Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi TinselTim, By my 4th week, I had some very pleasing changes in some of my teeth but a few of my teeth also got worse before they got better. It's a work in progress so don't get discouraged if things don't seem to be moving the way you want them to. I would encourage you to take photos every two ...

Adultbraces, I just had pull-coils put on Thursday to help close gaps created from having two teeth extracted (#5 & #12). One coil covers the gap to the immediate right and left of the excised tooth but the coil on the other side stretches across several teeth. I'm not sure why it was done this ...

I've had two adjustments with my Damon brackets. At my first adjustment, my ortho didn't do anything but examine my teeth. At my second adjustment she changed out my wire and removed the brackets from two teeth that she wanted me to have extracted. I go in next week for my third adjustment. I don't ...

Same here. Seems like each day I wake up a different tooth feels loose. And one that felt loose last week will feel fine this week. It's like they all take turns. Ha ha ha!

Oops, nope. Mine were the 2nd bicuspids (#5 & #12) but the gaps are still about the same as yours.

I had the same exact two teeth extracted on July 18th. I'm scheduled to go to my ortho next week for an adjustment and I suspect the ortho wil use power chains to start to close the gaps.

Looks like you've developed an open bite from pushing on your teeth with your tongue.

I already had an open bite because I sucked my thumb but I made it worse after I got braces because I would (inadvertently) rest my tongue on the back of my teeth.

Totally agreed. My lisp comes and goes but is prominently worse when my mouth is dry.

Ah! Was able to find the answer to my own question. Here it is in case anyone else ever wonders: Generally the orthodontic archwires are made from a stainless steel wire (spring wire) having a diameter of 0.01 to 0.022 inches for the round wires and cross-section of 0.10 × 0.020 to 0.022 × 0.028 i...

You hair is so cute! I love that cut!

I had my second adjustment today to have my archwire changed out. I asked the tech how large the new archwire was and he said 18. I asked how large the one he took out was and he said "the thinnest". Not sure what "the thinnest" means. Does anyone know the diameter of the thinnes...

Maybe it's just me but clear braces are just as obvious as metal braces and metal braces work faster. I've also heard that clear braces are harder to keep clean because they become stained when you eat certain foods. I guess it all comes down to how the clear braces will make you feel if you are som...

The arch wires moves your teeth not the bracket so I don't think repositioning is likely to make significant difference. But to make you feel better SiennaMichele, I am going through something similar myself. I got my braces on March 26th and in this short time I have had some of my teeth do really ...

Yep, I do it too. I tongue thrust also so if I am feeling particularly guilty, I will push in on my teeth slightly while I'm sitting around (ie. on the computer) to "counter" the pushing out that my tongue does. I'm sure I'm creating a bigger problem for myself by doing this so maybe admit...

I would suggest that the only way to really know the answers to all these questions is to find a ortho in your area that will give you a consulation. What seems like a good bite or relatively straight teeth to us may look totally different to a teeth expert. My ortho only charged $35 for the consult...