37/M - Damon Braces
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37/M - Damon Braces
Hi -
All my google searches eventually led me here so i figured I'd post and see what happens.
37 years old male, American, living in Eastern Europe.
Had braces when I was 12 or 13 or something, but I, like the real brat that I was, had the ortho take them off before the treatment was over because I hated them. I've been paying for that mistake ever since. (Although, I will say that I'm not sure he was such a great ortho anyway.) Either way, since as I've never been happy with my smile.
1. Narrow upper and lower arches
2. Open bite tendency
3. Premolars and canines inclined lingually/palatially
4. Crossbite on right side
5. lower midline shift (4mm)
After I get braces I plan to get porcelain veneers as well, as my teeth have yellowed from both neglect and genetics and who knows what else. That's really where the journey started actually. I wanted to just get veneers but everybody said I need to get braces before I got veneers because my bite would have quickly broken through the veneers.
So, here I am. No time like the present.
After 3 months of shopping around, and a few Drs telling me I needed SARPE surgery, I finally got into see the two best, most highly recommended places in the city. Both of them said the same things and laid out the same treatment plan and both said I would not have to get surgery. Thank god. (I was a borderline case and after they took impressions etc. they decided that the widening of my upper arch could be done with braces.) What a relief as SARPE surgery looks like a gnarly process (My sympathies to those who have to go through it.) i was really all prepared to do the surgery though, so, now, just having the braces is no big deal.
And it's really not. Yet, I guess. I got the damon braces put on my upper arch a week ago, along with molar buildups on my bottom front molars. It's taken some getting used to for sure, and eating solid foods is a slow and arduous process that I am keeping to a minimum. My diet is mostly banana/avocado/peanut butter/flax seed/protein powder smoothies. It's actually something I've never really done before and its been fun making them. (Although I see the novelty beginning to wear thin.)
After a week, I'm already seeing some movement and do believe that somehow my upper arch is filling out my mouth a bit more. Although its a bit tough to tell if I'm just seeing the braces themselves and it's all an optical illusion and wishful thinking.
I've been doing a lot of wishful thinking (and researching and watching video clips) and am really really excited to have the beautiful smile I see in all the after pictures online. I do hope it happens and that all of this is worth it. I'm optimistic. Or at least I'm trying to be.
Anyway, tomorrow, I go in for a TPA device thing which I am nervous about, as I've read some horror stories. I hope they have made it properly the first time and there isn't too much tongue/palette pain. We'll see.
I will give you an update tomorrow.
All my google searches eventually led me here so i figured I'd post and see what happens.
37 years old male, American, living in Eastern Europe.
Had braces when I was 12 or 13 or something, but I, like the real brat that I was, had the ortho take them off before the treatment was over because I hated them. I've been paying for that mistake ever since. (Although, I will say that I'm not sure he was such a great ortho anyway.) Either way, since as I've never been happy with my smile.
1. Narrow upper and lower arches
2. Open bite tendency
3. Premolars and canines inclined lingually/palatially
4. Crossbite on right side
5. lower midline shift (4mm)
After I get braces I plan to get porcelain veneers as well, as my teeth have yellowed from both neglect and genetics and who knows what else. That's really where the journey started actually. I wanted to just get veneers but everybody said I need to get braces before I got veneers because my bite would have quickly broken through the veneers.
So, here I am. No time like the present.
After 3 months of shopping around, and a few Drs telling me I needed SARPE surgery, I finally got into see the two best, most highly recommended places in the city. Both of them said the same things and laid out the same treatment plan and both said I would not have to get surgery. Thank god. (I was a borderline case and after they took impressions etc. they decided that the widening of my upper arch could be done with braces.) What a relief as SARPE surgery looks like a gnarly process (My sympathies to those who have to go through it.) i was really all prepared to do the surgery though, so, now, just having the braces is no big deal.
And it's really not. Yet, I guess. I got the damon braces put on my upper arch a week ago, along with molar buildups on my bottom front molars. It's taken some getting used to for sure, and eating solid foods is a slow and arduous process that I am keeping to a minimum. My diet is mostly banana/avocado/peanut butter/flax seed/protein powder smoothies. It's actually something I've never really done before and its been fun making them. (Although I see the novelty beginning to wear thin.)
