And... they're off!
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 8:32 am
Went in yesterday morning and got the accursed things removed from my teeth! I have to say, that's probably about the most painful single thing I've had done over the whole course of treatment (except for the jaw surgery, of course.) It started with little "tweaks" as each one had it's wings popped, then continued with the cement scrapers, and finished with my ortho grinding off the remaining cement with a (cold air powered) dental burr tool. At least I was used to the gag-inducing impression process by now. (Two upper impressions, and one lower.)
As an added bonus, the treatment room TV was playing re-runs of the Dukes of Hazzard instead of the inane talk shows it's usually tuned to... (if I'm forced to listen to one more vapid and content-free celebrity interview, it will be too soon! I won't miss that part of my treatment at all!)
But in the end, I walked out with nice, smooth teeth and my new upper Essix retainer. (And an appt. in a couple of weeks to pick up my Hawleys and a complimentary set of bleaching trays and bleach.) I immediately ate an apple, and then went to see a movie (Monuments Men, which both my wife and I enjoyed) and had an entire bag of popcorn.
I know you are all going to want to know how satisfied I am... and... I can't really tell you for a few years. Going in, my smile was cosmetically fine, except for some crowding relapse on the lower (which the braces did indeed fix). My intention going into braces was to improve my bite function and arrest my gum recession. I won't know if that worked for some time.
As an added bonus, the treatment room TV was playing re-runs of the Dukes of Hazzard instead of the inane talk shows it's usually tuned to... (if I'm forced to listen to one more vapid and content-free celebrity interview, it will be too soon! I won't miss that part of my treatment at all!)
But in the end, I walked out with nice, smooth teeth and my new upper Essix retainer. (And an appt. in a couple of weeks to pick up my Hawleys and a complimentary set of bleaching trays and bleach.) I immediately ate an apple, and then went to see a movie (Monuments Men, which both my wife and I enjoyed) and had an entire bag of popcorn.
I know you are all going to want to know how satisfied I am... and... I can't really tell you for a few years. Going in, my smile was cosmetically fine, except for some crowding relapse on the lower (which the braces did indeed fix). My intention going into braces was to improve my bite function and arrest my gum recession. I won't know if that worked for some time.
He's one of the most knowledgeable members of this forum.