Braces before or after trip

[kujo]

Hi,
I was wondering what everyone's thoughts are on getting braces before a big/long trip. I will be going out of the country for 4 weeks and wondering if I should get braces 1 day before leaving or waiting until I get back? My orthodontist seems to re-assure me it will be okay to get them before going on the trip and if I did need something, there would be local dentists in the area that could help until I get back from my trip. I think I will be able to handle it. My husband was thinking I should wait in case I do have problems and I can enjoy my trip, at least I can go to my orthodontist. I am off of work for a month and my thought process was I can get used to them before having to go back to work. (Probably a bigger deal in my head than it really is) TIA.

Also wondering if you would recommend self ligating metal braces with shorter treatment time vs ceramic/clear and longer treatment time? My orthodontist is recommending the self ligating metal braces. I'm probably making a bigger deal than it is, and maybe having metal braces won't be a big deal in a couple of weeks.

[cbraces678]

Hi!

For me personally, I would wait until after the trip. Not only because if you have an issue you are out of town, but for me, braces really changed my life. There are now limitations on what you can and can't eat. Cleaning your teeth becomes a second job as well. I was also in pain for about a week after getting my braces on, so that would make the first week away less enjoyable. Other things can add to that depending on your treatment plan as well. Like if you have to get bite build ups right... that took the longest to get used to and it made eating a chore for a while. Braces really are a pain (very very worth it, but such a pain lol) so if I had a trip, I would wait and enjoy the trip and deal with the braces when I returned.

I don't have self-ligating braces, so I can't comment on that. I have regular metal.

Enjoy your trip!

[Prometheus]

For most people the first few days or weeks after getting braces is when brackets come loose, wires pop out, or the ends poke you, or all of the above. These things happened to me too, so I'd suggesting waiting until your return home.

I had self ligating brackets for three years, metal on the bottom and clear on the top. The clear ceramic ones were bulky, ~2X the size of the metal ones. I hated them as it was always hard to get my lips over them. Take a look at some photos on the board here and decide for yourself. The larger size and thicker profile may not bother you, but I never liked them. Good luck with your treatment.

[Jethro]

I wholeheartedly concur with the others about waiting until after your trip. I've never had self-ligating brackets, but claims regarding faster treatment time come largely from marketing materials not peer-reviewed studies. I did have ceramic upper brackets during my last treatment and found them bulkier than the metal. I went with all metal this round.

Hope you have a fantastic trip and please post after you're braced up.

All the Best,

Jethro

[jwbraces]

I got braces (top only) a couple days before a trip, and I was just fine. I may be on the luckier side, but I didn't really have a lot of pain or issues with getting braces. This is just anecdotal, of course, but just letting you know my experience.

[assertives]

I second the suggestions to get them after you are back. Apart from loose brackets and poking wires, braces also needs some getting used to in the beginning. Eating habits and oral hygiene/routine becomes a pain in the rear. Then there's also this issue of very painful and sore teeth as your teeth begins to move. The initial pain after getting braces lasted a week for me, so it may result in the first week or so of the holiday in pain and not being able to eat anything you want unless you are one of the lucky ones that don't get alot of pain.

Another thing that not as many people seem to talk about or experience is the mental/emotional adjustment. It was a bit of an adjustment for me in the beginning, the fear and at one point, I was actually abit depressed. So, it's not something I personally prefer to have to deal with when I'm holidaying and expecting to be enjoying myself.

[kujo]

Thanks everyone for your insight. I really appreciate the time to share your experience. I will wait until after my trip to get braces. One month will go by fast :)

[Smileop]

I got mine the first time around before going away for a few weeks and was in a similar situation. My thought process was I was nervous for how they would look and my confidence with them so to me going away with them right after I got them was a chance for me to build my confidence with them when I wasn’t around anybody I knew. Figured it would help me build myself up for when I came back to see people I know