Decisionmade's (D.M's) story:summer '07 update

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#196 Post by **katemm06** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 9:23 am

DM,

I'm just so glad to have the whole SARPE thing behind me now. 7 months was a long time to have that thing in. When the tech took it out I didn't even want to see it. I just told her to throw it out for good!

I feel like since the removal of my expander I can now focus on the second major part of my treatment~lower jaw surgery! Both of us have completed our SARPE goal and can now focus on the next segment of the ortho journey (although for you much shorter than mine will be)!

Take care and happy running

It's supposed to be 70 degrees in DC this Saturday and hopefully the cherry blossoms will be out!

#197 Post by **kballing** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:07 pm

hey dm,
your story is soooo helpful, thanks for posting it.
i noticed you were from boston. are you having your treatment done in boston?
i also wasn't clear whether or not you had your braces before your sarpe or not. i got my upper brackets about a month after sarpe - 2 weeks after turning essentially. as you may have seen from my other post, i am desperately trying to figure out how long this gap will take to resolve itself now that the braces are on. i have a 10mm gap, so mine is HUGE. it hasn't moved yet, but i am hoping it will soon. any thoughts?
it is so hard to figure this out as some people have the braces on before sarpe and their gap seems to not get too big and closes fairly quickly.
are you having orthognathic surgery as well?
any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Have a great night.

#198 Post by **decisionmade** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 5:11 am

Hi K, glad its been helpful..having ths space was AWFUL!..but worth it!!! Yes I am boston and you've caught me as I am hanging out and psyching up for running the marathon tomorrow!!..I intend on smiling big as i cross the finish line!!! I'm having all y treatment done in Cambridge and couldn't be more pleased witht he excellant level of care I have received..there is no way my estimated treatment time of 2 yrs will be needed..or at least form my perspective that is..Things are looking and feeling just great!...........I had nothing but the expander for a very long time and was grateful when they finaly put braces on so that people could see that I was having ortho treatment and didn't just have bad teeth with a big gap! I'd have to reread my posts to be sure but I think it was three weeks after I stopped turning that the gap started to begin to get smaller..such tiny amounts it was hard to tell but I took pics constantly so I could see the changes..Hang in there ..I know its hard!But it has definately been worth it for me!

#199 Post by **katemm06** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 1:27 pm

Kballing,

I did not have upper braces or an archwire with the expansion until much later in the process. I stopped turning around labor day 2005 and Very slowly each week the gap started to close on its own without any added help. By the time Dec. 19th came for the archwire to be put on, my gap was was pretty close to being closed. So in my case I had the gap for Sept, Oct., Nov, and December. If you click on the link below, you can see how much progress I've made.

Hang in there. I know its really tough to have that huge gap but it Will continue to improve.

#200 Post by **katemm06** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 1:27 pm

Kballing,

I did not have upper braces or an archwire with the expansion until much later in the process. I stopped turning around labor day 2005 and Very slowly each week the gap started to close on its own without any added help. By the time Dec. 19th came for the archwire to be put on, my gap was was pretty close to being closed. So in my case I had the gap for Sept, Oct., Nov, and December. If you click on the link below, you can see how much progress I've made.

Hang in there. I know its really tough to have that huge gap but it Will continue to improve.

#201 Post by **kballing** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 7:03 pm

DM,
congratulations on participating in the marathon! YAY!!! good for you!!
so exciting. i live in cambridge and am having my treatment in boston. i didn't do a lot of research before i selected my od, i hope it will all turn out good. my os is great!!! i am having my surgery at mass general. are you having surgery as well?

Everyone,
so, it sounds like from people's comments that the gap can take anywhere from 1-4 months to close. 1 month after getting braces and 4 months without braces. does that sound accurate?
also, my gap is pretty huge 10mm.
how big of a gap did you start with?
does the tingling in between at the gap indicate movement? sorry to be so focused on this, it is just so unfortunate to have this gap with the uncomfortableness of the braces as well.
i usually am able to cope a little better once i have some idea of what to plan for
thanks again for all of your advice/suggestions.

#202 Post by **decisionmade** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 3:48 pm

Hi K, monday was the perfect marathon day in boston..wow! anyway I wanted to get back to your questions...I looked it up on my calendar and after stopping "cranking" it took my teeth 2 months to close and even then there was still a sliver of space. after two months the sliver then closed up almost overnight when the braces went on...i have no idea what the measurement of my space was..I never asked..but I posted pics on here so you can get an idea..ugly ugly.. but well worth it as I have said a million times:)..iam lucky in that I will be having no addtional surgery..although down the road I may decide to have a chin reduction..my chin is seeming to stick out more than ever since the expasion of my upper pallet but I will wait until my time with braces is completed before addressing that...i had some days of painful tingling between my front teeth especially when they came apart..it was awfull..yes I do beleive the tingling to be related to tissue growth and teeth movement..I don't think it is anything tobe concerned about but I definately took some painkillers to help me through it..

How are you doing this week? any changes?

#203 Post by **decisionmade** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 4:08 pm

here I am today:)
tomorrow I have my next adjustment..almost 7 mos. braced.

#204 Post by **decisionmade** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 6:35 pm

Thanks bracedagain:) just had my appt. today and all looks great..new wire on bottom and closing up twhat remains of the extraction gap..hnew time estimation is 1 1/2 yrs as opposed to 2! that means they'll be off next march! yeah!

#205 Post by **decisionmade** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 6:28 am

wow things are already moving and a bit painful...and forgot to mention I'll probably get an elastic on the other side next appointment..i'm getting there!

#206 Post by **decisionmade** » Sun May 07, 2006 6:18 am

thanks for all the encouragement!

I had a Dentist checkup/cleaning last week and all looks good!
I now have some tiny spaces between my bottom teeth as they are spacing out due the the agressive closing of the remaining gap from my extraction. i am very pleased! No real problems to report..all is going along nicely!

#207 Post by **decisionmade** » Sun May 07, 2006 6:58 am

Lowers today:

lowers 9/29/05 (first day)

#208 Post by **decisionmade** » Fri May 26, 2006 2:57 pm

Another adjustment and things are progressing perfectly!..i now have an elastic on each side not just my right and a "button" was attached to the inside of top tooth with a string wrapped around to the bracket on the outside to straighten it out...My extraction space on lowere left is almost closed after a stronger power thread was placed yesterday...next visit i will have some brackets moved to straighten out a couple of bottom teeth....

my smile is beautiful!

#209 Post by **Drewjb007** » Mon May 29, 2006 2:04 pm

All I can say decisionmade is... WOW

! Your teeth are looking
B-E-A-UTIFUL. You have come such a long way since you started! Congratulation! If things keep going well you will go naked soon

!

#210 Post by **decisionmade** » Mon May 29, 2006 3:13 pm

Thanks linda and Drew!! I feel like the poster for SARPE..everything has gone like clockwork..i look forward to sharing my next picture!

hopefully no more than 10 months to go..and of course I'm hopefull it will even be sooner!!

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Decisionmade's (D.M's) story:summer '07 update

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