Audra's story

Message

#1 Post by **Audra** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 8:44 pm

In trying to "update" my story, I deleted my first post and typed over it. So now I'm trying to re-create it somewhat so people can follow my story.

After many years of knowing I had a 'weird' bite and every dentist I've ever seen making comment on it, I have decided to get braces and jaw surgery to correct it.

When I was a child, the dentist removed my first pre-molars in my upper arch to make room for my teeth. I was supposed to get braces in grade 10, but didn't because my mom decided not to pay for them because I didn't wear my removable appliance. This has left me with an underbite which has caused me headaches most of my life.

My first consult with the ortho was May 15 and I had a lower molar extracted May 26 due to a fractured tooth (failed root canal).

Insignia impressions/molds were done June 2nd and I am scheduled for bonding July 7th.

Here are my before photos:

Front

Top

Bottom

#2 Post by **OhNicole** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 9:28 pm

Hi Audra! Congrats on the decision to get braced

No matter how straight your teeth are that crowding just makes it uncomfortable. Four weeks 'till brace day - are you excited yet??

#3 Post by **Audra** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 5:48 am

Thanks you guys!

Nikki - I'm totally excited.

Ken - thanks for saying my teeth look good already. I'm excited to see what they will look like at the end. I'm not sure where you saw in my post that I'm going for color ligs as I'll be wearing damons which are self-ligating. I did mention my B-day (July 7th - woohoo). 7:25 on a Monday morning. How's that for starting a week off right? I haven't met with the surgeon yet so don't know what he will want to do. The orthodontic assistant said probably only bringing the upper jaw forward, but who knows. I'll definitely post all the gory details as time goes on.

I'll post new pics once the jewellery is applied

#4 Post by **Audra** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 6:11 am

I figured that's what happened.

There are so many people on this board. I'm interested in everyone's story, but I wonder how I would keep up with them all???

I love this place.

#5 Post by **LaLaDee** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 7:03 am

Hi Audra and welcome to AW! I agree with Ken that you have lovely teeth - they will look great once your bite and crowding are addressed. I share in your excitement! I have yet to be braced as well and am so anxious for my brace date. Come on July 7th!!

#6 Post by **jenny101101** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 11:03 am

Hi Audra,

Welcome to AW!!

I have Damon's too...yay, another Damon buddy! Good luck on your braceday...looking forward to pics with your new "tooth jewelery"!

#7 Post by **Audra** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 7:24 am

OK. Well apparently I don't know how to edit to just change my subject line and have my new post at the end of the thread. Hopefully someone can help me out as I deleted my first post to add my newest update.

Help someone!

Normally I'm quite computer literate, but not so much at this. Haha

#8 Post by **Audra** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 7:45 am

So, I just change the subject line, then submit it. Then do I go and make another post at the end?

I feel like such a dork. LOL.

#9 Post by **Audra** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 9:39 am

Ken - you may have once been a computer dummy - but I don't believe for a second that you still are! Thanks for the help.

OK - I am copying and pasting my updated story - here at the end of the thread where it belongs. And I will attempt to sort of re-create the first post somewhat.

Well, tomorrow is the big day. 7:35 a.m. to be exact, so 20 hours to go. I remember when it was an entire month to wait and I wondered how I would get through it. It's funny to realize that I "could" be finished by next Christmas. Wow. Hopefully it will fall within the estimated treatment time.

I still have not been contacted by the oral surgeon for my consult. I was told by the ortho to let them know if I hadn't heard by my bonding appointment and they will follow up.

I have been doing more research into the Insignia software program. It seems there are 3 software programs that use 3D imaging. They are OrthoCad, Suresmile and Insignia. I had no clue what they were about a month ago, but it seems pretty interesting. Treatment time is supposed to be reduced by about 40 percent. This is supposedly due to more accurate movement of teeth - i.e. no over or under correction and guesswork. The programs use mathemetical computations to determine the more precise way to move the teeth into the desired position. The brackets are placed into trays for indirect bonding. The wires are also custom made robotically to the exact prescription by heating them to extremely high temperatures. These custom wires do not need frequent adjustment by the orthodontist so my adjustments will be around 10 weeks apart (we'll see if that is actually true). Anyway, I'm intrigued by this system and am curious to see if it does actually reduce treatment time.

