Spacers!

Today, I took the first step on my oral journey- spacers! Metal spacers were placed between my back molars (4 total spacers, only on top.). The spacers are "spring-like," creating space around my top back molars. The spacers, sometimes called separators, are supposed to create room for a metal band that will be put around the back molars to hold the braces. My next appointment is not until December 14th- I suppose they will remove the spacers and replace them with the metal bands. On January 4th, I will be getting my teeth cleaned by my dentist [last time without braces for a while!]. Then, on the 5th, I'm scheduled to get braces! I will be getting Damon braces, which means no colored elastics. The Damon system does not use elastic bands. My mouth will be all metal. Although elastics are pretty cool and colorful, the Damon system is supposed to be faster and a tad more comfortable.

As for the pain report:
The quick process [no more than 2 minutes] of placing spacers on my top back molars did not hurt at all! It just felt weird, as any other foreign object in your mouth would. Throughout the day, all was still well- just had to deal with an annoying prong/coil of the spacers that sticks out and rubs against the inside of my cheek. I was worried they might pop out more than anything else!

However, when I bit into a cucumber for dinner- it hurt! Biting down on things/ chewing is difficult and very uncomfortable. It took longer than usual to eat my spaghetti- even after I cut it up into small pieces. Since dinner, I've experienced a dull pain. Whenever I bite or put my teeth together, it hurts; it's almost like the sensation one gets from pressing on a bruise- except it's fairly constant. Of course, it's less painful when your top and bottom teeth are not touching.
The spacers are creating an aching sensation on my whole entire row of top teeth right now- because the spacers are squishing all of the other teeth together. My top row of teeth feel tight. There is a considerable amount of pressure on my gums. The orthodontist said these pains would subside after a few days. Hopefully they do! We'll see!

Oh and I didn't post an update about the appointment I had at the orthodontist before this one. In a nutshell, the orthodontist described my treatment process and laid out the ground rules of wearing braces [i.e. what you can and can't eat, request of cooperation and commitment, etc]. He also discussed the payment plan with my mom.

I will try to post updates about my treatment process. If you have any questions, comments, or advice- feel free to leave them here! It is tremendously inspirational and helpful to read other peoples' blogs and vlogs about the experience with braces and orthagnathic surgery. Thanks to everyone who posts their experience! Hopefully, I can be a good resource for others going through the same thing. Certainly, all of the support on the internet will help get us all through this! :) Good Luck to everyone else! Happy Thanksgiving!

p.s. love this bubblegum mouthwash (above)!! made my night! haha! haven't had it in FOREVER! [bc it's for little kids. tehe] ...the taste was a nice distraction from my mild discomfort :)