Incognito Braces, My Experience

 My Experience Getting Incognito Braces (lingual braces)

Over the past couple of years the thought of getting braces entered by mind with increasing frequency. It's not that my teeth have historically been in all that bad of shape, but over time they've crowded some. In  researching the available options, I decided that if I were to get braces I did not want them to be visible. In my mind, any gain to utility resulting from having straight teeth down the road would be more than  offset(negatively) by having to have visible braces. So, one day I happened upon the prospect of incognito braces. There wasn't a whole lot of information available on the product in terms of user reviews, but I naively went ahead and ordered a set. I say naively with intent, as I knew that if I thought about it long enough I may change my mind, but that I thought in the long run I would in fact be happy about the decision. So, I'm planning to share a bit about my experience with these braces, particularly because there doesn't seem to be a lot of first hand accounts of peoples experiences with them. I'll describe the braces, the installation process, how they feel in the mouth, the various challenges (eating/speech), how to deal with them, and so on.


Incognito braces, a brand of lingual braces produced by 3M, are different than standard brace in that they attach to the inside of the teeth. The construction of the braces are similar to that of normal braces worn on the outside, making use of wires as leverage for moving the teeth into their proper position. Whats different is that 3M custom molds small pieces of gold which are then put in place to cradle the teeth. Perhaps a chemist could help explain why gold was the most suitable option as the metal used, but I'm guessing it has to do with hardness, malleability, lack of potential harm to humans, and aesthetic appeal.

So anyways, I ordered up a set of these slick looking braces-- and by ordered I mean I set up an appointment with an orthodontist, went in and had a bunch of molds taken, then waited a month or two for 3M to produce the braces. 

Next, I went in for installation. Truth be told, I rather looked forward to getting the braces in. When you're a young man that works around the clock, you lose out on some thrills of life that you might wish to seek. Perhaps getting braces is not a thrill, but it would certainly be a change of pace. Furthermore, being a bit of a nerd when it comes to engineering and the likes, I was intrigued by how they would be installed. 

The process began with what the installation folks described as a shampoo for the teeth. I believe this was something of a cleaning, to get rid of any residue that would later get in the way of ones teeth and the adhesive used to secure the gold. Next came a treatment which involed blowing micro cyrstals of some sort over all of the teeth. I believe this helped to provide some surface grit to the teeth to help support the adhesive. If we want to compare the process up to this point to painting, I'd say the shampooing would be a cleaning and sanitizing procedure, and the microfiber treatment analogous to priming. Lastly, before getting the gold brackets on the teeth, another substance was put over the teeth to help rid their surface of all moisture and grit. This stuff tasted like battery acid-- you know like when you lick the top of a d volt battery, or am i the only one who has done that. Anyhow, after this the teeth were fully prepped and ready to get the braces. At that point, in my mind, I was thinking-- alright I guess this is really happening. So, the last substance applied over the teeth was a glue, pretty standard tasting as far as glues are concerned. Then, a large molded frame which held the shape of my teeth, but had the gold brackets inbedded in a substance that would later break down, was put over my teeth. Imagine a mold of your teeth much like a mouth guard, but with the gold brackets inbedded in the inside of the guard in their proper position; such that when you put on the mouth guard, with glue already applied to your teeth, when you put the mouth guard on, the gold pieces stick to the glue. Then, after a few minutes, the mouth guard would be forcefully taken out, but the gold brackets would be in place. I'll also mention, the side of the gold bracket that face the teeth have a thin film of something that, presumably, better adheres to the glue.

The orthodontist stuck the molds over my teeth,  then popped them off after a couple minutes-- leaving only the brackets. They wired the brackets up, and I was out the door. 

So, that was the process leading up to and including installation of the braces. I've had the braces on for a month  or so now and with that short time experiencing them I have a more that I can say. I'll write up a few more posts soon to talk about talking, eating, etc. For now I'll just say that everything has gone pretty well and that my teeth are straightening out quickly.   :D

Looking for Real Architect

Why is it that after living for half  of a century I feel that I've met so few people that can tell me what it is that I like, and what type of environment I ought to pair well with, such that upon further reflection, I deem their conclusions to consistently be accurate. Isn't that the job of an architect.. Not to ask, but to examine a person's habits and to be able to put their mind at ease-- by placing them in a structure that relieves the taxing efforts of them trying to figure out what the hell kind of world they are being exposed to.

I often rationalize that I am just picky. Well I've read tales about people, in particular, about architects, whose ideals I envy. I've seen some photos, too. They seem to possess these qualities that I find are in such short supply. But, they must exist,  and they must be the type to know that they exist to put minds like mine at rest, so that maybe I can accomplish something of my own. 

I've been looking to be inspired for quite some time, and unfortunately I am most inspired by what I see, and what I see doesn't inspire me so much, in fact, quite the opposite. 

I study chance, and I'm sick of waiting. This is kind of like an ad, but more like a plea. I've got money for a home, perhaps. But maybe all you get out of it is your name, as an Architect.. A real one. 

seltz.jake@gmail.com 

-Minneapolis 

Risk Aptitude

To analyze personal risks often assumes that the primary imperative, against which that risk is assessed, is survival. However, I prefer to view the imperative as not wishing to merely be alive, but to feel alive. I guess this lends itself to less risk aversion on average. Throw it in the model.

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Space Odyssey of One Man

There is no one thing more inspiring than the feat of a man achieving his dreams

Nostalgia

How I see it..

Nostalgia: Inherited trait prevalent in humans. An evolved trait which serves to motivate curious humans who stray away from their colony to one day come back with insight, methods, and goods. A societal enhancement trait,  an advantage to survival of that colony, and consequently the nostalgic member.

Jake's Apartment

A room I enjoyed more than any other as of yet

Around the Oil Field

One thing I enjoy about working in the drilling industry is being able to travel around the country to see the different landscapes that we drill upon. Here are a few photos illustrating the kind of scenery I've encountered and places I've spent time while out in the "oil field".