The Energon Pub

I’m gonna need braces one of these days and I want to hear the good, the bad and the ugly
My problem is my upper jaw is narrower then my lower jaw. Also my adult teeth are coming in over my baby teeth, I mean I can touch them!

So any experiences are appreciated

The good: They work and your teeth will fit in your mouth correctly.

The bad: They hurt, they are inconvenient as all get out (don't eat corn on the cob with braces) and they're expensive.

The ugly: Yes, they are. But you'll feel better and look great once the work is done. Of course, that can be more than a year later.

If you end up with the rubber bands (do they still do that?), it's a real pain (literally and figuratively). But you will survive it and honestly, you'll most likely be glad you had it done.

I had jaw pain and a lot of dislocation in my jaw before the braces. Afterward, that's all gone. Only thing I wish I would have had done then was have my wisdom teeth yanked. If they offer that option, TAKE IT!

thanks for the feedback! I'm not worried about the ugly one little bit

I've only ever had wisdom teeth removed. The removal of those vile teeth got rid of all my sinus problems and frequent headaches. The teeth had impacted and were pushing on my sinus cavity which was causing the problems that I thought I was doomed to always have.

Never had to get braces or anything though.

robofreak wrote:I've only ever had wisdom teeth removed. The removal of those vile teeth got rid of all my sinus problems and frequent headaches. The teeth had impacted and were pushing on my sinus cavity which was causing the problems that I thought I was doomed to always have.

Never had to get braces or anything though.

I had 2 impacted wisdom teeth removed but I've still got 2 impacted ones left. If anyone asks how much it hurts to have wisdom teeth removed, my answer is "a lot less than it hurts to have them still in your head".

I actually had a baby tooth that never fell out, so the adult tooth was stuck in the gums. Strangely, it never caused a single issue with teeth being straight or pain. Then one day, the baby tooth broke off, so I went to the dentist. He had to pull the baby tooh and then set up braces on the teeth around the barely poking out adult tooth to "pull it down". I had those on for about a year. This is what I have to say about it; I think I was better off before having that done-the adult tooth pulled the other teeth in very slightly, so it made my bite just a touch off. Sometimes I get a major squeaking noise if I bit just the right/wrong way. I think this happened because there were only two teeth on both sides of the adult tooth that were pulling it down, and that just wasn't quite enough to keep from moving around a little.

The Good: The end result is great!

The Bad: The pain! The insane paaaaiiiinnn!

The PurtyUgly: They do stick out quite a lot; It feels like a truck to start out with, but you'll get used to it!


Yeah, they are pretty bad to start with, but it gets easier and easier as time goes by; I had to drink my food for a while!

Note: It is also a nice note that when you get tightening at the Orthodontist's office, it begins again with the pain. Also, the pain doesn't get as bad over time.

Also, when[if] you are placed with Rubber Bands, always remember to wear them I forgot to a couple of nights and I had to keep them on longer.

The work of teeth is never done, right? So you have a Retainer to keep them in line, and don't worry about forgetting it one night or two, your teeth are going to be A-OK, just as long as you wear it again the next days.


Note: Don't worry about gum. I chewed it, and I loved it; but stay away from Caramel Apples and Bubble Gum. They are extremely sticky, and the Apple pulled off my Appliance* and it cost a boat-load.


*The Appliance is a plastic place that is molded to the roof of your mouth that is connected to your braces by metal bars, this was painful for me.

Would you suggest Invisiline? Otherwise what about just average braces that are just normal?

godzillabot wrote:Would you suggest Invisiline?

Invisiline was suggested to be by my dentist (purely for aesthetics). I'm going to be looking into it withing the next year or so. Looks like a great thing, but I don't think it comes cheap. Not sure that it can be used to solve 'bigger' problems than simple aesthetics, like braces can.

So far I really haven't had much trouble with my teeth (except for one root canal when I was in second grade, but since pain has never bothered me I honestly thought it was pretty darn cool!), but I should be getting braces here in the near future, so it looks like I'll be getting a similar experience right along with you.

Well why don’t we send some PM’s to keep each other updated? Thanks everybody for the advice! I’ll be getting them probably next month because my family and I are going on a vacation!

godzillabot wrote:Well why don’t we send some PM’s to keep each other updated?

Sounds good to me! Looks like you'll probably get yours first, so I'd like you to let me know what it's like at first if you don't mind. Haha, I wanna be ready.

Praxus Prime wrote:

godzillabot wrote:Well why don’t we send some PM’s to keep each other updated?

Sounds good to me! Looks like you'll probably get yours first, so I'd like you to let me know what it's like at first if you don't mind. Haha, I wanna be ready.

Well I’m going to an orthodontist today! So right when I get back I shall tell you what it’s like!

Also a tip about orthodontia: Get multiple quotes, go with the one that you feel best with, and not the one that (and no offence here) your parents say “oh we went to him and your going to love him” (remember I have no idea how old you are, so again please no offence) so go with the one that feels right

Praxus Prime wrote:

godzillabot wrote:Well why don’t we send some PM’s to keep each other updated?

Sounds good to me! Looks like you'll probably get yours first, so I'd like you to let me know what it's like at first if you don't mind. Haha, I wanna be ready.

Well I’m going to an orthodontist today! So right when I get back I shall tell you what it’s like!

Also a tip about orthodontia: Get multiple quotes, go with the one that you feel best with, and not the one that (and no offence here) your parents say “oh we went to him and your going to love him” (remember I have no idea how old you are, so again please no offence) so go with the one that feels right

None taken! Haha and just to clear it up, I'm fifteen. Anyway, I hope it turns out alright for ya! And yeah, I agree about going with whoever you feel comfortable with. Luckily I'll be going to the same guy who's always done everything on my teeth my whole life.

Praxus Prime wrote:None taken! Haha and just to clear it up, I'm fifteen. Anyway, I hope it turns out alright for ya! And yeah, I agree about going with whoever you feel comfortable with. Luckily I'll be going to the same guy who's always done everything on my teeth my whole life.

I just got back about half an hour ago, I got two quotes, and the first was great! Friendly people and good atmosphere, the second one…not so great, we finished up and I quote “okay we can go in the back and get them on” and. I don’t. Like. That.

Anyway at least this time we weren’t stranded in Deer Park

P.S. to all members within this thread! Do not be alarmed at the dentist

I've had braces since about two weeks before I entered 9th grade (I'm in 11th grade now), and I'm hoping to get them off in the next month or two. I'm absolutely terrified of getting them off, but it'll be so worth it! By far the worst part of it for me is brushing my teeth. I'm really slow at it, and I can't wait to be able to brush my teeth quickly again.

The pain isn't as bad as you might expect. It hurts when you get them on and when they get tightened, but it generally only lasts a few days. Rubber bands are rather annoying, but they aren't too bad either. The worst pain for me was when I had spacers (rubber bands used to put some space in between your back teeth so the braces can fit on them) before I got my braces on.

Today is the big day! I know I'll complane to the parents so I apogized in advance

Good luck! Oh, and in advance, they hurt for a LONG TIME. Prepare for pain.

Braces were the bane of my existance...well, one of several...back in middle school. But there will be few things as enjoyable as the day you get 'em off.

They're on! I don't know when you guys got them on, but they must've improved (as I'm in no pain)

So hopfully I will go from this: to this: