CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

about a month ago, i found out that i had to get braces because my lower jaw is growing faster than my upper jaw. i wasn't all that scared about getting braces because many of my friends have it and they say that it isn't that bad. only at first. however, my orthodontist said that if the condition gets worst, i may have to get jaw surgery. this, i am worried about. so, i was just wondering if you guys could pray for me. thanks.

No problem. I had orthodontic work done for a grand total of 7 years (including oral surgery to get teeth pulled), so I totally know that while it isn't fun, it's tolerable, and you'll be better off for it in the long run. I'll be praying!

I've still got my braces and jaw surgery WAS an option, but it was obviously turned down^^ Sometimes, it's not as bad as you would expect it to be (although I still apparently need to get 2 teeth knocked out next month >_<) but at least unlike my cousins, I don't have to wear the dorky headgear. Everyone's a little different. But, of course I'll be praying for the situation, because surgery in itself is a big issue...

Went through the same thing as a kid, including the one jaw growing, one jaw not issue. I had to wear head-gear for a while at around 9 years old (I stayed home all summer for that) then had braces, a skin graft for my gums, and... well, you get the point. If it's any comfort, while the braces were on longer than anything else I went through, it was also the easiest part of anything I went through.

I'll pray.

thanks for the support. i was a little worried about the headgear issue, because when i first saw it, it looked like some sort of torture device, but it doesn't seem that bad. the worst is probably when i would have to wear it around my friends. that's gonna be rather embarrassing...

If you do have to get head-gear, I would suggest waiting until the summer to wear it (if you can). While your summer would be a little ruined, you could still isolate yourself since school will be out and maybe ask your better, more supportive friends to come visit you and hang out. I did mine during the summer and it saved me a lot of embarrassment.

At least your wisdom teeth aren't growing.

[quote="Mr. SmartyPants"]At least your wisdom teeth aren't growing. ]

yeah. both my older brother and sister had to get four of their wisdom teeth pulled. one thing i don't really like is that my brother's engaged and he's gonna get married in the summer. i'm sorta sad that i'm gonna be wearing braces when they take all the wedding pictures. I feel bad because I sorta ruined the pictures for him.

I have bracesand the're not to bad after the first week but I'll pray ^^

Don't sweat it. Here's a tip: take an Aleve about 15 minutes before you go in to get your braces tightened. It works wonders, believe you me. Getting to pick out colors is fun. Try getting them to alternate your favorite color and smoke. It looks really cool.

.rai//

Raiden no Kishi wrote: Try getting them to alternate your favorite color and smoke. It looks really cool.

??? ...say no to drugs!

Raiden no Kishi wrote:Don't sweat it. Here's a tip: take an Aleve about 15 minutes before you go in to get your braces tightened.

Geeze, why didn't I ever think of that? XD That's a brilliant idea. XD

Tenshi no Ai wrote:??? ...say no to drugs!

Not smoke as in "smoke cigarettes", silly. Smoke-colored bands.

.rai//

Don't worry. I had to have a pallet spreader (Basically, it's this crank device that they put in roof of your mouth. You crank it every day and it stretches the roof of your mouth and stretched it. And stretches it until one day the bone in the roof of your mouth actually breaks) and braces, so I can associate with having unusual othodontic needs. Let me just tell you, though, while it can be painful, it's TOTALLY worth it. If I had to do it all over again to keep my straight teeth-- I would. It's totally worth it, and you'll be glad you did it!

I'll be praying that things will go well for you!

Mangafanatic wrote:Don't worry. I had to have a pallet spreader (Basically, it's this crank device that they put in roof of your mouth. You crank it every day and it stretches the roof of your mouth and stretched it. And stretches it until one day the bone in the roof of your mouth actually breaks) and braces, so I can associate with having unusual othodontic needs. Let me just tell you, though, while it can be painful, it's TOTALLY worth it. If I had to do it all over again to keep my straight teeth-- I would. It's totally worth it, and you'll be glad you did it!

