Metal Mouth Message Board

I think your answer really lies in a discussion with your Orthodontist. What did you want to accomplish with your braces treatment? Have you accomplished that yet? I'm not certain there is a 'perfect' finish, just the one that is best for you. I was trying to re-establish a bite that had gotten off-...

I typically had one of two assistants who worked with me. I knew all of them in the office though. There was one who was new and young and had too heavy of a touch for my TMJ issues. I called and talked to them and she never worked on me again. It was a bit awkward because sometimes she was the one ...

I learned that elastics can fly all the way across a room and get 'lost'. (Cast on dominate hand and 6 elastics on molars = searching for those flying elastics.) Swallowing brackets with hooks is scary, but doesn't cause harm--tried that one 3 times. Tweezers and a dental mirror were my favorite too...

There is absolutely nothing wrong with both upper and lower metal. The brackets are actually a smidge smaller on the metals. I had the upper clear Damons and lower metal Damons for my treatment. Honestly, except when I was brushing and flossing, I never saw the lowers. They really are covered by the...

I didn't love the Superfloss while I was in braces. I had a bunch left when I got them off. I found that I really liked it when I didn't have to worry about it snagging on the brackets.

Just Essix retainers here. I wear mine at night. Only did the 24/7 thing for the first month. I think my retainers are different than most though. My original set only covered the front six from canine-canine. This was so my molars could 'settle'. (I didn't have a lot of movement with my molars othe...

I had my last upper archwire in for over a year...13 months if I recall right. They took it out and inspected it at each visit, but I didn't need any adjustments to that one over time.

Now, my lowers were a different story.

Hi, What kind of retainer did you get? I got my braces off last fall and got my retainers same day. They are the Essix type (clear molded kind that cover the teeth). I had to wear mine 24/7 for the first month and nightly since. I've come to learn after many years of various splints, braces, and now...

I did have changes in my teeth, but much of my first year was about arch development. That is something that wasn't noticeable until one day I realized how many more teeth were showing in my smile. I also realized I'd gone from a 'v' arch to a 'u' one. If you are concerned, ask your Orthodontist. He...

It is certainly something to ask your orthodontist about. You should both be in agreement with what you are looking for in terms of results. In my case, I was totally focused on my bite. My nice smile was a bonus. During treatment, my Orthodontist actually 'erupted' my incisors some. As he said when...

So, I got my braces off 7 months ago and they made me Essix style retainers that day. I wore them 24/7 for the first month, then nightly since then. My lower retainer started 'rocking' a bit with my bite so I called to have them adjusted at my Orthodontic office. They were terrific. They didn't ques...

TMJJill wrote: > I got my lowers on 11 months after my uppers. I was working on correcting my bite > and TMJD issues. I needed to expand my upper arch before I was ready for the lowers. > > I really do think treatment plans are all about an individuals needs. was it this for a deep bite if you don'...

I can't speak on the gum graft, but can on the bone removal. I had an Exodontist remove my tori. I was originally scheduled to have both upper and lower outer tori removed in one visit. I ended up having them done separately because the Exodontist said the upper tori was the largest he had ever seen...

I got my lowers on 11 months after my uppers. I was working on correcting my bite and TMJD issues. I needed to expand my upper arch before I was ready for the lowers.

I really do think treatment plans are all about an individuals needs.

I got my lowers 11 months after my uppers. Personally, I found the second set easier in general.

Of course, for me it meant the increase in the number of elastics I had to wear. That is a whole 'nother journey.

Good luck.