Speed Braces - A Patient's Journey

Getting Braces as an Adult - Pt 2

2011-08-29T17:45:00.008-04:00

Interview with a BraceFace John Continues...

My friend John just got braces as an adult. This is Part 2 of my chat with him. (Read Part 1 here)

Me: What has surprised you about having braces?

John: My newfound motivation for flossing has probably been my biggest surprise. Also, I’m convinced that I can already see some improvement even after just a few weeks, which I didn’t expect. I’m much more willing to smile than I have been for many years, and that has been a nice surprise.

Me: How have people responded to your braces? Are you self-conscious about having them?

John: I’m self-conscious only right after I’ve eaten and before I’ve been able to give my teeth a good rinsing and brushing. Most people don’t seem to have noticed my braces at all (and with clear brackets on the top, they are less noticeable). The ones who do know have certainly been supportive, although one co-worker felt prompted to comment on older people getting braces, making her wonder if they were trying to pick up dates at the senior center. That just made me think, “Well, I don’t feel nearly as old as you may think,” and realize that most people are probably as unaware as I was that more than aesthetics may be involved.

Me: Does it help having someone else in the family who has braces?

John: I’m not sure how much it helps, other than the initial motivation it gave me, but it has been nice. I think it gives me a little more leverage when I’m trying to motivate my son to remember to brush. Also, I was glad that my son prompted me to pick up “platypus floss” for its convenience when I’m in a hurry. I do like to be able to give him some encouragement (along with some ibuprofen) when he is feeling pain after an adjustment.

Me: A lot of people would like to get braces, but worry about the cost? How have you handled that?

John: I think my dental insurance covered close to half of the cost. Also, the orthodontist gave me a slight discount since my son was already his patient. But another big factor was that the orthodontist’s office was willing to set up a payment plan, which made the expense less daunting.

Getting Braces as an Adult

2011-08-16T17:05:00.006-04:00

Interview with a BraceFace
My friend -let's call him John because that's his real name - just got braces. This interview with John will hopefully give you some insight into the experience of getting, wearing, and caring for braces. This is the first in a series of posts that will follow John through his experience.

Me: How many teeth do you have?
John: A lot. Twenty-eight, if I’ve counted correctly. My orthodontist says one of my lower incisors has a 50/50 chance of needing to come out to make room, but he assures me that only my dentist would notice.

Me: Why braces and why now? Aren't you really old?
John: It’s something I’ve had in the back of my mind for years, but planned to put off indefinitely until some magical day in the future when I would finally feel like I had enough money to do this for myself. Then, I took my son for his first visit to the orthodontist, and I was instantly curious, even fascinated. That motivated me to stop putting off a trip to the dentist (for the first time in years). When the dentist made the point that it wasn’t just an aesthetic consideration, because of how worn down my lower incisors had gotten over the years (to the extent that they might need to be replaced in ten years or so if the wear continued), I think that sealed the deal for me. I would definitely prefer to keep my own teeth for as long as I can.

Me: So there are many reasons that straight teeth are beneficial. Now that you know all this, is this something you wish you'd done earlier in life?
John: Definitely! I’ve been fairly self-conscious about smiling for a long time, so I wish I had taken the plunge sooner. When I was younger, my dentist never mentioned the possibility until he thought I was going to med school, and he suggested that I see about getting a good deal from the orthodontics school. I guess he thought it was a safe to assume that my parents wouldn’t be able to afford braces for me. But after I was out on my own, the fear of the expense was certainly what held me back.

Me: Do your braces hurt?
John: No, they really don’t. They were uncomfortable for the first day or two, and the inside of my mouth felt a little tender for a few more days, but it wasn’t bad at all. I don’t think I even felt prompted to take anything for the pain more than once or twice.

Me: How long will you have to wear them?
John: Probably at least 18 months, although the orthodontist sounded like he was expecting closer to two years. Even if I need to wear them longer than that, I don’t think it will bother me.

More with John coming soon, including how his braces saved a man's life! (Well, not really, but I need a cliffhanger at the end to keep you coming back.)

