Braces 25

[lexieplexie]

Well I'm pretty happy I found this wonderful site. Suppose I will share my braces story. I have always wanted to get braces growing up, not having the most perfect smile definitely affects ones self esteem and hinders personal growth. I was afraid to smile and fully express myself because i hated the way my teeth were so getting braces now at 25 is really a confidence booster. My first consult with an ortho was at the age of 20 but at that time I wasnt able to afford it. It may seem a bit silly but it was my dream to finally be able to take address this crippling insecurity and not being able to afford it was the worst feeling at the time. But..hard work pays off and here i am at 25 hoping that I will end this 18mth journey with the best smile I could ever imagine having.

My journey began on February 24,2014 after consulting with another ortho that was a bit closer to where I lived and coincidentally cost a bit less after recommending the same treatment plan I was offered back when I was 20. Lips apart at rest,excessive overjet, upper teeth crowded, lower teeth crowded and improvement on oral hygiene. You tend to ignore oral hygiene when you really are not that confident about your smile. Anyway, fast forward to today, I am 2 months and noticing significant changes. I pay much more attention to brushing, flossing and the waterpik is a lifesaver with the braces on.

It was and still is a major adjustment but the pain and discomfort is worth the changes I see every week... however tiny they may be. My last visit to ortho, I changed my wire to a slightly thicker one. We are trying to bring down a stubborn canine (that really hasn't moved since my treatment started) among other things I suppose :) Overall I'm positive about everything

[Katzchen]

I'm glad to hear that braces have been a positive experience for you so far !

[lexieplexie]

I have to get my 2 pre molars extracted Went to the ortho yesterday to have an annoying wire cut. My top and bottom brackets on my molars started touching when I bit down so had to get that fixed as well. During the visit she confirmed I will need the extractions. She said it would be a part of the treatment plan initially, don't know what I thought would happen between then and now...but it's final. My overbite is still horrible so getting rid of them will allow more room for corrections. I'm js worried about how it will all come together. She's quite reassuring though that's the good part. Need to figure out how to post pics later

[lexieplexie]

pic of progress 11weeks in. hope this works

[Lorianne]

awesome! what a nice change! You're going to have a beautiful smile when all is said and done! congrats for taking the plunge!

[lexieplexie]

awesome! what a nice change! You're going to have a beautiful smile when all is said and done! congrats for taking the plunge!

Thanks Lorraine that's the hope

[Fidget77]

Wow! That's amazing progress after just 11 weeks. Congrats!

[MrsCharisma]

Sweet! Great progress!

[lexieplexie]

I hope my Ortho has a serious plan, my bite is a hot mess right now. My right canine is a bit stubborn but has been slowly moving into position. Until it does this fully I suppose this is how I will look. Sigh. When I bite down my lower jaw looks a bit twisted and I can fit my thumb in between my overbite. Yikes Won't be seeing her until June 26th.

[lexieplexie]

7 month update!!! Im so happy so far with my progress. I've been in the same wires for 2 months now, my last visit was on Sep 30th. My ortho recommended staying in the wire for another month to achieve maximum widening of my top arch. She will then switch me to a stainless steel wire to begin closing my massive overbite. I will still need extractions to achieve the best results but I trust her so much. She has been great so far and I know the decision to extract is the best one. Time is really going by so quickly. Cant wait for the end. Have a good day yall.

[Lorianne]

whoa! massive changes lexiepexie! looking GOOD! which wire are you in now, do you know?

[lexieplexie]

Hi Lorianne, she did mention the type when I last had it changed but unfortunately I forgot. Its the thickest square/rectangular wire though, don't remember the exact dimensions/size.

[Lorianne]

thanks Lexie. I asked, because i'm in rectangular 14 x 25 and thinking my next will be 18 x 25 (at least I think that's what I heard him say). So, you may be in the 18 now.

[TheProfessor]

Great progress in only 7 months!!!

[Anna5]

WOW, what an AMAZING progress!!! Your upper arch has widened into kingsize, beautiful!!!