My reason for wanting to get adult braces was largely due to how my upper teeth looked in photos. So apart from noticing a little bit of crowding in my lower teeth, I never really suspected just how much movement was required to correct them until I saw that first wire threaded through the brackets.
The wire track wobbled up and down like a snail trail on a wet road as the wire was forced to contort into the perfectly placed brackets. Amazing…I was aware that my lower teeth had some uneven wear spots on them due to poor positioning, and that they were very tight in places and difficult to floss between, but this really provided a visual demonstration of just how far out of alignment they were.
The most amazing thing was that just 2 weeks later, I could feel and see the difference as the wire pulled and twisted those front teeth into better positions. The teeth that had to move the most felt surprisingly wobbly – but now that I know this is all part of the process I am not worried about it this time as I know they will soon toughen up again. If you are interested to know why this happens, check out our post that describes the movement and repositioning of teeth during orthodontic treatment.
There is a certain curious fascination I have as an adult wearing braces. I am really enjoying the process of observing my teeth moving and straightening…stay tuned!
If you are considering braces as an adult, visit our Adult Orthodontics info.
