Hi! I am new to this group. I joined because I need help and am not
sure what to do. When I was 16, I had braces put on to correct my cross
bite and straighten out my teeth. However, at 18 I moved out of state
and got married. I was no longer receiving any care for my teeth.

My wires began irritating the inside of my mouth, so I took them out.
Now I have brackets on all my teeth, except the wisdom teeth and metal
brackets surrounding my back molars. These are particularly troublesome
because the top of the metal encasings have peeled back from chomping
and are very sharp. I am constantly snagging my tongue on them! VERY
painful! The inside of my mouth is contantly being cut or snagged. And
my gums swell on a regular basis. I don't have bleeding, though, except
for the snagging. I brush regularly and use a little flossing brush.

I want these off so badly. The office that put these on are located in
Philadelphia... I live in Alaska! I have not visited home in 3 1/2
years. I plan to visit sometime next year, but there is no definite
date. I am not even sure if my father's insurance will still cover the
removal of these, not to mention whether the my old Orthodontist will
be willing to remove them.

So, I am faced with a delima... remove them myself somehow, or find a
doctor to do it for cheap.

Any advice???

Jemmy