After a week, I'm already seeing some movement and do believe that somehow my upper arch is filling out my mouth a bit more. Although its a bit tough to tell if I'm just seeing the braces themselves and it's all an optical illusion and wishful thinking.
I've been doing a lot of wishful thinking (and researching and watching video clips) and am really really excited to have the beautiful smile I see in all the after pictures online. I do hope it happens and that all of this is worth it. I'm optimistic. Or at least I'm trying to be.
Anyway, tomorrow, I go in for a TPA device thing which I am nervous about, as I've read some horror stories. I hope they have made it properly the first time and there isn't too much tongue/palette pain. We'll see.
I will give you an update tomorrow.
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- Posts: 14
- Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2018 4:46 pm
Re: 37/M - Damon Braces - G
OK -
So it was exactly as bad as I had expected.
And it's not a straight TPA device but a modified Goshgarian Appliance.
And it's meant to do a lot of things.
1- widen arch (Next visit - in 5 weeks - she will activate it)
2 - molar intrusion
3 - anchor teeth alignment (i think)
Anyway, it sucks. Really sucks. There isn't any pain, but it is very tough to swallow and talk. And I think eating solid foods is pretty much not gonna happen at this point.
I'm kinda freaking out tbh, as everything I've read says its going to take a few weeks at least to get used to this. I don't know how to even handle that info at the moment.
I will say that it doesn't hurt at the moment, a little pressure on the molars, but nothing crazy. Oh, but there are little hooks coming off the bracket itself that are sharp and my tounge does catch on them sometimes. Hasn't been a major issue so far (it's been 3 hours) but I bought plenty of wax just to be sure.
Ugh city.
So it was exactly as bad as I had expected.
And it's not a straight TPA device but a modified Goshgarian Appliance.
And it's meant to do a lot of things.
1- widen arch (Next visit - in 5 weeks - she will activate it)
2 - molar intrusion
3 - anchor teeth alignment (i think)
Anyway, it sucks. Really sucks. There isn't any pain, but it is very tough to swallow and talk. And I think eating solid foods is pretty much not gonna happen at this point.
I'm kinda freaking out tbh, as everything I've read says its going to take a few weeks at least to get used to this. I don't know how to even handle that info at the moment.
I will say that it doesn't hurt at the moment, a little pressure on the molars, but nothing crazy. Oh, but there are little hooks coming off the bracket itself that are sharp and my tounge does catch on them sometimes. Hasn't been a major issue so far (it's been 3 hours) but I bought plenty of wax just to be sure.
Ugh city.
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- Posts: 14
- Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2018 4:46 pm
Re: 37/M - Damon Braces
This looks like the process I will be following - https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www ... 1nUUnLksGA
Tonight, however, I'm gagging on my own spit and contemplating a six month vow of silence.
Tonight, however, I'm gagging on my own spit and contemplating a six month vow of silence.
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- Posts: 14
- Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2018 4:46 pm
Re: 37/M - Damon Braces
Well, first night with the TPA/GOSH device.
Struggled to get to sleep, but eventually did and got a good nights sleep.
Expected to wake up in pain, or with a bloody mouth. Thankfully, didn't.
Woke up, instead, with a a mouth that feels like its full of metal, a real speech impediment, and a nagging feeling that I made the wrong decision to do this in the first place.
Some pressure on the molars as well.
Anyway, I'm very lucky as I am able to keep my talking to a minimum today/most days, so I guess I will just keep living that silent smoothie life and seeing what obstacles arise.
Struggled to get to sleep, but eventually did and got a good nights sleep.
Expected to wake up in pain, or with a bloody mouth. Thankfully, didn't.
Woke up, instead, with a a mouth that feels like its full of metal, a real speech impediment, and a nagging feeling that I made the wrong decision to do this in the first place.
Some pressure on the molars as well.
