TinkB's Story

[TinkB]

I am 31 years old, with 2 kids and have been married for over 10 years. I had braces for almost 4 years in my teens and was not given a retainer but some weird black mouth guard to wear at night. Well, after having it for over a year, my dog ate it. The stupid dog chewed up the case it was in on my dresser and ate the mouth guard. My dad told me it was my fault and never replaced it.

My parents were not big on dentist. The only reason I got braces was because my grandpa gave my parents the money for it because my teeth were really messed up.

Fast forward to today....I have my brackets on and I am having oral surgery to have 4 premolars extracted on Friday. I am really nervous about having general anesthesia again. I had it 11 months ago when I had my 4 impacted wisdom teeth removed, glad I don't have to do that again. Every story I have read on here about having premolars extracted, everyone seems to be awake and numbed. My oral surgeon says that my top 2 are considered surgical extractions because they both have 2 roots. He says I will be more comfortable with general anesthesia and it will probably take 40 minutes or less to remove all 4. It's just that I am scared to be put under again. Maybe because I am afraid I won't wake up.

I have been a little bit of a wreck thinking about having 4 perfectly good teeth removed but I trust my orthodontist. I have a mild overjet and moderate crowding and I can even see that there is no way to bring everything together if, I keep all of my teeth. Bless her heart for giving me the option but my profile would stick out too far.

All I have been doing over the past few years is obsessing about teeth. I notice people's smile and I am envious. It's hard to go through braces again.

I am trying to be brave for my daughters. My oldest is like me and has big teeth and a small mouth, poor thing. I feel bad that she inherited my teeth traits. Hopefully my youngest has her daddy's teeth.

I feel like I could go on and on. I am a SAHM and I don't have a lot of friends or supportive family members. My dad keeps calling me and telling me not to be vein about my teeth. He feels that I am already married so, I have nothing to worry about. My mom thinks it's wrong for me to be taking money away from my family for my teeth. I just wish they knew that it is not 100% for straight teeth. I also have very crooked bottom teeth and 2 of them are rising out because they don't meet with my upper teeth. My dentist says if I keep going like this, I will lose my bottom 4 teeth in the future. I don't want to lose my teeth. That is really scary. I would also like to be able to enjoy certain foods that you have to bit into (cheeseburgers, an apple, pizza, etc.) without feeling pain.

I just hope that I am making all the right decisions. My husband's insurance does not cover adult braces so, I guess I am taking money from my family. It's funny that it doesn't bother my husband and my kids don't seem to notice the difference. I guess only time will tell.

I get my wires put on and the rest of my molar bands on May 25th. So really, my braces journey does not start till then. So far, I have really crooked teeth with a roller coaster of brackets going up, down, and sideways.

Wow....you can tell I don't get out much.

I am actually scare to post this.....

[Jensniffer]

I don't think you need to explain to anyone why you want them, you said you are a SAHM, so I know you give everything for your family, its ok to give a little something back to yourself, what ever your reasons. I am 34 and getting them on for the first time on May 27. I was the second child, my sister the oldest had braces but I guess my family didn't think my teeth were deserving enough or something so I never got them as a teenager. It has always made me feel very self concious, like when I talking to people I feel like they are staring at my teeth, it makes me not smile as much as I should, as I deserve to! So I am right there with ya sister!! Bring on the braces, bring on our self confidence!

[kmluvgod]

Congradulations Tinkb for taking the plunge It seems we have alot in common. Ill be 31 next month with 3 kids and a loving hubby. My oldest daughter has been braced for 3 months and I decided to take the plunge myself. I had 7 teeth pulled (4 wisdom teeth) and still recovering. I was given IV sedation and local anesthesia I dont remember alot but the worst part is recovering and boy does my jaw really hurt. I have a small mouth with big teeth OH MY GOD I HATE MY TEETH!! I have always wanted braces, but my granny never could afford them. Its so refreshing to find a sight where you can freely discuss an insecurity that you spend so much time trying to cover up. My God I can go on and on but just wanted to stop by and introduce myself and wish you luck. I havent been braced yet but hoping soon.

