Metal Mouth Message Board

I got a lower bonded retainer going from canine to canine. Unfortunately, this wasn't sufficient to keep my back teeth from moving, and a gap opened up between my first and second molars about a month after my lower braces were removed. Then another gap opened. Long story short - 2.5 months after de...

Here's a picture of the new set-up. There's actually a piece cut out for the button, and the retainer sits behind the power chain on the next tooth. My mouth feels so full of STUFF, but it's a different kind of bulky feeling than the braces. It'll definitely take some time to get used to the new ret...

Hey, everyone. I had an appointment last week for the orthodontist to monitor progress on closing the post-braces gap. He was pleased with that, and I brought the new gap to his attention. He outlined a plan for how we'll close it, and today I went back to have the additional work done. He left the ...

Soooo an update - thankfully, the gap between my first and second molars has closed. These are the two bracketed teeth. HOWEVER -- the tooth that was supposed to stay put - my first molar - **didn't**, and now I have a new gap between my first molar (braced) and my bicuspid (not braced). When I flos...

I experienced the same despair. I so desperately wanted my braces off -- especially when I was a metal mouth on the dating scene! Hang in there, and I PROMISE it'll be worth it in the end!

Waterpik Waterpik Waterpik!

Thanks for the input, NN! As to whether this will be sufficient to close the stubborn gap, I'm leaning towards YES.... HOLY COW! My second molar - the one we need to move - is killing me! I made it through supper, but it's now super painful to bite down on that tooth. On the plus side -- I'm now a f...

Hey y'all! Guess who's back in braces?! Sooo I went to my dentist for my 6 month check-up last week - the first one since I had my braces taken off, and my dentist noticed a gap between my two lower back teeth (right side). Small, but big enough to cause problems on down the road. Frustrating! Closi...

I was glad to see this post. I just got my bottom braces off yesterday, and I've been tasting metal from the bonded retainer ever since. No matter where/how I rest my tongue, it's touching the metal bar now cemented in my mouth for for-eh-VER. Good to know the taste goes away at some point and that ...

Elastics suck, but hang in there! I promise it'll be worth it when you see the beautiful results made possible by the terrible elastics. I had continuous elastics for about 8 months in the triangle, class ii, and box configurations. I hated them and was embarrassed every time I had to open my mouth ...

Thanks so much, y'all, for the kind and encouraging words! Archwired is the BEST. I'm almost at a month post-removal and I'm doing my best to wear my retainer as much as possible. I've had to nix my afternoon tea-sipping, but that's a sacrifice I'm willing to make to keep my retainer in and unstaine...

I had off and on soreness throughout my treatment - even up until my top brackets came off a couple weeks ago. Even once I was in my final/finishing wire, my orthodontist made bends in the wire to move certain teeth, and I was sore after every adjustment... even a couple weeks after an adjustment, I...

I'm really concerned about my bottom teeth shifting once the braces come off. My bottom teeth relapsed bad after I had braces The first time. I'm getting a bonded retainer, too, and I told the assistant to tell the orthodontist that I would like an Essix retainer as well.

Thanks, y'all! I had a wonderful orthodontist - a fellow Bulldawg! - and I wore my elastics like it was my J-O-B. And I wasn't afraid to speak up for myself and express my concerns along the way. I think these things were really important. Can't wait to celebrate y'all when YOUR big day comes around!

They're off, y'all! Well, the top brackets, at least. The orthodontist wants to keep the bottoms braces on for at least another 6 weeks to let some gaps close. I'm perfectly fine with that, because you really can't see them. I'm SO pleased with the results. All the awkwardness, annoyance, and inconv...