History
- Because of narrow arches (thumb sucker/genetics), crowding, and a 3rd central incisor messing things up on top, I wore palatal expanders and then braces from ages 7 to 9. (Thanks Mom!)
- I was told at age 13 that I didn't need further treatment and didn't need to wear retainers anymore.
- I made it through high school with a pretty nice smile and had my wisdom teeth extracted at 17.
- By 20, one of my lower central incisors had rotated nearly 90 degrees due to crowding. I had it fixed inexpensively with a spring aligner and got a permanent retainer bonded across the bottom central 4 teeth.
- Over the last 10 years, my teeth have continued to crowd, rotate, and tilt. They're by no means awful but...
- Lower and upper right canines have been crowded out of arch. The upper one now sits on my lower lip when I smile and the lower one has rotated about 50 degrees; both are getting worse.
- Upper central incisor is retroclined, and is worsening.
- Smile is narrow, especially on right side where back teeth are hidden behind those canines.
- Vertical maxillary excess -- my very gummy smile has long bothered me, but I was told years ago that only surgery would help (not interested), and I have learned to hide it most of the time.
- Several incisors and one canine are chipped, which will probably be even more obvious after they are straight.
- Bite is a half-step out of alignment on right side.
- My dentist, who is my age and just got his braces off, had been encouraging me to at least have retainers made to stop my runaway canines, which are causing more and more gum inflammation where I can't floss them well.
- The more I thought about it, the more sense it made to just have things fixed once and for all.
- I'm working from home with minimal client contact for the next year or so, so this is a good time in my life to have it done.
- My board-certified ortho is confident of a great result with metal braces.
- 12 months in metal braces to fix displaced canines, generally straighten and round out arches, and open up my slightly deep bite.
- $2800 for complete treatment.
- I have the option to add 4 TADs mid-treatment (for another $1000) to attempt to intrude my upper teeth and improve my gummy smile. Because we will intrude my uppers a bit with the braces to open my deep bite, I am going to see how that turns out before deciding to add TADs.
- I will begin treatment with molar buildups and possibly a bite turbo or two up front so that my top teeth don't hit my bottom brackets.
- My weight: I don't have any to lose, so I'll be monitoring it and guzzling high-calorie shakes during my first few weeks with molar buildups. I hope the buildups will be able to come off quickly.
- My kids: will probably think Mom getting braces is cool at first. I hope not to whine or do/say anything that will negatively impact their attitudes toward braces (which they will eventually need).
- My teeth: I can't imagine giving up coffee, red wine, etc. so I hope I can keep my teeth white and my ligatures from showing horrible stains.
- My face: I have a long face with an oddly heavy, round jawline that accentuates the narrowness and gumminess of my smile. I'm hoping for at least a minor improvement just from the braces. Should I do the TADs? It seems like many folks who get Le Fort I for vertical maxillary excess also get cheek implants and chin reshaping to keep from looking too weird. More musings on this to follow....
You will get used to them in a couple of weeks and should be able to eat normally.
