If you want to share the detailed saga of your braces story, this is the place to do it. You can use this forum as a braces journal, editing and updating your posts as your treatment goes on. Remember to also visit the main ArchWired.com site for additional stories from other readers!
ATTENTION NEW MEMBERS: Do not post full-face photos or personal contact information on this website. We have had problems with people re-posting members' photos on fetish websites. Please only post photos of your teeth, not your whole face. Keep your email and your personal information private. Thank you.
Hi everybody. I'm 24 years old and today is Day 1 in braces. After lurking (ha becoming inspired by your stories of course) I’ve decided to post my story.
Since I was 12 I've wanted braces. As a teen, I begged my parents to take me to the ortho, but we were dirt poor. Seriously, my siblings and I played with pinecones instead of toys. Sucks for me. Growing up as a teen means going through an awkward phase filled with natural insecurities, but add some vampire teeth on top of that and you have godzilla sized insecurities.
Still, I did my best with the hand I was dealt. I overcompensated for my bad teeth by working on the rest of me: I sharpened my wit, became a fierce fashionista, and always held my head up high. People noticed me, for more than my teeth—it also didn't hurt that I inherited fabulous eyes and cheekbones from mom. So simply by faking the confidence and ignoring my teeth, I got by.
But deep down, my jagged smile always bothered me. Though I laughed heartily at others jokes, but there was always a nanosecond of hesitation when the fear of judgment flashed across my mind. Smiling is an essential aspect of non verbal communications, being uncomfortable with this means being unable to connect to others. My mouth holds me back, and I hate this.
So at 24, I finally decided to be a brace face. I still can’t afford it (with paying off school loans too) but I’m financing it because it needs to get done.
I went to three different consultations. I asked each ortho how difficult my case would be, and they said on a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being the most difficult case) I was an 8. They each had radically different suggestions for how to give me a beautiful smile.
Doc 1: 10 to12 months – no extractions – $6,000 – nice guy
Doc 2: 18 to 24 months – 3 extractions – $7,200 – nicer guy
Doc 3: 24 to 30 months – no extractions – $8,000 – nicest guy
(I wonder if I decided to go to a 4th consultation, how nicely expensive the doc would have been...)
I decided to go with Doc number 1. Cost and time were the best option for me. He specializes in six month braces/speed braces. The fact that my case is double his usual treatment time is surely a testament to how bad my teeth are. Here’s whats wrong.
Crossbite on upper left
Crowding on bottom front incisors
Severe crowding in top front teeth: Canine is above gumline and also in front of another tooth that is rotated behind. Two front teeth slightly overlap.
Right Midline Deviation
Lots of stuff wrong, but at least my molar relations were okay.
So fast forward a couple of weeks and now I just got the braces put on. I was at Dr. Georges for 2 ½ hours. I zoned out most of the time to the coral reef documentary playing on the overhead TV. So I don’t remember what happened, but now I have the whole enchilada in my mouth: some sanding work was done, I have power chains, a coil spring, buttons, a rubber band, bumpers, etc. (These things sound like items that belong under the hood of a car by the way.) Here are some photos.
Day 1 Photos: Do you Like my beauty mark btw?
Front
Theres supposed to be a rubberband thingy too, but I forgot to put it back after I ate.
Putting braces on wasn't as horrible as I imagined. But boy do they hurt now. I ache too much to write more, but I will continue this story soon. I have to go slobber down my soup and take some advil now.[quote][/quote]
Last edited by young67 on Mon May 05, 2008 4:31 pm, edited 11 times in total.
Most def, those tiny brackets feel like HUGE pebbles in your mouth. Remember to keep hydrated, use wax at the first signs of chafing, and plain chapstick or vaseline works wonders over your lips! Your lips will be very attracted to the little hooks of your brackets, the chapstick will help your lips glide over them without pulling.
Upper and lower 1st premolars extracted
Uppers braced 4/6/07 & Lowers braced 4/20/07
ceramic brackets and rectangular arch wires
Est. term: 30-36 months
De-banded: 3/04/09 w/ LBR and U&L Essix
Thanks for the tips. The chapstick is not leaving my hand. MY lips are very very attracted to my teeth brackets (more like inseparable lovers actually) Things are especially painful when the bracket on my 'above the gumline' canine gets caught on the inside of my upper lip. I hope wax here will ease the friction.
I have a feeling Wax and I will be best buddies.
Hi, I feel all of your pain. I have been in braces for a week now. It has gotten better. I have a canine issue too. I will be getting springs on my next adjustment in April.
I am staying waxed, I eat and sleep w/ it on
Our stories are a little similar - I'm 24 too and always had that slight hesitation before smiling.
Yes - you did eat wax!! Hehe - you'll find it won't stay on your teeth at all. I used to take it out before eating.
And don't worry - you'll be used to your braces in no time! The wax won't be so necessary in about 3-4 days and within a week it'll be like you'd always had braces
Soon you'll be experiencing the exhilarating feeling of actually noticing your teeth have moved! I'm sure you've read it all over this board but its such a trip out to finally have it happen to you.
hey, young67 your teeth look just like mine did, before i got retainers, about 13 years ago, and before i did the stupidity of having my dentist take the Dracula-like right upper canine out. i'm gonna be braced in a month or so, and reading stuff on this forum has helped a lot, with the tips and everything, you're in the right place. uh, and, might i add... you're sooooo pretty!
Braces feel so foreign in my mouth. Those wires are strong and I’m feeling constant pressure. I’m the kind of person that usually takes a natural approach to dealing with a headache. However with these braces, I’ve been loving the pain meds lately. Ibuprofen = heaven.
On top of the pressure, I’m starting to feel sores in my mouth from the brackets rubbing. At least the wax helps a lot. I haven’t tried a salt rinse yet, but I just might soon. Also my ortho put some kind of cement bumper (not really sure what it is really called) on my back molars so I can’t bite down fully. This is my least favorite part because it prevents my molars from fitting into the grooves that they are used to.
Oh well. I’m sure this torture will all be worth it in the end. At least I know the pain means gain, literally. And I'm one day closer to a beautiful smile. Thanks for all the kind words of support everybody!:D
I’m glad I’m an adult with braces. If I were any younger I don’t know if I could handle it. For a moment today I fantasized about prying them off with my fork… but just for a moment.
My 3 year old cousin has braces. She was born with a cleft palette and needs them to correct her jaw. She’ll have braces a couple more times in her life too. I don’t know how she does it. Gosh, I’m 24 and I’m a bigger baby than her.
Note to self: toughen up.
I used wax faithfully on one bracket for a week (this is my first day without it) and I think I only ate it once! All the other times it stayed put when I ate. My routine - I put a piece on in the morning after brushing, removed it at night to brush, and then put another piece on. That's it!
Trust me - the salt water rinses are GREAT! I strongly suggest them. For some reason, even after all the reading I did here, I didn't start them on day one and wish I would have. Day one I was fine. Day two I started getting sore and by day three I was really hurting. So day three I started salt water rinses 4 to 5 times a day and I was feeling pretty good by day five!
I also took ibuprofen faithfully the first 24 hours! Haven't needed it since. Instead of cement bumpers I have a removable bite plate. At least your molars touch. Mine do not touch at all - wide open spaces! You can imagine it's rather difficult to chew! I mash it as good as I can and swallow - mostly whole!
WOW! A three year old in braces. Never heard of that before. Poor thing!
02/04/08 Extractions (4 deciduous second molars & 1 wisdom tooth)
I have the exact same beauty mark. 
Check out my blog for proof. That's too funny!! 
