Age does not = Intelligence

[monarch64]

Deelight, glad to hear you''ll be getting de-braced before your wedding, that is awesome. December seems far away now, but by the time it rolls around you''ll be wondering where the time in between went, I promise.

Swingirl: The palate expanders work on those below the age of 21 or so because those bones haven''t quite fused together yet. In my case, I was 28 (?) when I got the palate expander installed. My ortho had me crank it open just to try on the off chance that I was atypical and mine had not yet fused together. It didn''t work, all I succeeded in doing was causing my molars to start tipping outward. The way they do the surgery to expand is somewhat barbaric--they actually use a mallet and chisel to pry the palate bones apart.

They make an incision above the eye teeth and go in that way, it''s hard to explain. My expander was cemented in place at the time of surgery, and after the surgery I used it to keep cranking my palate wider apart...I had about a 6mm gap between my front teeth for a few weeks, but the braces quickly closed it and I was well on my way to straight teeth then. The whole process sounds so primitive when I type it out here! Sorry for the graphic-ness...but hey, you asked. Ha ha!

 

[beau13]

Date: 1/26/2009 1:47:44 PM
Author: monarch64

Date: 1/26/2009 1:32:55 PM
Author: geckodani
Oh Monarch. I couldn''t help but giggle. I''m sorry that your dog ate your retainers.

And I''ve totally done similar things.

May I ask you a random question? Feel free to not answer. My teeth have shifted dramatically, and I should get braces again. Did you find it odd to have them as an adult? Maybe it''s a silly question, but I just remember feeling so awkward the first time around, that I''m kind of nervous to do it again.

Gecko, you can ask me questions all day long about braces/orthodontia/oral surgery and I will answer them all! I have no qualms about any of it, I am an open book. I did find it somewhat odd to have them as an adult, but honestly the comments I always received were ''oh, I wish I had gotten braces, I would still like to do so''--mainly people expressing that they wished their teeth were nice and straight but didn''t want to go through having braces. No one ever made a negative comment to me. I think the worst part of having them was going out to eat, so much food got caught in them that I would sometimes be embarrassed and self-conscious. Nothing a quick trip to the ladies'' room didn''t cure, though...I always carried a little kit with dental hygiene tools in my handbag for emergency cleanings. Also, I had clear brackets put on both top and bottom, and really my braces weren''t very noticeable according to most people. They are definitely tough to detect in pictures unless you know to look for them. If there are any other questions I can answer, feel free to ask!

Thank God for Invisilign!

 

[Deelight]

Not everyone is a candidate for invisalign.

Monarch I got upgraded to double elastics recently - YAY progress . This may sound strange, I think I might even miss my braces when they come off - I have become so used to them.

 

[monarch64]

Date: 3/19/2009 2:06:36 PM
Author: beau13

Date: 1/26/2009 1:47:44 PM
Author: monarch64

Date: 1/26/2009 1:32:55 PM
Author: geckodani
Oh Monarch. I couldn''t help but giggle. I''m sorry that your dog ate your retainers.

And I''ve totally done similar things.

May I ask you a random question? Feel free to not answer. My teeth have shifted dramatically, and I should get braces again. Did you find it odd to have them as an adult? Maybe it''s a silly question, but I just remember feeling so awkward the first time around, that I''m kind of nervous to do it again.

Gecko, you can ask me questions all day long about braces/orthodontia/oral surgery and I will answer them all! I have no qualms about any of it, I am an open book. I did find it somewhat odd to have them as an adult, but honestly the comments I always received were ''oh, I wish I had gotten braces, I would still like to do so''--mainly people expressing that they wished their teeth were nice and straight but didn''t want to go through having braces. No one ever made a negative comment to me. I think the worst part of having them was going out to eat, so much food got caught in them that I would sometimes be embarrassed and self-conscious. Nothing a quick trip to the ladies'' room didn''t cure, though...I always carried a little kit with dental hygiene tools in my handbag for emergency cleanings. Also, I had clear brackets put on both top and bottom, and really my braces weren''t very noticeable according to most people. They are definitely tough to detect in pictures unless you know to look for them. If there are any other questions I can answer, feel free to ask!

Thank God for Invisilign!

Beau, thanks for dredging up this old thread, I''d been meaning to respond back to Deelight again anyway.

