Finished !

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Way Too Old For This
Posts: 668
Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2005 11:23 am

Finished !

#1 Post by Way Too Old For This »

Well, I am finally finished. One month shy of 3 years and at 55 years old they are OFF! I accomplished my main goal of getting my impacted canine brought down to keep from having to get an implant. I still need one implant where I never got a permanent molar. My oral surgeon thinks I made the history books as being the oldest person to move an impacted canine..I don't know, but I know him and my orthodontist were pretty happy and a little surprised it did move so easily.

The braces came off on Monday and by the time I got my retainer on Thurs I was afraid he would have to put the braces back on... my two front teeth started to separate and I had a 1/8" gap. But the retainer closed it up nicely. Now I am trying to get used to the retainers, but I think that will be ok. When he first put them in I thought he was kidding when he said I would learn to talk with them, but I am already doing pretty well.

I ended up with a few 'triangles', but nothing can really be done about that. And I have a couple of gold crowns that someday may get replaced with white. I'm not going to be trying out for any toothpaste commercials, but all in all I'm pretty happy.

Here are some pics along the way

Before
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Oct 2005
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Ruth begins her journey.....Nov 2005
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Ruth..end of March 2006
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Ruth...May 12, 2006
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Things got a little boring after Ruth joined the line up...so there aren't many pics after that...till now.... I don't know why, but I can't seem to get a good pic...my midline looks off in these, but it really isn't that bad.

finished
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Retainer
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Wired on Sep 16, 2005, left canine exposed on Oct 5, 2005, at 52 years old.

beachbum
Posts: 95
Joined: Wed Jul 16, 2008 7:56 pm

#2 Post by beachbum »

Your teeth look great! You must be thrilled.

jackjack
Posts: 124
Joined: Tue Jul 22, 2008 1:31 am
Location: cali, usa

#3 Post by jackjack »

very beautiful smile!! congrats! :D

purpleteeth
Posts: 448
Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2008 4:45 pm
Location: Texas
Contact:

#4 Post by purpleteeth »

Your teeth look great and it totally cracks me up that you "named" your canine! How cute :) Your teeth look like a million bucks - congrats!!
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Tin Indian
Posts: 1027
Joined: Sat Aug 19, 2006 11:14 am
Location: Michigan

#5 Post by Tin Indian »

Congratulations! Your'e teeth look fantastic!
Braces on 9/01/2006- Braces off 4/14/08

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GiovanntiLawing
Posts: 127
Joined: Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:16 pm
Location: New York City
Contact:

#6 Post by GiovanntiLawing »

WoW! Fantastic smile!
Giovannti. 26 years old with braces..

http://bracesandthecity.blogspot.com/

2nd Time w/Braces
Metal-First time 10 years ago
Ceramic-(Second time) Top Arch Installed 7/9/2008, Bottom Arch Installed 9/10/2008

Next Adjustment 11/25/2008

Word of advice: WEAR YOUR RETAINERS!!

iBorg
Posts: 1877
Joined: Wed Aug 30, 2006 9:34 pm
Location: West Virgina
Contact:

#7 Post by iBorg »

It's so nice to see someone near my age actually finish the process. While you may not think of yourself being in a commercial your teeth look wonderful compared to where you started. Do you really feel you were too old for this?

Mike
I wore braces (this time) for 1294 days or 3 years, 6 months and 17 days.
But who's counting?
Jaw Surgery June 1, 2009
Thanks for praying for me and thinking happy thoughts.

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lionfish
Posts: 2635
Joined: Wed May 18, 2005 4:16 pm
Location: emerald city, oz

#8 Post by lionfish »

Congrats and I think you'd do a great toothpaste ad.

CactusZAF
Posts: 161
Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2007 12:00 pm
Location: South Africa

#9 Post by CactusZAF »

Wow, your teeth look great!
I am sooo jealous of you right now. Enjoy your freedom :wink: .

Way Too Old For This
Posts: 668
Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2005 11:23 am

#10 Post by Way Too Old For This »

Thanks for all the nice comments. In these past three years, I've read about so many people finishing their treatment, its hard for me to believe it actually has happened to me!
Do you really feel you were too old for this?
Mike...I did feel like maybe I was too old when I started the process. Especially since my former dentist told me I was. He told me I was too old for braces and that there was no way to save Ruth. He said my only option for a better smile was veneers...which it just so happens, he performed that service (but not braces).

Lucky for me my new dentist said I was a good candidate for braces and that he guessed a 50/50 chance of moving Ruth. And he referred me to the most awesome Orthodontist office, who also said 50/50 chance for Ruth to move. That was better than no chance, so I took it. I am thrilled that we saved that tooth. The three years went by very fast except for the last couple of months. I have to admit I was VERY READY to get rid of the braces. I was just tired of food getting caught in them. Even after a week I forget they are off until I eat....then I remember right away. I've been biting into plums all week!!

Now that I am finished I do NOT feel like I was too old. I'm very glad I did it and I would recommend anyone do it if they want to and are able, no matter how old.

I sure won't miss those molar bands, but I do miss the fuller lips I had with braces !!
Wired on Sep 16, 2005, left canine exposed on Oct 5, 2005, at 52 years old.

oski1970
Posts: 62
Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:41 am
Location: Pa

#11 Post by oski1970 »

Your teeth look great.
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Image

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jennielee81
Posts: 2144
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2005 2:31 pm
Location: The Old Line State

#12 Post by jennielee81 »

PERFECTION!
"Life is an occasion; RISE TO IT!" --Mr. Magorium
I wore Damon 3's and Opals for 20 months at age 42. Braces off January 2007
http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=3535 a little more about me here: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/co ... 961130.htm

browneyedgrl
Posts: 1302
Joined: Sat Mar 10, 2007 9:29 pm
Location: Central Florida
Contact:

#13 Post by browneyedgrl »

Your teeth look great!!!

B
Started the journey for the second time on January 10th 2008~Ceramic uppers and metal lowers. Removed on June 2nd 2009.



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artroxu
Posts: 132
Joined: Thu Apr 03, 2008 4:19 pm
Location: Reno, NV

#14 Post by artroxu »

Your teeth look absolutely amazing!!! Did they shape your teeth when you were done? I'm thinking they will need to do that with mine due to uneven wear.
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Way Too Old For This
Posts: 668
Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2005 11:23 am

#15 Post by Way Too Old For This »

artroxu wrote:Your teeth look absolutely amazing!!! Did they shape your teeth when you were done? I'm thinking they will need to do that with mine due to uneven wear.
The only shaping he did was to one of my two front teeth. One was more rounded and the other was more square...so he squared off one of them.
There were a couple sharp corners on my bottom teeth where they were tucked behind the others for so many years, but they seem to be wearing down on their own..

Its amazing to me that some teeth look so different from their counterpart, but after they finish rotating them and getting them the same length they look more alike. Before this process I never noticed how much a little rotation can help the looks of the tooth.
Wired on Sep 16, 2005, left canine exposed on Oct 5, 2005, at 52 years old.

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