I'm Finally Braced!

[Indalee]

After years of sporting "The Simpson's" family size overbite, I finally took the pludge into braces on March 9, 06. I'm scheduled to wear them for 23 months but it could be less if I do what I'm told and don't break any thing. Right now I only have braces up top (I chose sky blue ligs!) and when I go back on April 11th the bottom ones will go on...hopefully. I really struggled with the idea of getting braces for years but one day I ran into the Archwired website and after reading all the stories it just didn't seem so scary anymore. I didn't feel so alone or embarrassed about being an adult with braces. Thanks Archwired!
I have to admit it has taken some getting use to these past few weeks...and the PAIN!!!AAGGHHHH!!!!! I've heard it described as feeling like you got hit in the mouth with a baseball and I think that's an understatement! I ate so much Cream of Wheat and scrabbled eggs the first 2 weeks I wanted to scream. Of course my loving fiancee made sure he ate plenty of meat and hard tacos (in my face! ) "for me." By the way, he has been very supportive and he actually thinks I look cute in them
I read about purchasing a Water Pix and that was the best thing I could have bought! The pain is all gone for now and I'm hoping the bottom braces won't be so bad. Something strange did happen to one of my bottom molars that's next to my bracket. Somehow it started to lean inward and it's freaky me out! Has anyone else had this problem before?

[Flora2006]

Welcome to the board and congratulations on getting the braces
Hope all is going well and I agree, definitely call your ortho and ask about that molar...it's probably tnothing though.

[Indalee]

Thanks everybody for the warm welcome! I think I will call my ortho and see if my leaning molar is something to worry about sooner then later. In the meantime I just noticed my once sky blue ligs have turned an interesting shade of pea green...lol I’m thinking the rice I’ve been eating has curry or something in it. Oh well, I know better next time. I’ll go for pink next time and hope for a nice orange sherbet color! I was wondering if there was more pain with the top braces then the bottom. I know it depends on the person and the situation but I’m just curious.

[Indalee]

Hello everybody!
I haven’t posted anything in some time but I do have some updates. I was in top braces only for 3 months starting on March 9, 06 and on June 22, 06 I got the bottoms put one. I was relieved that the bottom braces didn’t hurt as much (or as long) as the top ones. With both sets on, my mouth felt extremely full for about two weeks! I think the worse part was getting use to eating with them. I bit the inside of my cheek at least twice a day! I’ve had 3 adjustments since June and I’m getting more risqué with my color choices. I’m also excited that my molar on the lower right side that was leaning and twisting is almost as straight as it should be. My ortho is very kind and patient and gave me a big smile the day I came in freaking out about my leaning tooth. He assured me that it wasn’t as bad as it looked and he would have me fixed right up…and so far he has. I have some gaps that have appeared that weren’t there before but I know that’s normal. So far braces have been an experience like no other but I’m so glad I did it. I’m actually having a good time watching the progress. Not to mention they are a great dieting program. (*smile). I’ll put some pics up as soon as I can figure out how….

[Indalee]

Hello and thanks for the information linda21! I'll try to get some pictures posted soon. I had my 7th adjustment this month and was given a thicker wire for the bottoms and oh my goodness did that hurt! My ortho was showing his assistant how she needed to insert my wires and he told her to make sure they were in there nice and tight. Well, she went over and beyond her call of duty and practically got in the chair with me while she was mashed my wire in place with what mine as well been a monkey wrench. I couldn’t believe the pain and she must have seen the look on my face because she quickly moved back and asked me to check for any wires poking my check. The pain lasted for about 4 days so it was back to soft foods again. My ortho added all kinds of bends to my wires. I remember him saying something about the bends in my top wire would work to pull my molars down to meet with the lower ones and the two bends he added to the center of my top and bottom wires are to add space for my 2 front lower teeth and to close a small gap that appeared out of no where between my front top 2 teeth. I’m taking a list of questions with me to my next adjustment because there’s still some things I’m not completely clear on. I chose red ligs this time which was a bold step for me and I actually like them a lot! They never have the colors I want at my ortho’s so I end up repeating colors. I wanted glow purple since May and they never have it. I wish I could order my own colors. I’m noticing some drastic changes in my bite and that’s exciting. My bite changed so much that I was waking myself up out of my sleep a few months ago and I guess I must have been grinding or clinching my teeth together. I heard a weird crunching and popping sound and I it felt like I had ran my teeth over a chalk board. It didn’t really hurt but it was scary! I started to sleep with a cotton ball between my teeth to stop that from happening and it worked. As soon as everything lines up right, we will start working on my overbite. I’m really excited about that! My overbite is truly the thing I dislike the most about my teeth and I’m ready to get it gone.

[Indalee]

OMG!!!! I went to the ortho on the 13th of November and he gives me good and bad news. The good news is it's time to start working on my over bite. The bad news is I'll be going into a MARA appliance Dec. 4th! I've seen it and I don't like it! I have to admit, I am a little afraid of it and I was wondering what anyone else knows about it. Can someone please tell me what to expect? I don't want jaws of steel but if it brings me one step closer to a great smile I guess I have no choice.

