Re: Braces are now on - OUCH!!! Diane

[Guest guest]

Hi Diane,

Thank you for your reply Diane. I am actually feeling a lot better

tonight. I did try the wax and it really helped the worst spot. I

am tender in a lot of areas, but it really was only a few that were

really bad. And I ate a baked pototo tonight, which not only tasted

great, but it made me feel more normal. I can do blender and a few

softer foods.

I don't know why the lowers couldn't be put lingually. But I have a

very small mouth (they have to use small kids brackets and molds on

the lowers), and a receded lower jaw too. My tongue is already

retracted when my mouth is closed (I am just thinking out loud

here), so it may be that he thought I just couldn't swallow at all

if the brackets were anywhere else. I am going to ask, but I am

thinking there may have been a reason for it. The one thing I do

want to mention to him also is that the ledge is a new spot for me

to grind (I do this terribly), and I have already broken some bits

off my already small lower front teeth by grinding on the ledge.

That may be a problem I don't have a lot of tooth surface to spare

for breakage. I know what you mean about it taking a lot of time

too. My teeth are straight now, and when the braces do their job,

my teeth will have spaces between them and not be straight!! OOPS!!

I knew I was a complex case to begin with. This isn't a complaint

of my OD. I know he is actually working really hard to make this

work for me. I am just going to have to ante up a little more moxy

to get through this better. I made this decision to go forward, and

I still think it is the right decision. I will make it work. I

will!!

Soup and mush are now going to be my FAVORITE foods!! lol

Hugs,

Fran

> > Hi Everyone,

> > Well, I did get my braces on Thursday. I know I have seen many

of

> > you getting your braces on, still I really did not understand

how

> > much they HURT!!! Part of my problem with them may be that

since I

> > have a really really deep bite, they had to put a small " ledge "

(my

> > OD called it something else, but I can't remember the name right

> > now) behind my two front teeth that stop my bite from going

beyond

> > the point where they would sheer off the braces brackets if my

bite

> > went too deep. The result is that the only place my teeth even

> come

> > close to touching is on that very itty bitty ledge. So forget

> > eating! I have a new understanding of the difficulties that

people

> > with open bites experience all the time. It is awful! I can't

eat

> > anything that has more than the consistency of mush. My tongue,

> > which has been always before been a prisoner in my mouth that is

> too

> > small and with too deep a bite, has no clue how to mobilize food

in

> > my mouth. I come fairly close on the right back molars, but I

> still

> > can't even " chew " boiled veggies small enough to swallow. I am

> > having to chop up spagetti!!

> >

> > My teeth are sore, which I was expecting, and the insides of my

> > cheeks, where there are little poles in addition to the

brackets,

> > are raw - I also expected that. But my tongue, which is already

> > pushed back into my throat due to the insufficiency of my lower

> jaw,

> > is now even further back due to the ledge behind my two front

> > teeth. And it hurts! What little movement it has is compomised

by

> > that ledge. It is raw too. I grind my teeth on that ledge, and

> > that hurts!!

> >

> > Anyway, sorry to rant here about it, but while I thought I was

> > prepared for the braces and getting used to them, I really

wasn't

> > prepared for this!! I am not eating, just so I can avoid the

pain

> > of using the brush to clean them out. My mouth is so small, and

> > pulling my already sore cheek back and trying to fit the brush

> > inbetween the wires is killing me.

> >

> > Do you have any suggestions? Have you had this before? Please

> > share with me how you coped with it. I know some of it will get

> > better as my tissue becomes toughened, but the chewing and

> inability

> > to move the food bolus is going to be something I have to deal

with

> > eventually. Can you help?

> > Hugs,

> > Fran

[Guest guest]

Fran - A few questions: What color of o-rings did you choose? - I

chose silver as my OD recommended them because they don't discolor.

Does your OD use Continuous Force Wires like the ones my OD uses?

