Braces

chelle2k9

really missed chewing gum when I had my braces on and i'd just given up smoking too! all worth it in the end though

LemonGrove

chelle2k9 wrote: »

really missed chewing gum when I had my braces on and i'd just given up smoking too! all worth it in the end though

Ah chewing gum is one thing I never got into, guess that's a good thing. If they told me I couldn't have tea while I had them I wouldn't have them fitted, I would just rather have crooked teeth.

chelle2k9

yea cudnt function without a cuppa 1st thing lol

durham_girl

LemonGrove wrote: »

Ah chewing gum is one thing I never got into, guess that's a good thing.

I still used to chew gum when I had mine in

In my defence I was 14 at the time and of course knew better than the orthodontist :D

LemonGrove

durham_girl wrote: »

I still used to chew gum when I had mine in

In my defence I was 14 at the time and of course knew better than the orthodontist :D

I've eaten things such as Fruit Pastilles and Toffees already and I've been OK, they're probably just being over cautious to be sure.

I just remembered something, when the Orthodontist asked which was my normal Dentist (for the removal of teeth) I referred to the Dentist by his first name. He rather rudely corrected me and said that I should be calling him by his title and surname making me feel as little as the baby teeth I still have. Erm, I don't work there, surely I can call them how I choose? I just suffered a total trauma, I didn't need that.

tc80tc80

LemonGrove wrote: »

Well I'm getting braces.

I'm lucky enough to have a large dentist's surgery near me that has it's own Orthodontist and I've just had the bottom brace fitted which has me in total agony. The top one is due soon after wearing a removable one for a period, and I had the impression taken for it today and it was one of the most hideous and unpleasant things I've ever experienced in a long time, it was only in for 30 seconds, but it was absolutely horrendous. I kept gagging every few seconds which led to my eyes watering, and there was so much clay it felt like it was suffocating me. It didn't help that it was a special chair where my head wasn't just tipped back but totally horizontal.

Here is a couple of tips for the next time you need an impression taken. I speak from experience of having the worst gag reflex in the world, imho.

1) Tell / insist, the Dentist / Tech that you will sit up and lean forward for the procedure. They only need to see into your mouth to first set the tray of goop correctly . You don't need to lie down after that. The goop in your mount triggers the saliva glands into overdrive and all of that fluid triggers your gag reflex. Let the saliva dribble into a kleenex. They often overload the impression tray out of habit. Remember you are the one paying the bill. Stand up for your rights to not be uncomfortable.

2) Take the tip of one of your index fingers and pinch hard the gap in your knuckle between the other index finger and and the second finger. It should be painful. This is chinese acupuncture point that reduces / stops the gag reflex.

3) Another method, I've found is to curl your big toes inside your shoes to the point of pain. Not your whole foot, just the big toes. This is more of a distraction move than anything else. But every bit helps.

4) Tell your dentist before hand of your overly sensitive gag reflex and make sure they acknowledge your concerns.

LemonGrove

tc80tc80 wrote: »

Here is a couple of tips for the next time you need an impression taken. I speak from experience of having the worst gag reflex in the world, imho.

1) Tell / insist, the Dentist / Tech that you will sit up and lean forward for the procedure. They only need to see into your mouth to first set the tray of goop correctly . You don't need to lie down after that. The goop in your mount triggers the saliva glands into overdrive and all of that fluid triggers your gag reflex. Let the saliva dribble into a kleenex. They often overload the impression tray out of habit. Remember you are the one paying the bill. Stand up for your rights to not be uncomfortable.

2) Take the tip of one of your index fingers and pinch hard the gap in your knuckle between the other index finger and and the second finger. It should be painful. This is chinese acupuncture point that reduces / stops the gag reflex.

3) Another method, I've found is to curl your big toes inside your shoes to the point of pain. Not your whole foot, just the big toes. This is more of a distraction move than anything else. But every bit helps.

4) Tell your dentist before hand of your overly sensitive gag reflex and make sure they acknowledge your concerns.

Thanks for the tips they're great, I really hope I don't have to have them again but if so I'll bare these in mind. I especially want to try out the acupuncture one.

I have noticed that the treys are overloaded, but I can't imagine it would be any different as my mouth had to be stretched just to fit the empty tray in beforehand to check the fit. Also, my head had to be right back for this one as it was done with rings around my teeth and these had to be exactly in place in the impression. Problems, problems.