Deelight, you are correct, not everyone is a candidate for Invisalign...were you considering Invisalign and denied? I remember asking my dentist about it, and he just sort of shook his head sadly. So great that you have made progress, and I definitely know what you mean about missing the braces! They really do become part of you. When are you scheduled to get them taken off?

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Date: 1/26/2009 1:32:55 PM
Author: geckodani
Oh Monarch. I couldn''t help but giggle. I''m sorry that your dog ate your retainers.

And I''ve totally done similar things.

May I ask you a random question? Feel free to not answer. My teeth have shifted dramatically, and I should get braces again. Did you find it odd to have them as an adult? Maybe it''s a silly question, but I just remember feeling so awkward the first time around, that I''m kind of nervous to do it again.

What about the invisalign thing? I''m in the same situation as you and I was considering them for awhile. I still might do them, but only on the top.

 

[katebar]

Mon for what it is worth I know heaps of people who''s dogs have eaten their retainers mine included! My dentist said that dogs hone in on the smell and chew away

 

[somegirl932]

Input on two different things:

I originally got my braces off around 13. Wore my retainers for a couple years, never lost or broke them.

I eventually stopped wearing them, my teeth shifted a bit, around 19 it was recommended that I do invisalign for about 6 months because I hadn't actually worn my retainers long enough and my teeth had shifted.

It wasn't anywhere near as bad as I remember braces, my teeth were back to perfect in like 5 months, I got retainers again...

This time, 6 or 7 years later, I accidentally broke one about a week later. Got a new set, accidentally threw those in the trash about a week after that. Woo.

 

[IloveAsschers13]

Hey-

My dog chewed off my 400 dollar mouth guard ends. the dentist said this is the most common thing she always hears! So don''t feel bad!

 

[Deelight]

Date: 3/19/2009 2:42:24 PM
Author: monarch64

Date: 3/19/2009 2:06:36 PM

Author: beau13

Date: 1/26/2009 1:47:44 PM

Author: monarch64

Date: 1/26/2009 1:32:55 PM

Author: geckodani

Oh Monarch. I couldn''t help but giggle. I''m sorry that your dog ate your retainers.

And I''ve totally done similar things.

May I ask you a random question? Feel free to not answer. My teeth have shifted dramatically, and I should get braces again. Did you find it odd to have them as an adult? Maybe it''s a silly question, but I just remember feeling so awkward the first time around, that I''m kind of nervous to do it again.

Gecko, you can ask me questions all day long about braces/orthodontia/oral surgery and I will answer them all! I have no qualms about any of it, I am an open book. I did find it somewhat odd to have them as an adult, but honestly the comments I always received were ''oh, I wish I had gotten braces, I would still like to do so''--mainly people expressing that they wished their teeth were nice and straight but didn''t want to go through having braces. No one ever made a negative comment to me. I think the worst part of having them was going out to eat, so much food got caught in them that I would sometimes be embarrassed and self-conscious. Nothing a quick trip to the ladies'' room didn''t cure, though...I always carried a little kit with dental hygiene tools in my handbag for emergency cleanings. Also, I had clear brackets put on both top and bottom, and really my braces weren''t very noticeable according to most people. They are definitely tough to detect in pictures unless you know to look for them. If there are any other questions I can answer, feel free to ask!

Thank God for Invisilign!

Beau, thanks for dredging up this old thread, I''d been meaning to respond back to Deelight again anyway.

Deelight, you are correct, not everyone is a candidate for Invisalign...were you considering Invisalign and denied? I remember asking my dentist about it, and he just sort of shook his head sadly. So great that you have made progress, and I definitely know what you mean about missing the braces! They really do become part of you. When are you scheduled to get them taken off?

Yup I was all set and requested them and got denied straight off, it is only a small select few in the population who are suitable - I got over it though quickly enough . My ortho is pretty cool though and has improved my teeth immensly they are so straight just closing up gpas now and correcting bite I think as far as I know it is still December but as long as they are off my May next year I am happy .

Hudson Invisalign is like a clear mouth plate that you can''t see and can remove when you eat your food and I think they get changed every fortnight (don''t quote me on that) they are more expensive then traditional braces though.