They constantly move the teeth and you feel pressure on your teeth

all the time. ~~~~~ Diane

> > > Hi Everyone,

> > > Well, I did get my braces on Thursday. I know I have seen many

> of

> > > you getting your braces on, still I really did not understand

> how

> > > much they HURT!!! Part of my problem with them may be that

> since I

> > > have a really really deep bite, they had to put a small " ledge "

> (my

> > > OD called it something else, but I can't remember the name

right

> > > now) behind my two front teeth that stop my bite from going

> beyond

> > > the point where they would sheer off the braces brackets if my

> bite

> > > went too deep. The result is that the only place my teeth even

> > come

> > > close to touching is on that very itty bitty ledge. So forget

> > > eating! I have a new understanding of the difficulties that

> people

> > > with open bites experience all the time. It is awful! I can't

> eat

> > > anything that has more than the consistency of mush. My

tongue,

> > > which has been always before been a prisoner in my mouth that

is

> > too

> > > small and with too deep a bite, has no clue how to mobilize

food

> in

> > > my mouth. I come fairly close on the right back molars, but I

> > still

> > > can't even " chew " boiled veggies small enough to swallow. I am

> > > having to chop up spagetti!!

> > >

> > > My teeth are sore, which I was expecting, and the insides of my

> > > cheeks, where there are little poles in addition to the

> brackets,

> > > are raw - I also expected that. But my tongue, which is

already

> > > pushed back into my throat due to the insufficiency of my lower

> > jaw,

> > > is now even further back due to the ledge behind my two front

> > > teeth. And it hurts! What little movement it has is

compomised

> by

> > > that ledge. It is raw too. I grind my teeth on that ledge,

and

> > > that hurts!!

> > >

> > > Anyway, sorry to rant here about it, but while I thought I was

> > > prepared for the braces and getting used to them, I really

> wasn't

> > > prepared for this!! I am not eating, just so I can avoid the

> pain

> > > of using the brush to clean them out. My mouth is so small,

and

> > > pulling my already sore cheek back and trying to fit the brush

> > > inbetween the wires is killing me.

> > >

> > > Do you have any suggestions? Have you had this before? Please

> > > share with me how you coped with it. I know some of it will

get

> > > better as my tissue becomes toughened, but the chewing and

> > inability

> > > to move the food bolus is going to be something I have to deal

> with

> > > eventually. Can you help?

> > > Hugs,

> > > Fran

[Guest guest]

Hi Diane,

Due to what they are doing with my molars, (they are actully pulling

them out gently and then the bone will fill in the mild gaps that

result - to make my mouth volume longer from my deep bite) I

couldn't get the braces that have color options at all. I am

complete tin mouth! lol But really, that is okay.

I only have wires, and they are the continuous force ones from what

I understand anyway. That is a good question I am going to ask the

OD though. They were put on as one continuous wire through the

brackets. I am allergic to latex, so have no bands yet. They said

they do have some non latex bands, but I won't have any of those

anytime soon from what I understand.

Feeling better today. Will just get used to mush! lol

Hugs,

Fran

> > > > Hi Everyone,

> > > > Well, I did get my braces on Thursday. I know I have seen

many

> > of

> > > > you getting your braces on, still I really did not

understand

> > how

> > > > much they HURT!!! Part of my problem with them may be that

> > since I

> > > > have a really really deep bite, they had to put a

small " ledge "

> > (my

> > > > OD called it something else, but I can't remember the name

> right

> > > > now) behind my two front teeth that stop my bite from going

> > beyond

> > > > the point where they would sheer off the braces brackets if

my

> > bite

> > > > went too deep. The result is that the only place my teeth

even

> > > come

> > > > close to touching is on that very itty bitty ledge. So

forget

> > > > eating! I have a new understanding of the difficulties that

> > people

> > > > with open bites experience all the time. It is awful! I

can't

> > eat

> > > > anything that has more than the consistency of mush. My

> tongue,

> > > > which has been always before been a prisoner in my mouth

that

> is

> > > too

> > > > small and with too deep a bite, has no clue how to mobilize

> food

> > in

> > > > my mouth. I come fairly close on the right back molars, but

I

> > > still

> > > > can't even " chew " boiled veggies small enough to swallow. I

am

> > > > having to chop up spagetti!!

> > > >

> > > > My teeth are sore, which I was expecting, and the insides of

my

> > > > cheeks, where there are little poles in addition to the

> > brackets,

> > > > are raw - I also expected that. But my tongue, which is

> already

> > > > pushed back into my throat due to the insufficiency of my

lower

> > > jaw,

> > > > is now even further back due to the ledge behind my two

front

> > > > teeth. And it hurts! What little movement it has is

> compomised

> > by

> > > > that ledge. It is raw too. I grind my teeth on that ledge,

> and

> > > > that hurts!!

