Top Set of Braces Applied

Over the last month I have adapted really well to my lower set - it has taken a while, but I have reached the point where talking, eating and caring for it has become very easy. Most of the time I now forget that I have it on!

I had my upper arch brace fitted today. It feels a little uncomfortable, as I knew it would initially, but I can just tell from how it feels that it will not be as difficult to adapt to as the lower set.

The upper fitting took about 40 minutes and because it's easier to access those teeth, the orthodontist didn't need to use the contraption that holds your tongue out of the way which was uncomfortable last time.

As usual, my orthodontist and the nurses there were really caring and helpful. I paid another installment of £200 whilst I was there to keep chipping away at the final balance!

I have to go back in April to have the wires changed and tightened.

Luckily, over the next few days I am not very busy so I can have time to adapt to it a little more easily than the lower set! I can feel the tension on the top set already. I am most excited about the top set as they are the set which need most work doing. The orthodontist said that he thinks they will start to move quite quickly. I can't wait!

Link to YouTube video: Top Set of Braces Applied

10 Things To Get You Through Your First Month With Incognito

I've just uploaded a video onto YouTube with a list of 10 things you need to get through your first month with a lingual brace. I hope you find them helpful!

1) Someone to look after you who understands what you're going through
2) Electric Toothbrush with normal and orthodontic heads - and loads of toothpaste!
3) Orthodontic Wax and tissues to dry area before you apply wax
4) Mouthwash
5) Orthodontic brush and paste to carry with you during the day
6) Interdental Brushes
7) Breatheasy nose strips to help you breathe through your nose at night rather than mouth breathing which dries out tongue and makes it worse (not applicable if you already breathe through your nose at night!)
8) Fresh breath spray - more comfortable than sucking a mint!
9) Soft foods like soup, protein shakes and yoghurt
10) Straws to drink through

Link to YouTube Video: Ten Things To Get You Through Your First Month

First Week With Braces

This week has been really hard - the pain is not overwhelming but rather constant and nagging. It prevents you from focusing properly on things and I have not felt like myself at all. I had a problem with one of the back fixtures coming away and had to go back to get that re-cemented.

It's exactly one week now since I had it attached and today, for the first time, I have had a very comfortable day!! It is such a relief to finally feel that I am used to it being there.

If you have this type of brace you just need to be patient through the first period of adjustment - as painful and uncomfortable as it may be, you WILL get used to it!

I am surprised at how many people are watching my video logs on YouTube - I have had 3,500 views in just 6 days! Mine seems to be the only vlog about lingual braces which is perhaps why it is becoming popular. It's great to know that it is helping other people!

For my next video, I am planning a video of the top ten things you need to get you through your first week!

I am now looking forward to the next few weeks to see any further movements in my lower arch and to get my upper set fitted in 3 weeks!

TIPS FOR SORE TONGUE:
1) Use wax to provide instant relief
2) Use mouthwash to keep irritated areas of the tongue clean
3) Talk less!
4) Try to ignore the new appliance rather than feeling it with your tongue constantly (tempting!)

Here are links to my videos about my first few days with the lower set:

First Day Part 1
First Day Part 2
First Few Days

Having my lower set of braces fitted

Ooh goodness what a day!

I went to have my braces fitted today. I felt really nervous - it was all I could think about. When I arrived, I brushed my teeth and then the orthodontist was really caring and chatted to me about what he was going to do. He showed me models of my teeth that had been sent from Germany - one to show my teeth as they are, and another showing my teeth as they will look! I was so excited to see that! If you have a conventional brace you don't get to see what they're going to look like so that's certainly worth spending the extra money on! Whenever it's painful, I can look at that and remind myself of how gorgeous my teeth will look next summer!

The box that the brace and moulds arrived in from Germany.

3D model showing my teeth now - before treatment.

3D model of how my teeth will look when they are finished!! WOW! You can't tell on here but the overbite is gone too!




My brace in its casing ready to be fitted!

My orthodontist fully prepared my lower set of teeth for the braces by polishing them; "sandblasting" them; painting on a green gel (which I think was to sanitise them) which was left on for 1 minute; and painting them with a coat of varnish. Inbetween each of these steps, he washed them with a little jet wash and his assistant sucked out any excess moisture with a suction tube.

This process took nearly an hour and I was on my back with my lips in a spacers to keep my mouth open and tongue pushed back with a piece of plastic to keep it in the back of my mouth. I had to try really hard to relax my tongue which was hard, especially when the saliva drips backwards and you want to swallow, but can't. I had to concentrate on breathing through my nose.

Both the orthodontist and his assistant kept telling me what was happening, which was helpful.

Then he put the cement into the tray that the brace was sitting in and applied it to my teeth with some pressure. He then shone a special blue light at each of them to set the adhesive. This took a few minutes and felt warm. He used a screen to protect his eyes, which enabled me to see what was happening in its reflection!

