Adult Braces Experience

Irish Heidi wrote: »

My ortho didn't speak to me about cleaning or care, it was the dental nurse/hygienist who looked after that but she didn't mention it during the consult after getting the braces on.
But maybe most people manage the flossing better than me :-/
They seem to be really popular in the States going by the number of YouTube videos on flossing with braces!
You might find them cheaper online. I was just too impatient to wait 5 days for postage.
As for their effectiveness (or my ability to use it effectively) I suppose we'll see how I get on at my first proper appointment at the end of the month!

I just wanna say thank you very much for this waterpik. you don't understand how i struggle everyday!

do you guys use also any mouthwash? and how often do you brush your teeth daily? i brush it twice daily but i feel it is not enough.

Can I ask what mouthwash you use?

I'm getting 2 teeth out next week. Dreading it and the gaps

Got confirmation yesterday that my braces are coming off in two weeks!!

The top ones will have been on for 13 months, the bottom ones just 12. I think I must have been very lucky with how quickly they moved. Nice early Christmas present for me!

Hello123 wrote: »

Hi all,
I got 2 premolars extracted yesterday on my left side. I am absolutely beside myself as to WHY I went ahead with it. AND I'm going to have to go through it again in a weeks time. The gaps are massive and I feel like a fool telling people that I got them out VOLUNTARILY

The fact that I can get a good look in the hole is the worst part as it is so disgusting.
I'm just really down about the whole thing at the moment

How come you got them removed, is it to make room for other teeth to move when you get a brace?
Sorry I haven't read the whole thread, you may have explained this already!
I'm interested as I will need teeth removed too when I get mine
Are you in much pain? Were you awake when they were taken out? Is it awful?

Hello123 wrote: »

Hi there, I'm new to the thread so also haven't read it all!

Yes teeth had to come out to make space as my teeth are very overcrowded. I had my self in a state before getting the teeth actually pulled, but it didn't hurt at all. A lot of uncomfortable pressure getting the top one out but the bottom was out so quickly. I took a painkiller this morning and am fine pain wise since. Slept badly because the extractions were late last night and I had to sleep elevated. Also I guess the whole thing was on my mind, so that kept me awake too

It is the recovery that I am hating. The socket is disgusting and the gap is visible when i smile. One of the reasons I want my teeth fixed is because I show so much TOOTH when i smile. I dont even want to talk to people at the moment so im at home feeling sorry for myself

Ah you poor thing, I do feel for you as I have always had bad teeth and know how crippling it is to your self confidence.

But look at it this way, you are one HUGE step closer now to getting the smile you want, you've done most of the hard part and you will feel much better in a couple of days. I know you have to get it done again but that will only be another couple of days of misery.
Have you a date to get your braces fitted?
I haven't even seen an orthodontist yet as I just can't afford it right now, so even in your miserable state I am actually jealous of you! Lol

Less than 2 weeks to go until my braces come off, and one of the brackets broke last night The earliest they can fix it is Tuesday, and only after I insisted we don't just leave it for 2 weeks! If it was a back tooth that might have been ok, but it's a front top tooth so it's incredibly noticeable. It rotated around the wire, so it looks different to the others, and moves freely along the wire like a teeny tiny abacus. Talking to people in work tomorrow should be fun.

Hello123 wrote: »

Hi all,
I got 2 premolars extracted yesterday on my left side. I am absolutely beside myself as to WHY I went ahead with it. AND I'm going to have to go through it again in a weeks time. The gaps are massive and I feel like a fool telling people that I got them out VOLUNTARILY

The fact that I can get a good look in the hole is the worst part as it is so disgusting.
I'm just really down about the whole thing at the moment

Hello Hello 123!

I got four premolars out in the last two weeks, and my four wisdoms out this summer in prep for the braces, which I just got on today.

I totally feel your pain. From the side, the gaps look a bit funny - but they will close don't worry about telling people about it, instead tell them it's a normal thing to do these days in prep for braces - and think of the gorgeous smile you will have at the end. No pain, no gain!

I was having a good laugh grossing my parents out by showing them the gaps and the sockets - Don't let it get you down too much and think of how brave you have been to make this decision in the first place.

Lia_lia wrote: »

You can see the gaps closing on the pics I posted on this thread....

Don't suppose you could send me the URL for it? I couldnt find it with a search.

jokettle wrote: »

Less than 2 weeks to go until my braces come off, and one of the brackets broke last night The earliest they can fix it is Tuesday

Well, instead of fixing it today they went ahead and took the top braces off! I'm delighted The ortho said it wasn't worth replacing the bracket with only 10 days left before they were due to come off anyway.

I've been staring at myself in every reflective surface since this afternoon, and grinning like an eejit I just have to get used to the retainer now! The bottom ones are coming off next Thursday, and then I'm going to buy ALL the lipstick :pac:

Karsini wrote: »

Can I ask how the bracket came off? I've been afraid that one of mine might, but they've stayed put so far.

Blunt force to the face :pac:

I was getting into the back of a taxi, lost my balance (and for clarity's sake, I want to state that I'd had two Bulmer's Light over the course of about 6 hours, so I can't even blame the drink. I'm just *that* clumsy), and went face first into the seat rest of the front seat. I didn't feel anything, no pain, nothing, until I realised something was moving in my mouth! The bracket was fully away from the tooth, rolling up and down the wire like a mobile snaggletooth. Super attractive.

The ortho said I was very lucky not to have broken the tooth. The braces took the full brunt of it. I imagine this is why they give gum shields if you play contact sports!

Hi Hello123,

My treatment sounds very similar to yours.
I also had to get 4 teeth extracted to make room for my braces to do their work.
Two molars and two pre-molars had to go, all healthy.

After I got two of my teeth pulled I was beginning to question why the hell I agreed to this.
What was worse, was the next two teeth that were pulled was even more unpleasant.
One of the molars had to be cut up to try and extract it and it went on for about 40 - 50 mins.
By the time it came to the pre-molar the anaesthesia was starting to lose effect and boy did I feel it.

My extractions were done in September of last year and I got my braces on the following October for my bottom set and December for my top set.
I was 30 when I got them on, and it was something I always wanted to get done but kept putting it off.
After a few weeks you completely forget about them and nobody has ever commented on them to me about them.
I think they are so common now that nobody passes any heed of them, and I went for the ceramic clear brackets.

After 12 months the change is huge.
If you asked me back then would I do it again I'd have to seriously think about it.
Ask me now and without a doubt I would say yes. They look better and feel better.

My treatment was estimated to be 14 months but I still have large gaps on the top where my molars were extracted so I can't imagine them closing up in the next two months.
I'd be surprised if they are off before April but I've really had no issues with them so I'll wear them as long as they are needed.

They look like a mess to start with because the wire is zig zagging in all directions but you'd be surprised how quickly they begin to straighten.

I've been taking pictures of the changes every few weeks just to see the change over time, so I could do a kind of time lapse on it.
If people wanted to see the change I could post it up, but viewer discretion advised, my teeth were an overcrowded mess to start with