Ms Bee and her new teeth

[msbee]

I took too long to decide on braces.

When I was a teenager, my teeth didn't bother me so much as I thought they didn't look too bad in photos. But as I grew older, I thought they became more prominent, and now, I think I look rather juvenile with my incisors sticking out.
Well, the usual concerns - the inconvenience, speech impediments, looking ugly for 2+ years, cost, possible extractions - delayed my decision for years...but here I am now, at the age of 30 with my full set of self ligating braces.

Problems: overcrowding, upper lateral incisors sticking out, bit of an overbite, lower canines are twisted...

The orthodontist I consulted suggested that I could extract the 4 premolars to create space, or put the braces on and watch and see the results in 6-9 months. I mulled over it for a long time (coz who wants to lose perfectly good teeth), yet I didn't want to prolong the treatment duration longer than necessary. She helped me make my decision when she told me that she leaned towards keeping the premolars (yay!), that's what she'd do if she were in my shoes.

Here are the "before" photos.

The second shot shows the small lateral incisors jutting forward


I sure hope the profile doesn't change!

[msbee]

Ok, didn't manage to post the url correctly in the first post.
Once again, here are the "before" photos.


The shot on the right shows the small lateral incisors jutting forward


I sure hope the profile doesn't change!

[msbee]

I just got both the upper and lower done today (no extractions).

Materials
Damon self ligating metal braces; I chose these not because they promise to be faster, but more because the brackets are smaller, and are easier to manage if they pop. I chose metal because they are smaller than the ceramics, and I was concerned about my teeth chipping on the ceramic. Also I've read about the problems with debonding ceramic brackets.



Procedure
The bonding process was a little uncomfortable coz of the cheek retractor, but otherwise painless.

I've also got a layer of cement/glass attached to the cusps of my upper molars as a bite block, otherwise the upper incisors will be abutting the lower brackets due to my overbite.

Now, 3 hours post bonding -
Pain: Currently none, no ulcers (yet), no pressure sensation (yet)

Eating: I just ate 2 soft tarts - mashing them against my palate, my teeth don't really meet coz of the bite block! Don't know if I can chew anything! Will try later. Ugh. The soft mashy tarts came off my braces with rinsing.

Appearance: Fuller mouth. The metal brackets are quite obvious, wondering if I should've gotten the ceramics instead...oh well.
I'm undecided about full lip closure, as that causes me to purse my lower lip, such that you can see the obicularis and the mentalis working/wrinkling. I'm thinking I should just relax and let the lips be a little parted, then at least I don't have to worry about those muscles causing permanent lines!
What do you guys think?

[jensceana73]

Just wanted to drop a quick CONGRATS!!!! on getting your braces. You look awesome....and it only gets better from here!!

[llehsal]

You look great!!!!!

I'm getting the prognosis from my last orthodontist consultation and then I would confirm who I'm going with. Next tuesday cant come fast enough. I just can't wait. I do know though that I will be going with metals. Where I live its costly to actually do the procedure and even more so to do ceramics. I actually dont mind the metal...Keep us posted on how you're doing.

All will be fine...best of luck

[catgyrl]

Hi Msbee!

That was my Spanish teacher's name in high school, except we called her "Senora Bee"!

Congratulations to you! I got the same brackets, but not for any particular reason other than I was originally going to get ceramic, changed my mind at the last minute, and the ortho showed me what he had: Damon SL or non-SL. I didn't want to mess with staining ligs, so I went with the SL. They feel huge and conspicuous right now but trust me, that feeling will go away. I like that they're rather small, too, since I'm dealing with an overjet and my teeth stick out enough as it is.

I, too, feel like when I close my mouth fully it looks like I'm pursing my lips, so I try to keep my lips open a bit. Plus, my bite is so off anyway, I couldn't get my teeth together if you paid me.

You do have a very nice profile. I don't think it will change much, as you didn't have any extractions, and your problem is an overbite, instead of an overjet, like me.

Good luck to you!
-Cathy

[msbee]

Thanks for all the words of encouragement. It's nice to know there're kindred souls out there. It is pretty costly to put on braces in my country, it's not covered by insurance, and there is a premium for SL and for ceramics too!