Braces: A quote to help you through

2011-07-12T19:01:00.003-04:00

The famous artist Renoir had crippling arthritis later in life, but he continued to paint; often with his paint brush bound to his hand because he was unable to maintain a grip on the handle. When he was asked why he continued his work when it caused him so much pain he replied:

"The beauty remains, the pain passes."

While I had braces it was kind of a pain. There were many trips to the dentist. Brushing and flossing was challenging. Eating certain foods was out. When I got new bands put on - ouch! And I had to undergo some restoration and cosmetic work after the braces came off to perfect my smile. Renoir's quote got me through it all, though. I thought of it every day, every time I felt the sacrifice was too much.

Renoir was right. All my troubles with braces passed. My beautiful smile remains.

Wearing a Retainer

2011-03-06T11:49:00.008-05:00

Put me on retainer!

After my speed braces came off there was still some adjusting to do, as my teeth weren't perfectly aligned just yet. So my dentist continued to move my teeth we an invisalign-like retainer. The first was pretty heavy duty - I felt like a football player wearing a mouth guard. I wore it all the time (except when eating) for a few weeks. Then I went back to the dentist and was fitted for another retainer, to move the teeth a bit more. This retainer was thinner and more like the regular retainer you wear after braces. Again, I wore that retainer for a several weeks until my teeth were finally in the right position.

Then I got my final retainer. It's nearly invisible and I wore it all day for about 6 months.

Tips on Wearing a Retainer
1. Remove Your Retainer in Private
Something about the plastic or just having some thing in your mouth makes for a lot of slobber. Like a hungry bulldog amount of slobber. So as you pull your retainer out of your mouth long strings of spit will cling to it.

2. Keep the little plastic carrying case the dentist gives you and store the retainer there when you eat or during the day once you're only wearing it at night. Don't just put it in your pocket or throw it into your purse. It can be damaged and you don't want that.

Keeping teeth straight after braces
Now I wear my retainer only at night. But every once in awhile if I find it feels a bit tight when I put it in at night I'll wear it all day the next day. Just making sure those teeth stay straight. I've come to far to be lazy now! See video below of what happens if you go for a long time without wearing your retainer...

One Year Later...

2010-12-11T12:55:00.005-05:00

So it's time for your one year checkup with this speed braces patient.

After completing some cosmetic dentistry and getting my teeth whitened last year, I can honestly say that I now LOVE MY SMILE!

A lot of people asked me questions about the process, especially when I had the braces and it was obvious what my dentist and I were up to. Was it painful? Was it expensive? Was it worth it?

Painful?
It was at moments painful, I don't want to lie about that. But I never had a day of pain. Sometimes it pinched a lot when they added a band, but never more than a few minutes, and then I was fine. Other times I felt like I had pressure on my teeth, but they didn't ache or anything.

Expensive?
Speedbraces were really affordable for me. I'm not a millionaire and I don't have a six-figure income. I found speed braces to be less expensive than traditional braces. Talk to your dentist and find out what's possible and what the payment terms would be.

Worth It?
Are you kidding? Just look at that smile!

Bye, Bye Braces!

2009-11-28T11:13:00.008-05:00

Speed Braces Indeed!
Yes, the speed braces worked all their promised magic and they were removed last Wednesday! It wasn't quite three months that I had them on. Taking them off was a lot easier and faster than putting them on; it took only a few minutes.

Of course, we had to take some more molds (my favorite activity at the dentist!) of the teeth sans braces to fit the final retainer. Dr. Glenski is also doing some cosmetic work on all the front teeth so they took some molds for that as well.

I am more than pleased with the results of the speed braces. Having worn them just 3 months I can say with great confidence that wearing them 2 years would have driven me completely bonkers. I don't know how people deal with it. It is a committement; to keep them clean, to watch what you eat, to get regular check ups. The only downside I experienced was that my teeth were sore a lot. But I'd do it this way again. No question.

Put me on retainer, please!
I have a temporary retainer now, until my real one comes in. It's clear plastic, like the Invisalign tray. I keep it in all the time except when I eat. You can't see it at all. I can feel it, though, and it's kind of smooth and plasticy like you'd expect. A gentle tug with both hands pulls it off and it goes back on pretty easily too.

