Metal Mouth Message Board

I definitely have a strong lisp... I keep hoping I'll wake up and maybe I will have miraculously mastered speech! I want it so bad that I even dreamt last night that I could speak normally again, that there was some trick I had figured out. But no matter how I practice and contort my mouth/tongue, I...

It's been about 2 months since I last posted, so I guess I should update this story... About a month ago, I had all my new impressions and a consultation with my new ortho, Dr. G. He doesn't seem to think that I will need implants to replace my premolars, but I am getting the impression that my bite...

Thanks for the ideas, all... I have been practicing speaking the Rainbow Passage (thanks Karen!) and the "she sells seashells" words to try to figure this out. I really can't seem to make an "s" sound that is anywhere close to normal. The best I can do so far involves holding my ...

Hi all, I am wondering if anybody else has experience with an impaction device (wire attached to inside upper molar bands that runs behind the front upper teeth). My ortho is using it as an anchor to tie my impacted upper canine to and pull down without dissolving the root of a healthy adjacent toot...

Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't updated in forever. It seems like my life keeps getting busier! Yesterday I had my first visit with my new orthodontist. Dr. G (who is very nice) and his assistant told me that they have a very different orthodontic philosophy from my former ortho, whose practice/associa...

And the winner for top thing you never want your new orthodontist to tell you:

"Your last orthodontist probably didn't need to extract those four premolars. We might need to put in some replacements."

I actually went and bought duct tape and electrical tape after work! The pain from the new sharp wire was that bad. But the duct tape kept moving off the sharp part, so it was no good. I finally got my tweezers out, though, and managed to pull this 1" piece of wire out!! It was under two ligs, ...

Update Whee... 1:50 PM... called the ortho again and still got their voicemail. Seriously, though, if you're going to avoid all your patients during the week, too, at least have the sense not to leave a message that says your office hours are "9 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday." I'm thin...

Hi all, Thanks so much for your comments and words of support. I am really trying to keep my sense of humor about things, but this is really frustrating me. I called my dentist's office yesterday and got a recommendation for the best ortho in town (Dr. G) -- they said they even send their own kids t...

Just when things were starting to seem routine.... ...then it happened... THE UNLEASHING OF THE DAWG Yes, it's true. I guess I needed some new orthodontic drama in my life, so here it is... It all started last week on a Friday morning. I had already brushed my teeth, but the rear endpoint of the Daw...

Hi rage31 , Karen , Shawnie , and Pam ! Yikes, where have I been? The past month or so has been really busy for me! I haven't disappeared for good though, honest :) My exposure site and extraction sites have healed up really beautifully. The extraction sites have mostly filled in, now, which makes t...

I visited the ortho's office yesterday and the assistant told me that there will be no Dawg-tugging yet :( I guess they might start at my next adjustment. I'm a bit disappointed, since it seems like everything will take longer, now, and since I would love to not be gap-toothed for the wedding I'll b...

Hi missing_tooth! That's great that you have a date so soon. Soon means that you can get it over with sooner and not worry for months on end :) I had my exposure surgery about 3 weeks ago, and was put under for it. They also pulled my baby canine and 4 premolars. I was really really scared, but the ...

I'm glad it's going so well for you! And that I'm not the only one with the loose-"clicky" thing going on, I guess it really does mean things are on the move! Let us know how your next adjustment goes... I haven't had my elastics yet either, so I'll be curious as to what that is like for y...

Hi Granola! I just thought I would check in and see how things are going for you. Are you seeing much more progress?

Take care!!