I now have just the upper “lingual” braces on. Because they are on the inside of my upper teeth, when I bite down, my lower front teeth which are behind my upper front teeth, are now biting on these new braces.
This is very common for lingual braces wearers. This will occur with all patients unless their front teeth do not touch at all when they bite down. In some ways, this contact of the lower front teeth with the upper front braces prevents the patient from closing all the way down in the back, creating an open bite in the back. When this happens, the back teeth will react and come together slowly by “passive eruption”. This side effect may be beneficial in cases where the patient presents with a deep bite; the contact of lower front teeth with the upper front braces actually will speed up the correction of the deep bite.
I will tell patients to be careful when they first get their Lingual Braces because they are not used to having the braces there when they bite down, and when eating, they may bite down too hard or too fast, and end up breaking the braces off. This is exactly what I did during the first week I had the upper lingual braces on. I constantly bit down too fast and hard, resulting in breaking 3 braces off in the first 3 days! Something I am always on my patients about. I found that I had to slow down on my chewing and be very careful and deliberate in my jaw movement to not hit the braces too hard.
I did notice that there were changes to my teeth and my bite that were occurring quite rapidly. My back teeth were quite far apart when I first got my braces on, however, 2 weeks later the back teeth were already coming together by passive eruption.
I had 2 major hurdles that I had to get over in the first 2 weeks. The first had to do with hygiene. After each meal or snack, I had to clean between my braces in Vancouver because of all the food that would get stuck in my braces. Any sticky or fibrous food would wrap itself around the brackets when I chewed.
Of course, this is something I had expected, but I did not know how much it would bother me to have that food stuck to my braces. I became obsessive in cleaning my braces and started to carry around a special toothpick that I could use to get between the wires and braces.
The second problem I was having was the irritation to my tongue by the constant rubbing of the sides of my tongue against the wire. Because the first wire that was put in was very thin and flexible, my tongue could not avoid it when I was eating, swallowing, or talking.
I found it most irritating when I talked. The sides of my tongue rubbed against the back braces and created cuts on my tongue. As you know, the tongue is a very sensitive organ, and any cuts on the tongue are very painful. The good thing is that any skin in your mouth heals very quickly, and any cuts on the lips or tongue will heal very fast, within a couple of days.
It still took over 2 weeks for my tongue to get used to rubbing against the braces.
The journey continues!
Hello! I’m Dr. Kevin Lee, a certified orthodontic specialist at PacificWest Dental Group, proudly serving the vibrant communities of Vancouver and Surrey. My journey into orthodontics began back in high school. As a teenager wearing braces, I became fascinated by the intricate blend of art, engineering, and biology that defines this field. This early experience ignited a passion that has guided me throughout my career.
I pursued my academic journey at the University of British Columbia (UBC), where I earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry in 2006, followed by a Doctor of Dental Medicine in 2011. After a year-long residency at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, I returned to UBC to complete a combined Master of Science in Craniofacial Biology and a Diploma in Orthodontics in 2015. That same year, I achieved certification from both the Royal College of Dentists of Canada and the American Board of Orthodontics.
With over a decade of clinical experience, I remain deeply committed to staying at the forefront of orthodontic advancements. At PacificWest Dental Group, we prioritize personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient’s unique needs, ensuring comfort and care every step of the way. Our goal is to help you achieve the smile you’ve always dreamed of in a welcoming and supportive environment.
Outside the clinic, I enjoy engaging with our community and staying active. Whether it’s through local events or outdoor activities, I believe in building strong relationships both inside and outside the office. I look forward to meeting you and working together to create a beautiful, confident smile.
Services we provide:
-Invisalign
-Braces
-Lingual Braces
-Digital treatment planning
-TMJ and headpain treatment
-Laser Therapy
-Sleep Apnea Oral Appliance
-Dysport Cosmetic Injectables