1 week down....

[Nushka]

Just wanted to say hi. Im 29 and had fixed braces for a week. Went back today to get molar bands fitted that didnt go very well so another week of spacers!!!! What a wierd week its been jus trying to act normal when talking to people whilst trying to see if they are staring at my teeth!!!.....

[Stephanie]

welcome nushka. you will find you are in great company here and many others from scotland also..

You'll get used to them quickly.. the spacers were the were part for me.. after that is was clear sailing!

Dont forget to keep your blog.

[Sunny]

Great you've found this forum Nushka!

Hope your bands are easier to get on at your next appointment.

Good luck with finding that most people don't care about your teeth and have lives that are more interesting. Our teeth sure interest us ... but then that's why we're made this decision.

[Candymomof3]

Hi Nushka---welcome, I love to hear everyone's stories and updates. I have had my braces on for 17 days now, and I have to say I am doing much better than I was in Week 1! The pain has gone away and so has much of my discomfort around other people...I am just proud to be getting things fixed finally!
I did not have to have molar bands, is that a common thing? Mine are attached to the 2nd to last molars on the side. I was happy when they said I didn't have to as I did not look forward to having spacers--I remember my daughters discomfort! Good luck!!!

[coconut]

Candy, it's not uncommon to be treated without molar bands. You've probably got buccal tubes (brackets with slots in them) attached to your molars. It won't make any difference to your treatment.

[Candymomof3]

thanks for the info, that does seem to be what I have.
What determines who doesn't need molar bands and who does? Seems like I escaped a lot of the discomfort of having the spacers and then have the bands wrapped around my molars. They tended to cause my oldest some rubbing pain. Not complaining LOL, just curious!
And why does my bite seem worse than 17 days ago???? I don't know how to describe it...my front teeth did not line up with my bottom teeth before (i'm not talking about the overbite, where my top goes over my bottom) but like now my top teeth seem to be to the right more or my bottom ones more to the left...It's wierd. I am getting gaps in my bottom teeth (they were previously the only straight teeth in my mouth too so I know they are shifting around. I'm sure it is a case of getting worse before it gets better, just didn't know if I am imagining my jaw now seeming crooked!

[mariahfromchicago]

I think it is personal preference of the orthodontist on whether or not bands are used.

I felt like my teeth got worse before they got better.

It's all part of it gets worse before it gets better

[Sunny]

Great that you're feeling better Candy!

I agree with what's been written above. Mostly the decision about whether to use molar buccal brackets or molar bands, is ortho preference. The buccal brackets are a more recent development and do appear to be a popular choice by many.

Often our bites get worse/feels different, before getting better. This happens a lot during the alignment stage as teeth are moved in and out of where they've been for a while.

Here's to more progress!

[coconut]

Candy, one possible reason for using bands as opposed to buccal tubes is in the case of a crowned tooth: sometimes a buccal tube will simply refuse to stick fast to a crown.

[Zoso]

I agree with Coconut - there are numerous reasons that an orthodontist may use molar bands as opposed to directly bonded tubes. The idea that it is just a matter of the orthodontist's personal preference is fallacy.

[Sunny]

Coconut with the right type of bonding agent, buccal brackets can be used with crowns ... large fillings etc.

[Candymomof3]

I guess it must have been his choice, as I have had no crowns, and no fillings (yay!)...that was the only good part about my teeth, I am 31 and never had a cavity! LOL

[mikeg]

welcome and good lucK!

[mariahfromchicago]

Candy, that's awesome that you've never had a cavity!

[Candymomof3]

I know right? no cavities---lucky gal I guess. because I sure did love those chewy, sticky, fruity, teeth glueing yummy candies...SIGH...I miss them, I really miss them. I miss Air heads, and Laffy Taffy, and fruit flavored tootsie rolls, and starburst........sob..miss you guys....see you again one day!

1 month down! Let's do this!!!!!!!!!

[Nushka]

Doin much better now its been 2 weeks. Can eat again-yay! Cant really feel the braces now my mouth is used to them except my 6mth old pup head butted me yesterday and cut my lip on the braces!! So now I look like Iv had scary implants. That'll teach me to play silly games with her! Thank for all the kind words

x

[Sunny]

Great you're feeling better Nushka!

Puppies have no understanding ... my puppy loves to jump, even though we're trying to train him otherwise ... and he's knocked my mouth a few times ... not nice!

Keep with the great attitude!