Unhappy teeth's story- Updated with photos (page 5)

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#1 Post by **Unhappy teeth** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 1:02 pm

Hi everyone

Just had lingual braces (upper and lower) fitted yesterday and am feeling a bit sorry for myself! I am very nervous about going to the dentist/orthodontist so just getting them fitted was a big deal for me.

Although I'm not in too much discomfort, a couple of my teeth are really sore and my tongue feels a bit sore and swollen. I've also acquired a not so delightful lisp when trying to say the letter S, I am worried about this as the whole point of me getting lingual braces was so that my pupils (I'm a secondary school teacher) wouldn't know!

I feel a little overwhelmed at the moment, I've only managed to eat soup so far, and the idea of chewing anything is very unappealing. I'm also finding it difficult to get used to cleaning my teeth now, I think I'm a bit too worried about dislodging my brace (irrational I know).

Finding this forum today and reading other people's experiences has helped a lot with some of my anxieties although I'm already nervous about my next appointment in 7 weeks to have an extraction and the new wires.

Anyway, I've blabbered on enough, will update soon (hopefully by then I'll have mastered that pesky S)

#2 Post by **Unhappy teeth** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:05 am

Here are some pre-brace pictures, as you can see my bottom jaw is only slightly crowded whilst my top jaw needs the most work (midline off to the right, left incisor twisted)

Top jaw:

Bottom jaw:

Feeling slightly happier today as pain seems to be subsiding!

#3 Post by **elpi** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:19 am

Hello unhappy teeth, congrats on getting braces and conquering your dentist fear

I hope you get to see some positive changes before too long and your lisp subsides. I'm a lisper anyway but I'm lisping even more at the moment since I've had my extractions done so I can empathise!

#4 Post by **jenny101101** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:35 am

Congrats on getting braced!

I hope you master that pesky "S", too. I've heard quite a few ppl with linguals tend to lisp but it gets better. Hopefully once your tongue toughens up, it won't be so sore either.

Good luck on your journey!!

#5 Post by **Unhappy teeth** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 4:50 am

Well it's been almost a week since I had my braces fitted. They feel loads better, no pain although my tongue still gets a bit sore in the evening if I talk too much during the day! Managed to eat a roast dinner yesterday (although lots of gravy needed!) so generally feeling better about the whole thing.

One small concern- yesterday morning I noticed that I have a crack

in my bottom left incisor (next to the canine). It runs horizontally about a third of the way down my tooth. I can't tell if it's cracked all the way through as the bracket is in the way on the back of my tooth. It's totally painless and you can't really see it unless you look for it but I can feel it with my tongue or finger.

I don't know how it happened, I haven't bashed it in any way, haven't been chewing on it. It wasn't there before I was braced but I don't see how my braces could have caused it!

I have phoned my ortho and she seems totally unconcerned. She said if I want to come in she will look at it but there's not really anything she can do and it's nothing to worry about. Anyone experienced/heard of anything similar? Could do with some reassurance!

#6 Post by **Bekah** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 4:56 am

I would actually call my regular dentist about a cracked tooth. They would be the ones that specialize in that sort of thing right? Just a thought.

#7 Post by **hannahwebbo** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 5:03 am

Hi Unhappy Teeth

I agree with Bekah, you would probably be best to go see your dentist about the cracked tooth if you are concerned about it. Sometimes its good to get a second opinion.

Glad to hear that your pain is subsiding. I had quite a bad lisp when i first got my nance button put into my mouth, (this sits on the roof of my mouth to get certain teeth in place) but as the weeks have gone by it only really happens when i talk to fast, so i am sure yours will get better.

All the best

Hannah

#8 Post by **Unhappy teeth** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 8:58 am

Just got back from the ortho and still confused about the crack. My ortho says she hasn't seen anything like it in 20 years of being an orthdontist!

The crack runs obliquely up my tooth so a thin layer of enamel was cracked off but still attached at the top (like a flap). My ortho put some glue underneath it and smoothed some on top so it will hopefully stay put. She also took a couple of pictures which she's going to send to the Dental Hospital to see if anyone else has seen anything like it.

It didn't hurt at all and you can't see it unless you're REALLY looking so not going to worry about it for now.

P.S. Thanks Bekah and Hannah for the advice

#9 Post by **Unhappy teeth** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:17 am

Just to add to the excitement, a bracket has just popped off my back tooth and I now have a wire and bracket hanging around in the back of my mouth.

#10 Post by **elpi** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:51 am

aw shucks

hope you can get it sorted soon! hopefully these are just, ahem, teething problems and things'll go more swimmingly soon...

#11 Post by **Bekah** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 12:47 pm

OH my goodness! I had a nightmare about that the other day! I hope you feel better.

#12 Post by **lionfish** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 4:25 pm

Just to add to the excitement, a bracket has just popped off my back tooth and I now have a wire and bracket hanging around in the back of my mouth.

I had that happen at around 6 weeks, it's horrible I know. No amount of wax could make the loose bracket stick to anything! Hope you get it sorted soon.

#13 Post by **Unhappy teeth** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 7:56 am

Phew! 2 visits to the ortho in 2 days (she probably thinks I am the biggest pain!) Had the loose bracket and back bit of wire cut off, will probably have it put back on when I go in for my first adjustment.

My mouth feels loads better

#14 Post by **Unhappy teeth** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 5:40 am

Just made it through my first week back at school with braces. I was hoping that since my lingual braces are not visible my pupils would never find out about them!

Unfortunately, I still have a bit of a lisp so about 10 minutes into my first lesson on Monday one of my pupils puts her hand up and asks "Miss, do you have braces?"

Surprisingly most pupils have been really good about it. There have been lots of questions as most of them had no idea that you could have fixed braces behind the teeth. And lots of requests for me to say words like "statistics" so they can have a giggle at my expense!

By wednesday my poor tongue was very sore, I did not realise how much I talk in my profession! Had to resort to using wax again which I haven't done since the first week.

Am still being a bit wimpy about food, chewing is just too difficult/painful so am still cutting my food up very small and then swallowing without chewing! Haven't noticed any movement yet which is slightly disappointing, I guess I will have to be patient!

#15 Post by **elpi** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 6:16 am

Good to read your update, I have a problem with hypothesis as well as statistics and don't even get me started on synthesizer

Metal Mouth Message Board

Unhappy teeth's story- Updated with photos (page 5)

Unhappy teeth's story- Updated with photos (page 5)

Pre-brace photos