[TinkB]

I don't think you need to explain to anyone why you want them, you said you are a SAHM, so I know you give everything for your family, its ok to give a little something back to yourself, what ever your reasons. I am 34 and getting them on for the first time on May 27. I was the second child, my sister the oldest had braces but I guess my family didn't think my teeth were deserving enough or something so I never got them as a teenager. It has always made me feel very self concious, like when I talking to people I feel like they are staring at my teeth, it makes me not smile as much as I should, as I deserve to! So I am right there with ya sister!! Bring on the braces, bring on our self confidence!

I always feel like people are looking at my teeth and judging me. I know it is silly but I am so self conscious. I even felt bad when my 8 year old asked why my teeth were sticking out. It actually made me feel bad and I don't want her to be embarrassed by me. I know she loves me dearly but I am that self conscious about myself. Having my 4 premolars extracted are really going to add to this.

I know it will be worth it in the end. Its just hard when everything is just beginning.

It looks like we will be May braced buddies.

[TinkB]

Congradulations Tinkb for taking the plunge It seems we have alot in common. Ill be 31 next month with 3 kids and a loving hubby. My oldest daughter has been braced for 3 months and I decided to take the plunge myself. I had 7 teeth pulled (4 wisdom teeth) and still recovering. I was given IV sedation and local anesthesia I dont remember alot but the worst part is recovering and boy does my jaw really hurt. I have a small mouth with big teeth OH MY GOD I HATE MY TEETH!! I have always wanted braces, but my granny never could afford them. Its so refreshing to find a sight where you can freely discuss an insecurity that you spend so much time trying to cover up. My God I can go on and on but just wanted to stop by and introduce myself and wish you luck. I havent been braced yet but hoping soon.

What pushed me to do this now was when my daughter's dentist said she didn't need braces this year. It made me want to "beat her" to getting them on so, maybe I can get them off before her. She knows she will need braces eventually so, this has been a learning experience for her. Too bad it means I have to wait till she goes to bed before I complain.

It was nice to meet you and it is really encouraging to see people who are just starting out like me and people who are close to being done.

[TinkB]

My extractions are happening tomorrow.

I have been cleaning the house, doing laundry and making a grocery list for my husband. I hate being down & out for a few days but can't make any progress with these teeth till those 4 premolars are gone. So, I know it has to happen but at the same time, it is hard to agree to remove 4 perfectly good teeth. Oh well....I guess that means I will have less to floss.

[stepher7]

Good for you for going ahead and doing this for yourself! I wouldn't look at it as taking money away from your family at all. When you think about it, you're probably saving yourself money in the long run. I've read on many people's stories that their dentists warned them that if they didn't correct their teeth then eventually they would lose teeth. Gum recession can also happen when your teeth aren't situated correctly in your jaw (I know, I had gum grafts on 4 teeth). That surgery is SOOO expensive!! You could end up having to have multiple dental procedures done over the years if you just left your teeth and let them get worse. And at 31 you're still so young and will have plenty of years of a beautiful, healthy smile when the braces come off. I think that people who never had braces, or never HATED their teeth, don't quite understand how self conscious you can be of your smile. I know for a fact that none of my friends or most of my family ever thought that I needed braces. I've dated quite a bit, never had a problem there, and I'm a happy, confident and outgoing person. I just learned to hide what I hated. When all of my girlfriends were beaming into the camera I would try to give the best closed mouth smile I could, or only smile openly if the camera was far enough away. Try not to let other people's negativity get you down. It will all be worth it in the end. Good luck with the extractions, you'll do fine! I was apprehensive about being put out when I had my wisdom teeth removed and when I had the gum surgery. I also had the frightening thought of "What if something happens and I don't wake up?" I think it's normal to feel that way, but it will be just fine and will be over before you know it. Enjoy your few days of rest that you'll get afterwards!

[catgyrl]

Hi Tink!

Just finished reading your story. I think it's interesting how so many people automatically think that an adult getting braces is doing it "for vanity reasons". I, too, was accused of that. I guess, in a way, that was my initial reason for it. I hated looking like a "bucky beaver". But after my consultation, when I found out about the importance of a proper bite, and how with an improper bite, you can wear your teeth down to the point where you may lose them, I was convinced I needed it more than ever. My mother brags that getting all her teeth pulled in her 20's was "the best thing I ever did!" Uh... mom... that's why I'm getting braces: so I can KEEP my teeth! My siblings all have crooked and/or missing teeth, and they're the ones giving me grief. Compared to them, my overjet is minor. I honestly think that most of the ones who pooh-pooh it, secretly wish they had done it/could do it themselves.