> > > >

> > > > Anyway, sorry to rant here about it, but while I thought I

was

> > > > prepared for the braces and getting used to them, I really

> > wasn't

> > > > prepared for this!! I am not eating, just so I can avoid

the

> > pain

> > > > of using the brush to clean them out. My mouth is so small,

> and

> > > > pulling my already sore cheek back and trying to fit the

brush

> > > > inbetween the wires is killing me.

> > > >

> > > > Do you have any suggestions? Have you had this before?

Please

> > > > share with me how you coped with it. I know some of it will

> get

> > > > better as my tissue becomes toughened, but the chewing and

> > > inability

> > > > to move the food bolus is going to be something I have to

deal

> > with

> > > > eventually. Can you help?

> > > > Hugs,

> > > > Fran

[Guest guest]

I found that my guy used a lot of varied types of wires -- or at

least that's what I think I remember. The biggest were somewhere in

the neighborhood of 25 or 26, if I'm remembering right, and were

great, square, stainless things. In the meantime tehre were ones with

a sort of rifling on them, some with rear ends that had to be

trimmed, because their movement made them poke into the cheeks and

gums as the teeth moved. Some that even worked themselves out of the

molar tubes as they moved the teeth.

You'll probably also discover, if you look carefully, that a lot of

them have a little mark just about where your midlines are -- or

should be.

As for O-rings -- I had the natural colored ones the first time out.

From then on, they used wire ties coated with white teflon up top -I

had the ceramic braces, and the wires coated with teflon didn't

stain. Pretty much throughout I had the wire ties on the bottom, too,

as they could let my ortho reach out and " lassoo " any wayward teeth

(of which there were a plenty) into the circuit.

And then there were the power chains - which I am unusual in that I

liked, as they cushioned the wire ties a bit. If they ever do get to

wire tying you, check BEFORE you leave the doc's office to be sure

that they didn't leave out a bracket by mistake, and that they tuck

the ends of the little wire ties under the brackets and arch wires.

Otherwise, you can get poked quite a bit, but my ortho was right on

my way to and from work, and his folks were awfully nice about

letting me pop in to tend to a little sticker.

It is amazing to see all the gear they use. My ortho has a Suburban

loaded with archwires, ties, o-rings, mold making stuff and heaven

only knows what else. He runs about a six-chair office, and

effectively takes it all over the large county in which we live. One

day at the north end, one day at the south, one in the middle and two

at home base.

Cammie

> > > > Hi Everyone,

> > > > Well, I did get my braces on Thursday. I know I have seen

many

> > of

> > > > you getting your braces on, still I really did not understand

> > how

> > > > much they HURT!!! Part of my problem with them may be that

> > since I

> > > > have a really really deep bite, they had to put a

small " ledge "

> > (my

> > > > OD called it something else, but I can't remember the name

> right

> > > > now) behind my two front teeth that stop my bite from going

> > beyond

> > > > the point where they would sheer off the braces brackets if

my

> > bite

> > > > went too deep. The result is that the only place my teeth

even

> > > come

> > > > close to touching is on that very itty bitty ledge. So

forget

> > > > eating! I have a new understanding of the difficulties that

> > people

> > > > with open bites experience all the time. It is awful! I

can't

> > eat

> > > > anything that has more than the consistency of mush. My

> tongue,

> > > > which has been always before been a prisoner in my mouth that

> is

> > > too

> > > > small and with too deep a bite, has no clue how to mobilize

> food

> > in

> > > > my mouth. I come fairly close on the right back molars, but

I

> > > still

> > > > can't even " chew " boiled veggies small enough to swallow. I

am

> > > > having to chop up spagetti!!

> > > >

> > > > My teeth are sore, which I was expecting, and the insides of

my

> > > > cheeks, where there are little poles in addition to the

> > brackets,

> > > > are raw - I also expected that. But my tongue, which is

> already

> > > > pushed back into my throat due to the insufficiency of my

lower

> > > jaw,

> > > > is now even further back due to the ledge behind my two front

> > > > teeth. And it hurts! What little movement it has is

> compomised

> > by

> > > > that ledge. It is raw too. I grind my teeth on that ledge,

> and

> > > > that hurts!!

