Metal Mouth Message Board

My braces came off last Friday and have been wearing Hawley retainers since. I am told to wear them 24/7 for 6 months, except when eating, and maybe 12 hours for the next six. There is only ONE thing I look forward to — eating normally but the main reason is not having to wear the retainers. It's li...

You did the right thing by going back to have the wire cut, Kelly. I toughed it out before but I bled and it was so uncomfortable... ended up putting wax over the wires. I shouldn't have been lazy to visit my ortho. No chocolate with braces on, whoa, that's a HUGE sacrifice.

Hello all, I am getting frustrated with my teeth because they aren't moving like they are supposed to! I have a powerchain on my upper teeth for like one year to close a gap between my right lateral incisor and canine but so far it's not closing. Also the midline is not align from the middle of my n...

I have something different—a palatal expander— to widen my upper arch but I feel your frustration. I had it for 6 months... it was probably the worse phase of my orthodontic journey so I am glad it's over. Eating and talking will suffer a little, just like the previous post said. I find that using a...

[quote="lazarus"]I've only had braces for a month now (got the wire changed for the first time today, ugh!) and I really feel like I'm going to have an identity crisis the first time I see myself with straight, braceless teeth.[/quote] If this is the only "concern", I'll take it....

Welcome to the club. It's an easier journey when you have a supporting cast around you.

[quote="Featheryy1221"][quote="roadmap9"]Hi Featheryy1221, Do you know why I can't see your pictures? It's saying I have no permission or something like that.[/quote] Hello there. :) You have to become a full member by making between 8-10 posts before you can see photos. The numb...

For me, I'd say it was about 2-3 weeks for me but change has slowed down quite a bit since. I think you will notice the difference after your first adjustment.

[quote="Lucas"]I would like to add that I never had any tooth removed until now (I have also my wisdom teeth) and I am afraid of teeth extractions. I have had only few teeth filled and cleanings.[/quote] I got my braces when I was 39 yo and I am 18 months into it, have 5 more months to go....

Hello:

My midline looks fine between my upper and lower central incisors but it is off-centered from the center of my nose. I don't care for this at all. What should I tell my orthodontist?

Hi Featheryy1221,

Do you know why I can't see your pictures? It's saying I have no permission or something like that.

Featheryy1221,

He didn't measure it, just eye-balled. I guess my arch must have been very narrow. I will ask him how much I've expanded when I go for my first adjustment in a few weeks.

So I have the upper palatal expander put in in the beginning of December '13 and was told to turn it every other day for 30 times. It was all going well and I was a pro at doing it on my own but on the 19th turn, the expander stopped turning! I went to see my orthodontist and he said he was happy wi...