Appearantly, the mouth finds the retainer to be a foreign object and the salivary glands go into overdrive trying to adjust. Since my mouth is already a running faucet, this makes removing the retainer a bit like running my hands under a waterfall. From what I've read, this will pass.

It ain't over 'til it's over
There's more work to be done; a few crowns, a few veneers, the real retainer, and a whitening. Stay tuned...

Space Patrol

2009-11-20T12:29:00.003-05:00

Almost There

Had a checkup yesterday, and I'm happy to report that the teeth moved! Guess the silly Christmas outfit did the trick.

The green chain (and red bands) are now gone and I have a gray chain. I look all silvery again. There's only a small space between #4 and #5 that needs to close, so I'm on space patrol this week. If it closes by early next week I'm good for having the braces removed on Wednesday, just in time for turkey! It's ok if I don't make it, though, this has been so fast that I just can't complain.

Deck the Arch Wire

2009-11-07T11:55:00.017-05:00

Christmas Speed Braces

Last Thursday I had a checkup at the dentist. Dr. Glenski thought we might be close enough to take the speed braces off, but alas, the teeth weren't quite ready. They had moved, she assured me, but I was disappointed that my toothy troops hadn't dug deep and moved all the way into place. What's puzzling is that I've been giving them regular pep talks like this:

Me: 'Ok, #8, let's get moving to the right! You can do it, big guy.
#8: No! And stop calling me 'big guy'. #9 is just as big as I am.

Me: Oh, come on! If we get the speed braces off, we can go back to eating broccoli and carrots and stuff. Please?
#9: No way. We hate vegetables!
#8: We want peanut brittle!
#7: And popcorn!
#5: I want taffy!
#3: Rice Crispie Treats, please.

Me: You don't get anything until you finish moving? Got it?
#8: We ain't moving any more.
#9: Yeah, we've been moving a lot. We're tired of moving.

Me: Ok, you are going to pay for this, teeth!

So, to show my teeth who's boss I decided to embarrass them, thus motivating them to get in line so we can get the braces off. How can you embarrass your teeth? Easy; make them wear a goofy holiday outfit! Dr. Glenski added some red bands to my already green chain and 'fa la la la la' they now look like a demented dental tenenbaum! Let's see if this works...

Life After Speedbraces

2009-10-28T17:41:00.007-04:00

An Interview with Christopher

So many of you are excited to see how it all turns out for me, that I thought you'd like to hear a good 'after' story right now. Below is my interview with Christopher, former speedbraces patient.

Be sure to check out the results of Christopher's time in speedbraces at his website www.christoffmarse.com (go to the bottom of the photo gallery for a peek at his new smile).

Q: What prompted you to get braces as an adult?
A: I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN UNHAPPY ABOUT THE WAY MY TEETH LOOKED. THEY WERE NOT AWFUL, BUT I KNEW THEY WOULD LOOK A LOT BETTER IF THEY WERE NOT TIPPED IN AND DID NOT HAVE SO MUCH SPACE BETWEEN THEM. I FINALLY DECIDED THAT I DESERVED TO REALLY LOOK GOOD.

Q: Why speed braces and not traditional braces, Invisalign or other corrective procedures?
A: INVISALIGN JUST TAKE TOO DARN LONG. THEY ARE A VERY VERY SLOW PROCESS. AND SOME OF THE INVISALIGN TRAYS ARE FAR FROM INVISIBLE. THEY ARE SO THICK THAT THEY LOOK LIKE YOU ARE CHEWING ON A BIG PIECE OF CLOUDY PLASTIC.

TRADITIONAL BRACES HURT. AND I COULD NOT AFFORD TO BE IN BRACES FOR MONTHS. MY WORK WOULD NOT ALLOW THAT. I WAS IN VIAZI FAST BRACES FOR A TOTAL OF 5 WEEKS. THAT'S ACCEPTABLE TO ME. ALSO THE FAST BRACES ARE PRETTY MUCH PAINLESS. I HAD HEARD HORROR STORIES ABOUT THE DAY LONG HEADACHES THAT ACCOMPANY TIGHTENING OF TRADITIONAL BRACES. YOU DON'T GET VIAZI FAST BRACES TIGHTENED, SO THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO PAIN INVOLVED.

