Choccy's photos!

Message

#1 Post by **choccyface** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 10:00 am

Hi, my name is Sarah and I am just about to start my brace story. Its taken me over three years to get braced because I have changed areas just as I was about to get my braces so I had to start the process again in my new area, I have seen so many othodontists and finally have chosen one in Chester who really puts me at ease.

The problems are that I have a baby canine that is still in place, the adult canine is behind it so the baby is very loose but I have a small peg lateral incisor that will have to come out too because there is not enough space for my new adult canine to come through.

This means that my new canine will transform into a lateral incisor and my first premolar will become my new incisor - complicated huh!

I didn't have to go down the orthodontic route, I could have had extractions and implants (too expensive!) or extractions and a bridge. I so very nearly took this "quick fix" bridge option but it would mean the loss of perfectly healthy teeth and although it would be better in the short term, it would need maintaining for the rest of my life. So I decided to go for the full works, the long haul - my reasoning being that a few years in braces would give me a set of teeth that I would be proud of for the rest of my life.

My treatment plan is 2-3 years and I am having stainless steel braces on my uppers and lowers. It seems alot of work and time to correct one tooth! But of course everything that is wrong in my mouth will get corrected too, overjet, overbite, crooked teeth even though these things never really bothered me.

As I go into this treatment I can honestly say I am scared to death but the thought of having a prominent gap at the front of my mouth which is what would happen when my baby canine finally gives in and comes out is worse. So here goes...

Here are some of my start photos....

This is my start photo, see the small peg tooth on the right of the middle tooth, well this one and the baby tooth on the right of it need to be extracted to make room for the adult tooth which was erupting through the roof of my mouth 6mm from its correct position.

You can see the adult tooth here coming behind the two that need extracting.

This photo was taken after I had had 6 extractions ready for my brace to go on.

Heres my new brace, it was fitted on the 10th Jan 2007. My orthodontist has not included my adult tooth yet as its too too displaced but it should be incorparated after about 3 tightenings. Also the bottom back teeth are not in yet either, I think they will be added onto the brace in due course but not sure when.

I will keep you posted!

Sarah x

#2 Post by **swiss1** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 10:50 am

Hi choccyface! Congratulations on beginning your journey, I'm sure you'll see wonderful progress as that adult tooth moves back to where it should be. Best wishes on all going well, from a fellow chocoholic!

#3 Post by **PrincessMelody** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 6:27 pm

Congrats on getting braced. You definately have some interesting things going on with wires being wrapped aroung your teeth. It will be interesting to see the changes those will make. Good luck!

#4 Post by **choccyface** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 9:10 am

Interesting wire configurations? LOL...I thought my wires looked normal! I suppose they do look interesting as they are doubled up in some places!

I can't wait to see some movement!

Choccy x

#5 Post by **Brunoise** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 1:27 pm

Congrats! Your bottom teeth are similar to mine. Looking forward to seeing your progress.

#6 Post by **LucyQ99** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 1:46 pm

Congrats on getting braced. It's a wonderful thing to be able to see self-improvement...enjoy it.

#7 Post by **M1k3y** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 3:54 pm

Congrats on getting braced. It's a wonderful thing to be able to see self-improvement...enjoy it.

Quoted for truth.

#8 Post by **choccyface** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 2:45 pm

I think I will take photos every two weeks, how often does everyone else take them?

Sarah x

#9 Post by **choccyface** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 2:50 am

Thanks, I will take photos every two weeks I think but I won't post them at that rate, maybe just after an adjustment!

Sarah x

#10 Post by **choccyface** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 6:21 am

Thanks for all the replies everyone!

I feel really content with my brace now and can eat almost everything I could before which is surprising! (I am really careful though) I even feel quite proud of my metal mouth, I have not become the hermit that I worried I might be after all!

I just wondered about a couple of things. My mouth feels so comfortable now, my teeth don't feel that sensitive or loose anymore, does this mean that the archwire is not applying enough pressure or have I just become resistant to it?

Also, my ortho told me I would be having sliders on my back teeth which would atatch to my teeth with a small screw and bring them forward, what are these called and has anyone else here had them on?

When he put my brace on though he mentioned putting rings on my back teeth to bring them forward, maybe he was going to use the sliders on the bottom and the rings on the top? I am confused and will have to ask when I go next but I just wondered if anyone had any ideas? Has anyone heard of these rings?

Can anyone tell me which type of brackets I have from my photos, I thought metal ones were all the same untill I came of this site then heard about differant types.

Thanks!

Sarah x

#11 Post by **choccyface** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 7:43 am

Thanks KK, you're a star! Lots of interesting comments there. I will let you know what my ortho says in response to my questions.

Sarah x

#12 Post by **choccyface** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 4:43 am

First of all, ignore my ticker. My have not had my first adjustment as my ortho was ill and I haven't got a new date for it yet, just hope that its soon!

I have had my brace on for nearly 9 weeks and already there is some good progress. Here are some before and after photos of my upper arch.

Before my brace...

And after 8 weeks..

See how much my front teeth have straightened up and I have gaps between them now!

Sarah xx

#13 Post by **mighty mo** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 6:33 am

WOW! What amazing progress. It really does help to see before and after pictures side-by-side. You are going to have a stunning smile in no time.

#14 Post by **swiss1** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 10:48 am

Hi Choccy, Hope all, is going well. We got braced on the same day, so I was interested to see your recent post. I've decided to take photos after each adjustment (1st one was after 6 weeks), the next is 4 weeks after that, in 2 weeks' time. You can take them as often as you like, as others have said this is your journal after all! I felt that waiting for each adjustment to take a pic gives my teeth maximum time to move, so hopefully I'll see changes each time.

Keep us posted, and be sure to post some pics soon!

#15 Post by **choccyface** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 1:07 pm

Hi Swiss,

I was going to post photos after my first adjustment too but since its been delayed and there is now some good progress, I thought I would post them now! Like others have said, its really good to see the photos side by side.

I can't wait to see my ortho get adjusted at last, I am getting impatient now!

Have you got any recent photos to compare with?

KK and mighty mo, thanks for the encouraging words, I really feel like things are finally happening!

Sarah x