age 48 damon braces on!

[jen33]

Hi
Finally plucked up the courage to go for Damon braces at the age of 48. I had the old style braces aged 13 but then didn't use a retainer as I should have. My front teeth went behind my two side teeth (reverse buck teeth!!) I have had the Damon brace on for a month, next appointment in 7 weeks. Can anyone tell me what will happen, do the wires get tightened?

[Sunny]

Fantastic that your treatment has started!

What happens next month depends on how your teeth are responding to the archwire you have in now and what your ortho is planning.

There's no such thing as 'tightening', it's about making adjustments. Tightenings were related to when the old wire archwires were 'wound' to make the wire smaller and force the teeth to move. The modern archwires have memory and will continue working to get teeth in a good arch shape. Many ortho's still change archwires often, but this isn't necessary, due to the archwire continuing to work until the teeth are in the right shape.

Good luck with your first adjustment and good luck with your treatment and your commitment to wearing your retainers for life!

[jen33]

Hi
Thanks, it is amazing but only within a month I can feel and see my front teeth moving. They have definately moved forward. Can you tell me how the orthodentist realigns my bottom jaw with this brace on - I have quite an underbite.
I am pleased I went forward with the braces, although at my age it is really quite daunting - work and social life.

[Sunny]

It's amazing how quickly teeth can move during the alignment phase ... and it's really motivating when you've just started treatment.

Our bones fuse when we finish with puberty, so your jaws won't change without surgery. What changes in the alignment of your teeth within your existing bone. My class three (mild) was corrected by closing gaps on my lowers and moving them back in the jaw and my uppers were moved forward and the front upper and lower teeth were tweaked so that the uppers now close in front of the uppers in a class I bite.

Good luck with your progress!

[lasvegasann]

Good luck with your treatment. These new type of braces are so much better than those braces we had as kids. Little to know pain, more like pressure. But no pain!!!

[Brace Face]

Good for you for getting started with treatment. Don't worry, there are loads of us 'older' people in here (I was 39 when I got mine) so you are not alone! Good luck, it will be worth it.

[jen33]

Hi and thanks for all the positive comments - it really does help.

I keep looking at my teeth in the mirror (sorry can't help it!!) they now appear to very straight, with my two front teeth now aligned with the other teeth, this is after 5 weeks. I go and see the dentist in 6 weeks what will he do. Do you think that he might suggest that the brace comes off as my teeth are now straight?? ( I know wishful thinking)

[Sunny]

The alignment phase is fantastic for motivation as the teeth quickly straighten and look heaps better. Unfortunately this is the first phase and there are loads more things needing attention and usually these phases take much longer and result in the majority of your treatment.

Good luck with each phase going smoothly and quickly for you!

[swhynacht]

Congratulations on starting your braces journey! Just like Brace Face said, there are lots of adults with braces on here, so you've got lots of support! Good luck and keep us updated on your progress.

[jen33]

Can I ask a question? Is it normal to wear elastic bands with a Damon brace. I have been looking at websites and they all say that Damon braces do not use elastic ligatures - I assume these are the elastic bands applied top to bottom on both sides that I have at the moment.

[Sunny]

Ligatures go around brackets, whereas elastics are used to help the archwire move teeth. What you have at the moment are elastics!

[jen33]

thanks sunny all clear now!! It can be confusing with so many people talking about different kinds of braces.

[jen33]

Hi
now my teeth are straight after 5 weeks of a Damon brace!! does anyone know what phase 2 will be? My appointment is in a month so I am looking forward to the next stage.

[jen33]

Hi
Due to go back next for followup appointment - Damon braces put on end of June.
Has anyone else had their wire break? Mine has broken off on the bottom teeth brace at the back, somehow it came out of its bracket, it stuck out for a while and then some more of the wire broke off the end that was sticking out!! I did contact the orthodentist but was told no-one else can fix it.
Has this happened to anyone else? So I think my quick 20 minute check up next week (following 10 weeks of damon brace on) may be a bit longer as I assume he will have to rethread the wire on the lower teeth back through? Is this right?

[jen33]

Hi
I thought would give you a 10 week update. Went to the dentist, he replaced the top wire with the thin wire but replaced the bottom wire with a thicker wire. I think the idea is to bring my lower teeth forward and reduce the overbite.
I do get fed up with my braces particlarly as I am about to go on holiday and having a brace will reduce what I can eat. Also very conscious of food left in braces.
I keep telling myself to persevere and just think of the next months to come.

[mikeg]

Travel with your waterpik. I bring mine for sure and use it daily after I eat.

It will all be worth it when you get them off

[jen33]

Hi
a year in now with the brace. Still hate it but hopefully 6 months or so to go. I have got over the initial excitement of having a brace and seeing the difference so quickly. I have got large gaps in both my bottom and top set of teeth, they are there for a purpose but what? There is a large gap on the top right, it is horrible and I feel very self aware when smiling. Can anyone tell me why my dentist wants me to have large gaps between my teeth top and bottom.

[jen33]

Hi
Damon brace on for a year (so hopefully only 6 months left). Can't say it is pleasant to have this brace on at my advanced (49!) age. Could someone tell me why my dentist want the gaps in between my teeth, I asked him last time but he didn't really give a reason.

[uv1983]

Hi
Damon brace on for a year (so hopefully only 6 months left). Can't say it is pleasant to have this brace on at my advanced (49!) age. Could someone tell me why my dentist want the gaps in between my teeth, I asked him last time but he didn't really give a reason.

Hi I am 29 yrs old and have had them for nearly 18 months, they should come off in the next 2 months... hopefully
I believe the reason is because with damon they try to widen the arch and they do that by aligning the teeth from the room position. I had the same thing with gaps in btw my teeth, but apparently it is to form a more uniform arch.
Your dentist will close the gap and the last stage is the stainless steel arch wire which consolidate the teeth.
Over the last 2 months I have really noticed a difference with my teeth and I am so so pleased with the results x