Cathy, my bite is off right now coz of the buildups/bite blocks on my molars! I can't eat anything that requires grinding!

Day 1 after braces on: feeling the ache when I bite down, which prevents me from eating anything hard, and the buildups make it impossible to eat veggies too! I will continue to try as the days go by. =)
Ate porridge, some mashy food and soup today.
The wire at back sticks into my cheek so I've been putting wax on it when I nap/sleep. Otherwise, no ulcers at this point

[catgyrl]

Use that wax!!! I must admit, I haven't had to use it much in the last month, but after Thursday's adjustment and getting new wires, the tech cut the wires instead of bending them forward (like she did the first time), and as soon as I got home I started feeling the pokes. It's like I'm just sitting there doing nothing, and someone comes along with a straight pin and POKES my cheek... then runs away. My wax managed to stay on overnight, thank goodness.

I don't have the molar buildups, but I'm just curious: Are you able to stick food between one of the buildups and bite down so you can chew on that side? I can't imagine how uncomfortable those must be. Kudos to you all who have them!

[cheyeaitsxchelsea]

Your profile shouldnt change too much. Most of the time we think we look a bit different but usually your face will stay the same! Your teeth will move pretty quickly. :]

[msbee]

Hey Cathy, my ortho told me to chew normally, using the molar buildups as a grinding surface. But only my first upper molar on both sides have the build ups, so the rest of the teeth don't meet! So it's mighty difficult and painful to only be able to grind on a single surface on both sides.
I'm eating soft food still - porridge, tofu, fish. My palate is suffering coz I'm using my tongue to mash food against my palate.

And now, because of the unequal wearing of the surfaces of the buildups, my bite is a bit off centre when I look in the mirror... Not sure if this is something to be worried about; I'll look on the forums for some answers...

And man, do I have a problem with wax that drops off! Sigh, the poking is getting worse, but no ulcers yet at least.

Thanks for the reassurance Chelsea! Your teeth have made so much progress in just a few months! Hope I see changes soon too!

[msbee]

1 week since bonding was done.

I am still drinking soup/cereal/porridge as the molar build ups make it difficult for grinding. Think I've lost 2 pounds so far.

I got the pokey wires snipped at Day 3, so it helped, but as the wires grow longer, I'm starting to feel it again. Wax is a hit and miss, sometimes it stays sometimes it doesn't.
I've got one ulcer so far, that's on my tongue - where it rubs against my molar buildups. I'm glad the brackets are not abrading my lips so much!

My small upper lateral incisors look a little longer! =) I think it isn't just my imagination, heh, I'll post a pic when it's more convincing.

Oh one of the brackets was partly open coz the wire slipped out on one side of the bracket (I suspect it's coz my lower incisors and canines are so twisted and crowded that the wire migrated out), but I managed to push the wire in and snap the bracket shut after many tries. Cold water helped to make the wire a tad more flexible =)

Can't wait for my first adjustment!

[cosmo]

Congrats, Bee!

I have had mine for a short while too, sadly I don't notice anything as of it. I too get the wire and the back getting longer and that's enough for me to know that hey even though you don't see it somethingis happening.
I have gotten used them already and i noticed my lips look fuller which is good for me since my lips are little.

again congrats and you surely do have a nice profile i think your changes are going to happen ever so quickly they are not as bad as mine.

[msbee]

Hey Cosmo! Yeah, I do feel the wire from time to time too, so I know that my teeth are moving, coz I don't feel the pressure on my teeth anymore. =) I've seen your photos, I'll be following your progress too! Good luck!

[msbee]

Ok, just took some photos



The upper lateral incisors have come down a little; if you look at the angle of the wires over the incisors, you can see that the angle is more obtuse (to confirm, I actually measured the angle using photoshop - there is a difference)!
Heh, it's just a small difference, that no one else will notice, but it's only been a week =)

[cosmo]

you are so right, I totally see the change that's awesome. I don't see mine coming down at all You are so lucky! woohooo! I love it!