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My first brace tightening

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I wasn’t worried about having my braces tightened today.  Having the braces put on was so quick, pain free and easy, that I knew it would be a simple thing to do.  My orthodontist is also very good and so friendly that I totally feel at ease around her.

I did think I would feel the same pain afterwards as when I first had them on.  I was expecting to not want to eat for a few days as the pain would stop me, so we were a bit naughty last night!  As I thought the teeth would hurt so much we had a ‘final meal before tightening’!  A very naughty take away pizza!

Well, I should have had the sweet potato and veggie bean chilli I had originally planned on having as my teeth are not painful at all!

The appointment took all of ten minutes, if that.  I was expecting maybe half hour as I really had no idea what happened at a tihtening appointment.  The actual tightening took maybe two whole minutes!  The rest of the time was spent finding my mould and having a look to see any difference.

So what happened at my first brace tightening?

The brace brackets were left place and just the wire was changed and tightened.  My wire was changed for a slightly thicker wire.  The orthodontist took out the old wire and popped the new thicker wire into the end brackets.  She then twisted this into the brackets on the other teeth one by one.  This perhaps hurt a little on a couple of teeth which have been feeling quite sensitive, but it’s so quick it was over before it bothered me.  I had to ask ‘is that it?’ as I was so surprised at how quick it was!

The new wire will continue to align my teeth rather than moving them.  My orthodontist thinks the teeth should be in a good position by my next tightening to start moving my canines into position.  They are currently where my lateral incisors should be (2nd back and should be 3rd), which is exciting as that means my twisted canine should become untwisted by this appointment!  Eek!  I’m dying for that tooth to be untwisted.  It’s so annoying, I wish I could just grab it and twist it myself!

I’d thought my two front teeth were looking slanted at the bottom, whereas at the start they were straight.  We looked at the mould which confirmed my worry!  Hopefully it’s just where the bite is being corrected and will sort itself out, but if not my orthodontist reassured me she will be able to move them.  Phew!

My peg tooth has definitely moved in line with my other teeth and looks much better.  A small change for anyone else to see but I could tell as soon as it moved.  I didn’t think my twisted canine had moved at all, but my orthodontist thinks it has started.  Hopefully this will become more noticeable to me soon.

The whole brace experience is going well and the first tightening was a walk in the park.  It’s now six hours after my appointment and aside from a little extra pressure to some back teeth on one side, I really can’t notice any difference yet.  I managed to eat lunch fine.  Perhaps there will be more pain after the tightening to start moving the teeth.  I’m so surprised there’s no pain yet as so many blogs I’ve read say they were in agony after every tightening.

 

My entire braces & false teeth journey from start to finish!

First orthodontist consultation

Making the decision to get false teeth and braces at 30

Braces booking appointment and moulds

Dentist appointment to check teeth for removal

Two weeks until I get braces

Two baby teeth removed ready for adult braces

Top brace fitting

Braces at 30 - day 2

Braces at 30 - day 3

One week with adult braces

18 days with adult braces

One month with adult braces

What happened at my first brace tightening appointment

3 months with adult braces

4 months with adult braces and another tightening appointment

One week after my third braces tightening

Bottom brace fitting and biting blocks

5th brace tightening

6th brace tightening and update

7th brace tightening and update

Elastics added to my braces from top to bottom

False tooth impression taken for my brace

Temporary false tooth on brace

Braces closing gaps and improving overbite

18 months with a brace

13th braces tightening appointment

22 months with an adult brace before and after

15th tightening appointment braces photos

2 year update with adult braces

17th brace tightening at 24 months with an adult brace

My last braces tightening appointment?

The embarrassing day I get my top brace removed

Essix retainer with false tooth - fitting and photos

Dental implants consultation

Can I get dental implants?

20th braces tightening appointment

Peg tooth extraction

28 months - bottom brace removed!

12 reasons I hate the clear Essix retainer

Hawley retainer fitting appointment

The partial denture disappointment

5 weeks until I get my bridges and false teeth!

The final result of my braces at 30 and false teeth

Before and after braces photos

My teeth whitening experience