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#1 Post by **turrrtlelove22** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:25 pm

Someone might have posted this somewhere already. But just in case not...I found this interesting...and man has technology come a long way...

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/200 ... aces_x.htm

#2 Post by **juf_84** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:43 pm

That was really interesting, turrrtlelove!

My godmother had braces in the 60s/70s and all she has to say about her ortho was that he was a 'butcher.' Sad that she had such a bad experience. Things are definitely so much better now.

I think technology has come a long way in just 10 years- so many of my friends who were braced at 12 had their braces on for 3-4 years, whereas many of us today are looking at even less than half that.

#3 Post by **turrrtlelove22** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 10:01 pm

whoa!!! a butcher huh? i would have been traumatized!!! seeing that pic....sheesh...makes me think one would be better off without them. that horror doesnt look like its worth it...lol....

i found this too...its kind of neat...but more for teens and kids with braces....

http://teenfashion.about.com/b/a/257646.htm

#4 Post by **lionfish** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 11:47 pm

I'm old enough to remember how bad it was in the olden days, as a couple of kids at school had the full banding treatment. Not only did it look awful, apparently it hurt like hell.

While I would have benefited greatly from treatment as a teen, I'm sort of glad I didn't have to experience this.

#5 Post by **iBorg** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 6:25 am

I had them the first time in the late 70's. Not a good experinece. Hurt like all get out. Screwed up my bite. The concern was make the teeth staight and let's take the money and run. My reteined never fit right. Was told my that I needed to just wear it longer even through it hurt worse than the braces.

Curious thing my parents paid $3800 in 1975. Thirty years later I'm paying $6200. Not only is the process better but the cost is less.

Ask on the board about the number of people that this is their second go round. I'll bet that ost of them had treatment prior to 1985 and have little postive to say about it. I'm sure that's one reason that I'm still nervous about this who;e process and keep on wondering what have I got myself into.

Please don't think I'm unhappy about what I'm seeing in my mouth. I'm THRILLED! I'm just waiting for the adjustments where they change the arch wire pull on a tooth and lock it into position. NOT!

I still hate my orginal orthodontist.

Mike

#6 Post by **juf_84** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 2:25 am

Meryaten, my Aunty had a similar thing in the 70s. She didn't like it at all though, she used to have to get it 'tightened' and that was a painful experience.

#7 Post by **Marzipan** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 2:30 am

Reading this and seeing some of the pictures of the old-time torture devices makes me happy that my family couldn't afford braces when I was a kid. Oy vey! And even when, over the years as an adult, I considered it on and off, apparently things still weren't great. Looks like I made the choice for braces at a really good time in terms of ease and comfort! :D

#8 Post by **smiley** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 8:46 am

I had a number of friends who had braces in the 70's. It took the better part of a day to get them on, and they really compllained a lot after adjustments. They stayed in them for three years at least too. Definitely not the "good old days". I'm really glad I didn't get them back then. Wonder if anyone does full bands now.

#9 Post by **turrrtlelove22** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 12:32 pm

Wow. this is all very interesting. i have a question tho...your teeth would be straight but wouldnt the stil have gaps from the bands? i knw my one friend had braces and she said food always gets cuaght between the teeth that had bands on them. would a retainer close them??

#10 Post by **iBorg** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 12:50 pm

The bands were tight enough that once removed the gap would be minimal. My idiot ortho (said earlier I still hate him) had me chew on and sleep in this rubber thing called a positioner to help close gaps. I'd love to say it worked. If it did I wouldn't be able to compare the differences in treatment then to now.

Mike

#11 Post by **newmetal** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 3:26 pm

That made a really good read.