[Indalee]

Thank you so much linda21! The information you provided was great! Not only was I able to find some of the questions I had regarding the MARA but I was also able to see a Spring Retainer which is something else my ortho mentioned to me at my last appointment. As I said before, he gave me several options to fixing my over bite and so far the MARA appliance sounds like the fastest most efficient way to do it. It really makes no sense for me to get two healthy teeth pulled at the top since the problem isn’t due to crowding at the top. The problem is in my lower jaw as it is “shortâ€

[Indalee]

Thanks KK! I will definitely need all the support I can get I'll be sure to keep you posted and I'll let you know if I get any additional equipment added to the MARA.

Not excited but can't turn back now. I've come too far. I just have to sike myself up and roll with the punches

[Indalee]

Hi bracedagain. Yes that thing does look crazy and I'm not excited about getting fitted for it at all but it is what it is. I'm sure it won't be as bad as it looks...at least not for long...I hope But I will make sure I keep the forum updated. I have run into one person who has seen this contraption before and I know they're all curious about it. I guess I'm the lucky one that gets to report

[Indalee]

Hello all! It’s done. I went on the 6th and had the MARA put in. What an experience. This is my second day with it and I’m getting use to it fairly quick. One thing I haven’t gotten use to yet is having to show everybody what it looks like. On Thursday morning my cube at work was full of my co-workers who couldn’t wait to see this contraption in person. They each had their own way of expressing themselves which I thought was funny. I heard, “Whoa!â€

[j Holland]

Hi Indalee, well soon I will be in braces for the third time in my life. Now I am 52 years old and talk about being intimidated! BUt I am really looking forward to getting them done right finally at last. The ortho tells me about 14 -15 mos but I know it will be longer than that. They always "fudge " on the time a little so as not to scare you off. I don't really care, just want them done correctly this time. From experience I can tell you that they are sore for a couple of months. Every time they are adjusted then it seems like no big deal. They are just loose, feel as though if they weren't wired together they would fall out! By the time you get well into treatment it's a piece of cake. I don't really mind that part, guess I must be a masochist or something. Besides that I think they look really cool, mouth jewelry ya know. Think of how many are not lucky enough to have them, how in any given room of people you may be the only one with braces, that makes you special, and unique. Then when it's all over you have a beautiful smile. Just some random thoughts from a fellow (future) bracer.

[Indalee]

Thanks to everybody for allowing me to vent and express myself. And thank you for your encouraging words. It's going on a full week with the MARA and I'm getting use to it more and more each day. Today I actually was able to eat a sandwich...well after I picked all the tough bread off...and took the cucumbers off....and the sprouts....but hey it started off as a sandwich and I finished it!
A friend at work told me today that I'm started to look different. Not quite sure what that meant but she said it was a good thing. My fiance constantly shares at me and that drives me crazy! He mostly does this when I talk. Then he sorta giggles a bit...lol....I punch him when he does that and then he really laughs. He said he's not use to seeing me struggle to speak or eat and my side profile amazes him How embarassing. I've been getting some very possitve feed back but this extra attention is a bit much for me.
It seems like the rubber bands on the MARA get weak over time which allows more side to side movement of my lower jaw. That may be why eating a sandwich was easier today then it would have been last week. I go back to the ortho on the 28th and I wonder if he will replace those rubber bands and put me back at square one. In any case, I'm loving this non-stop journey and I can't wait to see what's next! Keep you all posted

[Indalee]

Wow! I’ve made it through 10 months of being fully braces and what a ride!!! It’s also been a very interesting month for me with the MARA in place. My eating habits have changed drastically (lost 5 lbs.) and I’m past ready for it to come out. I’m not in any pain, I’m just ready for my jaw movement to be free. 2 weeks ago the rubber bands that hold the “elbowsâ€

[Brunoise]

Hi, Indalee, just read your whole thread. That MARA sounds like something that might be useful in my situation. I have to wait a few days before I get my treatment plan to find out. I too have moved my jaw forward over the years and now it is very "loose" I can move my lower teeth all the way out in front of my top teeth (with an 8mm overjet too!) if I want to.

Thanks for sharing as this thread was the first I had read that mentioned that particular appliance.

Looking forward to reading your next installment.

[Indalee]

Thank you KK & bracedagain for your support. And thanks for reading Brunoise and I’m so glad you found it useful. Before braces I was never able to move my lower teeth out in front of my top teeth (Not with my overbite!) but it’s interesting that you can. Of course I can do that now. I forget the MARA is there now until I go to eat something. Eating is a job…not only because it’s hard to chew but the clean up is mandatory right afterwards. However, it is true that it looks worse then it is. If your ortho does suggest a MARA the results will be instant and I’m sure less painful then jaw surgery.