Bracing-It

Updates

2010-11-09T13:00:00.000-08:00

Well.... I am coming up on my 22nd month braciversary next week...

No talk about a de-banding date any time soon but I am hopeful that I am only about 6 more months away at most.

At my adjustment today, I got a 3/16" Medium cross elastic to begin wearing to try to lift up my tilted bottom right molar. It has been an interesting experience so far. I just hope it works! My bite is way off of that side...

I'll take pictures and post them tonight. I am sure I'll be able to feel any differences but I always like looking back at all the progression.

Haven't posted in a while...

2010-02-17T13:04:00.000-08:00

Well I figured I would write a blog post since it has been quite a while. Not a whole lot has changed over the past few months. I did get a new bottom wire. .018 I believe with these little hooky things. Yeah, really technical I know. =] I am not entirely sure of their purpose yet. Any ideas?? Picture below.

Anyway, I am at 1yr 1 month 2 days in braces.
Next appointment is March 2nd

Still keeping my fingers crossed for no extractions. I wish he could just make up his mind already!

10 Month Update

2009-11-25T10:18:00.001-08:00

Since becoming fully braced with all of my top brackets, my uppers have really changed! My ortho is still being conservative about upper extractions. No final word yet. He wants to see how the archwire moves the teeth on it's own.

Next appointment: 12/23

Upper Arch Comparison Photos

2009-10-14T11:28:00.001-07:00

Upper Arch - 1.9.09

Upper Arch - Post Expansion - 6.24.09

Upper Arch @ 6months

Upper Arch @ 9months

Finally, all top brackets!

2009-10-14T11:03:00.000-07:00

I had an appointment yesterday. They removed the lovely "Deli Slicer" coil springs and put brackets (finally) onto my upper laterals. You can tell from the shape of the wire in the picture below, how wonky my teeth still are. My ortho said I should be seeing some changes in alignment there soon! I can't wait!!! =]

We talked briefly about upper extractions ={ that may still be in the future. We're going to discuss all possible outcomes before committing to that route. I'd like to keep all of the teeth I can, if I can. I've had too many extractions in my life. =[ I will hopefully know more at my next appointment.

New Hardware

2009-09-08T10:31:00.000-07:00

I had an adjustment today and got these lovely coil springs. If they save me from having to get more extractions, then that is great but they sure aren't pretty. =[ I may still end up having to get more extractions anyway. Bummer.

I also got a heavier wire on the bottom with purple ligs. Also my upper ligs are Smoke colored. They said the smoke color would stain even less than Peal, so hopefully that's the case.

Some subtle changes

2009-07-30T11:18:00.000-07:00

I am at the point now where I am more actively looking for subtle changes. I think things are coming along, just slowly. Unfortunately my ortho doesn't usually say much at my appointments so nothing exciting has happened lately. I did get a heavier upper wire this last time. I've been feeling the soreness ever since! Things better be happening in there! =P

Here are a couple of pictures of my upper right and upper left jaw. It is so hard to get the same angle twice! ugh. Hopefully you can see the changes that I can see, albeit subtle.

Leave comments, let me know what you think! =D

WOW - it has been 6 MONTHS already?!

2009-07-15T07:25:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that it has been 6 months already since my braces were put on! Time has really begun to fly by. I guess it helps to try not to focus too much on what is going on inside my mouth and just live day by day. It was a little hard to do at first but I am so used to my braces, orthodontist appointments, tenderness/soreness that it all just feels normal.

Below is a picture of my upper arch at the current mark of 6 months.

Below is my upper arch when I first got my expander (2/4/09)

Oh wow, I see loads of difference!!!!!!!! =] =]

EXPANDER IS OUT!!!

2009-06-22T08:51:00.000-07:00

This morning at my orthodontist appointment, they removed my expander!

I had it from January 27, 2009 - June 22, 2009.

I am so happy for it to be out! For a few days, my mouth is going to look pretty rough. I'll include a picture below. Just be warned that the tissue in the roof of my mouth needs a few days to heal so don't be too grossed out! haha

My mouth feels soo, sooo strange! My tongue will need to get used to the expander NOT being there! That is so weird! I'll be eating for the first time since it was taken out, here in a few minutes. I bet that will take some getting used to as well. Finally, I'll be able to spit, swallow, eat and talk like a normal person again! haha

They put 6 more brackets on the top as well this time. These will start to move my top back teeth. It is a wait and see to know whether or not I will have enough room up top without having to have more extractions. I hope that there is enough space now to avoid the extractions. We'll just have to wait and see!