Q: How was the experience of wearing braces for you?
A: MY TEETH WERE SENSITIVE FOR THE FIRST 2 DAYS, AFTER THAT THERE WAS NO PAIN. THE MOST DIFFICULT PART WAS HAVING TO KEEP THEM CLEAN. FOOD GETS STUCK BETWEEN THE WIRE AND THE TEETH. FINALLY I FIGURED OUT THAT I COULD USE A TOOTHBRUSH TO PUSH THE FOOD PARTICLES UP OR DOWN AND GET RID OF THEM. I WORE THE BRACES FOR 5 WEEKS. IN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS I COULD SEE MY TEETH HAD MOVED. IT WAS PRETTY AMAZING. I COULD ACTUALLY HEAR MY TEETH MOVING. THEY MADE A TINY CLICKING SOUND AS THEY MOVED FORWARD. MOST OF THE MOVING HAPPENED AT THE BEGINNING. IN THE LAST 2 OR 3 WEEKS MY TEETH MOVED INTO THEIR FINAL POSITION PRETTY SLOWLY.

SPEAKING OF FAST, I HEARD ONE OF MY DENTIST'S PATIENTS WAS IN FAST BRACES FOR 4 DAYS! HE HAD A TOOTH THAT STUCK OUT FROM THE OTHERS AND 4 DAYS AFTER GETTING THE BRACES ON -THE TOOTH HAD MOVED INTO PLACE. THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING TO ME.

Q: You're now wearing a retainer. What is that like and how long will you have to wear it?
A: I HAVE WORN MY RETAINER FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW. I ONLY WEAR IT AT NIGHT AND I INTEND TO CONTINUE WEARING IT AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. IT'S EASY TO SLEEP WITH, AND I DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANY CHANCES THAT MY TEETH MIGHT MOVE BACK.

Q: Are you happy with the results so far?
A: I AM ABSOLUTELY THRILLED.

Q: I find people are not only supportive of my getting braces, but they confess a secret desire to do the same 'someday'. Did you get that as well?
A: YES, I GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION WHEN I HAD MY BRACES PUT ON. SURPRISINGLY, NOBODY NOTICED WHEN I HAD THEM REMOVED. I HAD TO POINT IT OUT.

Q: What do you think holds people back from getting braces?
A: FEAR OF PAIN AND INCONVENIENCE. PLAIN AND SIMPLE. BRACES ARE JUST NO FUN NO MATTER HOW YOU LOOK AT IT. BUT NOW I SEE MYSELF GRINNING IN PHOTOS, WHEN BEFORE I WAS TRYING HARD NOT TO SMILE TOO WIDE FOR FEAR OF SHOWING MY TEETH. IT IS DEFINITELY WORTH THE TROUBLE.

Q: Any advise for someone considering speed braces?
A: VISIT THE DOC AND TAKE A LOOK AT THEM. IF YOU COMPARE PRICE, TIME AND PAIN INVOLVED YOU CAN'T HELP BUT SEE THAT FAST BRACES MAKE MORE SENSE.

Green Chain

2009-10-22T11:17:00.007-04:00

Oral Bling Just in Time for the Holidays!

Tuesday I went to the dentist for a checkup on how the speed braces are doing. The good news: the power chain had worked its magic and was ready to come off. In it's place, however, I got the lovely green chain, shown here. (It's looks more aqua to me.)

A chain is a kind of stretchy plastic sheath that fits on the archwire and helps move the teeth. As you can see in the picture, my front teeth are barely overlapping now. The green chain is going to start tugging everything apart to pull that front tooth into place. Dr. Glenski filed a few teeth down a bit to make room. This didn't hurt at all and she did a great job reshaping the front two teeth especially.

