Search found 21 matches

by gorillatoad
Sat Feb 29, 2020 2:47 pm
Forum: Metal Mouth Forum
Topic: The truth about extractions. Share your Good and Bad stories? [with pictures]
Replies: 27
Views: 8223

Re: The truth about extractions. Share your Good and Bad stories? [with pictures]

see this article: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1O0_EIJ58Fne6OOHFxDlMaGLiBZtbe7Yx/view This article's author is has no medical degree whatsoever, let alone one related to teeth. While the journal states that it is peer reviewed, note how the publisher's disclaimer states that they disassociate fr...
by gorillatoad
Fri Dec 06, 2019 12:08 am
Forum: Our Braces Stories
Topic: Been a long time coming... (38/M)
Replies: 11
Views: 20444

Re: Been a long time coming... (38/M)

Hey hey hey. A week late and no pics (maybe I'll add some later), but the last adjustment was big. The expander is gone! Long live the expander! It was replaced with a TPA to hold the expansion gap. While I have more room in the palate of my mouth now, I dunno, the TPA is almost more annoying. It ta...
by gorillatoad
Thu Oct 31, 2019 7:42 pm
Forum: Our Braces Stories
Topic: Been a long time coming... (38/M)
Replies: 11
Views: 20444

Re: Been a long time coming... (38/M)

After about 2 weeks with the expander my speech was hardly affected. If I'm not mindful of tongue position sometimes the "ee" sound comes out as "eh", but besides that it's all fine (despite a big chunk of metal in the roof of my mouth). 4th adjustment! Posting a week and a half ...
by gorillatoad
Mon Aug 26, 2019 9:14 pm
Forum: Our Braces Stories
Topic: Been a long time coming... (38/M)
Replies: 11
Views: 20444

Re: Been a long time coming... (38/M)

3rd adjustment! - 1 size thicker NiTi wire on top. - A steel wire on bottom, not sure of thickness but it looks about the same as the previous NiTi wire there. "Outward bending" to start widening up the bottom arch. - First elastics, triangle formation, to start closing the open bite. Very...
by gorillatoad
Sun Aug 11, 2019 10:48 am
Forum: Metal Mouth Forum
Topic: Advice needed (Rapid Palate Expander)
Replies: 2
Views: 4909

Re: Advice needed (Rapid Palate Expander)

Is turning the screw while the appliance is in your mouth not an option? The few models I have seen in person, you're still able to (and expected to) turn the screw while the thing is in your mouth.
by gorillatoad
Mon Jul 15, 2019 8:37 pm
Forum: Our Braces Stories
Topic: Been a long time coming... (38/M)
Replies: 11
Views: 20444

Re: Been a long time coming... (38/M)

2nd adjustment! We went with red/orange alternating bands this time at the request of a student of mine. I wanna say it's a .016 wire on the top and a .014 on the bottom now? I think they were both .012s to start. I'm also told the bottom wire is actually meant for the top, but it's there to try to ...
by gorillatoad
Sat Jul 13, 2019 12:38 pm
Forum: Metal Mouth Forum
Topic: Is this the most popular forum for braces?
Replies: 1
Views: 4698

Re: Is this the most popular forum for braces?

No really a forum per se, but there's a lot of activity on Reddit on a few various subreddits. r/braces is the most popular I think. There is however a ton of repetitive content (and angsty teens).
by gorillatoad
Fri Jul 05, 2019 11:49 am
Forum: Metal Mouth Forum
Topic: Are they overcorrecting my underbite?
Replies: 5
Views: 6024

Re: Are they overcorrecting my underbite?

I'm told that intentional overcorrection is very common with overjet/underbite, as orthos expect less than 100% of the correction of jaw position to last long term. There's probably nothing to worry about!
by gorillatoad
Thu Jul 04, 2019 11:29 am
Forum: The Bracket Club
Topic: How do braces affect speech?
Replies: 4
Views: 24064

Re: How do braces affect speech?

Certain sounds will lisp a bit, but it'll clear up in a couple of weeks as your mouth adapts. I'm a teacher as well... don't worry, you'll be fine!
by gorillatoad
Fri Jun 14, 2019 8:44 am
Forum: Metal Mouth Forum
Topic: Seeing a different orthodontist while away from home?
Replies: 4
Views: 5724

Re: Seeing a different orthodontist while away from home?

Your orthodontist is right, it'll be very hard to find another orthodontist willing to take on someone else's patient. Too much liability, also, risk of screwing up your treatment. Even though it sounds like a bummer answer, I'd recommend just toughing it out and missing 3 months worth of appointmen...
by gorillatoad
Thu May 30, 2019 8:33 pm
Forum: Our Braces Stories
Topic: Been a long time coming... (38/M)
Replies: 11
Views: 20444

Re: Been a long time coming... (38/M)

1st adjustment! *Ben Kenobi voice* The mouth is more machine now than man... - Palate expander and molar bands glued in place. - Bite blocker (the blue stuff) added to prevent the biting of brackets. - Wires changed, but same sizes as previous. Welp. This is a feeling. Talking and eating have just b...
by gorillatoad
Tue May 21, 2019 4:30 pm
Forum: Metal Mouth Forum
Topic: No Wire Change?
Replies: 4
Views: 5206

Re: No Wire Change?

I'm no professional, but two things were explained to me. First, there's no harm in keeping the same wire for more than one adjustment if that wire still has work to do. Sometimes just more time is needed. Second, ligatures (the tiny bracket rubber bands, assuming you don't have self-litigating) are...
by gorillatoad
Sat May 18, 2019 8:44 pm
Forum: The Bracket Club
Topic: Excited and terrified
Replies: 3
Views: 7586

Re: Excited and terrified

Welcome! Don't worry about people asking... They really don't. Most people don't even seem to notice, or at least don't show much or any interest. I'm just 1 month in to treatment myself, and my short list of people who have said anything is just a few coworkers, all of whom were excited for me and ...
by gorillatoad
Mon May 13, 2019 10:19 pm
Forum: Metal Mouth Forum
Topic: Very new, very scared!
Replies: 6
Views: 5345

Re: Very new, very scared!

Good news, friend! Starting is the hardest part and you're doing it already.

Of all the things people post as negatives, the great majority if it ain't no big deal. The biggest part - in my opinion - is the waiting. The better you can get at the time aspect, the better it will be overall.
by gorillatoad
Sat May 11, 2019 9:30 am
Forum: Metal Mouth Forum
Topic: Gum swelling after adjustment
Replies: 5
Views: 4460

Re: Gum swelling after adjustment

My orthodontist said an interesting thing about inflammation the last time that I saw her. She said feel free to take anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofin, but be aware that they might slow down progress if relied upon too heavily. Apparently swelling is just part of the process and interfering wi...