I'll post some pics of my new "jewelled" smile as soon as I can.

#10 Post by **LongInTheT** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 4:53 pm

Have a good Brace Day!
Your teeth look nice already, and they are going to look really good.
I had my pre-molars taken out as a teenager, too, when I had braces the first time around - I suppose it was a standard treatment at one time to pull those teeth (but in my case this was a really long time ago..).

The 10 week gaps between adjustments sound good and the 3D imaging
of your teeth must be really interesting - nice to see the whole thing together. Keep taking your own pictures, too, so you can see how you are progressing - you'll be surprised at the changes.
Good luck tomorrow!

#11 Post by **LaLaDee** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 4:51 am

Happy Brace Day!!

I hope all goes well. Looking forward to your pics..

#12 Post by **Audra** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:02 am

Thank you!!

Well, they're on. My appointment was at 7:30 this morning. I was done around 9:00. The insignia system doesn't use one tray. It uses individual "jigs" that the brackets are attached to. The jig fits on your tooth and places the bracket exactly where it's supposed to go. It's cured and then peeled off. Some jigs contain brackets for two or three teeth. Some are just one tooth.

I had molar buildups put on - she called them bite turbos. This is because of the underbite and my top teeth touching the inside of my bottom teeth. She said my arch would not be able to expand so this is to keep them apart. I guess I now have what is called an open bite because my teeth only touch on the very back molars. It makes it very difficult to chew.

I don't feel any real pain, although I think my front teeth are starting to feel a bit tender. No chance of soreness from chewing there though since they don't touch!!! The brackets feel huge. I have brackets on the back molars even though the wire does not go through them yet.

My next adjustment was supposed to be in 10-12 weeks but the doc is away most of September so it will be in 9 weeks - September 8th.

I'll get hubby to take some pics tonight and will post them as soon as I can.

#13 Post by **Audra** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 5:52 pm

So, here I am at day 2. I started to feel discomfort by yesterday afternon. By the time I left work my teeth hurt a lot. I had chicken pot pie for supper and basically swallowed almost everything whole. I took some pain killers last night.

Today, staying with soft food. Cream of wheat, banana, yogurt. For lunch I had a smoothie from Booster Juice. Dinner was spaghetti and meat sauce. The thin noodles slid off my molar buildup so that got swallowed whole as well.

I'm trying to stay postive as I know this will all be worth it in the long run. I'm glad to know the initial 'discomfort' doesn't last too many days. I'm using wax as I've developed a couple canker sores already. A few teeth feel loose - very bizarre. Still not used to how big the brackets feel, but I'm sure I'll get used to it. My mouth feels dry a lot too, so I'm trying to drink a lot of water.

Here's some pics my hubby took last night. The pic of the molar buildups sure does show how crowded my teeth actually are. This is the first pic I've taken since my extraction also (May 26th)

Thanks to everyone who's following my story. I'm glad I have a support group here because I really need it right now.

#14 Post by **BracedVeryLate** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 9:15 pm

Hi Audra,
hang in there. The pain doesn't last forever. After a week or so, you will be able to eat more types of foods. I lived on protein drinks and smoothies for the first few days, it was just too much hassle. I was also swallowing food whole, and after a meal like that, I had a stomach ache.

I just got my first adjustment this morning, and now I am back to mushy foods!! So I guess this is the cycle!!

Now I look at all these young kids in braces with a lot more sympathy.

When I am feeling sorry for myself, I check this forum... Saves me a lot of whining to my family!!!
take care
Patricia

#15 Post by **angel84** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 9:25 pm

Happy belated braceday! Things will get better I promise. Just hang in there. Try washing your mouth our with some Peroxyl (or however you spell it lol). I really does help. I am still sticking to the soft food and I am a week in. It does get better.