Anyway, I'm very lucky as I am able to keep my talking to a minimum today/most days, so I guess I will just keep living that silent smoothie life and seeing what obstacles arise.
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- Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2018 4:46 pm
Re: 37/M - Damon Braces
Few hours later.
A noticeable improvement in overall mouth comfort. No real gagging, and talking is smoothing out a bit. Producing a lot of saliva, but it's manageable.
A lot of good pressure on the molars, and on the upper arch in general, and my mouth does feel quite full, but I'm starting to become optimistic that things will become a lot easier sooner then I could have imagined yesterday.
Anyway, looking forward to posting pics! LOL
A noticeable improvement in overall mouth comfort. No real gagging, and talking is smoothing out a bit. Producing a lot of saliva, but it's manageable.
A lot of good pressure on the molars, and on the upper arch in general, and my mouth does feel quite full, but I'm starting to become optimistic that things will become a lot easier sooner then I could have imagined yesterday.
Anyway, looking forward to posting pics! LOL
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Re: 37/M - Damon Braces
It does get easier! The first week is the toughest. Then after each adjustment for just a few days you'll be sore, but it gets to the point where having braces is not a huge deal. You'll get there -- hang in there!
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Re: 37/M - Damon Braces
Thanks Emily! Quite reassuring.
Is it weird that I kind of like the pressure/pain I get from grinding down on the molar build. It’s such an interesting sensation where sometimes it feels like the band is going to pop right off.
Either way, the ortho recommended that I do bite down on them hard and often as we’re using them for molar intrusion at this point- so, the more I bite down now the less likely I’ll have to get TAD screws or whatever.
Thanks for responding. Feel like all I’ve been doing this last week is reading this board and doing google searches trying to learn more about the process but also trying to find as many case studies/ before and after pics that resemble mine.
Hopefully this obsession will die down as I get more used to the hardware.
Is it weird that I kind of like the pressure/pain I get from grinding down on the molar build. It’s such an interesting sensation where sometimes it feels like the band is going to pop right off.
Either way, the ortho recommended that I do bite down on them hard and often as we’re using them for molar intrusion at this point- so, the more I bite down now the less likely I’ll have to get TAD screws or whatever.
Thanks for responding. Feel like all I’ve been doing this last week is reading this board and doing google searches trying to learn more about the process but also trying to find as many case studies/ before and after pics that resemble mine.
Hopefully this obsession will die down as I get more used to the hardware.
Re: 37/M - Damon Braces
I'm 36 and have just had Damons put on (clear on top, all metal on the bottom). So I will be following your progress.
So far I just have the top on, as I needed a Root Canal on one of the lower teeth, and extraction on the tooth next to it to make room (I have a lot of crowding on the bottom which has resulted in the crookedness down there).
I will be at one month tomorrow. And so far it's not been too bad, a little struggle eating at first, but soon got over it and carried on pretty much as I was before. Although I then got worried that they weren't working, as I really wasn't getting much in the way of discomfort at all, and was tempted to make an appointment to have my Ortho check. However in the last week or so I realised I had a lot of movement already at the top, and most of my side teeth, as well as my front teeth have new gaps very obviously forming between them. The gap between the front is really obvious. So now I'm sure they are working. I just don't want a gap, but I assume this is part of the overall movement.
My first revisit or tightening is not for another three weeks, so I'll find out more then.
So far I just have the top on, as I needed a Root Canal on one of the lower teeth, and extraction on the tooth next to it to make room (I have a lot of crowding on the bottom which has resulted in the crookedness down there).
I will be at one month tomorrow. And so far it's not been too bad, a little struggle eating at first, but soon got over it and carried on pretty much as I was before. Although I then got worried that they weren't working, as I really wasn't getting much in the way of discomfort at all, and was tempted to make an appointment to have my Ortho check. However in the last week or so I realised I had a lot of movement already at the top, and most of my side teeth, as well as my front teeth have new gaps very obviously forming between them. The gap between the front is really obvious. So now I'm sure they are working. I just don't want a gap, but I assume this is part of the overall movement.
My first revisit or tightening is not for another three weeks, so I'll find out more then.
