UK Mark's story - 15th adjustment, 68 weeks

[Laurie]

I'm really glad for you that the second ortho was a bit more of a swell person to be around. I think you made a wise decision to go with him.

As far as your brackets, I'm in the plain old metals ones because they are the ones that will work best in what is trying to be fixed.

[markybwoy]

Yeah, I agree. A personal recommendation is the best way to choose an ortho, but I don't personally know anyone who has had treatment. It's still kind of rare here. Confidence was important to me in choosing an ortho and a professional but friendly chairside manner goes a long way for me. Even though he says 85% of his patients are kids, he could talk properly to me. That's important to me. His oldest patient is 53 this year, so often it's true - it really is never too late. If you are thinking about it, find out!

Thanks for the links Karen, I enjoyed reading about the neo-clip and Mystiques. As long as I'm not going to be the only one in them I'm ok! I've searched for archwireders with them and found some interesting stories. As for wires, we didn't discuss much other than to say it will be square, nickel/titanium and works by a "memory". How high tech! All the manufacturers say that their new product is the best thing ever and all the photos are on models with absolutely perfect teeth already. Still, thanks to you lot, I've learned tons and prepared myself. Knowledge is power, I would never of known good questions to ask in my consultations unless I'd spent those hours reading all your stories. Thanks. I intend to share my experience with you highs, lows and gory pics!

I've spent 5 months getting here and to be honest, the best part of 10 years quite self-conscious. I'm actually looking forward to getting going.

- Mark

[loulou123]

Hi Mark

Thought id say a slightly late hello and welcome. Im also in the UK and am 27. Ive had my braces on for just over a year now.

Ive had mine done on the nhs, so can certainly offer you sympathy on the amount of time you wait for an appointment!

If youve any questions feel free to ask

Louise

[markybwoy]

Hi Louise thanks for the note -- hello! Congrats on your 1st anniversary, I see you are getting scheduled for surgery as well, I hope you get a date soon. Where are you having it done?

Well, my next step is tomorrow morning. 9.30am Saturday getting my treatment plan written up, xrays, models and two extractions. How about that for a fun Saturday morning!? Not to mention totally ruining my weekend, but even tho that sucks I don't mind, it's worth it. A week's rest to heal up and then fitted up the following week. I suppose I'm going to get the first comments and questions on Monday morning when I turn up for work with two gaps in my mouth! One is at the front so it will be obvious but the ortho guesses it will be closed in less than 2 months. I hope I can talk ok next week. What if I have a whistle or a lisp with a gap in the front. Gulp. 21.5 hours to go!

[Danielle]

Not to mention totally ruining my weekend

I know how that goes. I've had a couple of weekends ruined by extractions. But I wouldn't trade my results (so far) for anything! Hope it goes well for you... time flies in braces!

[loulou123]

Hi Mark

firstly hope today goes well for you ive had extractions and there no fun, but the discomfort doesnt last all that long.

i actually find out when my surgery will be next thursday, as although im meant to have 5months ish to go, im actually ahead of schedule now. Im having my operation in my local nhs hospital and i live inbetween west sussex and hampshire.

try not to worry to much about what others will say, i can honestlysay ive had no negative comments, tho can imagine guys being abit crueller to each other. the only bad part image wise is that i get asked for i.d alot now, as people asscoiate braces with teenagers! but i do look young anyway.

Take care

Louise

[markybwoy]

hehe well being asked for ID doesn't sound like much of a disadvantage!

Its 9 hours since extractions this morning. I have two ibuprofen standing by but... so far no need. Might take them anyway before bed so I can get to sleep. It was nothing like as bad as I had made out in my head. I was a bit worried about having a local in the front of my mouth would hurt bad because there's not a lot of soft tissue there for all that anaesthetic, but half a second of a sharp pinch and it was over. Not painful at all. The worst bit was a funny crackling sound when the upper bicuspid came out, sounded a bit gross, he explained that's close to my ear drum so normal. I spent two hours in the office in total with xrays, study molds and both extractions. The ortho took loads of time to explain things and is always asking if I have any questions for him. Brilliant. I can't stand feeling rushed at the dentist and I'm feeling relieved now my session is over and it was so easy compared to what I had prepared myself for.

