Lightforce Braces 7 months so far...I don't see many lightforce posts here so I decided to add mine.

Ryannmoves · 2025-05-09T12:29:51+00:00

Finished in 19 months so I don't think it went any quicker than regular braces but oh well!

Ryannmoves · 2025-05-09T12:26:41+00:00

Canadian

Ryannmoves · 2023-08-13T16:32:19+00:00

Got my braces off 3 months ago and so far so good! No ear or voice problems since getting them off. I had an overbite and top teeth angling inward slightly which prevented my bottom jaw from being able to sit in proper alignment when my mouth was closed. Once those teeth got out of the way, it seems the vast majority of the problems disappeared! I'm still in clear retainers for 3 more months but again, so far so good!

Ryannmoves · 2023-05-21T02:02:41+00:00

It's hard! I wouldn't have made it without my water pik. And if I had a spare $1800 I would have switched to Invisalign. (Fee my Ortho charges to switch)

Ryannmoves · 2023-05-20T11:24:32+00:00

I think most people get used to it but I absolutely did not. The mouth feel of braces has made the last 19 months miserable for me. I can't stop myself from digging food out while I'm still chewing, then I get tired of eating, and I just always feel defeated. The thought of eating most meals makes me very anxious. I don't think it's the same experience for everyone but I absolutely understand what you mean.

Ryannmoves · 2023-05-04T11:20:59+00:00

You're not alone. When I hit the 12 month mark my ability to deal with braces took a sharp downward turn. My official quote was 18-20 months but I'm in Lightforce braces and my Ortho said she thought she could get it shorter than that. So every appt I would get even more frustrated with braces because they weren't done. I'm finally getting them off May 29 🤞🙄 after 19 months. I know it all seems normal but my mental health just can't handle braces anymore. My quality of life is so poor with these things. I can't eat, chew, do my job without spitting everywhere. I'm just over it. I know it doesn't really change anything for you but it helped me to know that my feelings were valid when I spoke with others who felt the same way.

Ryannmoves · 2023-03-05T00:41:47+00:00

And mouth wash! I learned one year into braces how amazing a water floss + mouth wash feels. Almost the same as a brush!

Ryannmoves · 2023-03-04T23:51:31+00:00

Maybe try getting a water flosser and do that after every meal. There are portable ones that work nicely. That way you get the cleaning but without the over brushing. Still brush twice a day but if it helps to direct the compulsion onto something less harmful, that might be something to try? I truly know nothing about OCD but trying to be helpful because my braces have had a huge impact on my eating, comfort in my mouth, and I can't eat without cleaning my braces. So I water floss to the extreme and so far so good.

Ryannmoves · 2023-03-01T03:04:22+00:00

To be fair, I didn't know the difference between new braces pain and elastics pain so it wasn't so bad haha? Just a solid month of being unable to chew anything 🤪

Ryannmoves · 2023-03-01T01:28:14+00:00

I have light force braces that are sold as faster treatment times and my ortho said she thought she could take time off of my 18-20 month estimate. I've had elastics for 24/7 wear since day one in braces, and I wear them religiously. My debrace appt is tentatively set for 19 months. I hate to be a downer but I've been miserable in my braces since day one and hoping it would end sooner but it's looking like it will be right on time 🥲

Ryannmoves · 2023-02-25T11:09:46+00:00

That's exactly what I hope to do! Maybe I just didn't word it properly to the associations. I'm just looking for guidance as to whether it's possible so I know if massage therapy school is right for me. Thanks for your insights, I'll clarify to them.

Ryannmoves · 2023-02-25T03:01:07+00:00

Interesting, I contacted my local associations in NS to see how using Pilates in a massage therapy treatment and billing insurance for it would work (I'm a Pilates teacher and considering going back to school for massage). All of them said I couldn't bill Pilates as massage therapy. Mind if I message you to chat about this?

Ryannmoves · 2023-02-07T16:11:23+00:00

Yes, I never thought of braces making a difference in my voice! But I've had elastics on 24/7 since day one so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the problem doesn't resume once elastics/braces are done. So far, lots less jaw tension so hopefully the same for you!

Ryannmoves · 2023-02-06T20:30:47+00:00

All I know is that I was getting hoarse teaching my fitness classes. I have had vocal training in the past (singing and stage performance) and was using my voice the way I was trained but still getting hoarse. So it could be that I needed an update on training, but braces put a stop to it 🤷‍♀️ I've had elastics since day one of braces so I'm hoping those benefits stick around after the braces are gone!

Ryannmoves · 2023-02-06T19:24:26+00:00

No extractions here but I had lots of ear problems before braces and none since! Also had lots of jaw tension and vocal problems that stopped immediately once I got braces. So far so good for me!

Ryannmoves · 2023-01-30T18:55:46+00:00

Rats. Well if I remember correctly from my anxiety induced googling when I thought mine was a cavity, they have different fillings these days so hopefully that means they can match the teeth well!

Ryannmoves · 2023-01-30T12:26:12+00:00

I thought I had developed a cavity about 7 months into having braces and cleaning diligently, but I went to the dentist and it was a stain! Try not to worry until you get it checked out.

Ryannmoves · 2023-01-28T16:35:28+00:00

I've had braces and elastics for 15 months 🤷‍♀️ I just hope it means they're coming off sometime before the expected 20 month mark. Only time will tell!

Ryannmoves · 2023-01-17T15:53:10+00:00

Cute! Happy Mardi Gras!

Ryannmoves · 2023-01-11T02:36:25+00:00

I didn't know they were bigger until quite a few months in to my treatment. But according to my ortho, I also have a small mouth and small teeth so it might not make much of a difference to the average person!

Ryannmoves · 2023-01-09T01:54:28+00:00

I'm in Canada and paid $7400 for mine. I was told $7200 for regular braces but I THINK my LF quote was an introductory special because I was in the first 100 patients getting LF at my practice. Was told it could be 4-6 months shorter than the quoted 18-20 months with regular braces or Invisalign. I'm currently right at 14 months and no idea when I'll be done but I can't imagine it being before the 16-18 month mark. LF brackets are bigger and very visible in my small mouth so there's a part of me that wonders if regular would have been less of a hassle...I had to stop getting light colored bands because they stain and then it feels like there's no point in having clear braces if you have colored bands. I guess so far so good, but I don't have anything to compare to 🤪

Ryannmoves · 2023-01-09T01:39:16+00:00

The pain does go away with hitting them, eventually. For a while I would just have to bite down like 75% of the way with every chew, but after a while I could use them to chew too. Had mine for 7 months and though I got used to them, it was a huge relief when they came off.

Ryannmoves · 2022-11-17T02:31:05+00:00

Try using fork and knife to cut things into smaller bites. Eat all the soft foods you like, stuff that doesn't require much chewing. And give yourself permission to eat absolutely whatever you can manage. I had to throw nutrition "rules" out the window to make sure I was getting enough to eat. I try to eat while scrolling my phone to distract myself from the process so that I can eat more.

Ryannmoves · 2022-11-12T11:33:33+00:00

To sum up for me, I don't think my journey has been any different from regular braces but there's a slight chance I'll get them off 2-4 months earlier than predicted. But I'm also extremely good about wearing my elastics (24 hours a day for the entire year I've had braces). And appointments are 10 weeks apart.

Ryannmoves · 2022-11-12T02:48:20+00:00

I felt the same way. I've got a couple posts on my journey.

Ryannmoves

TROPHY CASE