Before and After 15 Months of Putting On Braces

          If you had read on my previous posts on my braces journey from the first time on teeth extraction, the second teeth extraction, putting on braces to the latest post on after 70 days of putting on braces which i wrote on May last year wth, you'll definitely wondering how i look after putting on braces (am still wearing the braces) after 15 months now.

          I put on my braces on 13rd March of 2012, which is 15 months now, and my teeth are now align correctly with the upper and lower teeth fit together with little or less malocclusion problem.

          I had Class 2 malocclusion and overjet problems previously. Class 2 malocclusion is called retrognathism or overbite, occurs when the upper jaw and teeth severely overlap the lower jaw and teeth; while overjet or also the horizontal overlap, refers to the extent of horizontal (anterior-posterior) overlap of the upper central incisors over the lower central incisors. (Info from wikipedia)

          Picture below shows the differences between overbite and overjet, which are the problems i have before putting on braces. (Picture from wikipedia)


 
 Class II malocclusion / Overjet

 And i have crowding problem too for my lower teeth

 
 This is the overview of my teeth before putting of braces.
I was shocked looking at my crooked teeth
after finding pile of my self-teeth-shots i took before teeth extraction LOL!
P/S: Pardon the low quality of the pictures taken N years ago

 
 The condition of my maxillary/upper teeth.
My posterior teeth are still okay,
but my two BIG anterior incisors are protruded.

 The condition of my mandibular/lower teeth.
My lower teeth are crowded with improper alignment.

 A picture of me before putting on braces.
Big and round face wtf!
Although i have crooked and crowded teeth,
i like to show my teeth when taking pictures last time.
I think i looked pretty showing my teeth when smiling LOL.
Confidence overloaded.

 But after i entered dental school and
many seniors asked me "why don't you go to see this orthodontist and blah blah blah",
i realized that my teeth looked "not-okay" at all.

 When i think that showing the front view of my teeth when smiling makes me pretty,
a picture of side view of my crooked teeth shocked me to the max LOLOL!

 Another side view picture showing the right side of the teeth condition.
OH NO!!!

          My parents were shocked too when i showed these pictures to them, i was like "OMG my teeth were like this crooked and this crowded before and i nearly can't recognized them for living with me for almost 20 years lol!". 

          Luckily that i was brave enough to find our faculty's orthodontist Dr Asma and requested for braces and at that time i was just entered the dental school. After extracted four premolars and suffering all the pain and tears, finally i am on my journey to the perfectly-straight-and-everyone-envy-set-of-teeth hahaha :D 

          Besides correcting my crowded teeth, wearing braces also changes my facial features especially from the round and big face to the "not that round and big face" haha! Viewing the old pictures, yes i can tell that my facial features changed a lot and i almost can't recognized my old self! I don't know how to describe the changes but you'll definitely see the changes in the pictures!

This is me before and the first day putting on braces.
Left: Selfie right after the teeth extraction.
Middle: Appointment with Dr Asma for consultation with my teeth model!
Right: The first day putting on braces.

 Deng deng deng! This is me after putting on braces after more than a year.
Left: Picture on 5th April 2013.
Middle: Recent selfie. My chin appears more sharper whenever i smile
and my face is not that big and round like last time
although my cheeks are still quite prominent (this is baby fats okay hehe).
Right: My latest profile picture haha! The picture of my side view is no longer shocking anymore lol!

          Comparing the before and after pictures, you can tell that my teeth are now no longer protruded but align straightly with the correct occlusion between upper and lower teeth. My face appears less rounded too with sharper and pointed chin, but my cheeks are quite chubby due to the baby fats that accompanying me since the day i was born lol. You can't tell that the before and after pictures are of the same person isn't it?

          For a clearer and nearer view of the changes of my teeth alignment before and after putting on braces, here are the comparison of the photos:

Front view of my teeth

Upper and lower conditions of my teeth

Left side view

Right side view

          Putting on braces is pretty amazing huh? The changes on my teeth and on my facial features are so obvious after i combining all the pictures together. The braces are like a part of my body now, i can't feel it if you don't mention about it even when i'm eating, chewing, drinking or biting.

          I think my orthodontist will take off the braces once the small gaps between the teeth (if you notice in the side view pictures) are disappears and all the teeth are align side by side. Will update with you guys once i remove the appliances and start wearing the retainer!

