Kara's Braces Story - UPDATE WITH NEW PICS

Message

#16 Post by **BrandonH** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 11:06 pm

I hate spacers, too.

My ortho put some on my molars for two weeks . . . . and told me after those two weeks were up, he'd put on the braces.

Something changed and when the two weeks were up, he took out the spacers, sized me for my RPE, and said "we'll call you when the RPE comes in and put some more spacers in."

Grrrrrrrreat. I had spacers for 2 weeks. Then I had no spacers for 2 weeks. Now I have spacers for another week.

Sometimes complaining helps

#17 Post by **kittymeow84** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 1:23 am

Oh noes!! Spacers must be so horrible - I feel for you! Not long til they're gone though!!

You're not complaining! The fact that you think you're complaining shows how tough and reasonable you are and you know it'll all be better soon

Keep it up!

#18 Post by **Kara** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 8:06 am

Thanks Brandon and Kitty. I guess it gets easier every day. Each morning I wake up with a little less pain from it all.

This is my second time having spacers in. The first time... I had a total of 10 spacers in my mouth and that was just what I would compare to hell on earth. I guess my teeth are really "tight" as the ortho calls it. So these spacers must really be doing thier job in moving my teeth. I wore the first set of spacers for 4 weeks before they just fell out on their own or during brushing and then at my next appt they just decided to put brackets on rather than the bands because my back teeth were straight or something... Now I'll wear these spacers until my next appt in Feb which isnt too far away so I'll live. What sucks the most is that I wanted to be pain free for vacation coming up and be able to eat whatever I wanted to. Oh well. Maybe in a week I'll be good and can chew normal food again.

Thanks again for the words of support guys! This forum is wonderful.

Kara

Mon Feb 04, 2008 2:26 pm

Hi Kara

How is it going? Hope the spacers are feeling better and you get to enjoy your holiday. I get my braces Saturday and think my ortho might be waiting to spring the surprise of spacers on me then! Can't believe it is really happening...

Anyway hope you get back to normal soon and feel better.

Nik

#20 Post by **HIMgurl** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 6:52 pm

Hi Kara!

I know how you feel, I too hate spacers. I just got part of my braces today and I still have spacers. They should stop hurting really soon for you. Hang in there!

You can sort of eat what you want be take small bites and chew on the least painful side. It works but its a slow process! Best of luck Kara!

#21 Post by **Kara** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 7:38 pm

My update... I'm doing well with the spacers now. I'm used to them for the second time around now.

I'm eating better now. I still dont particularly like biting in to food with my front teeth. That's still a little tender but it's a lot better than it was at least. I took new pictures. Does anyone see a difference? Or am I just dilusional?

Wishfull thinking I suppose... wanting my teeth to be perfect and move quicker than possible. I guess it's the norm for those that wear braces.

Feb 5th

Jan 21

Feb 5th

Jan 21

Feb 5th

Jan 21

Feb 5th

Jan 21

Feb 5th

Apparently the first pic that I've taken of my lowers since I've had the braces on.

My lower front teeth have straightened out a lot since getting the braces. I see that major difference. I dont see too much of a difference in my top teeth or if they've moved back any. I wish they would move more... and FASTER. I have another appt after vacation and they are going to put springs going from my canines to my back teeth. Oh and I get the lovely bands on the back teeth. You can see the spacers in my new pic of the uppers. I'm also waiting on that darn tooth to turn some more... it's the first tooth after my extraction on the right side (my right)

They did say something about banding it. I hope they dont though.

I heard that I may get a heavyier wire and that the ortho will be putting little bends or kinks in the wire to move my teeth more I guess. I've heard this in other stories I've read but I wonder what it will look like. We'll see.

Thanks everyone for your messages. They make me feel so much better.

Kara

#22 Post by **Kara** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 9:37 am

I had another back bracket come off! What the hell!!! So I had to go in to the orthodontist and get the wire cut off in back and guess what.... more spacers. I have four spacers on the bottom now too. I guess they are going to band all four of my back teeth at my next appointment on Feb 20. I was so dissapointed when that bracket came off last night. I was eating SOUP so I have no idea why it came off.

