New to iBraces

[CaitlinC412]

Hi everyone!

My name is Caitlin and I'm new to the forum :-) I have already posted a blog, but thought I would make introductions here as well! I'm 23, and have just today been fitted with iBraces on my top arch and traditional braces on my lower arch. I am told my treatment should run 18 months. I have had no problems so far (I know, it's only been a day ;-) ) except for a slight lisp that I've been told will get better with time. I'm so glad a forum like this exists, great to be here and look forward to getting to know you all!

[Sunny]

Welcome to this forum Caitlin!

Great your start has been a good one, and here's to that continuing.

[CaitlinC412]

Thanks for the welcome Day two of braces has begun and, as expected, I'm in more pain than I was in yesterday. I have a question. I've noticed that when I drink anything, or when I rinse my mouth with salt water I can feel a pulling sensation from the bracket on my top front tooth. Everything looks fine in there. Could this be a result of the temperature change with hot or cold liquids? Or just my general current state of discomfort? Just wondering if anyone has any info Thanks everybody!

[Sunny]

Here's to day two getting better and day three, day four, day five etc!

Did your ortho discuss using archwires that are temperature controlled with you? It's quite possible that you have archwires that work best at mouth temperature, or slightly above that. They 'release' pressure when a person has cool liquids, which can also be felt by many people who have these type of archwires.

If the inside of your lower lip/cheeks or tongue is sore, please cover any brackets with wax, to allow your comfort level to improve and prevent mouth sores. Leave the wax on while you're eating, so that your comfort continues to improve.

Also keep yourself well hydrated! This is really important, as your mouth (and body) will feel better if you fluids levels are great. It's a good idea to carry a water bottle with you at all time, as a reminder to keep sipping!

Moisturise your lips. Often lips need more attention when someone gets braces. Well moistened lips will move more easily over brackets and also look good.

Hope this helps!

[CaitlinC412]

Hi Sunny

Thank you so much for the information. I will find out from my ortho if that is the case with my wires! I didn't even know something like that existed! I really appreciate your help and will continue to update with my progress :-D

[Tara19]

welcome to the board!

[mariahfromchicago]

welcome and hope all goes well

[nickelcosmetic]

welcome! I'm new too, but have had mine on (lingual upper and lower) for over a year! They are the best thing EVER invented! Talk to your ortho about anything weird like that and he/she will fix it, otherwise discomforts will reslove themselves. I love them, and most of the time forget that I have them on. I am a cosmetic nurse, and do procedures such as Botox, dermal fillers, etc. all day long. When I tell one of my patients that I have braces they are shocked. It is great! At 34, I just loved the idea of not seeing any braces or wires if I could have it done this way with ibraces. you will do great!!

[mariahfromchicago]

Welcome nickelcosmetic! Good luck with the rest of your treatment.

[Tara19]

ibraces are super cool.. my cousin just got them and she is also a nurse and wanted her treatment to go unnoticed... she loves them.

[steel]

Don't be scared....after the first few weeks,you won't them off

[newsboysgrl777]

can i ask a stupid question? What are ibraces? Is the i for invisible? If so, does that mean like ceramic? If so, then that's what I have and they aren't as 'invisible' as I had hoped..LOL. I soooo envy you, Nickel, for being able to have linguals. I didn't go for that as an option even (even though I should've asked about it and the pricing) just because I thought it would be MORE painful (rubbing on my tongue, etc., rather than my cheeks), and I have to say that I NEVER forget that I have braces on. LOL. Oooh, how I wish that was the case!! LOL (I have ceramic uppers only).

And Caitlin, to comment on the tightening sensation, I have that exact same feeling. I'm on my second wire - it's a little thicker than the super thin one I started with - and both of my wires so far have done this. I notice it with COLD beverages only, though. Warm beverages are fine. The only thing I could figure is that the cold was making them expand or something which was putting a different pressure on my brackets?? Please let me know what your ortho tells you!

PS Welcome!!!

[newsboysgrl777]

i just found the following info. on a website and thought it was interesting. Although, I guess I don't fully understand it (or, I should say, I don't fully understand how cold makes it feel like MORE pressure):

"NASA developed one of the late 20th century's most dramatic orthodontic breakthroughs: heat-activated nickel-titanium alloy wires. At room temperature, heat-activated nickel-titanium arch wires are very flexible. As they warm to body temperature they become active and gradually move the teeth in the anticipated direction. Because of their high-tech properties, these wires retain their tooth-moving abilities longer than ordinary metal wires and need less frequent attention from the orthodontist. Many orthodontists now employ heat-activated wires in their treatment plans." (A Brief History of Orthodontic Braces - ArchWired - at the very bottom of the page)

[Sunny]

Here's a good site for you to check out - click!

Lingual brackets are the only bracketing system that is invisible, due to the brackets being bonded to the back of your teeth. Lingual brackets do take a little more time to adjust to, than brackets bonded to the front of your teeth, but most patients adjust within a few weeks.

Hopefully before long you'll forget you have braces ... they're not worth thinking about most of the time, so it does become easier to spend time thinking about having a life than what's happening to our teeth. Good luck with this happening to you very soon!

[bazzles]

Hello Everyone!

My name is Al and I am developing a new website - it's actually a cool blog. If you are considering iBraces, or already have them and are under treatment, at any phase, this will be your site. I will be documenting my progress as well as my girlfriends progress regularly. I already have them and I am approaching 2 months worth of treatment, and I can't believe the results. My girlfriend will be getting hers in January of 2009.

I am a professional speaker and she is a corporate trainer. We will be launching our site officially soon,

Once we launch, you will be notified and you can join the community and learn, and maybe even document your own progress!

Looking forward to meeting you online soon -


Al

[Zoso]

Your girlfriend is lucky to have someone close by who can offer firsthand experience and advice as she gets started!

[reluctantibraces]

Hello Everyone!

My name is Al and I am developing a new website - it's actually a cool blog. If you are considering iBraces, or already have them and are under treatment, at any phase, this will be your site. I will be documenting my progress as well as my girlfriends progress regularly. I already have them and I am approaching 2 months worth of treatment, and I can't believe the results. My girlfriend will be getting hers in January of 2009.

I am a professional speaker and she is a corporate trainer. We will be launching our site officially soon,

Once we launch, you will be notified and you can join the community and learn, and maybe even document your own progress!

Looking forward to meeting you online soon -


Al

Hi Al--YES--please let me know when you launch your site...I will be interested in going on it and tracking my progress as well as learning and getting the support we all need. I don't know what I would do without this site, to just hear others stories and get support when you are having a bad day etc...
Look forward to checking your site out.