 There are hundreds of languages around the world,
 but a SMILE speaks them all :)
So don't forget to smile!

Hope you guys like this post,
i spent the whole day to find the old pictures and edited them!

And

Dare to have your braces on today!

Till then, goodbye!

31 comments on "Before and After 15 Months of Putting On Braces"

  1. Thanks for sharing your experience with us. What I'm going through its very similar to you. I had the same 4 teeth extracted but it's only been 8 months for me. I'm very curious to see how much your face and smile change when your gaps completely close. Your doing great at documenting everything!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Dear Felecia,

      Hi! Thanks for leaving a comment and sharing your experience here! Hope you find this blog post useful! Will definitely blog again once I have my braces removed! Have a nice day ahead :)

      Regards,
      Sharon.

      Delete
  2. Wow , you are really cute with your braces . Haha I saw your old teeth and it is really horrible during that time but after you putting braces on , it show alot of enhancement ! Good to see that , hope you dont take your braces off xD . You can visit my blog dentist in kl . Thank you :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Winner,

      Hi and thanks for the compliment! Now I realised that my teeth really looked horrible before putting on braces haha! Hope you enjoy reading my blog posts! Have a great day :)

      Regards,
      Sharon.

      Delete
  3. I extracted my 4 tooth already. Can't wait to put the blue ring and braces on soon! I think I will be wearing braces in September! I want straight teeth and sharp features too!!! :D Your post motivated me a lot.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Yee Ching,

      Thanks for leaving a comment here! I cant wait to see you wearing braces too! All the best to your journey to the perfect teeth haha! Remember to take pictures before and after you wearing the braces, then you can see the big enhancement and it does motivate you :)

      Regards,
      Sharon.

      Delete
  4. Hi. I am putting braces soon, so I'm wondering if the extraction of teeth process hurts and what should I take note of after my extraction. And yes, generally how would my facial features change because I have 2 rabbit tooth in front but my other teeth are relatively straight.

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    Replies
    1. Dear Anonymous,

      The majority of dental extractions are carried out under local anesthesia, which causes the numbness of the area of tooth to be extracted and it normally will not feel pain after the injection.

      In most cases, the recovery period after tooth extraction lasts only a few days. The following will help speed recovery:

      - Take painkillers as prescribed by your dentist or oral surgeon.
      - After 24 hours, rinse your mouth gently with warm salt water several times a day to reduce swelling and relieve pain.
      - Change gauze pads before they become soaked with blood.
      - Relax after surgery. Physical activity may increase bleeding.
      - Avoid smoking.
      - Eat soft foods, such as gelatin, pudding, or a thin soup. Gradually add solid foods to your diet as healing progresses.
      - Do not lie flat. This may prolong bleeding. Prop up your head with pillows.
      - Avoid rubbing the area with your tongue.
      - Continue to carefully brush your teeth and tongue.

      Some people will have their facial features change due to many reasons, one of the commonest is the face will become thinner due to the meal restriction at the first few months. Most of my friends that had braces before look different after comparing the before and after pictures. But it all depends on the situations too, some people might not have the facial features change because they have a small jaw or having the braces just to correct the minor malocclusion.

      Hope this helps! Happy putting on braces and have a nice day!

      Regards,
      Sharon.

      Delete
  5. I totally agree with you that you look pretty when you smile, showing your teeth. Though it may not have been too obvious for you before that you needed to have dental braces to correct your teeth, it's great to know that you finally took the time to fix them. I bet you're smiling more beautifully now. Congratulations!
    Lindsay @ Smile by Design

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Lindsay Patrick,

      Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me here! Yup I was glad that finally I made the decision to fix them and I have been wearing the braces for almost 2 years now, and everything turns out to be fine and I am happy to see the changes on my appearances too! My orthodontist will debond my braces soon, I shall share the results with you all again! Can't wait for the day to come! Wish you have a great day!

      Regards,
      Sharon.

      Delete
  6. If its a severe case2? Face shape would definitely change?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Anonymous,

      Thanks for leaving a comment here. I'm sorry that I couldn't give a definite answer to this question, because everyone facial features are unique and whether the face shape will change or remain the same after having braces is depends on many factors and is not the same for everyone. If it is a severe case, it's better to consult and get advice from an orthodontist. Hope this clear your doubt and have a nice day!

