Metal Mouth Message Board

Definitely not a man thing!!! I haven't seen any little hook with the elastics but I know there is a proper device with a hook for loosening retainers. Your ortho might have one.

Another thing I found saved my nails was to put a disposable plastic glove on my right hand. After loosening the retainer with the crochet hook on the left side I use my right hand with the glove to grab it at the end and wiggle it off. Still not able to do it easily without these aids. It must look...

I just picked up my new retainers yesterday. Fortunately I was able to take them out in the surgery so escaped rather quickly after being told I can revert to night only after April 12. Because they fit so snugly they are difficult to get out so I make sure I eat enough for the next few hours before...

That happened to me as well. When the elastics pulled my lower teeth across to sit below the middle of my top teeth my left molar moved across as well. This is partly because I had a tooth removed years ago (because it was not straight). Now the braces are off my retainers on the bottom do not inclu...

They are off! I noted that the ortho wrote on his card I had requested to have them removed. The relief was enormous. Impressions were taken for retainers to be picked up the following week. My joy was short lived when I felt a large piece had come away from one of my molars. Fortunately I was able ...

I'm now 65 (braced at 63) and am planning to get debraced in January. Last visit my ortho said I could have them removed when I wanted but the longer I kept them on the better they would be. They are not perfect but I figure two years and a bit is what I anticipated and it is good enough. Next year ...

OK. They are not perfect but I'm hoping to get them off on January 4th! The ortho said last visit that I should wait until Easter next year. I replied I don't want to be 66 with braces so he made a note of that and said I could get them off now but the longer I leave them the more improvement there ...

I thought I had better make a post although things are moving very slowly. It is a year since I first started wearing elastics. On my last visit the ortho put me into double elastics to speed things up a bit. My grandson says they look like pasta. The good news is we have just returned from five wee...

Hi, I was pleased to read in your comment that someone aged 68 had braces. At last , someone older than me! When I started with braces I thought I will be 65 and an old age pensioner by the time I get these things off. Well I am the first two now but still have braces. Hopefully they will be off in ...

Mine are upper canine to lower molar. I have been wearing them for about eight months but suffered a setback when a bracket came off when I was away on holidays. Wearing them canine to canine must be difficult.

Great news. I haven't been given an indication of the end yet as my top teeth have to move back and there is not much room. The ortho said he wanted to avoid extractions as it would affect my face and make it fall inwards. Eeeek! So I have more months of elastics to try to do the job. I'm thinking a...

It must be a nerve wracking time as the end approaches. Earlier on there is always the comfort that time will fix all the problems and then suddenly time is running out. Do you just get rid of the things on your teeth that affect your life in so many ways or hold out for perfection? My teeth have a ...

I'm sure I'll feel the same when I reach 19 months. At the moment nothing seems to be happening for me but you certainly have had some changes. I imagine when the end is in sight you get impatient. When it's a long way off it is just about surviving.

You are doing well. I took a week off work (teaching) to have mine out (impacted). I had to extend my leave to 10 days. I was a mess. I thought I wouldn't mention that until yours were done so am really pleased you came through it so well.

Some days are like that, Newbite. Totally, unexpectedly good. Glad you enjoyed the experience. It's hard to imagine when you get braces that the end will ever come but you seem to be well on the way to the finish.