new and impatient

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#1 Post by **dez** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:27 pm

hi been reading all your posts for some months .looking for help,soi decided to join in.living in n.ireland aged 45,got braced sept 07 on n.h.s. because of surgery needed.i am having a severe overbite corrected with lower jaw surgery [when i dont know

] been wearing power chains top and bottom over 6 months bottom fine top row taking ages to close gaps.is this normal for someone of my mature years or am i being impatient .

#2 Post by **changes09** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 5:59 am

I'm only 23 but I am also impatient. I was told from the begining the I would be surgery ready by april. I have straight teeth they are just full of gaps. And now it's March and my Ortho is saying June. I just want this done and over with! I have been in power chains only two months and yes they are doing their job, but....I wanted this since I was 16 and now that I am finally in the process I feel like if at my next ortho appt the doc changes my surgery date YET AGAIN I will honestly, literally explode!!! I hate the feeling of feeling anxious. I really do. But like everyone says the time will fly blah blah blah...
Good luck and keep me posted!

#3 Post by **dez** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 6:43 am

maybe its because of my age that things are going slower .my ortho estimated 3 years for treatment including retainers .i thought by now iwould be ready for surgery.i havent seen the os since my first appointment back in aug 2007 when he discussed what will be happening[not when

]

#4 Post by **charro callado** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 10:12 am

2-3 years in braces is not uncommon at all.

I think - in pure speculation - that a large portion of the people here have had braces before when they were younger.

Take me for instance:

Braces: 1995-1997 (2 years)

Braces: 2008-2009 (1 year)

Total: 3 years.

If I had not had braces when I was younger, I would probably not be ready for surgery until I had braces on for at least 2 years.

So if this is your first time having braces, just remember that when you peruse the site here I am sure that for a lot of us, this is our second go-around with the orthodontist, and thus it may seem that our time in braces now seems short in comparison to yours. But in all likelihood, we've done our time, just not all at once.

It's a long, unpleasant process, but (I hope!) the end is worth it!

Joe

#5 Post by **dez** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 4:14 pm

i also had braces before [way back in the 70s] so long ago cant remember how long i wore them

just grateful that things are getting done properly this time after all these years. thanks for your supportive comments

#6 Post by **charro callado** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 4:22 pm

Oh ok, I thought this was your first time.

In that case, I can relate! It's hard to be patient!

#7 Post by **OzzysMom** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 12:25 am

I can totally relate! I am also in my 40's and I also wore braces over 2 years back in the 70's. Most recently I was braced in August 06. I wore them for more than 2 yrs before my surgery in Oct 08. I'm not sure if our age plays a factor as much as the ortho's treatment plan but it seems like you will probably be ready for your surgery soon.

Trust that you are almost there!

#8 Post by **K Willie** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 7:46 pm

I am also in my forties. 47 to be exact. My Ortho says my treatment will last for 2-1/2 years. I am having SARPE on the 26th of this month to correct a narrow bite and palate. I expect this will take 6 to 8 months and my top braces are just for looks until the bone has healed enough to remove the RPE and have the top arch wire installed. Just as a discalimer, my Ortho has told me that 2-1/2 years is an estimate and it could take up to 3 years. I have set a goal to have the work completed before all of my hair turns grey or falls out, whichever comes first.

Keep in mind that just like life, the race for a great smile is a marathon, not a sprint. Man that sounds great but, remind me that I said that after I have my surgery and am drooling, swollen, and cant eat solid food for 8 weeks.

K Wille

#9 Post by **sauerkraut** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 12:58 am

Hi dez, you have another sympathiser here

I had my first op (SARPE) 18 months ago (goodness, is it really as long ago as that

) and now have gaps to close before I'm ready for the next one.

My ortho sometimes gives vague timeline hints, e.g. "The RPE will have to stay in for at least 3 months, hmm, more like 4 really. 6 would be better still..." (In the end it was 7!). But he's only just started on closing the gaps and has given no time estimate at all and I haven't asked.

Like you, I'm assuming age plays a part (I'm also mid-40's) but I've seen plenty of people on here of all ages saying that closing gaps seems to take for ever. My understanding is that it's healthier to take it slowly as it gives the roots time to adjust.

When you look back on it, the time does seem to have flown (like me with my SARPE) but when you're still in the middle of it it's difficult to have that perspective!

Oh well, I knew when I started I was in for a long haul. I'm sure we'll all get there eventually and this board is great for support

#10 Post by **dez** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 12:58 pm

hi k willie you are lucky to have your hair

mine has long gone and what little i have left is grey

ahh well at least i have a great smile to look forward too

#11 Post by **crazybeautiful** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 6:44 am

Why is it that gaps take forever to close? I had 2 at the start, 1 closed straight away but I still have the other

My ortho told me in Feb I should be ready for surgery in 6 months, so I don't know what plans she has for closing the gap...I don't even care if it will be really painful at this point- I just want it to close!

#12 Post by **Polly** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 8:41 am

My ortho said treatment would be approx 3 years from start to finish. I had by braces on for 18 months before upper and lower jaw surgery then had the braces removed 6 months later.

Would be worth asking your ortho next time you see them when he thinks surgery is likely to be, he should be able to give you a pretty good idea by now.

Good luck

#13 Post by **dez** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 12:22 pm

i have already asked my ortho to give me a rough guestimate. no realistic answer was given,only that around 18 months in braces was normal before surgery. i am now in braces 19 months,and by the way the gaps are taking forever to close i will probably not get a realistic answer

on the bright side my ortho told me we have turned a corner

#14 Post by **dez** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 12:57 pm

seen my ortho yesterday .iasked her are we close to surgery yet .ive been told that as soon as the darn gaps close we will be there.no more archwire changes .im getting hooks fitted next visit [7 weeks time] i wonder if these are for my surgery or something else anyone with any answers please

#15 Post by **Twinjoy** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 5:22 pm

Hooks are for surgery, I don't know any other reason for these torture devices!