sE_vIxEn's Guide to Orthodontic (Teeth Bracing) Treatment : All You Need to Know

Hi guys! I'm here to share my bracing experience with you all, and write in down in permanent form before all memories of my bracing experience is lost. I did my bracing at year 2006 and finished it at 2007. Took me 1 and a 1/2 years for the whole duration of the treatment. The doctor used the Damon Bracing System on me and that is what I'll talk about mainly. This guide is purely written based on personal experience so there might be room for error. Therefore, always check with your doctor and leave my guide as a secondary opinion. Now, let's proceed!

The Beginning

This is it. The day you decide whether to have your teeth done or not. This is the point where you need to give up your good food, sacrifice your dad's money and your precious time to fight for that winning smile that you've always wanted. Ever got laughed at because of your rabbit teeth? I did. Actually I wasn't really bothered (at the point where I had my braces, I was 15 - 16 so I couldn't be bothered about my looks) but my parents did. They say it was so bad, my lips look pursed all the time. -__-

Okay, first of all, you need to engage a doctor. For me, I engaged David Orthodontics to do it for me because I got influenced by my brother's girlfriend. Actually my brother had already done bracing eons ago but I was too young to understand my parent's good intention.

Now one thing to note about choosing a doctor: It's very, very, very important. Before bracing, I've seen friends who went for government hospitals to 'take a number' and line up for their turn and end up getting their teeth f***ed up. Sure, the gov hospital saved them from rabbit tooth-dom, but the teeth are still crooked. Why waste your time and go through that pain and end up with null results? It's simply not worth it. Of course, if you have budget limitations, then that's understandable.

When your doctor checks your teeth, bombard him with questions! Ask him everything you want to know. You're the rice bowl for the doc and you have a right to leech the best services out of him. Get to know your teeth condition, how the whole procedure will go so you don't open your mouth and wait for surprise buttshecks to happen.

I have a bracing buddy / classmate who just goes and opens his mouth for the doctor to do anything he wants without knowing his condition. How can? And I especially hate people like these because end up you kena bombarded with questions that are supposed to be directed to a doctor, not someone who has experience. Basically, everyone's treatment is customized to suit your own needs so one will never know what you're going through.

Settling Down with your Choice

So you've had a consultation with your doctor, he should be preparing what you need and what is suitable. In my guide, I'll mainly talk about the Damon Bracing System, which is the one that I opted for (and the main choice of most patients). For your information, here are the available options. Again, this is strictly to my own knowledge, I'm not a pro, merely a girl sharing her experience.

read the full entry here.

This post has been edited by sE_vIxEn: Apr 30 2008, 04:26 PM

I wore braces before because I had 'tiger' teeth or also called 'vampire teeth'.
Now all done after two and half years.
At first it is so uncomfortable cant even eat porridge.
However it just for roughly a week then I used to it already.
The most annoying issues is I couldn't eat burger cuz the meat will stick at braces.
And it is so embarrassed. (vegetable also)

Although quite suffer but it worth
Now my teeth looks nice and kissable.
I become more confident then before.
Last time I so afraid to smile widely.

Hehe this is me

[quote=sE_vIxEn,Apr 30 2008, 02:14 PM]

sE_vIxEn, many thanks for your post. You did a great job to sharing with us. Thanks.

Our damon system is look a bit defferent ya ? May be version different..

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Added on April 30, 2008, 11:08 pm[quote=reamer,Apr 30 2008, 04:20 PM]
I wore braces before because I had 'tiger' teeth or also called 'vampire teeth'.
Now all done after two and half years.
At first it is so uncomfortable cant even eat porridge.
However it just for roughly a week then I used to it already.
The most annoying issues is I couldn't eat burger cuz the meat will stick at braces.
And it is so embarrassed. (vegetable also)

Although quite suffer but it worth
Now my teeth looks nice and kissable.
I become more confident then before.
Last time I so afraid to smile widely.

Hehe this is me


[/quote]


Reamer,

wow.. really nice smile.. pretty big eye girls

Recently, we can see the result for our friend after braces are so nice and natural. Not like us, still on the process, the teeth even come out a gap suddently. Well, i dun care my look already la..(even i am old) After installed braces, somehow i had build some self confident, dare to smile, dun care ppl will see my braces. May be I know, after the braces i will have a nice teeth. Nothing to worry then..

This post has been edited by kentcp: Apr 30 2008, 11:08 PM

thanx for ur compliment
yea you are right
a confident mind is important thru out the way...
i wish everything gonna be smooth for you and remember after braces taken out must wear the retainer in a require period, don ever feel lazy to wear it. This is because retainer helps to strengthen the teeth so it won have tendency to move.

wah! they let you keep the spare parts?? so cool leh.... but I also dun have the steel thingy... maybe urs is Damon 2 system??

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Added on May 3, 2008, 8:37 pmtotally agree.some of my colleague whom had done braces years ago, malas wanna wear the retainer, now the teeth slowly moves back to the old position....

must not lazy wear retainer..!

