The Birth of Ugly Jenni... the long version

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#16 Post by **LadyTr0uble** » Sat May 26, 2007 8:36 pm

Geez, itâ€™s been over a month since my last update (**SORRY** to those who read my postings here). My last adjustment was on May 10th. I got a new wire on the bottom and a rotating screw on my rotated incisor.

My (one and only) central incisor is still tipped; my ortho tells me that the root is stubborn, and it will take a bit of time for it to scoot over. Until then, I will have to deal with the triangular gap. Itâ€™s a good thing that it doesnâ€™t show up in pix (and I took a crap load of them last week at my sisterâ€™s graduation). Now that sheâ€™s done with school, and has a job (with dental insurance), sheâ€™s going to be joining the club shortly.
A pic of us togetherâ€¦ notice how the wires are barely noticeable? It great!!!

His main concern right now is to get that lateral incisor in lineâ€”itâ€™s slowly getting there! Thatâ€™s the only thing thatâ€™s really showing progress, seeâ€¦

VERSUS on 4/12/07

I have a tentative adjustment on June 12th because he is waiting for that incisor to get in line. Once that happens, he will put brackets on my other molars. (Why put them on now and not before? My curiosity didnâ€™t kick in till after Iâ€™d left his office). So now all I want is for the darn tooth to move.

As for elastics, I was told that I will probably wear the same elastics till the end of my treatment *sigh*

PS-Did you know that by not wearing your elastics for one less hour every day can delay your progress significantly??? Darnit, Iâ€™ve been known to forget to put them back in here and there.

PPS-Sorry about those ugly yellow ligs; itâ€™s the curry that stained them 3 days after I got nice smoke colored ones.

#17 Post by **LadyTr0uble** » Sat May 26, 2007 9:01 pm

doh! Stupid question (why put in brackets on my molars now?). I'd just read Meryaten's explanation of the phases of treatment. I am guessing that I am somewhere stuck between Phase I and III? We are still trying to get that one stupid tooth align with my other teeth. And we are talking bracketing my molars... what about leveling?? I've started this list of questions to ask my ortho, but i can't wait three weeks!

I've also noticed that there is slight discoloration on that one annoying tooth... on the side that was hiding behind the canine next to it. I am definately getting my teeth bleached, but I sure hope that comes off!

#18 Post by **LadyTr0uble** » Sat May 26, 2007 10:40 pm

Meryaten: Thanks for that info! You and some others here are an amazing fountain of information.. THANKS!

I didn't even have my right premolars bracketed till my third or fourth adjustment. I am sure there is a reason to his madness. I'd like to think that I am making lots of progress.

Only now I am thinking that I have a Class III malocclusion. Another question for my list! Maybe my teeth aren't going to match up because of the missing incisors? Doh!

Maybe I should go get that annoying wire clipped (it's not that pokey) as an excuse to go ask him some more questions!

I still can't believe that I am roughly 1/4 of the way through! Conservative me is banking on 24 months of braces (ortho told me 18-24), and I am already 6 months into the treatment!

#19 Post by **Laurie** » Sun May 27, 2007 3:36 pm

Wow that one bottom twisted tooth is starting to really move!

#20 Post by **LadyTr0uble** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 7:33 am

It's been 4 months since I've posted. Been really busy with the GMAT (didn't do too well, and will have to take it again *sign*). I am also looking for another job; when one loses their drive, one should move along before one gets too miserable.

My teeth are uber-sore right now, and I just need to complain. I had an adjustment yesterday. I have two wires now, a thin one that is in the holes on my brackets and they are so close to my teeth, that they feel (to my tongue) like they are right up against my teeth, and much thicker one than I am used to where the wire usually goes. Elastics again; I see the progress but it feels like I will always need them at this point.
Although I didn't have much discomfort with "the grill" the past 10+months, I have had my moments. Nothing that warranted painkillers, and I went about life as usual. But this time, I HURT! It's this thicker wire, my teeth didn't have much pressure till he put it in. My ortho assures me that this wire is going to stay in place till the end of my treatment. Does this mean that the end is near?!?!

I hurt, I HURT I HURT I HURT!!! All better now I've done my complaining! Will get the pix of my new grill up as soon as I get my hands on my camera again

#21 Post by **kim22** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 3:46 pm

hey lt, i just read your story. you're teeth have made amazing progress so far. it's good to know im not the only one whos obsessed with my teeth lol. i look at them every chance i get because im just so happy with the progress so far. i can see how inspecting them every day would cause you to see the movement less. i find whenever i'm feeling like my teeth havent moved in a while, looking at old pictures makes me feel alot better. just seeing how different they look now. it gives you a nice little boost of optimism!

#22 Post by **LadyTr0uble** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 11:31 pm

I went in for my 13th (I think) adjustment on Tuesday. Here are the pix (finally!):

This was one boring adjustment; nothing new going into my mouth. He'd checked my teeth, changed my ligs and we chatted about the progress. We are waiting for the wires to do it's work.

However, I have great news: the end is near!! He's estimating 3 months. We are aiming for Valentine's Day. Of course, de-bracing all depends on whether or not my teeth cooperate... elastics 23.5 hrs a day... I eat and sleep with them on!! At this point, every little bit helps

We also discussed retainers, and whitening. I'm definitely getting Zoom! done; I think I 1-deserve it after all the discomfort, 2-I am sure that smoking stained my teeth (I did, however quit smoking.. it's been 3 weeks).

I'd asked about a bonded retainer because I'm afraid that I'll forget to wear my retainer and my teeth would shift. He says that he doesn't like bonded retainers and usually put them on his "uncooperative patients." But he understood my concern, and said that we would put it in, as long as I swear to be diligent about cleaning. But I will swicth to a reg. retainer after 6 months to wear every night. From what I understand, I will be wearing one at night for the rest of my life. It's a small price to pay for nice teeth.

My top incisors are still a little off, but it cannot be helped since I am missing a lat.

So excited!

#23 Post by **LadyTr0uble** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 12:59 pm

Yes, I have been VERY good with my elastics: the only time I don't have the suckers in is when I brush my teeth... I even eat with them on, and if they come off, I can put them back on without a mirror!

I am going to pay my best friend (my ortho) a visit in a bit; the wire on the lower left is poking a hole in my cheek, and I am not exaggerating. I have been rinsing with salt water (to help the "hole" heal) and a lot of wax to keep the wire from rubbing and catching onto my cheek.

Counting down days... I really should go get another one of those tickers!

#24 Post by **LadyTr0uble** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 7:34 am

ahh.. all better! Wires are no longer bothering me, and he put some stuff on my canker sore and it feels 100% better, but still yucky looking.

Oh yes, I sometimes try to brush my teeth with my elastics in too! It is amazing how we get used to the various appliances we have in our mouths. I remember vaguely the discomfort of being newly braced, and the soreness associated with the elastics, and now, it feels weird whenever I don't have my elastics in or when my Dr. takes out my wire(s). Scary how quickoly we adapt.

#25 Post by **Miss Smiley** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 4:35 pm

WOw...I just re-read your story. I had no idea you were missing a lateral! This whole time you had me tricked!

#26 Post by **LadyTr0uble** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 8:57 am

hahahaha! even the crowding problem wasn't very noticeable. The crowding problem was more of a cleaning problem than anything else... now I am missing two incisors! Nice to know that a fellow ortho patient (we do pay closer attention to teeth) didn't notice!