My story, initial situation, with pics.
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My story, initial situation, with pics.
I'm a 23 year old girl, who after years of hating my teeth and my overjet, finally took the plunge and decided to fix my severe overjet and crooked teeth. I needed four extractions and I have currently lingual braces on top, and will get lingual braces and the bottom in about 10 days. My experience so far has been mixed. Getting braced is truly an emotional rollecoaster, but I've never really regreted it. I can't wait for the changes to appear, and am really looking forward to my first adjustment (which will take place when I get the lower braces on), even though it's said to be really painful.
I've posted pictures of my initial situation here. When I saw the pictures I took, I just wanted to cry. My teeth were actually worse than I thought. Guess you protect yourself, so after years posing in the mirror with my "right angle", I was actually a bit shocked how bad they were. Well, I guess that's even a better reason for me to get braced!
Hope I can see results soon after the adjustment! Will keep you posted on how I'm progressing.
P.s. I might have to have surgery later on to correct my overjet and gummy smile, but that's not until a year or so, and I'm having a consultation with an OS first to elaborate this, so I'll return to this later.
So long[/img]
I've posted pictures of my initial situation here. When I saw the pictures I took, I just wanted to cry. My teeth were actually worse than I thought. Guess you protect yourself, so after years posing in the mirror with my "right angle", I was actually a bit shocked how bad they were. Well, I guess that's even a better reason for me to get braced!
Hope I can see results soon after the adjustment! Will keep you posted on how I'm progressing.
P.s. I might have to have surgery later on to correct my overjet and gummy smile, but that's not until a year or so, and I'm having a consultation with an OS first to elaborate this, so I'll return to this later.
So long[/img]
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- Posts: 295
- Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2009 1:34 pm
- Location: Norway
Talk
Hey. I do in fact talk properly. It was really bad for the first few days, or at least so I thought. My s'es were really bad. I was super self-concious and I thought everyone could hear it. But in fact, it turned out that I was the only one noticing. When i told my friend that I was concious about the s'es, she could hardly hear the difference, even when trying to.
Regarding braces I have three concerns;
-SPEECH ISSUES; I'm working as a receptionist, and my main task at my work is speaking on the phone and welcoming visitors, which means I'm very self-concious regarding my speech. This turned out to be no trouble whatsoever for me, just a slight problem with mye s'es for three days or so, but is now totally gone. I expect I'll have it the same way once I've fitted the lowers and for each visit at the ortho's for adjustment/tightening.
-APPEARENCE; I cannot deny that the only reason for which I've procrastinated this decision for years has been the concern of how other would react of my appearence. I would say that while other people would claim that I'm vain, I would say self-concious. And that's really two different things. So far this has been no problem etiher. Noone has noticed my braces. The fake teeth have pretty well covered my extraction-gaps in my upper jaw (except for the fact that I've lost one, will hopefully glue it back in tomorrow). My concern is that the lower jaw braces will be more visible, but I guess I'll just have to wait and see. After having the extractions there's really no turning back:)
-PAIN; I have to admit that this is the least of my worries. So far it's been quite painless. I haven't started tightening my braces yet, but I guess there'll be substantial amount of pain to come once that's getting started. The extractions were, I wouldn't say painful, but a bit of an uncomfortable procedure. I guess not knowing what to expect was the worst, but I'm glad I'm finished with the extractions.
Will fill you in regarding all three of my concern, and the others I might get, as we go along.
Sorry if this is too long and dull to read. I have to admit that I'm doing this partly to share my experienes and encourage others to make the decision, but I'm also doing this for myself. Even though a haven't regretted my decision for a split second, there are a lot of feelings to be sorted, and I feel that writing about it makes it easier.
Stay tuned
Regarding braces I have three concerns;
-SPEECH ISSUES; I'm working as a receptionist, and my main task at my work is speaking on the phone and welcoming visitors, which means I'm very self-concious regarding my speech. This turned out to be no trouble whatsoever for me, just a slight problem with mye s'es for three days or so, but is now totally gone. I expect I'll have it the same way once I've fitted the lowers and for each visit at the ortho's for adjustment/tightening.
-APPEARENCE; I cannot deny that the only reason for which I've procrastinated this decision for years has been the concern of how other would react of my appearence. I would say that while other people would claim that I'm vain, I would say self-concious. And that's really two different things. So far this has been no problem etiher. Noone has noticed my braces. The fake teeth have pretty well covered my extraction-gaps in my upper jaw (except for the fact that I've lost one, will hopefully glue it back in tomorrow). My concern is that the lower jaw braces will be more visible, but I guess I'll just have to wait and see. After having the extractions there's really no turning back:)
-PAIN; I have to admit that this is the least of my worries. So far it's been quite painless. I haven't started tightening my braces yet, but I guess there'll be substantial amount of pain to come once that's getting started. The extractions were, I wouldn't say painful, but a bit of an uncomfortable procedure. I guess not knowing what to expect was the worst, but I'm glad I'm finished with the extractions.
