I'm anxious - braces come off in 2 days! (final wired pics)

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chicklets
Posts: 119
Joined: Thu Oct 12, 2006 5:44 am
Location: Maryland, USA

I'm anxious - braces come off in 2 days! (final wired pics)

#1 Post by chicklets »

Hello all. Not sure if this belongs here or in bracket club -- Admin, feel free to move if necessary.

I have not been a frequent poster for a while, but I have used the forum as a fabulous source of information during my journey.

The last time I checked in, I had an allergic reaction to my latex rubber bands. Thankfully, that was worked out with the non-latex type although it now seems I'm stuck with a latex allergy that includes things like eyeshadow applicators -- my eyelids literally end up with a chemical burn and severe swelling. This is an issue I'll have to be aware of probably the rest of my life, especially in terms of medical treatment (rubber gloves).

After many months of the rubber bands, we got my midline as close as possible. My top center is perfect. My bottom is a tad off, but my bite feels good, so I decided I could live with it. At age 44 and nearly 2 years in braces, I'm ready to move on.

For a couple of months, I've been in a resting phase. Even without the rubber bands, things have remained in place, and I'm very pleased with my results.

I had my final impressions taken almost 3 weeks ago, and my braces come off in 2 days!!! I'll be in removable type retainers which I will wear 24/7 for a while and eventually move to just wearing them at night.

I have made an appointment with my regular dentist for a cleaning, whitening, and some bonding to reshape some rounded/chipped corners. I am *Chicklets* after all -- haha. Attached are a couple of pics that make my teeth look so yellow. The ortho assures me this is the glue they used to bond the brackets that has yellowed and that my teeth will be fine when they take the brackets off. I sure hope he's right because it just looks awful to me, and I've been a nut about cleaning.

Here are my final wired/bracketed pics!

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Here is what my teeth looked like when I got braced 22 months ago:

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Palate expander: 10/10/2006 through 03/27/2007
Spacers and brackets: 03/27/2007
Archwire: 04/05/2007
First adjustment: 06/05/2007

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kvs2800
Posts: 23
Joined: Mon Jan 19, 2009 5:21 pm

#2 Post by kvs2800 »

Congrats, Chicklets!

You must be very excited. I'm just starting round two of the journey but already I've been concerned about some staining. I was drinking orange soda the other day and my teeth looked so orange. I was away from home and didn't have a brush with me at the time so I had some water instead and by the time I got home everything looked more normal. I called the ortho the next day just to make sure things like that wouldn't stain my ceramics and he, too said that the glues used to hold the brackets on have a funny way of attracting some dyes. He suggested I always swish with water after eating anything heavy in dye or color (of course you don't have to worry about this much longer!!!)

Congrats again. Enjoy being naked :wink:
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chicklets
Posts: 119
Joined: Thu Oct 12, 2006 5:44 am
Location: Maryland, USA

#3 Post by chicklets »

Great tip with the water rinsing, KVS. I drink tea (cold in summer, hot in winter), and so even though I brush (at least 3 times a day), the staining is there.

I also got a real shock once when I had a meal with curry in it. It turned my cute hot pink rubber bands to bright orange!!!!! I have not done that again. Since I only went for a rubber band change about every 2 months, I had to live with my ugly orange rubber bands for about a month (I hate orange). :roll:
Palate expander: 10/10/2006 through 03/27/2007
Spacers and brackets: 03/27/2007
Archwire: 04/05/2007
First adjustment: 06/05/2007

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overseasmel
Posts: 250
Joined: Wed Nov 08, 2006 10:01 pm
Location: Australia

#4 Post by overseasmel »

Congrats on only being two days away from debanding! (Or is it only one day now?!). Your teeth look fabulous. Here's hoping the yellowing is indeed the glue - but if not I guess your dentist will be able to take care of it.

Mine are off in less than 3 weeks. I'm nervous too!
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Braced 20 Nov 06. Sentenced to 18-30 months. Released 23 Feb 09 (27 months and 3 days).
Uppers: 3M Clarity Ceramic. Lowers: Damon 3MX.
SARPE 21 April 06 and 7.5 months in expander (on for 2 weeks before surgery), turning to a width of 14.5mm.
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Eriann
Posts: 26
Joined: Fri Oct 24, 2008 1:27 am

#5 Post by Eriann »

Wow - your teeth look beautiful! Congrats :) Enjoy your d/b day!
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beth1966
Posts: 435
Joined: Wed Sep 05, 2007 6:32 am
Location: California

#6 Post by beth1966 »

Hi! Tried to send this to you in a private message but it would not work.

Just wanted to tell you how great your teeth look AND how nice your braces look in general. I'm your age and have been consulting with orthos and debating about ceramic vs. metal. Cost isn't a factor as the ortho I prefer - offers both for same price.

She actually recommends metal brackets for me. They are noticeably smaller in profile and footprint vs. the ceramics she uses - she also said the staining factor does not apply (unless i went with color ligs - not sure I'm brave enough for that), and she just feels they look cleaner then the ceramics. Sh said my lip will definitely protrude more with the ceramics - she bases this on the size of my mouth and lips as well as the particular bracket she uses.

Anyway - was just wondering what made you choose your metal brackets? They really do/did look nice! How did you feel when you had your picture taken from a distance with your metals on? Seems that is about the only real pro I can come up with - for ceramics, that they might not be visible in a photo. But I feel that in every day life and when people are speaking etc, the ceramics are just as noticeable as metal - just a different color! :)

Congrats on your debanding!
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