If you have read Parts One, Two and Three, you will already know I am a dentist at Straight Teeth Suite, who has treated thousands of patients in Nottingham, and I have been wearing damon braces, fitted by my colleague, to straighten my own teeth. For more than four months, I have recorded my experience in a series of blogs.

Progress Report

I had a review for my braces just this week, and everything is progressing really well.  My wires were changed, and my teeth feel a little tender.  I know from experience this discomfort tends to last just a day.

I am very, very pleased with how my teeth are looking.  The lower teeth are now nearly straight. The upper teeth, even though I delayed fitting the braces on these until after my baby was born,  have caught up and are now nearly straight too.

Unexpected Gap

We were working to correct my top front tooth just a little more when a small gap developed which isn’t really normal and was unexpected.  Occasionally gaps do form, and these spaces are really important because they help us dentists straighten the tooth even more.  We have to find the required space from the available space to get the best results. Teeth move by very small degrees, and we need all available space, so if a gap develops we can work with it.  When I see my patients,  I know they get quite alarmed that suddenly they have crooked teeth, and spaces in between their teeth. I know it’s all part of the treatment. It’s all completely normal, and it just helps us towards the final results of achieving attractive and straight teeth. Sometimes things look worse before they look better.

My Bite

As the majority of the straightening has been done, we are concentrating on correcting my bite. As I’ve mentioned before, I have a slightly deep bite; my bottom teeth are not totally visible when I bite together. My top teeth slightly cover my bottom teeth.  In my career as a dentist, I’ve seen much deeper bites, but I thought I might as well take the opportunity to correct it now that I’m at this stage in my life where I can finally make time for appointments to go and see our fantastic Anna. I can see such a big improvement.

I have been wearing Damon braces, fixed braces with wires and brackets for just over four months.  Fortunately, I have not struggled too much.  You get used to the rubbing of the brackets, and the discomfort I knew to expect, eventually goes away.  My biggest issue has been the bite blocks, and I have mentioned my battle with these before. To explain, bite blocks are little build ups that, in my case, we put on the back molars, to open up my bite, and I still haven’t  got used to them.

Teeth Grinding

Because I tend to grind my teeth quite a lot at night, and I clench my jaw muscles when I sleep, I wake up in the morning with my jaw quite tense and aching. I have done this all my life, and I’m probably doing a little bit more now because of all the changes happening in my mouth. Having discussed this with Anna, once my treatment is complete, and my fixed retainers are on, we will have a special type of removable retainer made, which is specially designed to reduce clenching and grinding. We offer this to patients who have the same issue and hopefully this will cure my problem too.

Are you looking to start Damon braces or are you wearing Damon Braces.  Please post your comment below we would love to hear your personal experience.

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