Will fill you in regarding all three of my concern, and the others I might get, as we go along.
Sorry if this is too long and dull to read. I have to admit that I'm doing this partly to share my experienes and encourage others to make the decision, but I'm also doing this for myself. Even though a haven't regretted my decision for a split second, there are a lot of feelings to be sorted, and I feel that writing about it makes it easier.
Stay tuned
Your teeth are really pretty. You're going to have a fantastic smile when you're done with the braces!
You've come to the right place to share your story. AW is full of people going through the same thing, and it's great to get the support. And the commiseration, when that's needed.
You've come to the right place to share your story. AW is full of people going through the same thing, and it's great to get the support. And the commiseration, when that's needed.
Click on WWW to see my braces story.
August 16, 2007 - Braced on top
January 3, 2008 - Braced on bottom
August 16, 2007 - Braced on top
January 3, 2008 - Braced on bottom
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- Posts: 295
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- Location: Norway
Congratulations on beginning your journey, Lingualita!
I know exactly what you mean about the emotional rollercoaster, but it will be worth it in the end! (And you have very lovely teeth, so I know the end result will be amazing! )
Thanks for sharing your story with us! I look forward to seeing your progress!
I know exactly what you mean about the emotional rollercoaster, but it will be worth it in the end! (And you have very lovely teeth, so I know the end result will be amazing! )
Thanks for sharing your story with us! I look forward to seeing your progress!
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- Posts: 295
- Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2009 1:34 pm
- Location: Norway
Lingualita's story, 1st update, with pics
Hey,
Yesterday I got my lower ibraces fitted. I feel quite sore at the moment, but am actually quite satisfied with that, which means that something is happening:)
Have had the uppers for six weeks. Can't say that I've noticed any difference, but I haven't changed the wire yet. Here are some pictures from my current situation. Am going to the ortho again in eight weeks. Hope I see some changes by then. Will keep you posted!
As you can see, I have some sort of elastics or bands (don't know what you call them). The purpose of these, if I got the ortho right, was to help closing the gaps. Looking forward to start seeing changes [/img]
Yesterday I got my lower ibraces fitted. I feel quite sore at the moment, but am actually quite satisfied with that, which means that something is happening:)
Have had the uppers for six weeks. Can't say that I've noticed any difference, but I haven't changed the wire yet. Here are some pictures from my current situation. Am going to the ortho again in eight weeks. Hope I see some changes by then. Will keep you posted!
As you can see, I have some sort of elastics or bands (don't know what you call them). The purpose of these, if I got the ortho right, was to help closing the gaps. Looking forward to start seeing changes [/img]
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- Posts: 295
- Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2009 1:34 pm
- Location: Norway
Thanks Brika!
Yeps, it's definately a bit rough on my tongue. Haven't been using wax at all on the upper braces, but I think I'll definately use mor on the lowers. The "end" of the archwire keeps itching to bottom of my tongue. It's a bit painful. But I suppose it's like when I have my upper fitted. Really weird for a few days, max a week, and then you hardly notice:)
But all in all, these are just minor obstacles on my way to straight and nice teeth
Yeps, it's definately a bit rough on my tongue. Haven't been using wax at all on the upper braces, but I think I'll definately use mor on the lowers. The "end" of the archwire keeps itching to bottom of my tongue. It's a bit painful. But I suppose it's like when I have my upper fitted. Really weird for a few days, max a week, and then you hardly notice:)
But all in all, these are just minor obstacles on my way to straight and nice teeth
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- Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2009 1:34 pm
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So now I've had my lower linguals on for four days. I cannot see any changes yet, but I can feel it when I floss, especially behind the teeth behind my extraction gaps in my lower jaw. This is satisfying, even though reading people who have had visual changes within a few days had made my expectations to high I suppose. Have my next appointment in seven weeks, so I guess there's still plenty of time to spot changes:=)
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Here's an update with some pic's. I've had the upper braces on for 7 weeks, but the entire wire all the time. I've had the lowers on for about ten days. I have my next appointment on the 18th. of May, and I'll probably post new pictures then, unless I experience major changes before that, hopefully I'll post soon
My uppers, Can't really see any changes..:
My smile:
My lower's:
My lower's, close-up:
My uppers, Can't really see any changes..:
My smile:
My lower's:
My lower's, close-up:
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- Posts: 295
- Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2009 1:34 pm
- Location: Norway
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- Posts: 295
- Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2009 1:34 pm
- Location: Norway
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- Posts: 295
- Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2009 1:34 pm
- Location: Norway
Update
Now it's been almost a month since I had my lower braces fitted. Must admit that i don't see any difference, but I'll post some pictures anyhow:)
Upper jaw initially
after about 2 months:
Lower jaw initially:
After about 1 month
Upper jaw initially
after about 2 months:
Lower jaw initially:
After about 1 month