During the visit one of my brackets came off. The bad thing about that is they have to remove the wire, and for me that's always the worst part. Putting it back in starts pulling all those already sore teeth. Ouch! But the pain doesn't last long, fortunately.

My friends love the new look and accused me of picking the color (I asked for orange for Halloween, but that wasn't an option). I was cool with it until I remembered I'm going to a professional conference in a few weeks. Oh well, I'll be memorable as long as I smile big!

Taking Care of Your Teeth with Braces

2009-10-17T09:00:00.009-04:00

What you'll need
Keeping my teeth clean is a challenge with braces. Food chunks love to hide in between the wire and brackets and then, before I know it, they've invited their friends the bacteria brothers over for a party. This can be really hard on the enamel of the teeth and it makes my mouth feel nasty; as if I haven't brushed in months.

I try to brush as soon after eating as possible. Even if I'm in a restaurant, someone's house or at the beach. I put together an essentials kit for home and a travel kit for when I'm on the go.

Home Kit:

High Powered Mirror
Tooth paste
Tooth Brush
Scaler
Floss
Flouride Rinse

Travel Kit:

Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Cosmetic mirror
Floss

To Chew or Not to Chew

2009-10-10T15:17:00.010-04:00

Week 6 of Speed Braces

Eating; an onging challenge
The one thing I wasn't really prepared for about having braces is how hard it is to eat with sore teeth. Some days, even bread is difficult to chew.

Chewy Food Pyramid
I instantly classify all food now not as part of some complicated government nutrition pyramid, but as my own complicated chewing pyramid. It goes something like this:

Certain Death = Granola, carmel apple, peanut brittle
You Must Be Outta Your Mind = Chips, crackers, nuts, popcorn, pretzels, gum
No Way = bacon, steak, apples(with core and skin), bagels
Good = Pasta, chicken, fish (including lightly breaded), meatballs, bananas, ham, lunch meats, strawberries, pumpkin bread, muffins, eggs
Excellent = Mac-n-cheese, yogurt, ice cream, pudding, applesauce, mashed potatoes, soup

I have to cut everything up with a knife and fork into small pieces in order to eat it, including a burrito or a sandwich. A word of warning; do not eat bread with a lot of mayo! It turns into a gluey paste that takes forever to get off your braces. Also, I drink V8 to help get some veggies in and I have used a juicer to get fruits without the extra sugar in fruit drinks.

Now, time to end this blog and go put some cookies in the oven. Because there's nothing easier to eat (or more wonderful) than a warm chocolate chip cookie.

How Old is Too Old for Braces?

2009-10-04T17:18:00.003-04:00

When I'm 64...
A question I get a lot from people when they discover I have speed braces is this: Am I too old for braces? What is too old? 40? 50? 60?

If you put your teeth in a glass at night, then, yes, it's too late for you! But otherwise, there is no such thing as 'too old' if you want to straighten your teeth with braces.

Your best bet is to consult with your dentist. No matter what age, I'd advise that you make sure you're healthy and you share any health issues you have with your dentist before you make a decision about braces.

Power Chain!

2009-09-26T12:34:00.004-04:00

I had my three week ortho visit this week. I was feeling pretty confident. # 12, the incisor on the left, was way up in the gum line and kind of stuck out before. In the last few weeks it has come down and fallen right in line with the other teeth. It's been really amazing to watch. This alone has improved the profile on the left a great deal and I'm really pleased with how it looks.

My denttist, Dr. Glenski, agreed that things are looking good. She said it was time for a power chain.

Speed Braces Quiz
A power chain is:
a) an ice breaker exercise at a Tony Robbins seminar
b) a new Black and Decker chain saw
c) a mechanical device that allows your car to have 4 wheel drive

If you answered c that's not far off because a power chain is like 4 wheel drive for your braces! And it's not a mechanical device it's more like rubbery sheath that covers the arch wire and loops over the brackets. It provides an extra pull to get the teeth moving. In my case everyone on the left needs to shove over even more to the left so that the front tooth that is currently overlapping and crowded has room to get in line.