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Added on May 3, 2008, 8:40 pmI also can't wait until that day comes! but I think I still got long way to go... nowadays got gap some more...

This post has been edited by green_apple: May 3 2008, 08:40 PM

just put on braces ^^

hello!Welcome to this thread!

Can tell us what type of braces did you take??

dear sorry for the late reply,
hmmm its quite costly, i've asked the doc for the braces brand, its equivalent to GAC Innovation and from the same manufacturer but named Tomy(for Japan market) and cost rm9500, normally you have to pay 40% after the bonding (excluding extraction, moulding, xray, scaling), and rm250 for the monthly treatment. Maybe its cheaper at other clinic, i'm not sure but mine done at DentalPro Bangsar but the ortho only available on Tuesday. Recommended for working adult , just swipe your card like mine


http://www.gacinovation.com/

Regards

uh, normal one kua. How many types are there? i got vhampire teeth, my tiger teeth is on top of my other teeth, if u get what i mean.

i did it at pristine, but my teeth seems very painful, (1 month oni la i put) and it seems like its wobbly, like wanna fall off >_<

i wan to put the colro one tho XD next month my wire is red color! wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Just some update on my braces..

Yesterday, went to replace even thicker wire and this time Dr put some yellow rubber on top of the string. According to him, this will close my teeth's gap. My progess is good, the 2 upper vampires teeth already move in after 4 months..now is the time to allign the teeth gap.

He asked me to schedule another to install the braces in lower teeth. I make it on next Tuesday.

He also suggest me to put 4 screw (2 upper, 2 lower) in my front , so that can put in rubber to pull my teeth more effectively. This will help me to have better smile line. If just purely braces, it may take one year ++ for my situation, if installed screw, it will take around 6 months time only (somemore the time to put bite stoper will shorter ) The screw is not free I think i will put it, since can shorten the time. Although, will make me look ugly (i think)

so, will install braces on lower teeth, bite stoper and 4 screws on next Tuesday! Need lot of support from u guys ya

uiks...mine also have to put screw leh...but mine put up nia...he told me when i consulted him the first time...gonna meet dr how next week for the second appointment....so far so good for now.., not pain, bite stop is irritating as usual, cant eat awesome food as usual...looking forward to the next appointment....screw is definetly not free...if not mistaken is rm 350.00 PER SCREW....geez...i am so broke...

hi all, i just went to dr how few hours ago..i think 10pm..put the braces on my gigi bawah.now very pain oh..some more hor..i so gatal, go eat mi kari(right opposite dr how clinic's entry)..then hor,,one behind bracket come off.now d wire keep cucuk me,,make me dun dare eat anything sticky le..tomolo dr how not wrking, i guess, i'll go there to cut off d wire.then wait next tues lo..

Moral of d story: Dun eat food(especially hot) after put d braces..coz d glue need time to stick it strongly..

haha..just sharing

Wow !! Sazzzhi, welcome back here ! your appointment day always almost same day with me ya.. Dr. How open till so late ah? I tot till 7pm only. THanks for remind me here (not to eat hot food after braces).. Still wondering want to take half day leave on next tuesday or not, afraid after place screw, the pain caused me no mood to work.

What time u plan to come on next tues wor.. dun conflict with my appointment time le..later i have to wait longer outside.. haha.. just joking la..

After change to even thicker string on last 2 days, now my back teeth also painful..can't chew anymore..also, the position of upper teeth is no longer tally with lower teeth a bit after 4 months of treament.

Can't imagine how it will after tues..hmm..

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Added on May 9, 2008, 6:58 amkanzakicyn, i saw your teeth seem normal le

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Added on May 9, 2008, 7:07 amoh !! your only 2 screws ah.. mine is 4! even broke ...u r next week too ? which day u r ?

Add some oil to you ya..



This post has been edited by kentcp: May 9 2008, 07:07 AM

----wahhh...mine he said 4 screws at first, then he changed his mind and say 2 screws...entah la...see how it goes...mine is saturday...i stay very far leh...so i dont make appointment on weekdays......just wanna ask..each time u go appointment, dr how will clean your teeth for you boh??..

No.. he didn't clean.. just check the progress status. i think nowaday everything also talking about money. if anyone of u still single, should look for dentist as bf --rich ma..

wahlau...your teeth must be very clean...but i think mine need cleaning...feels weird...fast fast clean else who knows got something stuck inside...laaa...scaling lagi need money lagi...damn broke liao...

err.. my teeth consider clean kuar.. i spent 3~5min to clean my teeth each time..

haha, sounds the same as me. the yellow rubber damn disgusting hor? but it works like a charm in pulling your braces back. so patience!

cant imagine...wait till my next appointment only i know...hehe...damn..i miss awesome food...seriously miss yummy food...awww....

can't imagine? you can read about it here, you'll see some pics with the so-called 'rubber band'.