Also, I just got a new phone so my pictures should be a lot better now! =]

Next appointment: 7/28/09

Month 5 Update

2009-06-11T08:59:00.000-07:00

At my latest adjustment in May, I was told that at my next appointment, they will be removing my expander! YAYYYYY!! I cannot wait!!! =]

T-Minus 10 days! I am soo excited! Hopefully from here on out I will start seeing loads more changes in my upper jaw. I may have to have a couple more extractions, but I am going to see what all of my options are first. I'd much rather keep all of the teeth I can. Too many extractions for me! =[\

Oh and just something to note....light blue ligs turn a mint green color pretty quickly. The magenta ones that I've had a couple times before, remained the same for the most part. My ortho finally had pearl colored ligs so I tried those on on my front two teeth. They do stain but less than the clear it seems.

I will post again after my expander is removed! Wish me luck ---- if anyone even reads this! ha!

2nd Adjustment

2009-04-13T11:44:00.000-07:00

Today was my 2nd adjustment. Pretty boring. New wires and ties but at the same gauge. Just being patient waiting for my lower right cuspid slowing making it's way up into the position it needs to be and the removal of my expander. Hopefully at my next appointment they will take out the expander or schedule the following appointment to do so. We'll see.

Below are a couple of pictures, although not much has changed in the past 5 weeks, that I can tell anyway. =[

1st Adjustment

2009-03-09T11:51:00.000-07:00

Today was my first adjustment appointment. I got an archwire across my top 6 teeth to create some more space & start straightening things out. I got new ligs (dark pink) on the bottom along with a twisty wire to begin moving my lower right cuspid into position of where my lower right first bicuspid was extracted. I don't think I got a whole new wire on the bottom, just ligs and the twisty wire. I don't think it is a power chain, I am not sure what it is!

Approximate jail sentence of expander: Another 2-3 months =[

I hope it goes by fast! Although, I am pretty used to it now.

Potential for 2 more extractions, dependent upon how much space the upper archwire can create on its own. I still have quite a bit of crowding. =[

Here are a few pictures from today:

Extractions

2009-02-26T13:49:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning I had 2 wisdom teeth and a 2nd lower bicuspid extracted. It wasn't fun, wasn't too horrible but I am glad that it is over. I can't wait to be able to eat more 'normal' foods again.

March 9th is my next ortho appointment. I hope he has good news about my expander and that it will be coming off soon!

Expander Update #3

2009-02-16T10:36:00.001-08:00

My space has actually become even bigger! The last time it was turned was twice by my ortho on 2/10/2009. No more since then and yet the space is even more pronounced! =}

Here is a current picture:

Expander Update #2

2009-02-10T10:04:00.000-08:00

My appointment went well today. Ortho said that I have gotten about 3-4mm of expansion thus far. Some of which has been skeletal explaining the space in the front. He turned my expander two more times and had the assistant tie it off. No more turns for at least 4 weeks which is when I am scheduled to go back. He may or may not have me turn it more later, we'll just have to wait and see.

In the meantime, I am having 3 teeth extracted. A consult next week and the extractions the week after. I've had more than my fair share of extractions and always get worked up over them but really for nothing. Sure they can be painful and a moreso of a pain in the butt but I'll be happy when they are done.

I'll update more probably next month.

Expander Update

2009-02-09T07:13:00.000-08:00

Well I am a day shy of 2 weeks in my expander. 13 turns so far.

Over the weekend I had some pain/sensitivity in my right front tooth. It lasted for probably an hour and when I went and looked in the mirror, the tiny sliver of a space that I thought I could see before had turned into a definite space! Woo hoo!

I go to the ortho tomorrow for my weekly check. Hopefully things are progressing nicely! =]

Here is a picture of my space!

ugh

2009-02-03T12:31:00.000-08:00

Well, I am officially a week into my expander. I hate it with a passion. It causes me no physical pain, however, my speech is pretty impaired. I feel so stupid when talking to people. This does not help my self esteem at ALL! Not to mention this lovely cold sore that is on the middle of my top lip. It could not be in any worse or obvious of a place. I feel so gross =[

My ortho appointment went well today. I was just there to have my expander checked and he wanted to make sure that I was not having any difficulty. There has been a little bit of movement, not much he said, but some. He removed the ligs from my upper braces because they were starting to stain and there was a little black speck that had gotten up under one of them. They aren't really doing anything right now anyway. He just put them there initially for comfort. The brackets feel fine without them and yay for no more staining at least for a while.