I could definately feel the pull as soon as it was on, but it wasn't painful. It creates a bit more bulk for the wire so things stick on the left a little more now than before, but I'm an old pro at brushing at this point so it hasn't been a problem at all to adjust to it.

Flossing with Braces

2009-09-12T10:52:00.012-04:00

Or, How to Kill a few hours of free time!

Hello. My name is Kim. And I'm a flosser.

I know that many of you may frown upon such behavior. You think flossing is a sin. An evil practice invented by dentists and tooth paste companies. But, the truth is that once I started flossing, the health of my teeth dramatically improved. I've been hooked ever since that first 'no cavity' checkup at the dentist. (But I can quit anytime I like. Really. I swear.)

Flossing with braces is a challenge, even for a die-hard flosser like me. And sadly, the speed braces I have don't speed up flossing. This is too bad. I think there's an untapped market here. How about the FlossWow? A couple of hand-held rods that would shoot strands of floss between every tooth at once, allowing you to floss your whole mouth in just under 10 seconds! Wow! Order it today!

Okay, so I don't have the FlossWow! device yet, so for now I'm stuck with the old way. Be warned; the old way TAKES FOREVER, especially at first when your teeth are sore and it's all a bit weird and awkward.

Here's what I've found works pretty well for flossing around braces:

Crest Gentle Glide floss - it's very slick and flat, great for getting into the tight spaces
High power mirror - having a close up view really helps (especially if your farsighted like me)
Scaler - this is a little hook with a handle. It usually comes in a pack with a little mirror and a pick.
Extra patience

The trick (heck yeh, there's a trick)
I just fold over the end of the floss to make a loop. Then I pass the loop under the arch wire. If it gets stuck, I use the scaler hook to pull it through. Now I'm behind the wire and can floss normally.

You can also use a floss threader. Here's a good instructional video on that technique http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_JSmlrmhfU. I got tired of the extra threading work, though, and after doing all my upper teeth I found I'd accidently weaved a small rug. Too many strings for me. My method is just as fast, doesn't take any threading handwork, and you don't have to buy the floss treader.

Eating with Braces - Week One

2009-09-08T10:16:00.006-04:00

The Lobster Trap
Eating with braces is like have a lobster trap under your lip; anything nearby gets curious and swims on in. After eating, I feel like I did pretty well keeping food out of there. A spot check of my tongue proves an 'all clear'. Then I'd go to brush my teeth and discover I've caught half a ham sandwich, a small grouper and two scallops !

Menu for the first week:

Applesauce
Mashed potatoes
Soup
Yougurt
More soup
More Applesauce
Soup anyone?

My favorite food find the first week was Cracker Barrel's Chicken-N-Dumplins. Those dumplings are the consistency of jelly fish so they slide right down with no chewing required.

Top 10 Things You Should Know about Braces

2009-09-07T12:36:00.007-04:00

So, it's been one week since the speed braces were installed. How has it been? Here's my

Top 10 things I've experienced with my Viazi Speed Braces:

#10 - Things really did taste like metal for a few days.
I found that citrus (i.e. orange juice, lemonade) drinks taste really awful with metal. Using a straw helps bypass the metal and go straight to the gullet. Besides Tylenol, straws are my second new BFFs.

#9 - Everyone wants to see them.
Lucky for them, I'm diligent about brushing immediately after I eat or they could be in for more than they bargained for (like a clear view of the turkey salad and sprouts I had for lunch).

#8 - Everyone has a story about braces.
About when THEY had braces, or someone they know had braces. These generally demonstrate how awful the old braces were, with their head gear and Rhode Island-sized retainers. This assures me these new speed braces really ARE cool and cutting edge. My gratitude improves with each of these stories.

#7 - People who have never had braces are fascinated and have lots of questions.
No problem; I just refer them to this blog. That's why I started it.

#6 - It takes FOREVER to brush.
To brush well, anyway. I'll write more about the ins and outs of brushing braces in another blog.

#5 - People say that they never noticed anything wrong with my teeth before.
This is really nice because it means that they are not staring at my teeth all the time and judging me on their presentation (remember the judge on Ally McBeal that had to look at everyone's teeth in order to trust them?) The truth is, I'm really doing this for me. And I believe that I have never really smiled big and that's why people may not have noticed.

