I need reassurance.... 53 yrs young and just starting this journey..

[breel]

Hi everyone!
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I am 53 and have always wanted to get my teeth straightened... so my kids are grown, through college and married... so I decided to do something for myself.

I had my braces put on 1-18-12. I am using the SPEED brand - self-ligating metal braces. I have overcrowding on the lower arch and an overjet on the top. I only have my archwire on top. I am scheduled to have one of my lower front teeth extracted on the 23rd and will have my lower wire placed later that afternoon.

The first day was great. I was like "this is not as bad as I thought it would be.... piece of cake" and then yesterday morning I woke up with a lot more discomfort. Today - I am trying to figure out "What was I thinking"??? OMG! My upper teeth all feel loose and I can not eat anything. I am taking Tylenol which is not helping much. I am trying to avoid Advil since I have my tooth extraction on Monday. The inside of my mouth is being totally torn up from the little hooks on my brackets. I have put wax on almost all of my brackets.

I could not sleep last night - worrying about having my tooth pulled. I have some concern about having a perfectly healthy tooth pulled. I had two orthodontist tell me that it is the only way to make room for my teeth... pulling two in the back would make to much space - so they have recommeded that I have one incisor (that is small and already turned sideways) pulled out. I am also worrying about having that gap right in the front of my mouth. I work where I am talking to people all day long and it will be hard to hide.

Has anyone else had a lower incisor pulled? Did it take long for the gap to close? How long does it take until you can chew food again? How long does it take for the insides of your cheeks and lips to toughen up against the braces?

When I look at the pictures that others have posted - especially with the clear braces - it does not seem like you have as many "hooks" on your brackets... I am wondering why I have all of these. Does this mean they put them on there with the plan to use rubber bands later? I should have asked....

Thanks for listening to my story. I know this will all get better and it will be worth it in the end. I have never heard any one say they are sorry they had braces.... but right now - I would rip them off my teeth if I could

Lori

[aff1959]

Congrats Lori! You'll be glad you did this in the end. I am 52 and just completed 6 months of Invisalign last month. 11 aligners on top, 8 on the bottom. I had 9 Invisalign attachments. I had a 4 mm gap in my upper two central incisors what is now closed. After much reading on this site, I decided to go with bonded retainers. Canine to canine on the bottom arch and the two upper central incisors. I'm also am wearing removeable retainers full-time to keep all the other non-bonded teeth stable. Going to try and wear the removeable retainers just to bed after a couple more weeks of full-time retainer wear.

I would think your pain would go away within a few days on your upper arch. Since you have had 2 orthos recommend the same procedure for having your lower incisor pulled, its seems to be the way to go. But like you, I would be very apprehensive. Perhaps you can get a third ortho opinion? I had a 4 mm gap that took almost 6 months to completely close, your gap would be much wider than 4 mm. I hope you can get another ortho opinion from a very highly regarded one. Hang in there, I'm sure all will turn out just fine for you.

[Mudmonster]

Hello Lori, I had a tooth pulled on top in July and had braces every since. My gap is almost closed since the ortho put an elastic on the tooth to pull it closer. In regards to the braces cutting up your inside of your mouth it took me 5 months and now I dont notice it anymore. I have the clear braces on top and yes i do have 2 hooks on them.

Congrats on getting braces