Now I'm just hoping to get through that first day of spacers pain and be over it by Saturday! I need a vacation more than ever.

#23 Post by **Miss Smiley** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 10:48 am

Poor thing, I hope your brackets stop goofing around and just pay attention to the goal at hand!

#24 Post by **Kara** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 6:22 pm

Thanks Smiley! I'm doing a lot better these days. Vacation is going great. We had rain in Florida today but it will be beautiful for the rest of our trip. I go back to the ortho on the 20th and they'll be putting in springs going from my canines to my back teeth after they band my back molars. Next week may be tough but I'll get through it then the rest will be easy, right?

I'll be sure to post pictures.

Kara

#25 Post by **Miss Smiley** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:31 am

Springs in time for SPRING! Aww...more hardware, but you'll adjust. Glad you're keeping positive!

#26 Post by **discomom** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 5:10 pm

Welcome Kara!! I am like you in that I find this site very inspiring and helpful!! I have gotten so much advice from the folks here, it's been amazing. I just posted new pics in my braces story. Check it out--our braces story--discomom smile under construction. I look forward to following your journey!! Lori

#27 Post by **Braced32** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 6:29 pm

Hi Kara ~

Boy, you sure have been through spacer hell haven't you?! WOW!!!

I've heard that spacers are the worst part of the whole braces experience. Supposedly I don't need molar bands and therefore, will not need spacers!! THANK GOD!!!

My B-Day is in two weeks!

#28 Post by **Kara** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:10 pm

Hi everyone! Thank you for your messages. Yes I have been through spacer hell but that is all over now. I'm posting pictures of my lovely metal since my last appointment on the 20th. My teeth are very tender. In the pictures you'll see that I've had my back molars banded and springs going from my canines to the bands. I also have a power chain on the right side. They're still trying to rotate this damn tooth that came in crooked. I cant believe how much it has turned since they've put a bracket on it. I really notice it after seeing these pictures. My overbite has come back quite a bit too I think. My bite is still off a little on the left side. My ortho says that the teeth on the right side are moving quicker. Figures... The left side always hurts more. I'm on the soft diet again but it's ok. I'm getting more comfortable. Maybe I'm just a freakin sissy. As long as they NEVER put spacers in my mouth again.... I'm good... and I dont care what else they do. I have an appt March 22nd and then we'll see what they do. They have wired my front four teeth and want to pull my canines back first to fill the extraction gap and then will move the rest back. I CANT WAIT FOR THIS!!! Once those gaps are closed I'll be cheesin from ear to ear!

The one thing that's really driving me crazy is that there are like these little "dots" or whatever you want to call them on the back side of the bands and they rub against my tongue and this just sucks in so many ways. My tongue is all torn up. The worst part is just getting used to the new hardware.

Then as soon as you're all better... they do something else.

LOL

It will all be worth it!

NEW PICS!

Overbite

Can you see the tiny power chain from that tooth right behind my extraction? It's pullin alright! Those power chains move teeth quick!!

My pretty new bands and springs...

#29 Post by **Kara** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 10:28 pm

New picture below.... I took the new one a couple days ago. Comparing it to one I took a couple weeks after getting the braces....It's hard to see much of a difference. I'll try to take some better ones soon... I have my next appt at the ortho on March 22nd I think.

Jan 22

March 5

My camera sucks. Every one I try to take up close pictures they turn out blurry.

#30 Post by **samara** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 4:40 am

hey, kara:) i was wondering, could you please clear me out on something? you said your braces are self ligating. but i knew damon, or self ligating braces, were all about metal, and thought the ones you're wearing are ceramics. did i get stuff mixed up? i don't have my braces in yet, i'll be getting them in about a month or so, when i'm done getting rid of the wisdom teeth (2 more to go) and a couple more molars. i spoke to my ortho, she said ceramics were the best, if i wanted to keep a low brace profile, and that the only nasty part were the rather big brackets. so.. er.. are yours ceramics with small brackets, or.. help me, please?