That first remote check-in can feel weird, right? I remember worrying if my photos were even clear enough, and then second-guessing if I’d missed something. It’s totally normal to feel that way at the start. You’re right though—being able to catch problems early is a huge plus, even if it doesn’t always replace the comfort of sitting in the chair and getting direct feedback.
And, yeah… medieval braces sound like a nightmare. I read somewhere they used gold wire or even catgut (yikes) to try and straighten teeth. Flossing must’ve been impossible back then—sometimes I struggle with regular braces and modern flossers! At least now we have options that are way less intimidating, even if they come with their own set of worries.
You’re definitely not alone feeling anxious about remote stuff. It gets easier with time, and your care team is probably used to all kinds of photo quality. If something’s off, they’ll let you know. Just hang in there—you’re doing better than you think.
Yeah, the idea of medieval braces just makes my teeth hurt thinking about it. Gold wire and catgut? That’s wild. I can barely deal with the taste of rubber bands, let alone something like that in my mouth. And you’re right—flossing is hard enough now, even with all those fancy threaders and water flossers. I’d probably have given up back then.
About the remote check-ins, I totally relate to second-guessing every photo. Here’s what’s worked for me: 1) Take a deep breath and don’t stress if the lighting isn’t perfect. 2) I usually snap a few extra pics from slightly different angles, just in case. 3) If I’m not sure about something (like if a bracket looks weird), I’ll mention it in the notes—my orthodontist actually said that helps a lot.
I still miss the in-person feedback sometimes, but catching problems early is worth the awkward selfies. At least we don’t have to worry about catgut... small wins, right?
- Medieval braces = pure nightmare fuel. I’d have tapped out at the first sign of catgut, no question.
- Remote check-ins are such a mixed bag. I love not having to commute, but yeah, the awkward mouth selfies are a struggle. My phone’s selfie cam has seen things…
- Anyone else get paranoid about sending the wrong angle? Once I sent in a pic with spinach stuck in my wire. Embarrassing but kinda hilarious in hindsight.
- Curious—has anyone tried those AI dental apps that claim to spot issues from photos? I’m tempted, but also a bit skeptical.
That catgut stuff freaks me out just thinking about it... I can't even handle the taste of those rubber bands sometimes, let alone ancient string. And yeah, remote check-ins are a weird mix. I like not having to sit in the waiting room, but taking photos of my own mouth is stressful. I always worry I’m missing some angle or that my orthodontist will see something gross I didn’t notice. One time I sent a pic and later realized there was a piece of tortilla chip stuck by my bracket. Mortifying.
About those AI dental apps—I'm super skeptical. Like, how can an app catch things when even I can barely get a clear shot? Plus, what if it tells you something’s wrong and it’s just a shadow or food? That would send my anxiety through the roof. Has anyone actually gotten useful feedback from them, or is it just more stress? Sometimes I feel like this whole process is just one long exercise in embarrassment...
About those AI dental apps—I'm super skeptical. Like, how can an app catch things when even I can barely get a clear shot? Plus, what if it tells you something’s wrong and it’s just a shadow or food?
I get the skepticism, but I actually see some upside to the AI dental apps. The tech behind them is improving pretty fast—image recognition software can filter out a lot of noise (like shadows, blurry spots, or even that tortilla chip moment). I’ve used one of those apps for aligner progress, and while it’s not perfect, it flagged a potential issue with my gumline that my regular check-ins missed. Turned out to be nothing serious, but I’d rather get a false positive than miss something important.
Honestly, I find the feedback less stressful than waiting weeks between appointments wondering if something’s off. Sure, there are false alarms, but at least it’s another set of “eyes” on things. Plus, I’d take the awkwardness of a weird selfie over sitting in a waiting room any day. The tech isn’t magic, but it’s not totally useless either.
