Getting Braces @ Alfred Cheng Orthodontic Clinic

So I've decided to resume blogging and today I'm going to write about the initial phase of my braces journey 😁

Back story

In September 2016 I pulled an infected molar (if you're wondering why, my filling dropped out and I procrastinated for far too long cause I was lazy to get it fixed LOL) and was supposed to get an implant and crowning done after that area has healed. 

When it was time for me to get my implant -which would cost a few thousand dollars- I decided to get braces instead! Although orthodontic braces cost more than getting implant and crowning, the results are better (i.e straight pearlies). 

It may be a blessing in disguise after all that I have an overcrowding issue because the plan now is to utilise orthodontic braces to move my teeth to cover the gap cause by the extraction of the above mentioned molar. 

My teeth never bugged me enough to get braces but the inner perfectionist knew that I'd do it one day. That day turned out to be 12 April 2017 when I woke up one day and decided that I'mma get my dental issues settled once and for all. 

How I decided on Alfred Cheng Orthodontic Clinic

I texted a couple of friends who have had braces before and I decided on the same clinic my sister and friend Kacey went to. I didn't do much research about various clinics/orthodontists because I know my sis and Kacey did 😂

There are two orthodontists in Alfred Cheng Orthodontic Clinic, namely Dr Cheng and Dr Wee. My sister went to Dr Cheng while Kacey and myself went to Dr Wee. I told the nurse I had no preference when it came to the orthodontists so I was assigned to Dr Wee cause he had the earliest available slot, which was on that very day itself when I called the clinic.

First visit to Alfred Cheng Orthodontic Clinic

I popped by the clinic for my first consultation with Dr Wee in the afternoon on the 12th of April. He took a look at my teeth and I told him about my situation (pulling a molar, needing an implant et cetera). We spent some time going through things like:

• price breakdown,
• types of orthodontic braces,
• an estimate of the duration of my treatment and
• extraction of teeth (if needed) 

Dr Wee will also address any queries you might have and ask you if you'd like some time to make a decision. 

In my case, I told him I didn't need time to consider so we went ahead with the X-Ray 'cause #YOLO. Nawh I kid, I just wanted to get everything over and done with ASAP so I wasted no time deciding.

After getting my X-Ray done, Dr Wee informed me that I have to get 4 teeth extracted but since I already extracted one last September, I'm left with 3 to pull out. If you need it, he can refer you to certain clinics to get your extraction done. 

I told Dr Wee that I'd settle the extraction at my own dental clinic and was instructed to call the orthodontic clinic to inform them about the date of my extraction once I've made an appointment with my dental clinic so that we can fix a date for the placement of my braces (you need around a week of recovery time after extracting your teeth before you can get your braces).

Cost Breakdown

*The prices quoted are all before 7% GST*

There are different types of braces- metal, ceramic, lingual braces and Invisalign. I decided on the traditional braces which costs about $4500- which is not inclusive of extraction. I paid $40/tooth at my dental clinic. 

The cost would be significantly higher if you need to have surgery done, say if you have to have wisdom teeth removed, or if the X-Ray shows that you have teeth that never erupted.

$4500 covers the X-Ray, mould of your pre-braces teeth, braces and retainers. I paid $400  for the X-Ray on my first visit and $1100 for the placement of my braces on the next visit to Alfred Cheng. The balance will be paid out in instalments of $100 during each of your next visit to the clinic when you go to have your braces tightened. 

Before photos: 

I know some guys dig the whole fangs/tiger teeth thingy but.. Not me LOL.

I apologise for the low quality photos- these are the best I can find 😅

The gap was where I extracted a molar last year 

After Braces:

I chose pink brackets because it matches the color of my lips and Kacey swears by that color 😂

You can see in the photo above that two of my lower teeth did not have brackets on them- just the wire and a clear plastic tube wrapped around it (I assume to lessen abrasion against my lips) because there wasn't enough space for Dr Wee to attach them.

1 Month In

Excuse the filter- I couldn't find the photo I took of my teeth right after the 1st tightening 😂

I returned for my 1st tightening session in less than a month because I broke my wire chewing LOL.

I requested for Dr Wee to change the clear plastic tube on my bottom row when I went to get my braces tightened cause it got stained from whatever I ate and turned a gross shade of yellow but he removed the tube and replaced it with a spring to push my teeth apart.

2 Months In

There's now space for one of the two teeth on my bottom row to have a bracket attached to it!

3 Months In

I went for my third tightening session on the 10th of July and there still isn't space for Dr Wee to attach a bracket on that one tooth in the lower row so I still have the spring on. Apparently my teeth is shifting pretty slowly because the overcrowding is kinda bad but Dr Wee mentioned that it's normal for it to be slow at the beginning so that's that!

Life With Braces

The initial days are the toughest cause there's SO MUCH metal in your mouth out of a sudden and you'd find it odd to eat/smile/talk/brush your teeth. Everyone's gonna be commenting on your new brace face and sometimes you feel like even strangers are staring at your braces when they aren't (cause they don't know that the braces are new) LOL. 

With that said, it does gets better. On days that I feel self conscious about it I just tell myself that it's all for the greater good 👍

Eating With Braces

At the start I couldn't chew for nuts- quite literally. I popped by llaollao right after getting braces and ordered a large llaollao with some sauce that had peanut bits in it and ended up having to spit it all out cause I couldn't chew on them 😓

So for the first few days after getting my braces on I stayed away from solid foods and tbh even until now that there are still things that I find are hard to chew, such as super chewy things like bubble tea pearls and noodles. Your orthodontist will also advise you to steer clear of hard foods lest you break the wires like I did in the first month 😂

I've heard that we are to stay away from chewing gum with braces but I went to JB and a friend got me to chew some gum LOL. I didn't break anything but I might have bent some wires so the best bet is to just stay away from chewing any in the first place- which is no challenge since that's banned in Singapore anyway. 

Last but not least, I personally do not stay away certain foods that are rumoured to stain your braces (curry for instance) because so far I do not have problems with it. Yet. And I hope it stays that way lol.

Cleaning Your Teeth With Braces 

I was instructed to brush my teeth after every meal on top of the usual twice a day before and after you get up and I did. 

For the first few days. 😅

Let's face it... No one really follows that rule cause it's just waaaaaay too much trouble. The most I'd do is it gargle my mouth with water (or mouth wash if I have access to any).

Next up, introducing the best friends for people with braces:

Dental Pro Card picks

Dental Pro Interdental brushes

Thank you Dental Pro for sending me these and a whole lotta other dental care items 😁

I slip a few card picks into my wallet and they go everywhere with me!

Konolone for mouth ulcers

I went to Penang shortly after getting braces and feasted nonstop over there until the braces cut my inner cheek so my friend swung by the pharmacy and got me this 👍

Dental wax

If at any point in time you feel any abrasion against your lips/inside of your cheeks, just break off a piece of wax and press it into the brackets- INSTANT RELIEF. 

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That's about all I can think of for now when it comes to getting orthodontic braces; do feel free to ask me anything if I missed something out! I'll be glad to be of help and I'll do another check in prolly around 3 months later 😁

Do check back for other entries in the mean time! 😬