Braces.

J. Crawford · #1 08-13-2008, 05:19 PM

Any of you guys have them, want them, or wish you would have taken the opportunity? I just got my tops today, and am getting my bottoms and a biteplate on the 25th. I just wanted to know your experiences, overall results.

P.S. The pain isnt, so far, as bad as I expected.

P.S. that P.S. Hopefully Ill look like this smiley -->

Pilgrim · #2 08-13-2008, 05:30 PM

I had them. Both daughters and the wife had them. They're better than not having them.

My secret for when the braces were adjusted is one the daughters' orthodontist doesn't like: when my braces were adjusted, I got three sticks of gum and chewed them for at least two hours. It seemed to help my teeth move into their new position and I seldom had much discomfort afterward.

Orthodontists disapprove of gum - I call BS. Try the gum and just don't tear up the braces with it.

JimK · #3 08-13-2008, 05:31 PM

I got braces at 45...the Tuesday just before Thanksgiving (see below)*.
My teeth were 'too straight' (not enough of an overbite...dentist warned me I might have nubs by the time I hit 60).

So-
*At a Thanksgiving buffet, I could only eat scrambled eggs. Thank God they had 'em as I busted a back brace on a green bean. The tops were not that bad.
The bottoms really put a crimp on things.

End result-
I lost about 15 pounds over the 16-month period. I had wanted to lose 10, anyway.
I got back into the good habit of not eating after 7pm. It became a choice-
Eat something & then spend the next 30 minutes flossing/cleaning...or don't eat.

The other side is-
Don't fall into the bad habit of milk shakes. Another guy I know GAINED weight with braces.

Ensure was also good 'cause, trust me, I was not eating steak or burgers.

JimK · #4 08-13-2008, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

Orthodontists disapprove of gum - I call BS. Try the gum and just don't tear up the braces with it.

I did get off of gum. I used to spend $1+ a day on a pack...haven't chewed in 4-5 years now.
The adjusting of braces...not that bad & I typically got someone's boobs pressed into the side of my face as the girls used my head for leverage.

J. Crawford · #5 08-13-2008, 05:47 PM

Man, 45. I thought I was bad having them until I was a Junior. Sory about the timing man! atleast you are living the life now!

The thing that strikes me funny is my orthodontist makes me :
1) Wear headgear 10 hours a day.
2) Use a WaterPik, prescription toothpaste, etc.
3) Remember that my cheeks DO in fact have nerves in them.

My friends dentist, the most popular orthodontist locally:
1) Doesnt apply my 1 and 2.
3) Not sure about his toughness on cheeks.

I read about it, my orthodontist's ways make the process up to 6 months shorter, and keep you from having permanently stained, chiseled, wore away, etc. teeth. I do believe getting 1/4 of my time knocked off for 30 minutes a day, plus the hours for the headgear (when Im home) is worth it.

JimK · #6 08-13-2008, 05:53 PM

Forgot to add this-
You may still need to wear retainers after the braces come off. They're clear & look like something like the protective mouth pieces worn by athletes.

I didn't do any headgear (10 hours a day?!? No thank you).
I did not even use a waterpik...I did use an electric tooth brush for the 1st time & now I'm hooked on that.
All in all, I did not have a bad time.

J. Crawford · #7 08-13-2008, 05:59 PM

I wish I were as lucky as you...

bassaficionado6 · #8 08-13-2008, 06:08 PM

I had braces for six years becasue they had to rearrange them after they pulled six teeth out. So I had them from sixth grade until a week after my graduation. They blow, pretty much and I still have to wear a retainer, but it never stopped me from eating anything. I ate corn on the cob and hard candy and peanut butter and everything. Sometimes they're neccessary.

jazzy grille · #9 08-13-2008, 06:12 PM

I had them a long time ago (13 years). They didn't bother me none, getting them taken off was a little weird feeling though...

Pilgrim · #10 08-13-2008, 06:13 PM

The gum was just to help my teeth move around. It's not a habit I usually have.

J. Crawford · #11 08-13-2008, 06:15 PM

Not to be rude, but did you think the 6 years had something to do with all the "illegal" things you ate? I mean, I may be way off track, but that makes sense to me.

tplyons · #12 08-13-2008, 06:16 PM

Never had them. Wish I did when they were suggested in high school. My teeth are crooked, and now that I'm going into the professional world, metal braces aren't an option, so it looks like I'll be going the invisalign route later down the road.

toytech · #13 08-13-2008, 06:18 PM

My kids both have/have had them. My oldest has invisiline you can't even see them.

J. Crawford · #14 08-13-2008, 06:28 PM

Awhh, Invisilign. What a dream...

Scarlet Fire · #15 08-13-2008, 08:32 PM

I decided not to get them. I only have a small gap between my front two teeth. You can't even see it unless you're up close. I felt it wasn't worth the effort/money.

sonicvi · #16 08-13-2008, 08:36 PM

I have them right now, for the past 24 months. I hopefully only have a couple months to go. I don't regret it one bit. My teeth were pretty crooked (too much so for invisalign), lots of crowding on the bottom. I had a long way to go and it's surprising how quickly they can move. The pain was pretty bad at first. I could'nt eat solid food for abut a week, but after a few months each new adjustment got less and less painful. I haven't had any real pain from them in a long time. Well, i've had pain from scraped and poked gums and cheeks still from time to time, but not teeth pain.

jazzy grille · #17 08-13-2008, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordasch

Awhh, Invisilign. What a dream...

An expensive dream.

Well, at least when my Ex got them anyway.

L-A · #18 08-13-2008, 08:39 PM

Didn't need them. I'm a lucky guy with aligned teeth and false canines (3 rows of canines and no premolars).

Then came misaligned wisdom teeth, and karma hit me like an hour-long maxillo-facial surgery of bone-sawing and muscle-cutting.

JimK · #19 08-14-2008, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tplyons

...and now that I'm going into the professional world, metal braces aren't an option, so it looks like I'll be going the invisalign route later down the road.

Really? I didn't have that experience...in fact, it was an ice-breaker.
Some told me they were considering braces & it was cool to see someone their own age take the plunge.

sonicvi · #20 08-14-2008, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimK

Really? I didn't have that experience...in fact, it was an ice-breaker.
Some told me they were considering braces & it was cool to see someone their own age take the plunge.

he didn't say which profession it was