      Regards,
      Sharon.

      Delete
  7. Like Anonymous I'm interested in the same question.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Stomatologijos Klinika,

      Thanks for leaving a comment here. I'm sorry that I couldn't give a definite answer to this question, because everyone facial features are unique and whether the face shape will change or remain the same after having braces is depends on many factors and is not the same for everyone. If it is a severe case, it's better to consult and get advice from an orthodontist. Hope this clear your doubt and have a nice day!

      Regards,
      Sharon.

      Delete
  8. Hi and just wanna say your teeth look really nice :). I have had my braces on for 3.5 years now and I am NOW GETTING rubber bands to close the bite...and goshhhh do they hurt! Did you have to wear rubber bands at any point? If so did they hurt for long???

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Anonymous,

      Thanks for leaving a comment here and your compliment! Yes I have to wear the rubber bands all the times since a few months ago except when eating on both right and left sides to close the small gaps between the teeth.

      It really needs our compliance to wear it all the times (especially after meal) to make sure all the gaps are close completely and faster. (Unfortunately I'm not that compliance patient to wear it all the times haha!)

      Now I have to wear two bands on my right side and one band on the left. It really shows improvement if you wear it properly and wear it all the times!

      Hope you can debond your braces soon after closing all the gaps! Cheers!

      Regards,
      Sharon.

      Delete
  9. You look great already, with your braces on. Positioning your upper teeth made them fit the size of your face better. As for the loss of your "big and round face", your youthful face was just fuller than it is now. I got braces at 58, after having them as a teenager. My upper teeth had come down so far, that they covered my lower teeth. I will soon have my braces off for the second time, and will wear whatever they recommend to "hold" the result!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Anonymous,

      Thanks for sharing your story with me. Hope your braces are doing good for holding your teeth in place! Have a great day ahead!

      Regards,
      Sharon.

      Delete
  10. Thanks for such a great information. In these days its hard to find a honest blog about Braces

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Elin Martin,

      Thanks for your compliment! Hope you enjoy reading my blog. Wish you a great day ahead!

      Regards,
      Sharon.

      Delete
  11. hello , may i knw where u had ur braces done? and roughly hw much was it?

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  12. Did you pluck out your wisdom teeth?

    ReplyDelete
  13. You look prettier with a more refined facial feature. Your teeth straightened pretty fast, considering a lot of people I know spent a much longer time before noticing any improvement. Thanks for documenting your before and after photos, and for sharing it with us. Great post!

    Danyell Aleman @ Woolwich Dental Group

    ReplyDelete
  14. omg! Your teeth straighten out so quick! I want braces so bad. I have crowding at the bottom, my top row is straight but I have a small over bite due to sucking my thumb as a child. Everyone says my smile is perfect and cute but I'm not happy I want the most perfect smile I can get. Reading and seeing your progress made me more confident about getting braces and now I'm officially going to make an appointment tomorrow! Thank You!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Sharon. I am very motivated by your blog because we have the same case. I just have my braces for two weeks and i think it's doing fine. Back to to the old days my classmates always tease me because of my protruded teeth. Tha's why I decided to have my braces. Thank you for inspiring me :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Sharon. I am very motivated by your blog because we have the same case. I just have my braces for two weeks and i think it's doing fine. Back to to the old days my classmates always tease me because of my protruded teeth. Tha's why I decided to have my braces. Thank you for inspiring me :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi! Thanks so much for the helpful article. My situation is fairly similar to yours however I'm skeptical of getting the treatment done as I've read that it can cause lips to significantly thinner as a result of the process, as it appears to have happened in your case. I was not blessed with lips like yours and I fear how visible my lips can remain once I am finished. Does this receding of the lips to have anything to do with extractions or the procedure itself, or are there any external causes that may explain for it?

    ReplyDelete
  18. Braces are painful and even a little burden on pockets too. My friend had an immense phobia to have them because of her front teeth dislocation. But after visiting dentist Manhattan Beach she is quite confident to get them done soon. Even got surety from doctors to have a perfect teeth within six months.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Great post. I am looking for this kind of post for a long time. Thanks.
    better posture brace

    ReplyDelete
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    ReplyDelete