Metal Mouth Message Board

I thought I'd introduce myself, as I've been reading a lot about other people's experiences over the past few months. I'm 23, from the UK and about to get braces for the first time.

I've never been a fan of going to the dentist, but around 6 months ago started having severe tooth ache. I ended up having to go to the dentist and had to get a root canal done, which was not pleasant at all! After an hour of drilling in the chair, he also told me that since my wisdom teeth have started coming in, they have moved a lot of my other teeth, and I'm now suffering from overcrowding. So he referred me to an orthodontist.

Since this day I've been in the chair more times than you could imagine and have had a lot of work to get to the stage I'm at just now.

From my first appointment my orthodontist told me that I should get braces or the problem would get worse. I'd never thought of getting braces before, especially since I've just turned 23. However, I opted to do it to save myself any further problems in the future.

Since my first appointment I've already been unlucky enough to have two of my top and two of my bottom teeth taken out in preparation for getting braces.

The big day is next Monday, where I will be getting metal braces put on my top and bottom teeth. My orthodontist has said I am likely to have braces for about 2 and a half to 3 years, and may need more teeth taken out depending on how they move.

I was at the orthodontist last week, where I got impressions done, X-rays taken and got spacers put in, which have been very sore and irritating since! Who thought something so small could cause so much pain?!

The next step is on Monday where I'll go back to the orthodontist to get my top and bottom braces put on - then that'll be me for a number of years! To say I'm nervous is an understatement, but I'm hoping that the end results will be worth going through it all. I'm hoping I can finish my treatment a little earlier than expected and without having to loosing anymore teeth!

I hope today goes well.

Make sure you take pictures-there will probably be times when you get fed up with your braces and having pictures showing the progress you have made will help.

Jem

Good luck with them!! How long are you expecting to have them on for?

[quote="jem"]I hope today goes well.

Make sure you take pictures-there will probably be times when you get fed up with your braces and having pictures showing the progress you have made will help.

Jem[/quote]

Thank you Jem! I'll make sure I do that! Hopefully that'll help get me through it!

Grace

[quote="ouisel"]Good luck with them!! How long are you expecting to have them on for?[/quote]

Thank you very much! my orthodontist has said I'm looking at about 2 and a half to 3 years. I'm really hoping for them to come off sooner though, all going well!

Grace

So today was the big day for me! I finally got my top and bottom braces put on this morning.
My appointment was at 10:30 and after arriving early and waiting around 15 minutes I was taken into the room, sat in the chair and given a bib and pair of glasses. After getting my teeth cleaned - which took a while, I got a plastic thing to hold my mouth open, and my braces were put on. My appointment lasted around an hour and a half in total, which included getting moulds taken after my braces were put on and a bit of waiting about. I was probably only in the chair for a little over 45 minutes or so. I have my next appointment scheduled for the end of August, so hopefully my first month in braces goes well. I have to say getting my braces put on didn't hurt at all, and baring in mind that I'm such a dental phob that surprised me. I was so nervius before I went in, and it honesty couldn't have gone any better. It was also such a relief to get my spacers out as they had been killing me last week! All going well on my braces journey so far and fingers crossed it stays like that.

So I'm almost through my first week of being in braces. To be honest, it hasn't been too bad at all - I was expecting a lot worse!
There was a little pain for the first few days, but that's stopped now. It's still taking me a while to get used to speaking, smiling and eating with them and I'm still feeling pretty self-conscious about having them in though. I'm hoping this passes, as I get used to them - I'm currently wishing I'd opted for ceramic brackets as they'd be a little less obvious.

I've still got a few weeks to go before my first trip back to the orthodontist to get wires changed, so more time to get used to them for me!

Did your orthodontist explain the purpose of taking moulds after you had your braces put on? Usually they take moulds before your brace fitting appointment.

How's your braces going so far? It appears we are in similar situations except you started months before me. I'm 23, I have braces and I also got four teeth extracted. I need a root canal but I had to wait for my insurance to renew so I'll be getting it in January. Are you seeing in progress now? At what point were you able to eat real food again?

[quote="littleb3ar"]How's your braces going so far? It appears we are in similar situations except you started months before me. I'm 23, I have braces and I also got four teeth extracted. I need a root canal but I had to wait for my insurance to renew so I'll be getting it in January. Are you seeing in progress now? At what point were you able to eat real food again?[/quote]

Hi littleb3ar,

My braces are going great thank you! Almost 6 months with them on now, and the time has flown by!! And yes the difference I've noticed has been unbelievable. I noticed a massive difference after the first tightening and every time I go back to the orthodontist I notice how much better they're looking. Luckily there is enough space now too, so no need for any more extractions.
How long have you had your braces on for? Have you started to notice a difference? How long do you have yours on for?
I started eating normal food pretty quickly as I love my foot and no amount of dribbling would stop me. But I found I got used to them fairly quickly. Have yours improved yet?

It's nice to meet someone at the same age and sharing the same experience!
I also hope your root canal goes well!!

Grace

A year and a half into my braces journey now. Amazed at how straight they seem already and how much movement I’ve had. Still only about half way through treatment as my orthodontist says my teeth are moving slowly but I’m very used to the braces now and very used to my appointments almost every month.

Grace