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Re: 37/M - Damon Braces
Hey man - thx for replying.
I’m the only one really going through this process that I know, so I feel like this board will be a great resource to chat about the journey. In fact, it already has been.
I only have my upper brackets on now as well. And I think it’ll be like this for awhile. 6-8 months perhaps but that’s just a guess - my upper arch needs to expand a bunch and straighten before we align the bottom which doesn’t need as much work/expanding.
At least I think that’s the case - reading this forum makes me feel like I don’t know enough about the process I’m going through. I trust the ortho completely and know that our goals are aligned I just don’t know the mm info or anything. Maybe I should.
Anwyay, yeah the braces themselves are manageable. Do you have a tpa device or anything else besides the braces? What are your goals?
I go back in 5 weeks so I’m just sitting tight (literally) for now.
I’m the only one really going through this process that I know, so I feel like this board will be a great resource to chat about the journey. In fact, it already has been.
I only have my upper brackets on now as well. And I think it’ll be like this for awhile. 6-8 months perhaps but that’s just a guess - my upper arch needs to expand a bunch and straighten before we align the bottom which doesn’t need as much work/expanding.
At least I think that’s the case - reading this forum makes me feel like I don’t know enough about the process I’m going through. I trust the ortho completely and know that our goals are aligned I just don’t know the mm info or anything. Maybe I should.
Anwyay, yeah the braces themselves are manageable. Do you have a tpa device or anything else besides the braces? What are your goals?
I go back in 5 weeks so I’m just sitting tight (literally) for now.
Re: 37/M - Damon Braces
Yep I totally get the thing about feeling like you don’t know enough. In fact I also feel now like so haven’t asked enough. So when I do have my next appointment I will be asking a bit more of my Ortho about what’s going on.
I’m doing this all private so have been throwing money at it, as I had a crippling fear of the dentist but also felt really conscious of my bad teeth. So looked around for a while to find someone that seemed really good and had a few different consults. The plus side is that I’ve gone from having to be sedated for anything more than a check up to getting my recent root canal done with just a local anaesthetic injection.
I don’t have anything on other than the top brace, and it’s only the bottom brace to go (but don’ t think this is will be till august due to letting the extraction heal and the timing of an upcoming vacation), no other devices as far as I know. I think the top one will be quite an easy move (or feels like it so far). But my bottoms are really crooked and overcrowded so with the extraction meaning a space closure she has warned me we could be looking at the two year area. And I think all my bragging in my earlier post about having no real discomfort/pain will be coming back to bite me on the ass!
I’m doing this all private so have been throwing money at it, as I had a crippling fear of the dentist but also felt really conscious of my bad teeth. So looked around for a while to find someone that seemed really good and had a few different consults. The plus side is that I’ve gone from having to be sedated for anything more than a check up to getting my recent root canal done with just a local anaesthetic injection.
I don’t have anything on other than the top brace, and it’s only the bottom brace to go (but don’ t think this is will be till august due to letting the extraction heal and the timing of an upcoming vacation), no other devices as far as I know. I think the top one will be quite an easy move (or feels like it so far). But my bottoms are really crooked and overcrowded so with the extraction meaning a space closure she has warned me we could be looking at the two year area. And I think all my bragging in my earlier post about having no real discomfort/pain will be coming back to bite me on the ass!
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Re: 37/M - Damon Braces
Yeah - I’ve read a bit about the Damon wire progression which has given me some understanding of the process and what’s to come. Albeit, quite genericly.
Here is a good resource for that - https://ormco.com/products/damon-q/sequencing.php
And, yeah, I think the going is gonna get tough after the first two wires.
My ortho said 18/20 months but I’d imagine it’ll stretch to two years as well.
Fun times.
My left front bracket actually popped off last night as I was brushing - so now it’s just kind of floating on the wire.
Will have to wait until Tuesday to get it re-bonded. Grrr. (I was brushing too hard I think tbh)
Here is a good resource for that - https://ormco.com/products/damon-q/sequencing.php
And, yeah, I think the going is gonna get tough after the first two wires.