Normal braces are really not that bad, I have them and you can hardly notice them at all I just get clear band and have clear brackets on top and they are really not that noticeable.

This is a picture of when I first got them put on my teeth are much straighter now but you can barely tell they are there.

 

[Deelight]

and this is a pic with my teeth last year a lot straighter and with pink elastics on - I was travelling and didn''t want to deal with stained o-rings if I ate a curry or something.

You can still barely see them.

 

[monarch64]

Deelight, your teeth look awesome!!! Thanks for posting pics, it''s always fun to see the transformation.

Katebar, that''s exactly what my ortho said, that dogs love the smell of the retainers (ew, so gross!). Glad I''m not the only one!

Somegirl, how long were you supposed to wear your retainers the first time vs. how long did you actually wear them? My ortho is saying 6 months 24/7, and then only at night for an indefinite period of time. Just curious about how early is too early to stop wearing them. Opinions seem to differ greatly depending on who you ask.

Iloveasschers, Ouch! $400 mouthgards=big loss! My replacement retainers were only $50, still enough to hurt but not enough to break me, thankfully.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 3/20/2009 12:54:16 AM
Author: Deelight
and this is a pic with my teeth last year a lot straighter and with pink elastics on - I was travelling and didn't want to deal with stained o-rings if I ate a curry or something.

You can still barely see them.

Bruddah Dezza has a very preety smile!!!

Hiya Monnie!

 

[somegirl932]

Date: 3/20/2009 9:10:40 AM
Author: monarch64
Somegirl, how long were you supposed to wear your retainers the first time vs. how long did you actually wear them? My ortho is saying 6 months 24/7, and then only at night for an indefinite period of time. Just curious about how early is too early to stop wearing them. Opinions seem to differ greatly depending on who you ask.

I think it was more like a year 24/7 (which I did) and then nights indefinitely. It was the part where I was only supposed to wear them at night that I screwed up on. I just wouldn't remember to put them in. I maybe only wore them at night for 6 months? Oops.

 

[monarch64]

Date: 3/20/2009 9:17:42 AM
Author: somegirl932

Date: 3/20/2009 9:10:40 AM
Author: monarch64
Somegirl, how long were you supposed to wear your retainers the first time vs. how long did you actually wear them? My ortho is saying 6 months 24/7, and then only at night for an indefinite period of time. Just curious about how early is too early to stop wearing them. Opinions seem to differ greatly depending on who you ask.

I think it was more like a year 24/7 (which I did) and then nights indefinitely. It was the part where I was only supposed to wear them at night that I screwed up on. I just wouldn''t remember to put them in. I maybe only wore them at night for 6 months? Oops.

"Oops"--ha ha!

I think I''ll probably wear mine nonstop for a year, in all honesty. Of course, I say that now only two months into having them, but I really, really, really do not want to ever have to get braced again. Not even Invisalign!

One great feature of these retainers is that they can double as bleaching trays. I did Zoom whitening before I got braced, and I still have bleach left over. I asked my ortho about using it and he said by all means, go for it. So now I can use the retainers to bleach when I feel like I need a touch up.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 3/20/2009 9:17:06 AM
Author: Lorelei

Bruddah Dezza has a very preety smile!!!

Hiya Monnie!

Indeed!

 

[Deelight]

Thanks Monnie and Bruddah Lozza I am amazed how much they have moved it is so nice to have a smile I am proud of - when they come off it will only get better as well.


if anyone is thinking about be like the nike ad - JUST DO IT , best money I have ever spent.


ETA: Thanks Ellen

, it wasn't always nice.

 

[monarch64]

Hi Lorelei!!!

Deelight, I forgot to say also (when we were saying how braces become a part of you and you almost miss having them on), that my mouth feels so much smaller now that I don''t have them on anymore! It''s like my smile even got a little smaller, too...I look at pictures of myself from last summer and my smile looks huge (in a good way, ha ha) compared to pictures from now, and it doesn''t look as BIG. I don''t know, maybe it''s just me. I actually do miss them, though!

Random note: I had to go get a new IN driver''s license last week. I was really looking forward to having my picture taken with a nice big smile. When I got over to the blue screen to do the picture, the lady told me that if I smiled, I couldn''t show my teeth!!!