> > > >

> > > > Anyway, sorry to rant here about it, but while I thought I

was

> > > > prepared for the braces and getting used to them, I really

> > wasn't

> > > > prepared for this!! I am not eating, just so I can avoid the

> > pain

> > > > of using the brush to clean them out. My mouth is so small,

> and

> > > > pulling my already sore cheek back and trying to fit the

brush

> > > > inbetween the wires is killing me.

> > > >

> > > > Do you have any suggestions? Have you had this before?

Please

> > > > share with me how you coped with it. I know some of it will

> get

> > > > better as my tissue becomes toughened, but the chewing and

> > > inability

> > > > to move the food bolus is going to be something I have to

deal

> > with

> > > > eventually. Can you help?

> > > > Hugs,

> > > > Fran

[Guest guest]

Hi Cammie,

You are right. There is one wall in the OD office that is just for

gear and supplies! I mean it is a LONGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGg wall

and it is full. That is just for patient supplies. They let you go

in and get whatever super floss, pics, brushes etc you want whenever

you want. Pretty cool.

I had the midline mark, but I have been brushing rather

compulsively, and the mark is already gone. A few days back

actually! Oops!

I don't have any bands or rings yet. But there seems to be a

constant pull on my teeth. I think that is why they are sore.

Amazing how much seems to being pulled, and I have 2 more years to

go!!! WHOA!!

Thanks for helping me with this. I really appreciate it!

Hugs,

Fran

> > > > > Hi Everyone,

> > > > > Well, I did get my braces on Thursday. I know I have seen

> many

> > > of

> > > > > you getting your braces on, still I really did not

understand

> > > how

> > > > > much they HURT!!! Part of my problem with them may be

that

> > > since I

> > > > > have a really really deep bite, they had to put a

> small " ledge "

> > > (my

> > > > > OD called it something else, but I can't remember the name

> > right

> > > > > now) behind my two front teeth that stop my bite from

going

> > > beyond

> > > > > the point where they would sheer off the braces brackets

if

> my

> > > bite

> > > > > went too deep. The result is that the only place my teeth

> even

> > > > come

> > > > > close to touching is on that very itty bitty ledge. So

> forget

> > > > > eating! I have a new understanding of the difficulties

that

> > > people

> > > > > with open bites experience all the time. It is awful! I

> can't

> > > eat

> > > > > anything that has more than the consistency of mush. My

> > tongue,

> > > > > which has been always before been a prisoner in my mouth

that

> > is

> > > > too

> > > > > small and with too deep a bite, has no clue how to

mobilize

> > food

> > > in

> > > > > my mouth. I come fairly close on the right back molars,

but

> I

> > > > still

> > > > > can't even " chew " boiled veggies small enough to swallow.

I

> am

> > > > > having to chop up spagetti!!

> > > > >

> > > > > My teeth are sore, which I was expecting, and the insides

of

> my

> > > > > cheeks, where there are little poles in addition to the

> > > brackets,

> > > > > are raw - I also expected that. But my tongue, which is

> > already

> > > > > pushed back into my throat due to the insufficiency of my

> lower

> > > > jaw,

> > > > > is now even further back due to the ledge behind my two

front

> > > > > teeth. And it hurts! What little movement it has is

> > compomised

> > > by

> > > > > that ledge. It is raw too. I grind my teeth on that

ledge,

> > and

> > > > > that hurts!!

> > > > >

> > > > > Anyway, sorry to rant here about it, but while I thought I

> was

> > > > > prepared for the braces and getting used to them, I really

> > > wasn't

> > > > > prepared for this!! I am not eating, just so I can avoid

the

> > > pain

> > > > > of using the brush to clean them out. My mouth is so

small,

> > and

> > > > > pulling my already sore cheek back and trying to fit the

> brush

> > > > > inbetween the wires is killing me.

> > > > >

> > > > > Do you have any suggestions? Have you had this before?

> Please

> > > > > share with me how you coped with it. I know some of it

will

> > get

> > > > > better as my tissue becomes toughened, but the chewing and

> > > > inability

> > > > > to move the food bolus is going to be something I have to

> deal

> > > with

> > > > > eventually. Can you help?

> > > > > Hugs,

> > > > > Fran