Getting upper braces?!

[28monthjourney]

I've been so busy I've nearly forgotten about this forum! I'm getting my tops in about 10 hours, and I've had my lowers since January. I'm not sure how different it will be from the bottoms, and for some reason I feel like it might hurt more? I'm having a "soft foods picnic" with my friend after, so I'm not worried about that, but how different does having a full set of braces feel as opposed to just 1/2?

[djspeece]

I don't think the upper jaw is inherently more sensitive than the lower, and it would depend on a large extent to the wire and any other "accessories" such as elastics and powerchains. Since you have experience with lowers I think psychologically you are ahead of the game with any discomfort. Best of luck to you.

[TMJJill]

I got my lowers 11 months after my uppers. Personally, I found the second set easier in general.

Of course, for me it meant the increase in the number of elastics I had to wear. That is a whole 'nother journey.

Good luck.

[28monthjourney]

Thanks for helping! I got them on yesterday, but I was so busy I couldn't get on here! I took a few pictures on my phone, so the quality is pretty bad, but I think you get the point. I'm a full braceface now! Now let's see how long it takes to get rid of my overbite and open bite!

[jleanne]

How come you had your lowers first? I just got lowers yesterday with a top retainer. The retainer is making me crazy!

[28monthjourney]

I got lowers first because I have one tooth on the bottom that's pushed in toward my tongue (which stopped both my 12 year molars from fully coming in and my wisdom teeth) and my teeth need to get used to the braces so we can put a coil on! Why do you have to have a retainer? (Also, I'm from the Bay Area, too!)

[jleanne]

I have the retainer for two reasons, one my overbite is so bad that my top teeth would just knock the bottom brackets off, and the retainer is a little thicker than normal so that my top teeth don't touch the bottom. The second reason, I clench really bad, so the retainer doubles as a day/night guard. I'm a little worried about when the top braces go on and I don't have the guard on anymore because I'll probably continue to clench.

Cool! I'm in the East Bay.

[28monthjourney]

Yeah, I've noticed that I've started to clench my teeth in my sleep. You can ask your orthodontist if you can have a new guard made around your braces. I put a washcloth soaked in hot (but not hot enough to burn) water on my cheek last night to relax the muscles and that seemed to work well enough, but I don't think that it's what your dentist would recommend.

[jleanne]

Good idea about asking my Ortho about a new guard once my uppers go on. I'm more concerned about sleeping, I clenched so hard before getting braces, that I would wake up daily with headaches. I know my final retainers, one of them will double as a guard!

[28monthjourney]

The problem with guards and braces would be that they have to fit pretty loosely because your teeth are moving and will change, but it's always worth a shot! Warm showers and/or baths before bed should relax your muscles for a few hours, that way your teeth and head won't hurt quite as bad when you wake up