Oldfart Orthodontic Diary

[oldfart]

You just can't see the boatload of fillings in those front four. Two of them are almost 1/3 nothing but fillings. My dentist does great cosmetic work with his fillings.

39 hours to go...

My 11 yr old is really depressed about getting braces.. Hoping getting mine on will somehow help him.

[Tobilei]

I agree, they look nice

I have bad discolouration on a back tooth too. It's mostly filled, but this discolouration is a different issue. I wanted it taken out but I don't have enough teeth as is so it had to stay

[junglejulie]

The big day is tomorrow **drumroll**

[EbonyQ]

Good luck tomorrow!!!

[oldfart]

Looking around as I go to store. Thinking I am going to be the only guy in their 40s with braces in the whole world.

of

20 hours..

[Kipepeo]

Sometimes it just feels better to be different!

[Tobilei]

You're probably in bed right now so best of luck for your appointment when you get up!

[oldfart]

West Coast USA. So not even close. Just in the mental doldrums. Expecting them to say the molar I need to move needs filled.. or too many fillings in the bottom.. or they need to do something else before braces can go on.. etc.

I am going look like such a dork, and how all my friends are going to wonder, why the heck am I doing this again, when it was just 12 years ago.

I have meetings this week and am sure I'll be lisping.. (the good news is that they are online meetings so can blame the connection.)

12 hours to go...

[Tobilei]

Oh, my calculations were way off! Yeah, I felt pretty depressed about mine when I first got them on. For about 3 or 4 weeks. I'm more used to them now and I don't really care anymore what people think (that being said, I'm in the clear one's so I know most people don't even notice). As my teeth start looking better I smile more though.

Probably tough when the front already looks good. It will be worth it in the end though. 40 is still young enough to enjoy good teeth for a LONG time to come!! (It better be, it's on my horizon in the not too distant future).

[oldfart]

At the office after four hours sleep, with my two kids. Let the fun begin.

[oldfart]

Remember me? I'm back!!!

I am that molar band whose headgeartube annoyed the heck out of your cheek 12 years ago. Well I'm back for another few years. I am sure we will get to know each other real well.

---
Okay back to reality. Happy with the results.

Full metal braces top and bottom, no issues with either of the areas that I was concerned with. Ivory (kinda a tooth color that isn't supposed to stain) on top, and dark blue on the bottom. Will try to post pictures tonight. Only four of the seven molar bands are on as the others were too tight. Those will be coming later.

Two hours past banding and just the normal tightness/annoying feelings. The one odd thing. I was biting into two brackets so they put a little bumper on them so my teeth would hit them. Just means almost no teeth come together when I bite now. Shouldn't be a big deal, as they come pretty close. But about to find out. Going to go grab a hamburger and eat before the soreness sets in.

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[junglejulie]

Remember me? I'm back!!!

I am that molar band whose headgeartube annoyed the heck out of your cheek 12 years ago. Well I'm back for another few years. I am sure we will get to know each other real well.

---
Okay back to reality. Happy with the results.

Full metal braces top and bottom, no issues with either of the areas that I was concerned with. Ivory (kinda a tooth color that isn't supposed to stain) on top, and dark blue on the bottom. Will try to post pictures tonight. Only four of the seven molar bands are on as the others were too tight. Those will be coming later.

Two hours past banding and just the normal tightness/annoying feelings. The one odd thing. I was biting into two brackets so they put a little bumper on them so my teeth would hit them. Just means almost no teeth come together when I bite now. Shouldn't be a big deal, as they come pretty close. But about to find out. Going to go grab a hamburger and eat before the soreness sets in.

of

I guess I am a big baby, because I couldn't even bite into a pita let alone a burger! Glad everything went well for you

[Tobilei]

Glad they're finally on and the process can begin! Sorry to hear about the molar bands rubbing I don't have bands, just brackets, but they do plenty of their own rubbing when they want to.

Enjoy the hamburger! I remember eating lunch my first day thinking it was all going to be fine.




I changed my mind by dinner.

[Dee17]

Hi Oldfart,
Just wanted to check in with you to see how you're doing. Try not to be too depressed. I felt really depressed when I first got my braces on. There is only one person I know who is even close to my age who wear braces (I'm 54). I don't have any molar bands and don't know if I'm going to be getting them. I still don't have any brackets on any of my molars but I'm not complaining about that. I hope you're not having too many issues. Keep your chin up. When you're feeling bad about everything, try to remember why you decided to do this (again!) in the first place! Can't wait to see some photos!!
And, just for the record, I think your teeth look pretty good as is.

[oldfart]

Actually very happy with how things came out.

On a scale of 1-10.

Pain/Soreness: 2 Ate a soft burrito for dinner. Chewing is a little tough without many teeth that meet but not too bad. I can feel it coming on though.

Mental Status: 7. Happy the way they look but went to a cub scout meeting and didn't smile, and hardly talked. Actually make that a 5. At dinner my son kept talking about my braces more than his. I was like. Shut the EFF up, worry about your own GD braces. (didnt say that, buts it what i was thinking.). I am sure that broke a board rule, and I apologize. Trying to give honest opinions here. I won't lower it below a five as I give myself extra credit. Was given the option of top now, bottom later, and went the full meal deal.

Molar Band Annoyance:8 I only have three 1st Molars and they are all banded, with the one second molar being moved also banded. The other three second molars will be banded later. The top bands also have a small button on the inside (for future elastic usage I am sure.)

Color: Officially it is Ivory on top. I know real masculine. But is tooth colored and supposed to not stain. Will have to compare the color now with the color before my next treatement. On bottom is dark blue.

Bumpers: I was hitting two brackets, so they put a bumper on it. They basically put a ligature with a little rubber topping to it to protect the bracket. Just makes my already open bite, a little more open. Already have bit my cheek on this area four times.

Cheeks: Upper lip is already getting sore. I have a inch long scar on the inside. (Got hit by a volleyball last time and it split the inside wide open. That was fun). And it rubs right across the bracket.

Smile: 8 I really like the smile with them. The red/blue dots are from the manufacturer and will disappear. Bummer, I like them. I do have to work on some non saliva photos. I apologize for that.

Plan: The plan is finish straightening the top teeth to get to a square wire. This should only take 4-5 months. Then they will add a TAD on the outside edge of the top jaw, and attach a small bar from it to the wire (or teeth). They they will start the pressure on the Molar that needs to move both on that side, and also from the button on the molar band to one they will add to the premolars. Everything else they will cleanup also. But thats the big thing.