You hold your head high! I agree with Jensniffer - you need to give back to yourself, after giving to others for so long. Trust me - as soon as you start to see those teeth moving back into place, you will be SO HAPPY you did it.

Good luck with your extractions tomorrow. I have to say that even though it will feel like the gaps are a mile wide, from the front, you will barely be able to see them. I had to point mine out to my coworkers because they never noticed it. Premolars are far enough back that they're not very noticeable. I didn't even need any painkillers... not even Tylenol... for mine. (Then again, mine was only one, versus your four.) But I'm sure your hubby will take good care of you.

Are you going to post pics during your braces journey?

-Cathy

[Jensniffer]

What pushed me to do this now was when my daughter's dentist said she didn't need braces this year. It made me want to "beat her" to getting them on so, maybe I can get them off before her. She knows she will need braces eventually so, this has been a learning experience for her. Too bad it means I have to wait till she goes to bed before I complain.

It was nice to meet you and it is really encouraging to see people who are just starting out like me and people who are close to being done.

OMG me too! My son is 10 and I have been going to the ortho with him but we are still waiting a few years but they gave him a spacer and suggested some extractions etc. I wanted to get mine on and done before he started his haha

[poppy123]

Hi TinkB, just read your story and saw that today is your day for extractions. They're probably done by now so just wanted to say I hope it wasn't too bad, and hang in there!!

You said you are a SAHM, I hope I don't seem really ignorant but I don't know what this means and am wondering now

[kmluvgod]

Hi there TinkB hope all is well with you today. Poppy123 SAHM MEANS STAY AT HOME MOM.

[Harriet]

Hi TinkB. I hope your extractions went well! I can totally appreciate your issues with self confidence related to teeth. My mum seemed upset when I told her I was getting braces to close the gap between my front teeth. Apparently the gap makes me 'me' but all it does is crush my self confidence so it can't be me at all!
Good luck with the rest of your brace journey!

[TinkB]

Extractions are done!!!!

It was honestly not as bad as I thought they would be. I expected that it was going to be as bad as my wisdom teeth and that really scared me because I had a looooong recovery last time.

The procedure took 30 minutes and I did IV sedation. It is not fun noticing these huge gaps in my mouth. I feel like my teeth are so dirty. I brush every time I eat but I feel gross.

The bottoms are healing really good. The gums are already starting to fill in. My tops are a different story. They look like huge, deep, dark caves. I really hope that is normal. I am still terrified about dry socket but I heard that it is not as common on top.

Thank you for the support. I get my wires put in on Wednesday and I have a follow-up with the Oral Surgeon on Thursday.

I do realize that Wednesday is going to be the start of everything. Not looking forward to the pain and discomfort but I am sure I will live.

[TinkB]

Found out that I have dry socket in my upper left extraction site.

Now I am waiting a couple of hours for the ortho to call back because they might not put the wires in my braces tomorrow. They have 2 more bands to glue on and they don't want irritate the dry socket so, now I am waiting and nervous.

The oral surgeon said he didn't see a problem with my appointment tomorrow.

That's what I get for calling the ortho. My husband thought I should give them the heads up and now I might have to wait. That means I have been wearing these brackets, making no progress, for nothing and I might have to wait even longer.

[TinkB]

I got to get my first wires installed on Wednesday. I am officially braced up.

I go back in 5 weeks for my first adjustment. The ortho said that I should see some movement and gap closer but at my next adjustment, she is really going to get things moving. Insert excited and scared face.

My top and bottom social six are sore. Everyday seems to get a little bit less. The first night was h-e-l-l flossing. It actually brought tears to my eyes.

I have also been hit in the face 1 time so far by my 3 year old. I was holding her in the grocery store and she turned real quick to look at something and she hit me with her head. I should keep a tally sheet of how many times over the next 2+ years one of my kids hits me. lol