First time in forum, second time in braces.

[Venna]

I've been around this forum a little bit feeling it out. Everyone seems really nice! I am 25, Ive been wearing my second set of classic metal braces for 6 months now. I had my first set as a teenager for 3 years. Prior to my first set I had a palate expander to widen my top jaw. I had no extractions through the first set of braces. I was really bad about wearing my retainer, now here I am 10 years later, exactly where my parents warned I would be.... Back in braces. This time around Ive had 7 extractions. Yes, thats right 7! 3 wisdom teeth, and all of my premolars. Its only been 6 months but the movement is remarkable! My teeth actually relapsed to worse than they were before the FIRST set, my ortho has told me that even tho I was negligent about my retainer, my teeth should NOT have relapsed so much and probably has more to do with the fact that I had no extractions the first time, then my wisdom teeth came in and made it worse. Anyways, Im back in and this time it will work! So help me!! My kids love my braces which is good so they aren't afraid of them if they need them later on. The only thing Im confused about are these damn elastics. i got them yesterday. What is the point of them. I never wore these as a kid...?

[Sunny]

Hi and welcome!

It's great that your treatment is going so well!

Elastics help the archwire to move your teeth. They use a different type of pressure to achieve movement in a way that the archwire alone can't achieve. Talk to your ortho for more exact information.

Good luck with your treatment!

[unhappywithbite]

Im kinda in the same situation. 15 years old and had braces for 2 yes, had a jaw expander to make my top jaw wider, and head gear. To be honest, I wasn't very good with listening and now my bites still all messed up. Teeth are straight but clashing and right side is an underbite causin bottom teeth to go crooked I don't know what to do, and I feel like my orthodontist won't do anything now that my payments are done... But I feel horrible with my results and my moms a single mother with 5 kids and 2 grandchildren.. She can't pay it again. Ugh