Yeah, that “almost done” feeling is the worst. I remember thinking I was on the home stretch, then suddenly my ortho wanted to tweak this tiny gap or rotate a tooth just a smidge. It’s like, can we just call it good and move on? The jaw soreness is pretty normal, at least in my experience. Mine would flare up after adjustments, especially near the end when they’re fine-tuning everything. It’s annoying but not usually anything to worry about unless it’s super painful or doesn’t go away.
I get what you mean about the paranoia over things shifting back. I was convinced my teeth were moving every night, even though I was following instructions. My ortho kept telling me that teeth can look “done” but still need time to settle, which honestly just made me more impatient. I had weeks where I’d check in the mirror and swear nothing had changed, then suddenly I’d notice a difference. Stuff moves so slowly at the end, it’s hard to see progress.
As for being dramatic—nah, you’re just human. This stuff drags on forever and it messes with your head. I started counting down the days to my next appointment like a kid waiting for summer break. My advice (for what it’s worth): try not to stress about the little things. If your ortho hasn’t mentioned any big issues, you’re probably on track. And hey, if something feels really off, don’t feel weird about asking more questions or even getting a second opinion. Took me a while to realize that’s totally normal too.
Hang in there. The last phase is rough, but it does end eventually… even if it feels like you’re stuck in braces purgatory for life.
I get the urge to just “call it good and move on,” but honestly, I think those last tiny tweaks are worth it.
I was so tempted to rush through the final stretch, but my sister skipped some adjustments and her bite never felt quite right after. The patience is brutal, but I’d rather be annoyed now than regret it down the line. The soreness is a pain, but I always reminded myself it meant things were still moving in the right direction.“my ortho wanted to tweak this tiny gap or rotate a tooth just a smidge. It’s like, can we just call it good and move on?”
“my ortho wanted to tweak this tiny gap or rotate a tooth just a smidge. It’s like, can we just call it good and move on?”
I know exactly what you mean. Those last few months felt endless for me too, but looking back, I’m glad I stuck it out. Have you noticed if your bite feels different after each tweak? I remember thinking it was overkill, but my jaw actually settled better after those tiny changes. The soreness is rough, but it’s usually a sign things are still shifting as they should be. Ever tried chewing gum (if your ortho says it’s ok)? Helped me distract from the aches a bit.
I totally relate to that feeling of wanting to just be done already. It’s wild how they’ll focus on a gap so tiny you can barely see it in the mirror, but apparently it matters for the “perfect” bite. I kept thinking, is anyone really gonna notice if this one tooth is half a millimeter off? But my ortho was obsessed with every little angle.
Funny thing, I thought my bite was fine before those last tweaks, but after they did all that micro-adjusting, chewing actually felt smoother. Didn’t expect that at all. The soreness is the worst, though. I tried the chewing gum trick—my ortho said sugar-free was okay in moderation—but honestly, sometimes it just made me more aware of how sore everything was. Did you ever get those weird headaches from shifting teeth? I swear, some days I felt like my whole face was rearranging itself.
Anyway, I get wanting to tap out early, but I guess those tiny changes do add up. Still, I’m not convinced anyone besides my ortho would’ve noticed if we stopped sooner…
I totally get your skepticism about whether anyone else would notice those tiny tweaks. I felt the same way—my ortho was laser-focused on the smallest details, and I just wanted to be done. But weirdly, after those last little shifts, I realized my jaw didn’t pop anymore when I chewed. I used to think, “who cares if it’s not textbook perfect?” but now I sort of get why they’re so picky. Still, the headaches were real... I’d have days where my whole face felt like it was pulsing. Sugar-free gum didn’t help me either—just made my teeth ache more. I guess it’s a trade-off, but I do wonder if all that pain is always worth it.