My ortho said 18/20 months but I’d imagine it’ll stretch to two years as well.
Fun times.
My left front bracket actually popped off last night as I was brushing - so now it’s just kind of floating on the wire.
Will have to wait until Tuesday to get it re-bonded. Grrr. (I was brushing too hard I think tbh)
Re: 37/M - Damon Braces
Ahhh yeah that article was helpful! I didn’t realise it was all to do with progression from wire to wire!
My Ortho actually didn’t close the wire into one of the side teeth on both sides, as she said they weren’t ready for that and the wire would pop out if they tried to close those ones now. So I have a little spot on either side where the wire just sits there outside the tooth.
My Ortho actually didn’t close the wire into one of the side teeth on both sides, as she said they weren’t ready for that and the wire would pop out if they tried to close those ones now. So I have a little spot on either side where the wire just sits there outside the tooth.
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Re: 37/M - Damon Braces
About to go get the bracket fixed.
Unfortunately, yesterday morning I brushed too hard in the same spot where the bracket had come loose and it bent the wire outward so its even tougher now to get my upper lip around it. Very annoying, cannot wait for her to fix it.
also, I think when I bent the wire somerthing happened to the wire that is connecting the right molar band becuase thats been hurting. although that might be due to the fact that my left molar buildup fell off during a meal on saturday and my bite has been a bit messed up since then.
anyway, looking forward to getting it all taken care of today.
gotta remember to not brush so hard!!!
Unfortunately, yesterday morning I brushed too hard in the same spot where the bracket had come loose and it bent the wire outward so its even tougher now to get my upper lip around it. Very annoying, cannot wait for her to fix it.
also, I think when I bent the wire somerthing happened to the wire that is connecting the right molar band becuase thats been hurting. although that might be due to the fact that my left molar buildup fell off during a meal on saturday and my bite has been a bit messed up since then.
anyway, looking forward to getting it all taken care of today.
gotta remember to not brush so hard!!!
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- Posts: 14
- Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2018 4:46 pm
Re: 37/M - Damon Braces
Back. Better then ever.
Feel like I got a free tightening although I don't even think thats a thing with damon braces.
Anyway, all is well.
Doc was impressed that it's taken so little time to get used to the TPA (called me a hero), and that she could see I had been really working on the bite blockers as the right one is pretty worn down already.
Also, said I was doing a good job cleaning.
The bite blockers also really force me/ make it easier to shift my lower jaw and align my midline. She said once the upper arch is expanded more or whatever the lower jaw should fit snugly inside and the midline will be aligned. I'm skeptical as it feels like I have to shift my jaw to the left now and hold it to align it and I don't quite see how just widening the arch is going to do that. The elastics I'm sure will help.
Anyway, hopefully I won't see her again in 4 weeks.
Feel like I got a free tightening although I don't even think thats a thing with damon braces.
Anyway, all is well.
Doc was impressed that it's taken so little time to get used to the TPA (called me a hero), and that she could see I had been really working on the bite blockers as the right one is pretty worn down already.
Also, said I was doing a good job cleaning.
The bite blockers also really force me/ make it easier to shift my lower jaw and align my midline. She said once the upper arch is expanded more or whatever the lower jaw should fit snugly inside and the midline will be aligned. I'm skeptical as it feels like I have to shift my jaw to the left now and hold it to align it and I don't quite see how just widening the arch is going to do that. The elastics I'm sure will help.
Anyway, hopefully I won't see her again in 4 weeks.
Re: 37/M - Damon Braces
Nice! Sounds like you're having more of an adventure with yours.
I'm now at the 5 week mark as of today. There's no doubt for me now that I've had movement. My Front teeth have totally moved. I'm just not keen on the gap that's opened between them. But I assume that's not here to stay and will start to close.
I think my first re-visit is in 3 weeks. So no idea what happens then?
I'm now at the 5 week mark as of today. There's no doubt for me now that I've had movement. My Front teeth have totally moved. I'm just not keen on the gap that's opened between them. But I assume that's not here to stay and will start to close.
I think my first re-visit is in 3 weeks. So no idea what happens then?