When the brackets were in place, he had to pick away the clear casing. This was tricky and some of the casing didn't come off - later I had to tell him where I could still feel it so it could be removed.

I was then so relived to have the lip spacers taken out and was able to sit up and wash my mouth out as come of the chemicals - particularly the abrasive powder ("sandblasting") tasted salty and unpleasant. At this point, I felt my brace for the first time with my tongue. It was sharp and rough in my mouth. A thought it might be sharp as it was not finished, but actually it is quite sharp and grazes your tongue a lot!

Finally, the orthodontist fitted my wire which was tricky and one twisted canine could not be attached -he has to wait for the teeth to start to move in order to attach it. The other canine is attached and I can certainly feel the difference now, as one starts to move!

I was then given lots of tips about how to clean and maintain it, how to cope with soreness and problems and, of course, tips on eating.

Finally...my orthodontist gave me a present...an iPod Shuffle!! I was thrilled as I haven't got one and was a great treat to have for having my brace on!

Fitting Tips:

• Use vaseline for the day before so that your lips will stretch without getting sore.
• Breathe through your nose. (If you have a blocked nose, re-schedule!)
• Try to relax and put your trust in your orthodontist.
• Think about something nice that you're looking forward to - like having a truly beautiful smile!

Impressions

Eek! This is the biggest chip and pin payment I've ever made!

My Impressions and Bite

I had my impressions taken yesterday for my brace. At this appointment I paid £1500 for my brace to be ordered from the factory in Germany. I also booked the date for my lower set of braces to be fitted - 20th January 2010!

Impressions are moulds of your teeth from which actual models of your teeth can be cast. Here is a website with some pictures of impressions on.

I had a blue putty impression taken to begin with. They feel big and a little uncomfortable in your mouth but don't need to be in for very long, so it's fine. My orthodontist chatted to me about the braces and he also had a digital radio playing good music so it seemed really quick to me!

As the impressions need to be sent away and there will be a very high definition 3D scan made of the teeth from them, a very detailed impression needs to be taken. My orthodontist then squirted a purple liquid into the blue impressions and re-inserted them into my mouth to take a second, more detailed impression on top. This was slightly more uncomfortable and had to be in for a few more minutes. It had to be pressed really firmly into my teeth so that a good impression could be taken which hurt my gums a little bit.

My top set of impressions had to be done twice as there was a tiny error on one of the teeth. I didn't mind at all though, because it's so important to have it as accurate as possible for the brace to be made to fit. The second time, the orthodontist squirted some of the purple liquid directly onto my teeth so that he would definitely get an accurate one the second time.

I also bit into a pink piece of wax to show how my teeth connect and bite together.

Impressions Tips:

• Use lots of lip salve or vaseline on the two days before your appoinment as they need to be stretched wide.
• Breathe through your nose.

Research and Links

I have spent hours trawling through the web looking for information. Here are links to only the most useful web pages and YouTube videos. I hope this saves you some time!

Incognito Braces Official Website
This is the type of brace that I have opted for.
http://www.lingualtechnik.de/

iBraces Official Website
Another manufacturer of lingual braces, but not an option at my orthodontist - more widely used in the United States.
http://www.lingualcare.com/

Invisalign Official Site
Clear aligners option.
http://www.invisalign.co.uk/

Wikipedia - Dental Braces
A more general site about the history of braces and an overview of all options available to you.
Dental Braces - Wikipedia

British Orthodontic Society
Information about lingual braces from the BOS. Go to Adult Orthodontics, Lingual Orthodontics.
http://www.bos.org.uk/

British Lingual Orthodontic Society
A website which brings together orthodontists who can perform this type of treatment and give you more information about lingual braces.
NB: The "find an orthodontist" facility on here is not very effective.
http://www.blos.co.uk/

YouTube Videos

Here are two video links to parts 1 and 2 of interviews with people who have undergone treatment with lingual braces.

Part 1
Part 2

Here are some fantastic time lapse videos of teeth seemingly moving into position. It shows you what movement can be achieved through these braces.

Time Lapse Videos

Pre-Brace Nerves

I've booked my first appointment to have my impressions taken which will be sent away to Germany for the brace to be made at the Lingualtechnik centre. I have just been reading about how they are made. The staff at my orthodontists have been so friendly and helpful and chatted to me for ages on the phone.

During the time it's taken me to get the money together, I have been focusing on getting the funds together and the final result only. Now that I have my appointment booked, I am starting to think a little more about having the appliance fixed into my mouth.

I know that there will be discomfort but what worries me is the effect that it could have on my singing. You use your tongue and teeth a lot to make consonant sounds so this is something that I will have to overcome and find a different way of producing certain sounds. My whole job depends on me using my mouth to sing and I cannot take time off to get used to it so I need to adapt fast!

If you are intested in what I sound like pre-brace you can listen at www.myspace.com/acousticrosemusic