Apparently it''s some new security related rule they have. Also, if you have long hair, you have to put it up or push it behind your ears so that your ears show! So weird, and I was SO disappointed. Now I have a driver''s license picture that just looks like I''m ticked off.

 

[Deelight]

Monnie You might be on to something I swear my smile is wider now then it was before.

Can I ask you a question, did your ortho sever the little cords (not sure of the technical term) around your teeth to stop them from moving again, and if they did did it hurt?

 

[monarch64]

Date: 3/20/2009 9:59:35 AM
Author: Deelight
Monnie You might be on to something I swear my smile is wider now then it was before.

Can I ask you a question, did your ortho sever the little cords (not sure of the technical term) around your teeth to stop them from moving again, and if they did did it hurt?

??? I''m not sure what you mean? Like cords between your teeth in your gums?

 

[Deelight]

Date: 3/20/2009 10:03:20 AM
Author: monarch64

Date: 3/20/2009 9:59:35 AM

Author: Deelight

Monnie You might be on to something I swear my smile is wider now then it was before.


Can I ask you a question, did your ortho sever the little cords (not sure of the technical term) around your teeth to stop them from moving again, and if they did did it hurt?

??? I''m not sure what you mean? Like cords between your teeth in your gums?

I can''t remember what it is called exactly but there are like little cords in your gums that attach to your teeth and if they sever them your teeth won''t twist back. Does that make more sense?

 

[Tuckins1]

Lol.... Same thing happened to me. (But I was 13 years old...)

 

[monarch64]

Ok, Deelight, I think I understand now. I have never heard of that procedure and it wasn''t presented to me as an option. It sounds painful, though! Have you tried posing that question on archwired.com?

 

[Deelight]

Date: 3/20/2009 10:19:49 AM
Author: monarch64
Ok, Deelight, I think I understand now. I have never heard of that procedure and it wasn''t presented to me as an option. It sounds painful, though! Have you tried posing that question on archwired.com?

I haven''t yet because I still have so long to go. A friend of mine is getting it done soon so hopefully she can tell me . My ortho knows I am a sook he books me longer appointments and takes things slow.

 

[monarch64]

So would you be having that procedure done instead of wearing retainers? If your ortho wants to do that plus have you wear retainers it seems like overkill to me...but I don''t know that much about it. Also, I am not typically a proponent of doing any sort of surgery/cutting unless it''s absolutely necessary.

 

[monarch64]

Date: 3/20/2009 10:09:58 AM
Author: Tuckins1
Lol.... Same thing happened to me. (But I was 13 years old...)

That''s why I started a thread--it''s understandable and almost expected that a 13 yr. old would neglect their retainers, but a 31 yr. old should be more responsible! It was truly one of those Homer Simpson "D''oh" moments for me.

 

[Mara]

only $50 to replace?! when i was little i had to wear night-time HEADGEAR, remember that charming thing? well i am a side sleeper so it kept bending, my Mom said 'sleep on your back'...well try telling that to me as I am sleeping. doesn't work..anyway every time she had to replace a bent one it was like $100 and this was in 1970's! finally after 4-5 she said..you'll do this on your own dime when you are older. and off it came.

 

[monarch64]

Date: 3/20/2009 6:36:17 PM
Author: Mara
only $50 to replace?! when i was little i had to wear night-time HEADGEAR, remember that charming thing? well i am a side sleeper so it kept bending, my Mom said 'sleep on your back'...well try telling that to me as I am sleeping. doesn't work..anyway every time she had to replace a bent one it was like $100 and this was in 1970's! finally after 4-5 she said..you'll do this on your own dime when you are older. and off it came.

Only $50 I think because all they have to do to replace this type of retainer is melt more plastic on your impressions (that they already have), wait til it cools, and then trim off the excess. There isn't much labor or time involved and I think that's why the replacement set wasn't more expensive. ETA: to clarify, my retainers look exactly like Invisaligns.

I do remember headgear, but mainly from seeing it on characters on 80's sitcoms, like Mr. Belvedere, etc! At least you were fortunate enough to only have to wear it at night, even if it didn't work out so well for you.

Orthos and dentists must make a killing off just replacing broken or lost "parts" for kids...I bet they hate having responsible adult patients (well, except me) who don't have to come back time and again for replacements.