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In my childhood, my orthodontic treatment started with a banded space retainer, after one of my teeth had to be removed after an infection.
After a year or so, when the band fell off, I was told that I will need braces anyway and that they will start treatment with fixed braces. And so I got my first set of braces installed only on the upper arch.

I fugured out to adjust my Interlandi Headgear properly by shortening the outer arms at one of my facebows a bit.
Now it‘s very comfortable to wear with my fakes. It‘s much better to sleep in it, than in my combination pull setup - which I still love to wear ;-)

I really wonder, why the Interlandi is not much more common...

Not really "hardware," but my wife will be getting elastics at her next adjustment, one week from today.

I will find out next week if I need braces again and our possibly surgery.

Anyone getting any new hardware for 2018?

I prefer bold bright colors!

The teeth are most at risk will they are being moved. That is when the roots are being affected. After they are in the final position, the braces really are no different than a fixed/bonded retainer. The orthodontist really treats the patient for the minimum length required to do the work needed. In theory, there really is no maximum amount of time a person could have braces. There may be some issues with cavities if a person doesn't brush enough or a build up of plaque between the teeth, but having a regular dental cleaning can take care of those issues. Back when bands where the normal thing, treatment time was longer then it is now with the the improved techniques in use.

I have talked with my orthodontist about the length of my own treatment. He has said that he was willing to spend a bit longer treating me. There are always very minor things an ortho can fix.

Thanks for the suggestions! I appreciate them.

@Braceface2015 - I paid for Carrie's braces in full before she began treatment. There was an estimate of time in braces (15-18 months), but that was it. I think if she just postpones several appointments, and perhaps doesn't comply 100% with elastic wear, we could probably stretch her to two years without much trouble.

@radian - She appreciates them in the context of how happy her treatment makes me, but she doesn't have any particular appreciation for them herself. However, she did comment that having braces just wasn't a big deal anymore, and she barely even notices them except when cleaning her teeth. As far as other people, as she put it, "everyone who would comment on my braces has already seen them."

@Embracer - I definitely wouldn't ask her ortho to do anything unethical or harmful. I doubt, however, that the difference between 18 months and two years in braces would really affect the (excellent) health of her teeth. Many people wear braces for two years and often well beyond with no ill effects. I do intend to get Carrie both Hawley and Essix retainers once her active treatment is complete, however, with specific rules for the wearing of each.  >

I would have thought it unethical for an orthodontist to extend treatment time beyond what is properly needed, although there must be a significant margin as to what constitutes "finished."  Braces do leave ones teeth in a somewhat vulnerable state and should not really be worn for longer than clinically required. But I would think you and Carrie will have plenty of scope for extending your fun with carefully chosen retainers!

Really good news for both of you that she thinks to extend her treatment time ! Is she beginning to appreciate to have them or is it just a way to satisfy your request ?

If you are willing to put a little more money into her teeth, just ask the ortho to extend the treatment. Most ortho's should be willing to add appointments if they are still making money. Ask your Dr. how much he/she will charge you. They all base the treatment costs on the length of time and the number of appointments. Most of the cost is not in the materials used, it is the cost of the building and employees.

Braceface 2015

That's cool that Carrie is talking about ways to lengthen treatment, I guess she appreciates how happy her tinsel teeth make you!
My wife has been in braces since Oct '13, she hasn't had an appointment in 2 years now. As well as the obvious of postponing appointments, what really slowed down her treatment was that the orthodontist gave her short sections of powerchain to change each week to close her premolar extraction gaps. She found this difficult and fiddly, basically she pretty much never changed them and the gaps were incredibly slow to close. Now, with no powerchains in 2 years, the gaps are around 5mm (top and bottom, left and right).
Her 6 front upper and lower teeth are in twisted wire ligature wire so they aren't going anywhere, though I am amazed that she hasn't popped a bracket or anything. Despite the lack of ortho visits, her braces are in perfect condition. I do miss her (semi) regular appointments, it is fun seeing the new hardware added to her mouth and getting to explore that.

Good luck!

Well, we had a great time in Mexico over Christmas, and fortunately there were no orthodontic incidents or issues! I only got a (very) few sightings of Mexican women in braces, though, so maybe that's actually more common among Latinas here in Arizona than in Mexico. We also had a fun time on NYE, and I put a bunch of pictures from that night on the Flickr album.

Carrie also did a video "review" of DentaKit's Braces Survival Kit over the weekend. I just put that up on YouTube here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kYiosKbNGs

Her next adjustment is January 11th, and she's expecting elastics at that appointment. She's also begun talking seriously about ways to extend her treatment so she can wear braces longer. Anyone have ideas beyond postponing adjustments and poor elastic compliance?

Enjoy Mexico - merry Christmas to you, too!

We're off to Mexico for a few days, so if anyone is following the Flickr account, there won't be any updates until we return next week. I'll try to take lots of pics while we're south of the border, especially since this will in all likelihood be Carrie's only Christmas in braces.

To everyone who celebrates: Merry Christmas from Carrie and me!

Thank you for giving your feedback, I thought no one would ever answer. I see maybe my anxiety and posture has something to do with it then.

Thanks.

Interesting. My wife has had bite stops/blocks for almost ten months. While they do make eating many foods into a chore, she hasn't experienced any dry mouth or throat issues, nor any reflux problems.

That said, she's definitely looking forward to getting the stops removed, though I suspect she'll have them for the duration of her treatment.

Hi guys I'm new to the forum, I've had braces for many years due to many reasons but besides that, I have these permanent bit blocks on both of my rear teeth to prevent myself from biting down on my bottom braces. That's fine but the bite block has been causing me problems... Everytime I sleep at night I wake up with a dry throat (I don't sleep with my mouth open) also Everytime I eat or drink something I tend to swallow alot of air making that food that I consumed come back up on me.. it's really annoying and I just want them to come off already.. does anyone else experience this problem?

Uhhh mouth colored.. lol ;D

Congrats on taking the big step...it will be worth it in the end! Look forward to the updates!