oh yeah, those bottom teeth are looking good!
Happy holidays and good luck with your adjustment!
Shutter's Story
Moderator: bbsadmin
Second adjustment
Just had my second adjustment.
At my first adjustment, my ortho changed the upper wire to a rectangular on (it was a 20 something, but I forget the other number). They also brought my second molars into the new wire (they had been left out at first).
My lower teeth were still too crowded, so she left the orginal wire.
By the time my second adjustment came around, the lowers were looking a lot better, but I still have one canine that is very rotated. My ortho said that she was going to leave the original soft wire on, but she was going to attach it with a wire tie instead of the standard lig.
Wow - I thought that my tooth was going to come out when she was tightening the wire tie. But that tie has made my tooth MOVE. Within an hour I felt it moving. It has now been about 36 hours since my adjustment, and one side of my tooth has moved at least a couple of millimeters. The other side is still rubbing against the next tooth, so it hasn't moved yet, but I am sure that it will.
Here are the pictures:
At my first adjustment, my ortho changed the upper wire to a rectangular on (it was a 20 something, but I forget the other number). They also brought my second molars into the new wire (they had been left out at first).
My lower teeth were still too crowded, so she left the orginal wire.
By the time my second adjustment came around, the lowers were looking a lot better, but I still have one canine that is very rotated. My ortho said that she was going to leave the original soft wire on, but she was going to attach it with a wire tie instead of the standard lig.
Wow - I thought that my tooth was going to come out when she was tightening the wire tie. But that tie has made my tooth MOVE. Within an hour I felt it moving. It has now been about 36 hours since my adjustment, and one side of my tooth has moved at least a couple of millimeters. The other side is still rubbing against the next tooth, so it hasn't moved yet, but I am sure that it will.
Here are the pictures:
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Click on www below to see my braces story.
Hi Shutter,
I enjoyed reading your story.
I had my braces put on 5 days ago and it's nice to see someone with similar bottom teeth to me a few months down the line. I had my first premolars removed though so I've got big gaps to close.
Your teeth have moved loads - especially on the top. You must be really encouraged by it.
Rach x
I enjoyed reading your story.
I had my braces put on 5 days ago and it's nice to see someone with similar bottom teeth to me a few months down the line. I had my first premolars removed though so I've got big gaps to close.
Your teeth have moved loads - especially on the top. You must be really encouraged by it.
Rach x
omg!
OMG! Your teeth are moving so quick! I heard that it takes longer to "fix" crowded teeth then gapped teeth. Wow, your grill is lookin good! 
Thanks - I'm sure that your teeth will start to get straight in no time.Rachel B wrote:Hi Shutter,
I enjoyed reading your story.
I had my braces put on 5 days ago and it's nice to see someone with similar bottom teeth to me a few months down the line. I had my first premolars removed though so I've got big gaps to close.
Your teeth have moved loads - especially on the top. You must be really encouraged by it.
Rach x
As many people on this board have already said, the hardest part about getting braces was (for me) the decision to do it. The rest has been fine.
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Click on www below to see my braces story.
Third adjustment - a little early
I wasn't supposed to have my third adjustment until next Monday, but I ended up having it a few days early.
Last weekend I chipped the edge of one of my lower incisors while I was flossing. My lower teeth are still pretty tight. I was trying to get the floss between a couple of my teeth - I guess that I pushed to hard. Suddenly I felt a crack an saw something fly out of my mouth - it was the corner of one of my incisors. Fortunately, the chip was on the back and it is pretty small - I'd say about 2mm.
I called my ortho's office on Monday and they told me to come in on Wednesday just to be sure that there wasn't something seriously wrong with the tooth.
It was good news - no major problems. My ortho thinks that there was probably a hairline crack around the corner already. The pressure of the braces and the flossing caused the chip to come off. She doesn't see any other problems with the tooth.
While I was there, she said that we might as well do my adjustment rather than waiting for next week.
She said that my teeth are coming along fine. She put a stronger wire on the top, increasing me from a 14x20 to an 18x25. Unfortunately, my lowers are still a bit too crooked for a new wire, so I'm stuck with my old one for another 6 weeks. She said that if things go well over the next 6 weeks that I should be ready for a 14x20 on the bottoms at my next adjustment.
Here are the pictures - I know, the coffee stains look awful. I can wait to go for my cleaning next month.
Last weekend I chipped the edge of one of my lower incisors while I was flossing. My lower teeth are still pretty tight. I was trying to get the floss between a couple of my teeth - I guess that I pushed to hard. Suddenly I felt a crack an saw something fly out of my mouth - it was the corner of one of my incisors. Fortunately, the chip was on the back and it is pretty small - I'd say about 2mm.
I called my ortho's office on Monday and they told me to come in on Wednesday just to be sure that there wasn't something seriously wrong with the tooth.
It was good news - no major problems. My ortho thinks that there was probably a hairline crack around the corner already. The pressure of the braces and the flossing caused the chip to come off. She doesn't see any other problems with the tooth.
While I was there, she said that we might as well do my adjustment rather than waiting for next week.
She said that my teeth are coming along fine. She put a stronger wire on the top, increasing me from a 14x20 to an 18x25. Unfortunately, my lowers are still a bit too crooked for a new wire, so I'm stuck with my old one for another 6 weeks. She said that if things go well over the next 6 weeks that I should be ready for a 14x20 on the bottoms at my next adjustment.