My bottom teeth are starting to move a bit. He seemed happy with the way things were going with that. I go to the oral surgeon on Feb 18th for a consultation to have 2 wisdom teeth + another extracted.

I can't wait until my expander and extractions are all behind me. Ahh, the evil E's!

Hope my next post is more postive!

Expander is in

2009-01-27T17:13:00.001-08:00

My upper palate expander was installed today. I am trying to get used to eating and swallowing with this thing in. It is soo weird feeling! Just like a big chunk of plastic in my mouth. I hope that this phase of treatment goes fast because I can see this getting very old, very quickly. My speech is impaired. Hopefully that subsides but who knows.

This post might turn into a bit of a b*tch fest but I can't help it. haha

I think with the combination of stress and all of the poking, prodding and stretching of my lips, they are rebelling against me in the form of cold sores and extra, super dryness. =( BLAh!

This better not last long! UGh!

Here is a picture of the devil, I mean my expander. The offending parts you cant even see, all the damn acrylic!

Expander

2009-01-26T09:02:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is the day I get my upper Haas Palate Expander. I am not really looking forward to this phase of treatment. I guess I just hope that it does enough without surgery! I think I'd hate that even more.

So far my braces aren't really giving me terrible trouble. I am getting more used to them being there and eating is slowly getting better. I actually had a sandwich and pizza over the weekend! My spacers that I still have in on the top are what are the most sore. =( My bottom molars are pretty much adjusted to the molar bands and aren't achy when I eat. My bottom front 4 teeth are tingly and feel a bit loose. I imagine this is just the beginning of some changes occuring!

I will update again a few days after I've gotten my expander.

Hope it goes smoothly!

Newly Braced

2009-01-15T14:59:00.000-08:00

Well today I was officially braced! This has got to be the weirdest feeling ever!!
A brief run down of what happened today:

Spacers removed
Molar bands fitted
Impression made with molar bands on for my upper Haas expander I will be getting on 1/27
Metal Brackets and arch wire placed on lower teeth with the exception of one that has to be extracted =( - silver ligs to blend in with metal
4 ceramic placed on upper teeth - clear ligs
Spacers put back in until I get my expander =( boo

An hour and a half later I was out the door with a list of foods to avoid, a toothbrush, some wax and an appointment for my expander to be installed.

Overall, it was a pretty painless appointment, just a bit uncomfortable at times.

Here is a picture of my current status

1/15/08

Spacers

2009-01-09T11:22:00.000-08:00

2 days into my spacers and I am ready to rip all of them out! LOL

8 on the uppers, 2 on the lowers

There isn't an incredible amount of pain, just more of an annoyance. I constantly want to push on my teeth with my tounge.

Oh and yesterday afternoon (1 day after they were put in) I had to have one that had falled out replaced. Ortho said that if I lose any over the weekend to have them put back in Monday but if any came out after Monday to not worry about them. I am secretly (or not-so-secretly) hoping they all come out on their own on Tuesday/ =P hehe

I want so badly to be able to eat something solid!!!

5 days until I get fitted for my upper expander and my lowers braced!

Spacers

2009-01-07T09:55:00.001-08:00

EEEkkk! I am 3 hours away from getting spacers put on. I am SUPER nervous. I hope that it is not nearly as bad as what I have heard. =[

Step 1

2008-12-12T11:26:00.000-08:00

So, after living 24, almost 25 years now, with the overbite and crooked teeth that I have, I am finally in a financial situation that allows me to consider braces.

Through this blog, I will be documenting the process of my braces.

1st step:
Orthodontic consultation, records appointment and treatment option presentation appointment.

I am diagnosed with a narrow upper jaw and class II malocclusion. Surgery would provide the most optimal results whereas non-surgical braces would provide a compromised, aesthetic result.

Being the big wimp I am, I have decided to proceed with the non-surgical option. I am not all that concerned about my bite, enough at this point to undergo 1-2 surgeries. If I can get a straighter smile out of this, I will be more than pleased!

I am scheduled to go back on January 7th for spacers and January 15th for the braces. It looks like I may have to have one of my lower teeth extracted at some point in early treatment.

I'll be posting pictures of my progress along the way. I hope this is all worth it!!!!!!!!!!

1st Picture: Before anything has been done.

Upcoming Appointments:

January 7: Spacers
January 15: Braces