Salsashark's Story with pictures!

salsashark · **Joined:** Mon Sep 03, 2012 3:47 pm **Posts:** 25

you can read my intro here: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=42943
but I'll give you the basic facts.

- age: 27
- actor and dancer (so fixing my teeth will boost my career)
- top braces (ceramic) since June 2012
- bottom braces (metal) not yet on
- removal of baby canine & exposure of impacted canine 1 week ago
- next appointment this wednesday
- expected treatment time: 2 years

Before:

After:

exposure with chain hanging down. (you can also see the stitches that haven't fell out)

close up of exposure.

my teeth look so yellow in the recent pics but it's just the lighting!

unspec · **Joined:** Thu Aug 02, 2012 2:08 pm **Posts:** 46

First of all, I'm impressed you've posted the pictures us so quickly. It took me a bit of building up before I did the same!

Secondly, congratulations on getting braced.

That kit will pull those teeth into perfect alignment. It's going to be a brilliant (and sometime a bit tender & sore) journey.

salsashark · **Joined:** Mon Sep 03, 2012 3:47 pm **Posts:** 25

After being braced for 3 months I definitely feel more comfortable with them (though I'm sure that will change at my next adjustment and when the bottom ones get put on!) I've always been embarrassed by my teeth and so actually feel better about them now since I'm fixing them. Braces may be embarrassing (especially at my age) but they aren't more embarrassing than severely overcrowded and crooked teeth!

I'm excited to see them change (though a little frustrated on how slow progress seems to be!)

Thanks!

Angel269 · **Posted:** Sun Sep 09, 2012 5:25 pm

Hi Salsashark

Welcome to board and congrats on taking the plunge.

Hope you see progress very quickly. I have had great progress on spacing issues-I have a midline upper diastema.

I suffered with a severe dental phobia and never thought I could do this. I found taking that first step was the hardest.

I felt embarrassed about doing this, as I'm a 24 yr old mum. Im glad I have and I think the only way I was confident enough to do this was by having ceramics :-)

Look forward to seeing more photos as things progress :-)

GillyWeed · **Posted:** Sun Sep 09, 2012 5:42 pm

Congrats on taking the plunge! Those chains look really intense, I hope they aren't too painful. I wish you the best of luck with your braces journey and good luck with getting your bottoms on!

salsashark · **Joined:** Mon Sep 03, 2012 3:47 pm **Posts:** 25

Thanks Angel269!

GillyWeed - the chain isn't painful YET as it's pretty much just hanging there but I imagine when he "adjusts" it, I'll be feeling differently! I was definitely sore after the exposure (they gave me Vicodin which I only took the first day as it made me incredibly nauseous even with food)... I was fine with taking ibuprofen after that.

I can't wait until Wednesday to see what the next step is!

maeby · **Posted:** Mon Sep 10, 2012 12:03 pm

Hi Salsashark! I just wanted to pop in and say thanks for sharing your progress. I'm going to have to have exposure surgery on both of my upper canines soon and I always really appreciate it when others share their stories. I hope everything is going well!

salsashark · **Joined:** Mon Sep 03, 2012 3:47 pm **Posts:** 25

Just got back from my appointment. He gave me a bigger wire and snipped the extra chain off and "sewed" it to one of my brackets. I need to have two premolars removed to make room for my canines and incisor to come down.

I had a different assistant today and when she asked what color bands I wanted I said "clear or white you know?" cause I wasn't sure what the name of the color I had been getting was as the ortho just knew I wanted them to "match" and put the right color on... well, white apparently ISN'T the matching color... so my bands stick out (I might as well have got a color) and I feel a little awkward about it. oh well.

you can see a tiny bit of my canine peeking out - yay!

I didn't feel much pain after this adjustment as I did the first one. I worry that no pain means it's not working!

my next appointment is in four weeks.

salsashark · **Joined:** Mon Sep 03, 2012 3:47 pm **Posts:** 25

week five after exposure! Look at that canine coming out!!

so my appointment is next week and I've started freaking out about extracting two premolars since I've read that can lead to sunken-in cheeks and lips. I don't even know how to talk to my orthodontist about this.

maeby · **Posted:** Wed Jan 09, 2013 10:08 am

Hey there! Haven't heard from you in awhile, hopefully that means everything is going smoothly. I'm having my exposure surgery soon and I'd love to see your progress (it always helps to see what to expect on the other side).

Salsashark's Story with pictures!

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