I started this blog as a simple way to document my weekly progress using the adult Myobrace System, a no-braces approach to straightening teeth and aligning the jaw. I was curious to see some adult results before I began this journey, as it’s mostly marketed for kids, and never found what I was looking for. This is my way of helping the adults and teens out there that are curious about the Myobrace system - how it works, what it’s like, and the possible obstacles along the way. My journey has only just begun. At this point, I have no idea how it will end, but I’m hopeful I will see a big improvement in my smile.
Background:
I’ve never had braces before. I always liked my smile and only had a few teeth that were a little crowded. My parents had a horrible orthodontic experience with my older sister and spent 4 years working to correct her smile, which didn’t really end up very well. Her case “required” extractions, among many other things, and the final results have always looked a little off. Let’s just say, she still smiles with a closed mouth, sadly. I genetically inherited a very different set of teeth—much bigger, much straighter, with a different face and jaw shape as well. Through my teens, I quite liked my teeth and didn’t really think about getting braces. Then, after each baby (four total) and each year (I’m now 37), my teeth shifted ever so slightly out of line and my jaw seemed a little more pushed back. My upper lateral incisor, in particular, was really sticking out and annoying me. My bottom premolars were always a little tipped in, and now they were practically hidden since my wisdom teeth had popped up and crowded them out.
Day 1:
My teeth are considered moderately crowded, with my bite and tongue positioning being only slightly off. For this reason, I began with the A2 Myobrace, instead of the softer A1. I was super excited to start! After only a couple hours of wear, I could actually see a slight difference. I tried to wear it at night, but it was too uncomfortable and I couldn’t fall asleep. I decided to try and get at least 6-8 hours in during the day instead, at least until I could get used to it. This was quite hard to do since you can not talk at all while wearing the Myobrace, but I was able to do it.
Day 2:
My teeth are so sore. Ouch! The teeth that need to shift are getting a lot of pressure and remain sore for an hour or two after taking off the Myobrace. I’m wearing it for about 6 hours during the day, which makes eating a little difficult. At this point, I feel a little worried that I won’t be able to comply for the full treatment (18 months, at least). But I keep going and vow to try it for at least a month.
Day 3:
Teeth are still sore, but not quite as bad. My jaw feels more aligned already. I wore the Myobrace for a couple hours at night and several hours during the day. My teeth do look like they have straightened ever so slightly. This gives me a little encouragement to continue the treatment.
Day 4:
By this day, things were a lot more comfortable and I could wear it for hours, virtually pain free. I wore it through the night and didn’t have too many problems—a little drooling, a little bit of a dry mouth if my mouth was open, and a little slipping down of the Myobrace. All in all, I thought that was good progress, and I was relieved that I could ease up on wearing it during the day so much
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Hi there,
ReplyDeleteI was looking for a bong/reviews of an adult like you as I am also in my thirties. I wore myobrace 15/16 years ago just stage 1 and 2 (in total for about 6-7 months). I was skeptical slightly as my orthodontist seemed to will riping me off money. My sister had got fixed braces straight away during that time. What I achieved with myobrace was slight broadening of my upper arch and muscle training, better tongue position that moved my lower jaw forward- no more bunny smile, before braces I intuitionally was moving my jaw to look and bite better(I got unfortunately version for teens as there were not adult aligners available yet). When I was 25 plus I got self-ligating fixed Damon braces and wore them 16 months. My orthodontist was crap...she slightly aligned my front teeth (upper canine and one upper lateral incisor). She was trying to rotate one of my bottom premolar but without success (about 45 degrees). I got my braces off, I still have an open bite between my first premolars and last molar... I chew, swallow properly but its not right. My lower arch on the left side is moved more into throat direction. I do have assymetry comparing to right side by about half size of my premolar. As an effect of wearing braces one dimple has formed on my right chick... I wore fixed retainers for 2 years and pulled it off myselft. I had also a par of removeable retainers thaat I got from my orthodontist...never wore them. they still fit though despite of not wearing them for 4 years and 4 months since I pulled out metal retainers... That must be the true about myobrace that they address the cause of malocclusion and misalignment. Only 10 % of adults do not need retention for life..
I started myobrace again 2 weeks ago (A3 stage). No pain but just slight discomfort on only 1st night.
My question is how long did it take you to align your upper lateral incisor? Mine is pushed back a bit toward the pallete and a canine next too it sticks out by about 3 mm. I also can tell that my 1st premolar in my upper arch on the oposite side is moved a by 3-3.5 mm towards the pallete. Otherwise when i take a photo of my occlusional view of my upper jaw all of my teeth are almost perfectly symmetrical.
How many hours a day are you wearing aligners?
In my case 12-14 sometimes even 16 hours (because of the lock-down I have more time)
I wear my brace at night for around 8 hours, sometimes less. I am about 10 months or so into my treatment with A1. My upper incisor has moved significantly but is still not in place perfectly, slightly juts outward. I noticed the biggest improvement within the first four months, and only minor improvement since. I will be moving to a harder brace in a couple months and treatment time will be around 2 years total, possibly more to shift my bottom premolars completely. Best of luck to you!
DeleteThank you for your reply. In your case it looks like you will not need to get braces for your upper arch to correct occlusion to perfection. I believe my case is pretty similar. Symmetry in my upper arch can be achieved in 95-100%. The lower arch is not crowded at all but the left side of the arch is "longer". premolars and molars should be moved forward to become symmetrical to the right side. I know about carriere fixed braces system that moves bicuspids and molars. Hopefully I will never need fixed brackets for upper arch (again). I have been to smile direct club just because of my curiosity. I have had my assesment. I can see the "future smile". It would slightly move my upper premolars and molars (broadening arch by mabe 2-3 mm). I do believe that retention is not necessary to use it for decades... Teeth are moving all the time at every person who has always had a perfect bite as well as gumline. Body tries to stay balanced all the time in terms of bite, chewing and clenching forces.
ReplyDeleteInitially when I got a treatment plan before fitting my fixed braces in September 2013 (16 months of wearing braces in totall) my thoughts were: I will be using retention (fixed retainers) 3 times longer than my tratment is gonna be. Obviously the orthodontist wanted me to sign a document after completeing my treatment, debonding brackets saying "I am obliged to wear my permanently fixed retainers for life, my removeable transparent plastic retainers on top of that 24/7 for first two weeks and then for a year only while sleeping. After a year every 3 nights... As I have said I only wore fixed retainers for 2 years (I wasnt happy with my results anyway) and pulled them out myself ;-) Plastic retainers still fit even though I havent worn them as instructed for over 4 years ;). What annoys me here in the UK is braces such as lingual for top arch and even conventional metal ones for bottom arch cost around £7k and a "patient" (I prefer sayin a customer) has to exchange retainers (removeable) every 6 months to a year for life... on top of that composite bonding, fillings have to be refreshed or exchanged every 3-5 years (fillings last longer).
Good luck to you with treatment. I am 30 +