I'll be praying that things will go well for you!

Oohh, I had to get one of those, too. Luckily, I was in second grade, so my pallet was still pretty soft, but I do remember that it did hurt pretty bad one night (probably the night it broke XD). But yeah, as I said before, it was definitely worth it. XD

Pallet spreaders? Ow >_< Those things sound scary!! Glad I've just got the basics when it comes to orthodontistry...

Radical Dreamer wrote:Luckily, I was in second grade, so my pallet was still pretty soft, but I do remember that it did hurt pretty bad one night (probably the night it broke XD).

You're probably right. Since I was 14, everything was pretty solid by the time I got my spreader. One night, my mom cranked the thing and I heard this massive "Crack" and I grabbed the top of my head-- absolutely positive that the top of my head had either split open or was on fire.

Wait.... pallet spreaders are supposed to break a bone in your mouth?

I don't get it. Anybody care to explain how this works?

Mangafanatic wrote:Don't worry. I had to have a pallet spreader (Basically, it's this crank device that they put in roof of your mouth. You crank it every day and it stretches the roof of your mouth and stretched it. And stretches it until one day the bone in the roof of your mouth actually breaks)

oh man. i have to get something like that installed in my mouth too. but i think it's called "spacers". but from your description, it sounds EXACTLY the same as what i have to get. *ouch*.

Raiden no Kishi wrote:Don't sweat it. Here's a tip: take an Aleve about 15 minutes before you go in to get your braces tightened. It works wonders, believe you me.

that sounds like a pretty smart idea. i'll be sure to try it out the first time i go to get my braces tightened.

jon_jinn wrote:oh man. i have to get something like that installed in my mouth too. but i think it's called "spacers". but from your description, it sounds EXACTLY the same as what i have to get. *ouch*.

Oh, no, don't worry. Spacers are little rubber bands that they stick between your back teeth so they can make room for the main brackets for the braces. They may make your teeth a bit sore, but it's nothing Tylenol or Advil (or, like Raiden said, Aleve) can't help. I think the things that Osaka and I had put in are called "appliances" in most orthodontic circles. Well, that's what they called mine, at least. XDD

MrSmartyPants wrote:I don't get it. Anybody care to explain how this works?

Basically, they put two brackets over your back molars (or somewhere in that general area), and in between those brackets is this...metal...well, appliance that has a little hole in it. You get a little "key", and each night, you put the "key" in the hole and crank it once, so to speak. When you do that, it makes the appliance spread apart, so basically, over the next several weeks, you're spreading your pallet so your teeth have more room.

Ugh, all these tales of appliances and braces are making my teeth and mouth hurt, and I've never even needed any of that stuff! I'll pray for you, Jon. I'm told braces are painful at times, and my Dad had to have jaw surgery and has told me stories about it for years (had his mouth wired shut for a month afterwards and could only drink liquid food), so I know it's not enjoyable. I wish you the best.

Puritan wrote:Had his mouth wired shut for a month afterwards and could only drink liquid food

*sigh* aww man!!... I SERIOUSLY do not want to have to get jaw surgery now.

About the Aleve thing, be aware that you could be allergic (unless you've taken it before and were okay). Some people are allergic to that. Really, any pain reliever: watch out for the potential allergy. Or any drug for that matter.

Thus ends my warning about allergic reactions to medicines.

[quote="Rogie"]About the Aleve thing, be aware that you could be allergic (unless you've taken it before and were okay). Some people are allergic to that. Really, any pain reliever: watch out for the potential allergy. Or any drug for that matter.

Thus ends my warning about allergic reactions to medicines. ]

Yeah. it would be wise to be on the careful side when taking pain medicines (or any medicine actually). However, I do not believe that I am allergic to it because I don’t think I HAVE any allergies. But I’ve never taken Aleve. But thanks for the warning.