Metal Mouth Message Board

I had braces on my lower teeth for about six months or so before SARPE. This was to get them in place so when I had the surgery everything would line up properly. Yes, the expander is a pain, but the time goes by much more quickly than I expected. My expander was in place for about 5-6 months after ...

Hi Guys, So very glad to hear you're both doing well, despite the adjustments and whatnot. What a ride it's been, eh? I'm supposed to see my OS next month for a follow-up, and I think he'll be quite pleased. I also have an appt coming up with ortho, but not sure when. Hope I didn't miss it. I'm smil...

Whoo Hoo! So happy for you! Stay away from pliers & wirecutters - they will tempt you. So the hated bands are almost a thing of the past. I've just stopped wearing them at night. It was a bit scary at first, but I'm waking up with my mouth shut and not needing a drink of water first thing. And m...

I still have a couple of small gaps the my ortho says the Hawley's will fix. I'll be in retainers everyday, all day for the first year, and then can go to just at night. But I'll be wearing the Essix for special occasions. I had a feeling that slobber would be involved. Also anticipate a certain amo...

Way to go Dee!

At my Wednesday appt. they took molds for the Hawleys, so approximately 10 minutes after having the braces removed, the retainers will go in. I say ten minutes because I plan to brush and floss like crazy before I put them in! As of that last appt., the bands are a thing of the past, and I don't mis...

Oh yes, I know that feeling well. I have elastics everywhere around the house from them popping off and flying around.

No more braces SoCal? Hooray!!! And we're right behind you! Gotta say, I've finally gotten to the point where I don't think I will miss the bands. They've been something of a security blanket since the surgery, but just in the last few days I've gotten completely over them. I asked my ortho about te...

What kind of retainers are you getting? I'm getting two sets - Hawley's for everyday, and clears for occasions (like dating, gulp). I think they felt sorry for me so no extra charge for the clear ones. I, too, have been researching (obsessing?) about retainers. They can't possibly be as bad as brace...

Not long after receiving my de-banding date (August 13th), I began having strong urges to grab pliers and wirecutters and ripping these things out of my mouth! I've been quite patient all along, but suddenly it needs to be OVER!

Hello my buddies, It's been a while - many crazy things going on at once. Luckily, none of them had anything to do with my mouth! Had what I had hoped would be my last appt with surgeon today. All is well, but there is some pain on the left side (the side that shattered) that he wants to monitor. Bu...

Everyone seems to be making progress, no matter how much we worry about it. I don't expect a "Hollywood smile" when I am finally finished. I just want a smile that I don't need to cover with my hand! I know I'll have to have at least one crown when the braces come off and I should probably...

Best thing I ever did was NOT use wax! I rinsed with saltwater a lot, and in the evenings I add a bit of hydrogen pyroxide to my waterpik. The insides of my mouth toughened up quickly. My tech told me about that trick and it certainly worked for me. PS - I'm almost 58!

Hi all. My right side is taking it's time to close up, but all in all things are looking good. I even have a de-bracing date: August 13th! They're going to give me two retainers - a clear one (think invisalign) for during the day and a standard metal one for night. I'm adjusting to the numbness, but...

Having braces over 50 isn't such a bad thing. People usually think you're younger because - well, who in their right mind would get braces over 50, right? And the time goes by much faster. And (big one) we're not in high school and care a whole lot less about what other people think. That said, I ac...