The Martin Boyce Story - NEW PICS - 7th ADJUSTMENT TODAY

[Kimmie]

Hi Martin,

Haven't been on the forum for a while but came across your story, your video blogs on you tube are really very good and I am looking forward to the next installment. I can really relate to your story I am hopefully getting my brace fitted on the 27th March, I am nervous, anxious, excited you know what I mean. Anyway I had the same extractions as you and like you I too had infection in both the bottom extraction sites but i had them both removed on the same day so I only had two weeks of absolute discomfort and the top extractions done at a later date with no hassle.

[martinboyce]

Hello Everyone,

Not posted for a while, thought id take the chance to mark my 2 week anniversary with a post.

The last week has just been more adjusting everyday life to my braces, the tenderness is all but gone and eating is as much back to normal as it can be (with 4 extraction food traps)

I will say i have now mastered my waterpik, and its so bloody useful, right after a meal i excuse myself and 10 seconds later theres about burgers worth of food bits in the sink, it gets everywhere. I totally recommend it.

My teeth are now clicking when i touch them with my tongue, it doesnt hurt or bother me, i dont have a compulsion to click them, its just something ive noticed, and from reading its seems pretty normal.

I am also getting a 'cottonmouth' type sensation in my mouth.

I havent let my brace hermit me either, ive been out a few times socially, and with the exception of bar staff's eyes occasionally flick down to your mouth as they catch a glint of your mouth bling when ordering.

I am very eager to get to my first adjustment, as i feel thats technically when things start moving, Right now i cant see any difference, i know its only been 2 weeksand the wires are still crooked. Now the tenderness has gone i feel everything stops and settles. Im quite impatient, i know, and i know ill learn the value of patience.

One thing though its something of a paradox,

when you are waiting for something you are looking forward too (christmas, birthdays, vacation, end of the work day) time stands still

when you are waiting for something you are not looking forward too (tooth extractions, exams, coming home from vacation, monday morning) then time speeds up

With my braces, i want the time to go faster so i can get to my adjustment but dont look forward to the week of pain and discomfort after, so i may have discovered the one thing that levels out time. Will start an email to Steven Hawkings, see if this is the case

Ok its monday morning and im tryin to avoid work, and im clearly babbling, will do another video diary soon

Kimmie - Hi, Age, Location, Pics, Story?

[Marzipan]

While I myself don't post more than pictures of my teeth, I must say your video diary is highly amusing. I'd more or less forgotten that I have a waterpik because my bathroom counter is so full of STUFF - multiple toothbrushes, retainers, two kinds of wax, millions of sacks of tiny elastics (mostly Impala, Chipmunk and Kangaroo), floss, floss threaders, electric toothbrush, flouride mouthwash, and more - that it's hard to see in the clutter and I forgot it was there.

Anyway, dude, you are going to see amazing progress! Just be patient and follow the ortho's instructions. It was stunning to see it happen. Also a lot of fun. If you are able, go for some colored ligatures! There was only a brief period when I could wear them, and I liked pink and baby blue best. Most of my time was spent in wire ties.

Also, regarding pain and tenderness, just hang in there because your teeth will settle into a pattern after a couple of months and it won't be tender anymore. After each adjustment, all I did was to pop ibuprofen for a couple of days and that took care of pain.

[Bekah]

Hey Martin! See look at you helping me make another decision! I was seriously debating the whole waterpik thing.

I am so glad that you are doing well! I have been keeping up with your story. Keep us posted!

[Britlaw]

Hi Martin, well done for reaching 2 weeks! You are doing well and it seems (although it prob doesnt feel like it to you!) you are less preoccupied with your braces. The less you focus on them the quicker the time goes and the more likely you are to see changes. Try not to look at your teeth in the mirror too often. I learned to brush & floss without really looking so when I do look I am more likely to see movement. You will also soon spot change without even having to look, as your bite will change and teeth that met before wont and those that didnt will etc. so there wont be such a great need for visual confirmation that things are moving.

I know what you mean about all the food that gets trapped in there. Just have water with everything you eat and you will soon be able to 'swish and swallow' very discretely when you are out (as a waterpik doesnt fit easily into ones pocket!). To ease paranoia about food stuck in the front in resturants - spoons are great for checking for any spinach etc in there! (us ladies can reach for a compact from the handbag but a shiny spoon from the table is much quicker and discreet anyway).

Anyways, hang in there....your first adjustment will be along before you know it......and so will christmas!!!

[bracesonfebruaryfirst2008]

Hi Martin!
Well I've been following your story on the board and I just watched your video diaries today because I finally got my speakers fixed! I find your experiences very comforting as I've been through all of it almost at the same time as you (we're both newbies! I got mine on about a month before you) When I figure out how to post photos (I am computer-ly challenged....it took me forever to finally figure out this whole "avatar" thing... ) I will do so in my braces story. Anyway...just wanted to say hi and let you know I'm so happy you are doing those video diaries! Love em!

