Metal Mouth Message Board

In response to your questions: 1. How do I get over being self-conscious? Not to sound insensitive, but you just do. I am a jaw-surgery patient and I cried the day I got my braces. I was 29, and I work in a job where I'm constantly giving presentations to large groups of people, and I lead a staff o...

I was the same way!! I noticed it in pictures a long, long time ago and I became obsessed with trying to hide it!! I would only pose in pictures on my "good side" and I was always so self-conscious because I felt it was so obvious and that everyone could see it. After surgery, it has defin...

I am 4 months post-op and my lower lip and chin are still completely numb...at this point, I have no idea if I'll ever get it back. I'm not going to lie, it does make kissing feel very weird. I still have normal movement in my lips, but I can feel the top lip but not the bottom, so the sensation of ...

Hi, @psmoovedetroit... I was actually diagnosed with something similar last year--hemimandibular hyperplasia. I've always known there was something wrong with my jaw. I had braces in middle school, and at one time, my bite and jaws were perfect. However, one side of my jaw continued to grow after I ...

I have self-ligating brackets ("clear" on top, metal on bottom), but I agree with @sinkfullofdinner...I don't think I'd pay an extra $1,000 for them. This is my second time in braces, and I had traditional metal braces the first time around, and I don't feel as if adjustments are any less ...

I had a BSSO to rotate my lower jaw and I was VERY concerned about my chin being off-center after the procedure. The original plan was to do a BSSO and a sliding genioplasty (in my case, the movement was horizontal, not vertical like what you may need). However, two days before my actual surgery, my...

Hello, everyone! I am 30 year-old with clear self-ligating braces on top, metal self-ligating on bottom. I'm also a little over 3 months post-double jaw surgery. At my last ortho appointment, my orthodontist said as long as my elastics worked as they should (I've been wearing them diligently, as ins...

The first week or so is terrible, but it will get better. The pain will slowly go away and you'll get used to eating and brushing. The tissue on the inside of your cheeks will get used to sitting against the braces and it won't be as irritating. The day I got my braces on, I remember thinking "...

Good luck! 12 months isn't bad at all, and I swear after the first couple weeks, it will go by so quickly. I've had mine on for 8 months already, and have about 6-8 weeks left to go (and I had surgery during this time). Since my surgery, I've had to wear elastics 24/7 in various configurations, and ...

I have clear, ceramic braces and I use a metal straw (available on Amazon) to drink coffee (hot and cold). Same thing with red wine. Even with the straw, I still swish with water after finishing. My dentist told me not to brush immediately after drinking coffee, as it actually speeds up the acidic e...

I get it, adult braces suck. They are bulky, they make your teeth sore, they cut into your cheeks and lips, and they trap every possible crumb you consume. I thought I was mentally prepared for getting my braces on, but it was a STRUGGLE not to cry when the assistant handed me the mirror. I spent th...

I went to three oral surgeons. When I found my oral surgeon, I had him refer me to an orthodontist that he works with often on surgical patients. My advice: search until you find a team you trust and feel very comfortable with. I knew within minutes at my third consult that I found the right surgeon...

I had an upper jaw cant as well. When I started treatment, my surgeon and orthodontist both agreed they would try to widen my upper arch and attempt to correct the cant to avoid a Lefort. It did widen and level some, but not enough to avoid the surgery. I ultimately had a 3-piece Lefort and so glad ...

Everyone's experience is so different, but I can share with you mine. I'm 12 weeks post-op. I had a BSSO and 3-piece Lefort in January 2017. As with most jaw surgery patients, my journey started LONG before that :-) In my case, I had braces when I was younger for several years. Unfortunately, my jaw...