Spacing bands on Tuesday and then b-day the following Tuesday July 10th.

[Lisa65]

Glad the extractions went smoothly Mark. I shuddered when I read about the cracking noise, as I've only ever had teeth out under general, or when I was a kid with laughing gas.

I hope getting your spacers in and braces on goes as well as today did. Sounds like you've found yourself a good ortho there.

I look forward to your next instalment.

Lisa

[Clairey Fairey]

Yey sounds like its all go then!!

Bet your glad those extractions are over, I've heard stories about the cracking noise too, but didn't hear it when I had an extraction

Wouldn't worry too much about the spacers, extractions are worse.

[loulou123]

glad the extractions went well, ive had some and know exactly the cracking noise your refering to-horrible sound!

good luck with the spacers, i didnt think they were to bad at all, abit anoying but not painful, extractions much worse.

[markybwoy]

First day back at work after my extractions on Saturday. I didn't really do anything except lay on the sofa and watch DVDs all weekend. But absolutely no pain at all from those two extractions.

Spacers tomorrow, eek.

So I only went to the office for a couple of hours as I had to go and see a client and then I diverted home after that, so haven't really seen colleagues. However, I was talking with a customer this afternoon and she almost screamed, "OMG, what have you done, your tooth, have you been in a fight?"

A fight!!??? I haven't been in a fight since I was 7 when I punched out my best friend after school during a minor disagreement. We made up afterwards. Anyway, I explained, actually no I haven't been fighting and lost a tooth - believe it or not I chose to have it pulled. She thinks I'm insane.

So check out my gap, apparently it gives me a hooligan look.



Yowser you can really see my overlapping incisor from that angle as well.

[markybwoy]

Well, yes I think she must hang off my every word like a devoted fan.

Or, maybe it was this beauty in the front that caught her eye.



Sorry about these rough pictures, look back in two years and I intend them to be bit more soothing on the eye.

My ortho took lots with a proper camera, not my cheap cell phone so I'll get copies many months time when I have a "after" to compare!

[bsblguy]

Hi Mark. I'm also Mark. I'm 55 and got braces on feb. 26. Mine are all metal self ligating and I have never tried to hide that I have them. I have yet to get a negative comment about them. I checked into braces MANY years ago and was told I needed 4 extractions so i decided not to do it. I checked again this year and was told no extractions needed so I went ahead with it. I am so glad i did. One of my bottom teeth was behind the others and couldn't even be seen. Now it is almost in line already. I have yet to have pain. I get new wires on july 9. My ortho says 30% of his business is adults. Good luck with your journey and don't eat ice cream with m&m's in it as I did on sunday for my niece's birthday. I did pop the wire back in by myself but wasn't very smart thing to eat.

[loulou123]

hi mark

glad your feeling ok after the extractions, i cant beleive someone actually commented on your missing tooth! its really not that noticable at all. Maybe tho you were holding your mouth slightly differently as it feels abit weird and thats what she noticed?

So you get your spacers in today? hope all goes well there. they are anoying at first feels like youve got something stuck between your teeth and abit uncomfortable but not painful. and it gets better really quicky, tryand eat normally as soon as you feel you can-it sounds mad but it really does help you get used to them. (tho obviously you have to consider the extractions 2.)

Good luck

Louise

[hannahwebbo]

Hi Mark

Im glad your extractions went ok. That cracking noise sounds horrible. i might have to have four teeth out so i wont be looking forward to hearing that. It makes me cringe thinking about it.

I hope your spacers appointment goes ok today and that they arent too annoying for you.

Hannah x