Am I Stressing Over Nothing? D-Day 1-6-11

[trampswife]

Don't worry about it either way. Somewhere on this board is a topic with foods that stain ligs the worst. I think curry was top of the list. Anyhow, in that topic was a little bit about what does and doesn't stain ceramic. I would search that out and see if those are food you eat/drink a lot. Curry, coffee, red wine, colas were on the lig staining list. My teller says that spaghetti sauce does, too. I don't eat curry but maybe once every 4-5 months and I can happily avoid tomato sauces. The rest I never drink, so I don't worry about it.

You may want do a search for it and see what others say have stained or discoloured their ligs and brackets. Maybe it will help in your decision making.

Luck!!

[sadpanda]

Hi -

I have another question that you might have already answered. Do you really think you will be in braces for longer than 2 years? It doesn't seem like it should take that long. I'm sure you've read some incredible stories of people on here who had really, really severe problems and were out of braces in the average 18-24 months. I know everyone's different. Some people with seemingly perfect teeth wear braces for 3 years or more. I was just wondering if 2 years + is your estimate or the ortho's and what you personally think will be the time even though you can't know for sure. I also heard that Damons tend to work faster than other braces, but I don't have them, so I don't really know. When you get your braces, keep us updated on how everything's going.

[kgstar]

Hi -

I have another question that you might have already answered. Do you really think you will be in braces for longer than 2 years? It doesn't seem like it should take that long. I'm sure you've read some incredible stories of people on here who had really, really severe problems and were out of braces in the average 18-24 months. I know everyone's different. Some people with seemingly perfect teeth wear braces for 3 years or more. I was just wondering if 2 years + is your estimate or the ortho's and what you personally think will be the time even though you can't know for sure. I also heard that Damons tend to work faster than other braces, but I don't have them, so I don't really know. When you get your braces, keep us updated on how everything's going.

sorry about the confusion, I have been given the average sentence 18-24 months. If I get ceramics they will only be on the uppers which dont need that much adjustment so having ceramics wont extend my time and my lowers which need the most adjustment will have Damons.

[HeyBuckey!]

Hello kgstar!

First I'd like to thank you about stopping by my thread. Second, I say go for the damon's. I personally was not able to get ceramics because it wasn't up for discussion with my first Ortho. However I'm also quite pleased with the metal braces I have because I figure if I'm gonna have them, I might as well show them off! Not to mention the benefits of being able to eat/drink staining things and what not has been an even BIGGER benefit. Helllllllloooooo tea! What you can also do is get a sheet of paper and write out all of the pros and cons of metal and ceramic brackets. Check to see which one has cons that you wouldn't be willing to deal with on a daily basis for two years and hopefully that'll give you an answer before the big day! I hope this helps!

Best Wishes!

[hj55]

Hello

To clarify some things, the tooth I am missing is a lower molar which has caused my bottom teeth to shift and one has even laid down into the gap since nothing is holding it up and the top molar to fall down into the whole that is there.

That sounds very similar to one of the problems I had. My LR5 was extracted when I was a teenager and when my wisdom tooth came in it pushed my LR6 over - pre braces it tilted sideways at 45 degrees. The tooth above the tilted tooth began to drop because it did not have anything to rest on. Now following braces my molar is completely upright and the tooth which I thought looked as though it was about to fall out, is greatly improved.

I had clear brackets on the front upper 6, yes there was some staining of the 'o' rings but as my appointments were every 6 weeks it was usually only more noticeable for the last week and then I'd have a curry anyway! Then I would be good for another few weeks! To be honest nobody ever seemed to notice.

I did have a few 'what are you doing that for' comments because my teeth looked OK but my bite was not good but now I'd say it was the best thing I've ever done for myself. The waiting time is the hardest - I crossed every day off on my calendar for about 10 weeks! Once I had the braces time simply flew by. My main tip would be make sure you use wax, it really does help if you have sore spots.

(I was 53 when I got my braces & had them for 20 months, the estimate was 18-24 months - free since July 2010!)

Good luck

[50+]

Hi kgstar, Thanks for your interest in my blog. I wrote it mainly to keep a log of my experience so I can look back and see the whole process from start to finish. I'm glad it has been of use to others. Mine sounds like a similar case to yours in that we have braces to correct gaps where teeth used to be. I had 3 gaps (2 top molars and 1 bottom). So glad you're good with your decision to get all metal. At the beginning, I was ok with having all metal, then my husband said no that I should get ceramic. I'm glad I did because they are not as noticeable. Losing weight was the best thing for me - I've lost 10 lbs. I've even enjoyed eating most anything I wanted over the holidays. The things I miss most are nuts and popcorn. You'll be fine. Try not to stress too much because you know that it will be over in no time! That's what I keep telling myself...I'm 10 months in and have 21 to go!! At my last adjustment, my ortho said I'm making good progress and am going every 3 weeks now because he wants the power chains to do their work. It's amazing that even the 1st day after the an adjustment I feel a difference in my bite. I can feel a difference immediately! My gaps are closing nicely. Don't know if your ortho will want you to get TADs. These are helping the gaps close faster. It was an additional expense, but this ortho was the only one that I went to for a consult that gave me the option of TADs and not need bridge work. The others said that I'd need bridge work whether I had braces or not...so this one got the job and I'm pleased with him. I am his "special" case and he takes time with me at each visit even though his techs do all the work! I don't have photos because I'm a bit technologically challenged. Looking forward to reading about your experience! Happy New Year!

[MarciLouWho]

KgStar - please don't stress. I'm here to tell you that it's not that bad. Call me weirdo, but I don't mind wearing my metal braces already! I had a moment today before I went to get braced where I thought, "Ohmigosh, people are going to stare at my mouth!" But really, the reality is that it's just a fleeting moment in their day. If anything, it's a conversation piece. Wear your braces with pride - you are taking steps to make your teeth and mouth healthier!

Day one of brace face makes me all-knowing, right? NOT. Heh.

I am a little ouchie because I have a tooth (#4) that is rotated and they've already added a power chain to help turn that tooth around and it just so happens, that's one of the tightest teeth in my mouth - that's where they put the metal spacer in - so it's a little tender. Nothing that I won't tame with Motrin, though.

You'll be FINE! Relax and enjoy and remember to have fun with it!

xoxo
M