Metal braces worked better and faster for me than Invisalign
I am a 35 year old woman who had braces in high...
I am a 35 year old woman who had braces in high school then Invisalign as an adult to fix the teeth that moved back after not wearing a retainer for many years. I wore Invisalign for 2 years and 2 months. I "completed" my treatment in January but my two problem teeth are still in similar placements from when I started. See photo of before Invisalign and after. I don't see a big difference. However, Invisalign did straighten my bottom teeth for the most part, except for one canine tooth. (You can look at my Invisalign Review for more information.) In any event, my doctor recommended either another set of Invisalign trays which may have taken another 7 months or Fast Braces at no additional cost. Of course, I chose Fast Braces as mentally I was done with the Invisalign Trays. I was only supposed to have them on for about 6 months and had to wear them for 2 years. I was done! So I am patiently waiting for my appointment to get metal braces. I have 5 days to go. I am excited but nervous at the same time. I'm excited as I get one step closer to my ideal teeth but I'm nervous as I'm going to have metal braces at age 35. It wouldn't be a big deal if I had a job where I was only on the phone, but I have to see people every single day in person. I hope this doesn't change they way they see me. I already look younger than 35 and braces will make me look even younger (not that I'm complaining about that)! I'm just worried they won't take me seriously. Luckily, Fast Braces is only supposed to take 3-6 months. I'm hoping for the shortest amount possible since I only really am trying to fix two teeth. Unfortunately, they have to move all teeth to move those two! Let's see how this goes. Wish me luck. I'll keep you posted.
PortRicheyCutie's provider
Ready - Get Set - GO FAST BRACES GO!
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I hope the soreness gets better.  I have two little tender spots in my mouth from the only places the metal on my retainers touch the insides of my lips.  I just cannot even imagine how uncomfortable it must be to have metal sticking out on every tooth.
Ready - Get Set - GO FAST BRACES GO - continued
Dr. Nguyen worked on the top arch first placing a button on each tooth (except one that he said didn't require a button according to the Fast Braces treatment recommendation). After the top was done, we took a 5 minute break. I took a photo of my top teeth with buttons (see last posting) and checked out the blister. At this point I only felt the pain and hadn't seen what it looked like. I put Vaseline on it but not sure if it helped. When they came back to the room, we started my bottom buttons. They put a different mouth guard on around my lips so that I didn't get burned again and so that they could get to my teeth easier. Placing the buttons was not hurtful at all but just took a lot of time. Maybe 40-60 minutes. Each button had to placed on each tooth in a certain spot. Each tooth surface had to get bonding on it and then the button had to be heated/bonded to the tooth. After both top and bottom was done, the doctor then fitted the top arch with the metal band. Not sure the right word for it. He marked the ends that past the teeth and then cut them off. He then placed clear bands around each button to hold the metal onto the tooth. I could have chosen a different color but I wanted clear to be "professional" for my job. The same was done for the bottom once the top was done. After all rubber bands were placed around the buttons, they then showed me how to put rubber bands on the brackets to help with my bite. This is my least favorite part. It's hard to get it around and takes time. This is also the most painful part of me having to wear my braces so far.
Today was the first full day with braces for me. I woke up to use the restroom in the middle of the night and my mouth was so sore! I took Asprin to help with the pain. Not sure if it worked because I went back to sleep. When I woke up, they still hurt. I took some more Asprin. For breakfast, I typically eat cereal but my mouth hurt so much that I only had a yogurt and banana. Healthier anyway! Around 10 am I usually eat a granola bar for a snack but that too was too hard to eat. I was able to eat it by breaking it into small pieces but it was annoying. Every time I eat I have to take my rubber bands off and after brush fully. So this is going to keep my snacking down. It's hard for me to talk with the bands on and I'm supposed to wear them 22 hours a day. I think it's them that causes most of my pain. Around 5 pm when I got home, I took the bands off and I have much less pain right now. I also took ibuprofen instead and that works well. I made Shepard's Pie for dinner in hopes I can eat it cause there is not much chewing needed with that. Hopefully the pain goes away some tomorrow. I'll keep you posted.
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