Look, no braces!
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Thank you, diande 
Went to the dentist today: zero cavities! Everything in perfect order! YAY!
The dentist filed down my left front tooth a little (where there is a little bit of the corner of the tooth missing) to make it look more in balance with the other front tooth, and it does look better now.
Went to the dentist today: zero cavities! Everything in perfect order! YAY!
The dentist filed down my left front tooth a little (where there is a little bit of the corner of the tooth missing) to make it look more in balance with the other front tooth, and it does look better now.
Case: Impacted canines, crowding & crossbite.
Treatment: SARPE 2004/10/6, RPE 2004/9/28 - 2005/1/31, w-arch until 2005/11/22, impacted canines extracted 2005/5/18.
Braces on: top 2005/6/2, bottom 2005/8/30.
Braces off: 2008/6/9.
Retainers, phase one: expanding Hawley retainer 24/7, bonded retainers on top & bottom.
Retainers, phase two: Hawley on top, bonded both top & bottom, positioner for night time use.
Treatment: SARPE 2004/10/6, RPE 2004/9/28 - 2005/1/31, w-arch until 2005/11/22, impacted canines extracted 2005/5/18.
Braces on: top 2005/6/2, bottom 2005/8/30.
Braces off: 2008/6/9.
Retainers, phase one: expanding Hawley retainer 24/7, bonded retainers on top & bottom.
Retainers, phase two: Hawley on top, bonded both top & bottom, positioner for night time use.
Hi, Clo! Yes, the appliance did what it was expected to do and now I'm looking forward to the next thingy, the positioner, that should release me from daytime retainer wear and teach my tongue a lesson or two about not pushing my teeth any more outwards. In two months I still haven't got accustomed to this retainer (I guess it's made of plastic thicker than normally, because of the metal screw planted in the middle of it), it still makes me gag to tears at times, so it would be a relief not having to wear it 24/7.
I've been reading your story and sending prayers to the Gods of Orthodontia to put an end to your problems sooner than later. You are in my thoughts!
I've been reading your story and sending prayers to the Gods of Orthodontia to put an end to your problems sooner than later. You are in my thoughts!
Case: Impacted canines, crowding & crossbite.
Treatment: SARPE 2004/10/6, RPE 2004/9/28 - 2005/1/31, w-arch until 2005/11/22, impacted canines extracted 2005/5/18.
Braces on: top 2005/6/2, bottom 2005/8/30.
Braces off: 2008/6/9.
Retainers, phase one: expanding Hawley retainer 24/7, bonded retainers on top & bottom.
Retainers, phase two: Hawley on top, bonded both top & bottom, positioner for night time use.
Treatment: SARPE 2004/10/6, RPE 2004/9/28 - 2005/1/31, w-arch until 2005/11/22, impacted canines extracted 2005/5/18.
Braces on: top 2005/6/2, bottom 2005/8/30.
Braces off: 2008/6/9.
Retainers, phase one: expanding Hawley retainer 24/7, bonded retainers on top & bottom.
Retainers, phase two: Hawley on top, bonded both top & bottom, positioner for night time use.
wow!!
your teeth look amazing!! All these stories and pictures makes me think that I definately made the right decision to fix my teeth!!
Invisalign upper teeth on July 16th 2008: 14 aligners.
Fixed brace bottom teeth 8th October 2008!
Fixed brace bottom teeth 8th October 2008!
Well, there was another communication mix up with my ortho. She's a specialist in that area of expertise 
Turned out that now I'm using both kinds of retainers: the regular one at daytime AND the positioner at night time - both nice and gaggy.
I could swear the ortho said that if I get used to the positioner, the other retainer would not be needed. Yes, silly me, I actually thought she was referring to any time in near future, but no no: she meant after one year. Hello?!!? How simple does she think I am? I knew that is the regular case: 24/7 for one year - I just thought she had something else planned out for me. I felt so stupid having been all happy happy joy joy over getting rid of daytime retainer wear.
