2nd Adjustment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!