#4 - It feels like my lip sticks out.

#3 - I spit when I talk.
Even after a week, I still sometimes spit a little when I talk. People be warned; distance (or an umbrella) can be your friend!

#2 - People say it makes me look younger.
Ok, now were on to some serious motivation! Forget a better smile. No facelift? No skin cream? It's the braces that give me that youthful glow - err, youthful metalic glow, that is? I'll take it.

# 1 - Braces are a great weight loss opportunity!
The first few days my teeth were so sore that it was nothin' but sick food; chicken soup and applesauce. After a few days I got more adventurous with bread, pasta and even a piece of pizza. But it takes so long to chew with only the teeth that aren't sore that I actually get tired of eating before I'm even full. Snacking is out of the question. As a result, I've lost 3 pounds in one week. Who needs those funky Jenny Craig meals? And aerobics classes are so 1980's. Just tack on some Viazi braces and watch the pounds melt off! (disclaimer: braces are not an actual weightloss program, but added here for comedic effect.)

Say Hello to My Little Friend(s)

2009-09-02T17:37:00.002-04:00

Day 3 of the speed braces and my new BFF is the Tylenol bottle! All my upper teeth are sore. It's like having one giant tooth ache. Everyone assures me this will pass soon. I do feel grateful I'm only feeling this on the top teeth.

This morning while I was trying to sleep I could feel my molars on the right side (#3 and #4) having some kind of square dance, moving around like they were trying to switch places. Doesy doe -swing that bracket round and round! Speed braces, here we go! (this is what happens to your brain after 3 days of tooth ache.)

Wired: The Speed Braces Are On!

2009-09-01T21:27:00.009-04:00

Although I've been very excited about getting my speed braces, and very much focused on the outcome of a terrific looking smile, I got really nervous the day before. Suddenly, I realized this wasn't something I could just take off if I didn't like it. This was for keeps. This was changing a part of me forever. It occurs to me that I've never had any cosmetic work done (unless you count a pedicure!) But I didn't let my fear get the better of me. I went first thing Monday morning to get the speed braces put on.

More Molds
The first thing the dental assistant did was take another mold, of course! Study model, she called it. How many replica's of my teeth do they have in the back room? I'm starting to suspect they are selling them at the flea market as novelty gifts. The mold involved a lot of pink goo that kind of looked like bubble gum but didn't taste like it at all.

Before Pictures
After the mold, the dentist came in and took photos of my teeth with a digital camera. I almost felt like a real model, except I wasn't feeling glamorous, wasn't wearing a swim suit and was not posing seductively on the beach. Instead, I was flat on my back, holding two clear plastic 'shoehorns' in my mouth to pull my cheeks back to expose my teeth. The photo on the right is my 'before' picture. Tyra Banks, eat your heart out!

Prepping the Teeth
Next,the assistant came back and prepped each of my top teeth by rubbing something on them. I imagined some superglue and a Q-tip, but I'm sure it was something safer and more dental-like than that. Then Dr. Glenski came in and she placed a bracket on each tooth. That went pretty quickly and although I had to move my head a lot to help with the angles, and bite down on a little red plastic block, it was painless. After each bracket was on,the assistant cured the bonding on each bracket by baking it with that funky Obi Wan Kenobe penlight that beeps a lot.

Wired
Finally, it was time for the wire. It looked very thin and innocent in the assistant's hands, but once she started to put it in, I lost all the warm, fuzzy feelings I had for it. This part I found to be quite painful, mostly likely because my teeth are all over the place and she had to do some real work to get the wire threaded properly through all the brackets.

The whole process only took about 40 minutes. I could feel the pull on my teeth immediately. It felt like pressure, but wasn't painful. I was able to go to work for the rest of the day and show everyone my new metal mouth.

Thanks to Dr. Glenski, Jessica and everyone at Definitive Dental Care for my new brace face!

Of Molds & Measures

2009-08-29T10:38:00.006-04:00

An Edith Wharton novel right? No, something just as weird and boring, though. Molds (impressions) and measures get your ready for your braces.

