Search found 651 matches

by EWUgal15
Wed Jan 04, 2017 3:20 pm
Forum: Oral (Orthognathic) Surgery
Topic: Lock-Jaw Long After Surgery
Replies: 3
Views: 1544

Re: Lock-Jaw Long After Surgery

I started having TMJ pain on one side about 6 weeks after my braces came off (September 2016). I mentioned it to my orthodontist at my retainer check and she suggested I pay a visit to my surgeon since I hadn't seen him in roughly 8 months. To be fair, I also asked if I still needed to see him and w...
by EWUgal15
Tue Nov 08, 2016 9:35 am
Forum: Oral (Orthognathic) Surgery
Topic: What orthodontic "fine tuning" did you have post op?
Replies: 7
Views: 870

Re: What orthodontic "fine tuning" did you have post op?

I was estimated 12 months of braces post op. I only had to go 9. There was some bracket repositioning, elastics the whole time, bends, IPR, a little bit of everything.
by EWUgal15
Wed Oct 19, 2016 7:53 am
Forum: Metal Mouth Forum
Topic: Powerchains before teeth are straighten?
Replies: 5
Views: 828

Re: Powerchains before teeth are straighten?

My first set of powerchains came after a bunch of alignment and rotating. I had a month or so off from powerchains after surgery because I had been downgraded to lighter wires, but when I went back into powerchains, I had a few bends in the wire to fix small alignment issues. Definitely ask your ort...
by EWUgal15
Wed Oct 19, 2016 7:48 am
Forum: The Naked Tooth (Retainers and Life After Braces)
Topic: Gaps after de-bonding...?
Replies: 2
Views: 1432

Re: Gaps after de-bonding...?

Its interesting that they didn't take impressions right after your brackets came off...when your teeth were 'perfect'. I had two impressions done when my brackets came off: one for research models, one for removable retainers. I picked up my upper Essix retainer later that day and had my lower bonde...
by EWUgal15
Wed Oct 19, 2016 7:45 am
Forum: The Naked Tooth (Retainers and Life After Braces)
Topic: Hawley vs Essix Your preference
Replies: 19
Views: 6833

Re: Hawley vs Essix Your preference

BUT... I thought I could still use the essix. Maybe keep it on hand for an extra retainer in case the hawley is lost/broken/etc. I just tried to pop it in after having the hawley now for 5 days, and OUCHIE!!!! It barely fits, and it's pretty damn uncomfortable. I've heard each retainer may retain a...
by EWUgal15
Thu Oct 13, 2016 9:40 am
Forum: Metal Mouth Forum
Topic: Ortho for cosmetic straightening
Replies: 16
Views: 1369

Re: Ortho for cosmetic straightening

I wouldn't be concerned about the confidence thing. Most adults don't even notice that you have braces or when you get them off. And a lot of people here have said that getting braces booted their confidence because they weren't ashamed or disappointed by their teeth any more. The knowledge that the...
by EWUgal15
Thu Oct 13, 2016 9:16 am
Forum: The Naked Tooth (Retainers and Life After Braces)
Topic: Hawley Retainers
Replies: 4
Views: 2183

Re: Hawley Retainers

What's the correct way to clean Hawley retainers? I was told that toothpaste can scratch the acrylic. The tech who worked with me when I picked up my Hawley said that I could brush them gently with a soft toothbrush and toothpaste, as long as I held it by the acrylic and not the wire. She also ment...
by EWUgal15
Tue Oct 11, 2016 12:00 pm
Forum: Metal Mouth Forum
Topic: Ortho for cosmetic straightening
Replies: 16
Views: 1369

Re: Ortho for cosmetic straightening

I never thought about quick straightening because the issues I wanted fixed were not cosmetic...but I will say that if you're going to have braces, you might as well fix all of the problems instead of just the visible ones. Yes, it's a lot of money, but down the road, you'll be thankful you did it. ...
by EWUgal15
Tue Oct 11, 2016 11:55 am
Forum: The Naked Tooth (Retainers and Life After Braces)
Topic: What's the cost of your retainers?
Replies: 2
Views: 1525

Re: What's the cost of your retainers?

1. United States (Pacific Northwest) 2. Included with treatment plan 3. Permanent lower, upper Essix and lower wrap Hawley (night time only) I was warned that a replacement Hawley retainer would cost me $185. I was prescribed upper and lower Essix at first, but I started clenching at night so my low...
by EWUgal15
Tue Oct 04, 2016 3:31 pm
Forum: Metal Mouth Forum
Topic: Yellow squares?
Replies: 6
Views: 1298

Re: Yellow squares?

I agree that that's glue. If you look closely, you can see the pattern of the bonding surface of the bracket. You can also see a height difference between the surface of your tooth and the discolored spot. When you have your braces taken off, they'll sand off the rest of the glue and you'll be in gr...
by EWUgal15
Mon Oct 03, 2016 2:19 pm
Forum: Metal Mouth Forum
Topic: Anyone worried their smiles won't be what they wanted?
Replies: 9
Views: 1170

Re: Anyone worried their smiles won't be what they wanted?

I have to say, I had this concern while in braces. I will also say that I liked how my teeth looked with braces towards the end. I was not thrilled with my teeth when my braces came off. And that's not because the orthodontist didn't do a great job. My team did very well. My upper front teeth looked...
by EWUgal15
Fri Sep 30, 2016 3:53 pm
Forum: The Naked Tooth (Retainers and Life After Braces)
Topic: Does anyone have a flossable permanent retainer?
Replies: 4
Views: 2839

Re: Does anyone have a flossable permanent retainer?

It looks like there are a few different types of "flossable" retainers out there...the first one I saw with your link looked like you would still need to thread the floss under the retainer in order to floss the gum line. Since my permanent retainer is only on the lower front 6, it doesn't...
by EWUgal15
Tue Sep 27, 2016 10:24 am
Forum: Metal Mouth Forum
Topic: Can't drink without swishing
Replies: 15
Views: 3662

Re: Can't drink without swishing

I did this all the time when I had braces. If people made funny looks at me, I made funny looks back while I continued to swish...then I'd smile and show off my braces, then continue to looks for any food that might still be stuck while making eye contact with the people that stared. They got the po...
by EWUgal15
Mon Sep 26, 2016 1:32 pm
Forum: The Naked Tooth (Retainers and Life After Braces)
Topic: Hawley vs Essix Your preference
Replies: 19
Views: 6833

Re: Hawley vs Essix Your preference

Right now I have a hawley on the bottom and an essix on top. Coming up on 5-6 weeks debanded in this set up. I am not digging the essix at all. I don't like the bulky plastic covering my tooth surface preventing my lower teeth from touching the bottom teeth. I think this is making me clench, so I'v...
by EWUgal15
Mon Sep 26, 2016 10:03 am
Forum: Metal Mouth Forum
Topic: Why do people think Orthodontists are too expensive?
Replies: 7
Views: 828

Re: Why do people think Orthodontists are too expensive?

I think people look at the cost of braces and orthodontic treatment and think of ALL the other things they could do that they would enjoy more than having braces, like a trip abroad or massive shopping sprees. My monthly payment for braces was 2/3 of my monthly payment for my Camaro. I would much ra...