The first couple of nights with the positioner were not easy, but it's getting easier, I hope. The most annoying thing now is that it makes you drool all over the place
Turned out that now I'm using both kinds of retainers: the regular one at daytime AND the positioner at night time - both nice and gaggy. I could swear the ortho said that if I get used to the positioner, the other retainer would not be needed. Yes, silly me, I actually thought she was referring to any time in near future, but no no: she meant after one year. Hello?!!? How simple does she think I am? I knew that is the regular case: 24/7 for one year - I just thought she had something else planned out for me. I felt so stupid having been all happy happy joy joy over getting rid of daytime retainer wear.
The first couple of nights with the positioner were not easy, but it's getting easier, I hope. The most annoying thing now is that it makes you drool all over the place
Case: Impacted canines, crowding & crossbite.
Treatment: SARPE 2004/10/6, RPE 2004/9/28 - 2005/1/31, w-arch until 2005/11/22, impacted canines extracted 2005/5/18.
Braces on: top 2005/6/2, bottom 2005/8/30.
Braces off: 2008/6/9.
Retainers, phase one: expanding Hawley retainer 24/7, bonded retainers on top & bottom.
Retainers, phase two: Hawley on top, bonded both top & bottom, positioner for night time use.
Treatment: SARPE 2004/10/6, RPE 2004/9/28 - 2005/1/31, w-arch until 2005/11/22, impacted canines extracted 2005/5/18.
Braces on: top 2005/6/2, bottom 2005/8/30.
Braces off: 2008/6/9.
Retainers, phase one: expanding Hawley retainer 24/7, bonded retainers on top & bottom.
Retainers, phase two: Hawley on top, bonded both top & bottom, positioner for night time use.
Oh dear.
I guess by now the expanding is done, no ? Wouldn't it be possible then to change
that daytime retainer to a Hawley without expanding screw ? It would make the
thing lighter and maybe more comfortable for you. Arggg, some people will never
improve. Like your ortho lacking communication expertise. At least I keep thinking
she has done and is still doing a great job. Now if only she could make things a bit
more pleasant for you ...
I guess by now the expanding is done, no ? Wouldn't it be possible then to change
that daytime retainer to a Hawley without expanding screw ? It would make the
thing lighter and maybe more comfortable for you. Arggg, some people will never
improve. Like your ortho lacking communication expertise. At least I keep thinking
she has done and is still doing a great job. Now if only she could make things a bit
more pleasant for you ...
Actually, Clo, that seems to be the plan. The expanding was done in July, but I'm still wearing the same appliance as a retainer. The ortho's assistant suggested at the last appointment that maybe it could be replaced with a regular one (without the screw). It just bugs me a little that these things cost €€€ and I obviously have to test drive every one in the market... 
But you´re absolutely right: I too think that my ortho has done a great job and I am thankful for that! I love not having to be ashamed of my teeth any longer!
But you´re absolutely right: I too think that my ortho has done a great job and I am thankful for that! I love not having to be ashamed of my teeth any longer!
Case: Impacted canines, crowding & crossbite.
Treatment: SARPE 2004/10/6, RPE 2004/9/28 - 2005/1/31, w-arch until 2005/11/22, impacted canines extracted 2005/5/18.
Braces on: top 2005/6/2, bottom 2005/8/30.
Braces off: 2008/6/9.
Retainers, phase one: expanding Hawley retainer 24/7, bonded retainers on top & bottom.
Retainers, phase two: Hawley on top, bonded both top & bottom, positioner for night time use.
Treatment: SARPE 2004/10/6, RPE 2004/9/28 - 2005/1/31, w-arch until 2005/11/22, impacted canines extracted 2005/5/18.
Braces on: top 2005/6/2, bottom 2005/8/30.
Braces off: 2008/6/9.
Retainers, phase one: expanding Hawley retainer 24/7, bonded retainers on top & bottom.
Retainers, phase two: Hawley on top, bonded both top & bottom, positioner for night time use.
. Your teeth look great. Post up a pic of the post dentist filing.