I've had some old fillings removed and some inlays put in to replace them, so I've lost track of what molds were for what purpose exactly, but at my last visit to the dentist they took a kind of impression that I'd never experienced before. Since it involved my upper teeth, it's a good guess that it was for the speed braces.

Measuring
The dental assistant put some goo on a really heavy piece of metal that was about the weight of a horseshoe (and about the same size!) and had me hold that up against my upper teeth. I liked this part; I like helping out. The worse part of a visit to the dentist for me is that I have to lay there like the victim of an alien probe, bright lights and weird music sending me into a helpless stupor.

Next, the dental assistant whipped out some halo contraption the size of the space shuttle launch pad and attached it the mouthpiece I was now steadily drooling all over. I was busy concentrating on not gagging, an act that I feared would send the mouthpiece hurtling across the room and possibly causing someone a serious head or leg injury.

The sides of the halo had extension pieces that the assistant put into my ears. Then shed did some tightening and adjusting at the top of the halo. She read the barometric measure, sent some signals into space, faxed in a lunch order - who knows?

The whole thing was over in just a few minutes. I'm happy to report that I didn't gag or injure anyone. And I hope we were able to contact some aliens as well.

What are Speed Braces?

2009-08-24T07:24:00.015-04:00

Speed Racer? No, Speed Braces!

When I was 5 years old I had a mad crush on cartoon heartthrob Speed Racer. Those big, dark doe eyes, his tight pants and his super cool race car stole my heart. Here's why I feel the same about Speed Braces.

Traditional braces stay on for a few years. The first year a round wire is attached to the brackets on each tooth. This wire moves the crown of the tooth. The second year, a square wire is attached to the brackets and it moves the root of the tooth. Sometimes, additional headgear is needed to make adjustments (seen right on that crazy little girl from Finding Nemo). The addition of spacers and ties make keeping your teeth clean a real challenge.

Thanks to inventor Dr. Anthony Viazi and his patented Viazi Bracket System, there is now a speedier alternative to the traditional approach. The Viazi bracket is self-ligating, so the wire moves more freely. The need for spacers and ties is eliminated so it's easier to keep teeth clean. No trips to the dentist to get the braces tightened; the heat-actived wire applies light, continuous force to move your teeth. The end result is less time to correct crooked teeth and less metal in your mouth, which is better looking. Well, as good looking as metal in your mouth can look, I suppose.

Watch this video of the Viazi system to see how it works.

There's also the Damon System of speed braces. If that's the method your dentist prefers, you can read more at the Damon System website.

So, can speed braces adjust your smile as fast as Speed Racer can do a few laps around the track, solve a mystery, and fix his car? Well, no, but pretty fast. For some, as little as 6 weeks. For me, it will be about 4 months. Either way, Speed Racer and Speed Braces cross the finish line in record time.

The Big Decision on Braces

2009-08-19T18:09:00.001-04:00

Why braces at this time in my life? I'm a forty something who's had a crooked smile since the fifth grade. Why now?

Hmmm. Why not?

The Past
In my 20's trips to the dentist were all about filling the holes and paying out all that money to fix the damage. I looked through those Little Shop of Toothy Horror photo albums in the dentist office waiting room and tried to gauge if, compared to those people, my mouth had a chance or if I was a lost cause. I thought there was hope. So I dreamed that one day I might have a great smile (but I'll pass on being in the photo album, thanks.)

The Present
If I'm going to have a great smile I want someone who knows what they're doing, so I started looking around for a cosmetic dentist. Did you know that any dentist can perform cosmetic work even if they aren't licensed in cosmetic dentistry? I know; that's as scary as that tooth book in the waiting room!) So I looked around where I lived and found a licensed cosmetic dentist. I set up an appoint for a consultation.

After looking me over, my new dentist recommended something that surprised me: speed braces. Speed braces? As in really fast corrective ability? Wow. Why not just call them 'magic braces' and get it over with! This sounds like something I can handle.

So begins my journey with speed braces (also called fast braces). More on what they are and how they work in my next entry.