[martinboyce]

Hi bracesonfebruaryfirst2008, both newbies huh Its great to have people running parallel to yourself. How are you doing with yours? have you noticed any change yet? Had your first adjustment?

I think overall ive adjusted quite well to the braces, it really hasnt slowed my eating down as much as i thought it would, what i dont chew i seem to be able to swallow whole, im a bit like one of them boa constrictors.

Up until now ive not had any problem with the inside of my mouth, with the exception of the brackets on my rear teeth, have like a little tube thing which sometimes hooks onto my cheek wall, a few times of this i noticed it started to get sore, then i examined it and sure enough there was a small damaged area. Nothing major, and i dont need the wax yet, im a brave soldier

Im still thinking about my next video diary, without wanting to repeat myself i still want to be able to do them, as i enjoy it Had a couple of thousand hits over the 4 vids, loads of messages about it.

If anyone has any suggestions, points areas of discussion, etc let me know ill do my best

BIG HUG \o/

[Kara]

Hi Martin,

Glad you're doing well and finding your gadgets handy. That's funny about the sink full of burger...

My extraction gaps have closed up quite a bit in only a little less than 4 months so have faith. I'm tellin ya man... you'll see such a difference in no time. You'll feel a million times better after your first adjustment too.

It really sucks that the time drags ass between appointments and it seems like that 6 weeks is 6 years. I'm right there with ya. Just hang in there. I cant wait to see updated pics from you.

I got my before pics from my ortho today and I just went in for an adjustment so I'll be adding a post later on to update everyone.

I enjoy following your story and your videos are great. I think that will be an awesome episode to take the video camera into your adjustment! I'm anxious to see that one. My ortho's office always seems so crazy... I'm sure everyone wonders what an adjustment 'visit' is like. That will be a GREAT video for the newbies!!

Take care!
Kara

[bracesonfebruaryfirst2008]

Hey Martin,

Yeah I guess I'm doing okay right now but I really don't like my dentist and I'm kinda depressed about not going for a few more consults. I've talked to a few people in my area who have had braces before and they're all like "Oh you should have gone to my ortho...he was GREAT!" and it makes me feel even worse cause it reminds me how NOT great mine is!! Anyway, I've been for my first adjustment already and it wasn't great....but thats just me! I hope your first adjustment goes much better....when is it? I saw the pics and WOW there has been a lot of movement already huh?? Isn't is exciting when you can see a difference? I have sure noticed a difference in my bottom teeth.....I guess I don't mind if my dentist is an sweetheart as long as he's an sweetheart who knows what he's doing hahaha....Anyway I'm really looking forward to your next video! Keep em comin'!

[Braced32]

Hi martinboyce ~

Just thought I'd drop by and say hi!

I hear you about rinsing half your meal down the sink. I have a removable bite plate and oodles of food gets stuck between it and the roof of my mouth. In addition to all the food that gets stuck in the braces it's a miracle that I actually get any into my tummy! I should be losing weight faster than I am!

[martinboyce]

Hi everyone, not posted in a while as not much has happened but now something has.

Im in pain! for some reason 24 days in my mouth has started to get aggro'd by the braces, the hooks on my 2nd molars are diggin in the cheak wall sometimes hooking into it, ive figured the best way to unhook it is a big smile, making what looks like a sticky out lump thing, and now im getting ulcers at the bottom exactly on the brackets for optimum pain.

I was aware i might get this so am not surprised. Its nothing i cant handle i just thought id mention it. Just weird as i had expected it before now.

Its a mere 10 days til my first adjustment, and i really cant wait, first five weeks feels like nothing is happening. I cant wait to get my ligs replaced, they are neon yellow right now and no amount of scrubbing will fix it. Though ive made my peace with that!

One thing i have notice all this extra cleaning has definetly made my teeth whiter / cleaner, only spoiled by the ruddy great big yellow brace, but its a good sign that when they come off ill be fully disciplined in the art of oral hygeine. Like a oral Hygeine Ninja!

I hope everyone is well

Big Hug \o/

[elpi]

It's a shame that they're giving you bother all of a sudden, can't believe you're so close to your first adjustment already, have you seen any teensy tiny movement yet? are you sure you don't want to post a pic so we can say things like your central incisor has moved 0.1 mm to the left?

[Bekah]

I am sorry to hear about the sores in your mouth! Ouch! I hope that your adjustment goes well!

[Kara]

Hey Martin!

O.H. Ninja... nice.
I hope those cheeks start feeling better. Are you using wax to help out? It might make it a little easier on ya.

I hope your first adjustment goes well.

Later,
Kara

[TumbleDryLow]

Braced vegetarians who eat curry=neon yellow ligs. I don't do the clear/light colors for that reason. I haven't ever made peace with stained ligs. Guess I'm too vain.

Happy soon to be first adjustment!