Kara's Braces Story - UPDATE WITH NEW PICS

[Kara]

So today I went to the ortho today. I always go in and brush up before they call me in (I had to brush the breakfast out of my teeth) and I got right in. They took off the wire on bottom and opened the 'gates' on my top brackets and the ortho comes over and says "Wow! Your teeth are on the move!!!" I was so happy to hear that from him. He said that we'd keep the same size/weight wire on the bottom and I would have a "16 stainless steel wire" on top. So the assistant got me all set up with new archwires and springs from my canines to my back molars. They took off the power chain they had put on my stupid tooth that wouldnt turn and the ortho said it had turned all the way around and that now they could fit me with that heavier wire on top. I'll get a new stainless steel wire on bottom at my next appointment and he said they would get me set up with elastics too. Not sure where though. He also gave me a print out of my BEFORE pictures. Yikes! My flippin overbite didnt even fit in the picture then. Now... that overbite is GONE almost completely! so I'm posting those before pictures as well as pictures from today! The ortho also shaped my bottom front teeth because he didnt like the way that they hit my top teeth when I'd close my bite. I thought this would hurt but it didnt at all. He shaped my teeth in less than a minute and I just LOVE how my teeth are looking now. I'm so happy that my smile has improved so much in such a short time. Yea!!! My bottom teeth that were shaved or shaped... whatever... feel a little funny but they look cool.

I go back in 6 weeks (May 7th).

Thanks to everyone for your kind words and support! You guys are the best!







ABOVE - All BEFORE pictures taken on December 4th.









ABOVE - Taken TODAY after my adjustment.. March 26th.

[Kara]

I wanted to show the difference in my bottom teeth after they were shaped and I just added a pic of my top arch. Look how that tooth turned the right way finally!

It's the first molar on my right behind the extraction.
I love my braces today.



Today



Jan 21st




This one is from Feb 5... showing the shape of my bottom front teeth here...



And here's today... little differences but I can tell a lot! So happy!

[laineyloo]

You're teeth look amazing Kara
I'm so excited for you!! What a great feeling it must be seeing all that movement

[SGPWired]

Absolutely amazing!!! Soon you’ll been known for your beautiful pepsodent smile.

[Faerydust]

Hi Kara! I just checked out your story and it's especially interesting to me because I'm being treated for a similar bite, but I think it's called an overjet not an overbite. Someone on this forum posted a nifty pic in another thread that showed the difference. Overbite is the distance your top teeth vertically overlap the bottom. Overjet is the horizontal distance between top and bottom.

I'm looking at your progress and the various wire/spring/band configurations and wondering if that's the route my ortho is going with my treatment. I don't have any spacers or molar bands, but I am getting the premolars extracted like you did. I realized that I really have no idea how exactly my ortho plans to fix my bite! Now I have lots of questions for him. Before coming to this forum I assumed the gaps would be closed with elastics, I didn't know about springs!

One thing I'm confused about is your most recent pics from the side. Is that your normal bite now or are you holding your top and bottom teeth together just for the picture? If your teeth really close together that way then it looks like the front teeth moved back too far and the back teeth would have to move forward to close the gap?

Since I don't have molar bands and I don't know if I'm getting them or not yet, I'm curious...what are they for? My last brackets have the little tube thingies and hooks so I figured I wouldn't get bands.

Lastly, it's great to hear that you're happy with your progress!

[Miss Smiley]

Look at those gaps closing up! Looking good Kara!

[Kara]

Hi Faerydust! and thank you for checking out my story.

One thing I'm confused about is your most recent pics from the side. Is that your normal bite now or are you holding your top and bottom teeth together just for the picture? If your teeth really close together that way then it looks like the front teeth moved back too far and the back teeth would have to move forward to close the gap?

My bottom teeth still have to come back some.... just a little though. They were pushed out somewhat by my thumbsucking in younger years as well. My bite is by far not finished in the fixing what it needs to be perfect. I learned all about the overjet/overbite thing too a while ago. I've called it an overbite for as long as I can remember and it wasnt until I started looking into getting braces that I learned the difference. I still mix it up and call it an overbite occasionally... I guess old habbits die hard. My ortho did explain that I actually have an overjet.

My ortho says I'll have to wear elastics too. I'll be fitted for all of that at my next appointment. As for the picture... that's how my teeth are sitting now when I bite down. They still arent perfect. Actually... only one of my bottom front teeth actually makes 'contact' with my top teeth... my arches still need some shapeing. I'm just glad that those teeth arent sticking out so far anymore. Definitely ask your ortho all the questions you have and I'm sure they'll explain everything to you so you'll understand. I'm not too sure of my treatment plan too far out. I only usually get an idea of what he'll do at my next visit. I dont think my back teeth will move forward though... My bottom teeth need some work. He had talked of extractions there but we never went through with it. I'll just have to wait and see. The thing I've been paying the most attention to is that overjet. As long as those teeth get there act together... I dont really care what the rest do or how long it takes them. The overjet is what has made me cover my mouth when laughing out loud and self concious forever now...

Thanks Miss Smiley! I'm excited for them to close up too! Not too far to go now.

SGP Wired & Laineyloo... Thanks guys! I'm looking forward to more progress! Thank you for following, responding and supporting my journey.

[jenny101101]

Wow, Kara, you've come a long way in just over 3 months!! I can't wait until I can say the same thing.

[metalmom]

Wow Kara!! That is some amazing progress. I don't know where I've been that I hadn't come across you before. I can't believe your teeth have moved so much so quickly! That's so great.

Can't wait to see what happens in May!!

[discomom]

Hey Kara!! Your teeth look so great!!! I can't wait to see how they progress. It's amazing itsn't it how fast things go!!! Talk to you soon. Lori

[zero]

wow great movement esp with the overjet! I have an open bite due to nail biting ..I didnt know the diff. between an open bite and over bite..I always called it an overbite lol
hope next month brings even more movement!

[melliemoo]

Very cool progress!

Zero: how does nail biting cause an open bit? wearing down the teeth?

[Kara]

Thank you so much Melliemoo, Zero, Doscomom, Metalmom, and Jenny101101!

Things are going ok. It seems like I have to get used to the brackets rubbing my cheeks on one side or the other after every adjustment. This time it's on the right. The inside of my cheek is a little sore. Other than that... I'm doing good.
Thanks again for the sweet messages. It means a lot.

Kara

[danish]

Hi Kara,

I like the shape of your teeth already. And it looks as if the gap closing is going the right way.

My gaps are not really going anywhere... I'm only using elastics. I hope it's just a slow start...

Danish

[Braced32]

Hi Kara ~

It looks like you're coming right along! Great pics of your progress! Your teeth are looking great!