spragers
Sun Mar 12, 2006 10:28 pm
Forum: The Naked Tooth (Retainers and Life After Braces)
Topic: Receding gums after braces
Replies: 6
Views: 15173

I always figured that no matter how much you brush with braces on, your gums won't get stimulated the way they normally would. Once the brackets come off, everything should eventually return to normal. Of course, I've got Essix retainers, so my teeth spend 90% of the day covered up even more than wh...
by spragers
Sun Mar 12, 2006 10:22 pm
Forum: Metal Mouth Forum
Topic: I need input from those wearing ceramics!!
Replies: 18
Views: 3473

In the 2+ years I was braced, my ceramic brackets never stained. The clear ligs always turned that funky neon green color by the time the next adjustment rolled around :) I had some people take nearly two years before they noticed I even *had* braces LOL. You might also read that ceramic brackets ar...
by spragers
Mon Mar 06, 2006 8:13 pm
Forum: The Naked Tooth (Retainers and Life After Braces)
Topic: Any advice for brace removal?
Replies: 6
Views: 2792

The molar bands will make a sickening CRUNCH when they take them off. It literally sounds like your tooth is exploding :-) The assistant told me about the noise AFTER she already took one off lol...

After they finish clearing away all the leftover cement and polishing your new smile, ENJOY!!! :D
by spragers
Thu Mar 02, 2006 11:21 pm
Forum: The Naked Tooth (Retainers and Life After Braces)
Topic: Before and After Pics...Couldn't be happier
Replies: 11
Views: 6152

That's a spectacular smile :) Remember your retainers and enjoy the rest of your brace-free life 8)
by spragers
Thu Mar 02, 2006 11:18 pm
Forum: Metal Mouth Forum
Topic: Anybody have a lower lingual arch?
Replies: 5
Views: 4026

I had a lower lingual arch from the time my braces went on to the day they came off, but there weren't any kinks, notches or bends in it, just a smooth arch from molar band to molar band. I also had cement clumps on my back molars for about half a year. I'm sorry to say that you probably won't get u...
by spragers
Sun Feb 26, 2006 11:17 am
Forum: The Naked Tooth (Retainers and Life After Braces)
Topic: Question about teeth movement after braces
Replies: 5
Views: 2888

I had my braces on from January 27, 2005 until Febuary 16, 2005.
According to this, you had braces on for a little over two weeks... your teeth wouldn't have moved at all in two weeks... :?:
by spragers
Tue Feb 21, 2006 10:04 pm
Forum: The Naked Tooth (Retainers and Life After Braces)
Topic: Mouthguard type retainer
Replies: 6
Views: 3918

Hi, I just got my retainers last night - they are the Essix "mouthguard" type, they simply snap over my teeth as they are made from the molds of my teeth. The first time on the felt very tight, but my teeth had probably shifted slightly in those few days. However, my instructions are to we...
by spragers
Tue Feb 21, 2006 9:58 pm
Forum: The Naked Tooth (Retainers and Life After Braces)
Topic: The only thing this retainer isn't retaining is my sanity!
Replies: 2
Views: 2480

My plan (not that you should take this as a suggestion) is to a.) take my retainers out before I eat at a restaurant, maybe in the bathroom or car; then b.) leave them off until I get home and can rinse them out. Maybe it's just me, but I don't want to put anything that's been near a public restroom...
by spragers
Tue Feb 21, 2006 9:52 pm
Forum: The Naked Tooth (Retainers and Life After Braces)
Topic: Did you have cavities as a result of the braces?
Replies: 38
Views: 33874

Before braces: 25 years without cavities.

Braced for roughly 2.5 years.

Now in retainers (since yesterday afternoon): still no cavities.

Just keep up your oral hygiene habits, the cement had flouride in it to prevent cavities between your teeth and the brackets/bands.