Metal Mouth Message Board

A couple of months ago, I was standing outside my office building (I work in D.C.) and I was approached by a homeless man who just started talking to me. He was acting really random and clearly off his meds, but I wasn't in any danger so I humored him. We chatted for a few minutes and then he said &...

Hi Erinmr, I wore two different appliances over a two year period (first a pendulum, which moves the molars back, followed by a nance). I had the nance removed in May and let me assure you that it definitely works! My ortho is now putting these loops in my archwire to close the gaps created by the a...

I use a flouride rinse given to me by my dentist. He recommended using it almost daily because there's something about braces that causes cavities. I think any mouthwash used should absolutely contain flouride. Also, I was warned against using any type of whitening toothpaste or mouthwash. Obviously...

Amen, Danielle! If my ortho's treatment timeline is correct, I should be done in 7 months. I started in February 2006 but only been in bottom braces since April 07 and upper braces since September 2007. I was given an 18 month sentence, which should wrap up this journey at the beginning of 2009. All...

I need to complain!! I've had braces now for almost a year and I am sick and tired of them. Don't get me wrong, everything is progressing nicely but I am just SO OVER it. I know I'll be thrilled with my smile when this is done, and I know that I'm doing something for my self-esteem and any discomfor...

gguguseli, how are you adjusting to the appliance?

I wore a pendulum for a year and a half. It took me a while to get used to it and the rings on the appliance pressed indentations on my tongue which was very painful. Here is my first post with pics http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=13279&highlight= I remember taking a few months t...

I have something very similar, only instead of having a little circle, mine is shaped like an upside down V. I was told it was to close a gap. I've had it for about 2 weeks now and it's definitely working.

Hi edster, Most of my treatment over the past 2 years has been the creation and then closing of gaps. For me, closing gaps has meant powerchains - and lots of them. Yes, they're painful and yes, food will get lodged between your teeth and the chain, but the good news is that the discomfort only last...

Hi Silly123, I've been in treatment for 2 years now, and it's been my experience that the doc will come over and review the technician's work. When my brackets were put on, the tech did everything. I'm paying less than I expected to pay for my orthodontia but I think it all depends on the duration a...

I wore a pendulum appliance for 18 months prior to getting braces. I was told that it would push my molars back to make room to correct my overbite. I didn't want extractions so this was my alternative. Here's the post with the pics - just scroll down a little. http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewto...

I've had my braces for about 6 months now, and have always had a round wire. I was told at my last adjustment that nex time I'd be getting a square wire and elastics to pull in my front 4 teeth to correct my overbite. I was always under the impression that the square wire and elastics are toward the...

My pendulum is gone! I go back on 9/14 for my top braces and a nance. I'm hoping it's not as cumbersome as the pendulum was. If anyone has experience with both appliances, I'd love some feedback. I have to take some new pictures, as this one is a year old but this is what my pendulum looked like. Sc...

Female, 30 (31 on 7/21) in the Washington, DC suburbs. Pendulum appliance since February 2006, bottom braces on 4/13, top braces on July 19th. Full metal. This is my first time in braces and I have an 18 month sentence.

Hi everyone, I haven't posted in a while. I had my first adjustment yesterday and boy do my teeth hurt today! I developed a space between my bottom front teeth and now I have the looped ligs across the middle. What are those called? Not powerchains but something else - I'm drawing a blank. Anyway, h...