Here are the pictures - I know, the coffee stains look awful. I can wait to go for my cleaning next month.
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Click on www below to see my braces story.
4th Adjustment
I had my 4th adjustment today.
At my last adjustment, my ortho said that she might be able to move me to a 14x20 wire for my lowers next time I was in. I was really hoping that would happen - I've had the same size round wire on my lowers since I originally got my braces 5 months ago.
In the mean time, I've had three wires on my uppers, so I was really starting to get frustrated with the slower pace of my lowers.
Well today my ortho said that I wasn't quite ready for a 14x20, but she was going to move me up to a .020 square wire. She explained that square wires are stiffer than round wires, but they are a little bit softer than a full rectangular wire. She said that the square wire would probably move my teeth faster at this point then a rectangular one would, because square wires still allow teeth to slide (I assume that means tip) into place.
The other good thing about moving to a square wire was that she was able to add my second set of molars into the arch (prior to this, they had brackets, but no wire). Those last molars are hurting quite a bit tonight, but I'm happy to have them on the wire, none the less.
At my last adjustment, my ortho mentioned elastics to me. This time, I asked her if I was likely to get my elastics soon. She said probably a few more months ... My lower arch needs to round out a bit more, and she needs to be able to move me to a stiffer wire.
So, still a long ways to go, but at least I think that I am starting to near the end of the alignment phase.
Oh, and they also took a couple of X-rays today to check my roots for any reabsorbsion. All in all, a pretty good visit
Here are the pictures - got my teeth cleaned last week, so those terrible coffee stains are all gone -
Lowers:
Uppers:
At my last adjustment, my ortho said that she might be able to move me to a 14x20 wire for my lowers next time I was in. I was really hoping that would happen - I've had the same size round wire on my lowers since I originally got my braces 5 months ago.
In the mean time, I've had three wires on my uppers, so I was really starting to get frustrated with the slower pace of my lowers.
Well today my ortho said that I wasn't quite ready for a 14x20, but she was going to move me up to a .020 square wire. She explained that square wires are stiffer than round wires, but they are a little bit softer than a full rectangular wire. She said that the square wire would probably move my teeth faster at this point then a rectangular one would, because square wires still allow teeth to slide (I assume that means tip) into place.
The other good thing about moving to a square wire was that she was able to add my second set of molars into the arch (prior to this, they had brackets, but no wire). Those last molars are hurting quite a bit tonight, but I'm happy to have them on the wire, none the less.
At my last adjustment, my ortho mentioned elastics to me. This time, I asked her if I was likely to get my elastics soon. She said probably a few more months ... My lower arch needs to round out a bit more, and she needs to be able to move me to a stiffer wire.
So, still a long ways to go, but at least I think that I am starting to near the end of the alignment phase.
Oh, and they also took a couple of X-rays today to check my roots for any reabsorbsion. All in all, a pretty good visit
Here are the pictures - got my teeth cleaned last week, so those terrible coffee stains are all gone -
Lowers:
Uppers:
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Click on www below to see my braces story.
Hi Shutter, I just got caught up on your story. Wow - the change in your lower teeth especially is amazing! It looks like your wire is continuing to do it's job, even though you've had it for a while. I had a similar thing with my uppers - the same wire for months and months. But it's all working out, so my ortho knows what he's doing.
You have very nice teeth, and I can see why you didn't see a huge need for braces in the beginning. But it's nice to see progress, isn't it?
You have very nice teeth, and I can see why you didn't see a huge need for braces in the beginning. But it's nice to see progress, isn't it?
Click on WWW to see my braces story.
August 16, 2007 - Braced on top
January 3, 2008 - Braced on bottom
August 16, 2007 - Braced on top
January 3, 2008 - Braced on bottom
5th Adjustment
I had my 5th adjustment on Monday. What my ortho did this time was a bit unexpected (by me at least).
I've had an 18x25 rectangular wire for 12 week on the top. On the bottom, I've only had a 20 square wire for 6 weeks (before that, I was still with my original round wire). I fully expected to keep the same wire on the bottom and perhaps change to a new wire on top (because I had the 20 square on the top for 12 weeks, and the tops were a lot straighter than the bottoms).
But, my ortho had different plans. She put in a fresh 18x25 wire on the top (same size, just a new wire), but then she also put an 18x25 on the bottom as well. She said that she was trying to get my top and bottom on the same size wire.
The bottom has been a bit sensitive over the past couple of days, but nothing too bad. No pain at all on the top.
The other interesting thing is that my son got his braces this morning. It was funny watching him from the other side of the chair. Tonight he is still in the 'I can't get over how weird this feels" phase. I've had my braces for almost 7 months now, but my bet is that he'll be done before me. My ortho said that kids teeth move much more easily. I'm sure that is true - my son had almost no pain with his spacers, where as mine were really uncomfortable.
Anyway - here are the latest pics - not too much change from last time.
Front:
Bottom:
Top:
I've had an 18x25 rectangular wire for 12 week on the top. On the bottom, I've only had a 20 square wire for 6 weeks (before that, I was still with my original round wire). I fully expected to keep the same wire on the bottom and perhaps change to a new wire on top (because I had the 20 square on the top for 12 weeks, and the tops were a lot straighter than the bottoms).
But, my ortho had different plans. She put in a fresh 18x25 wire on the top (same size, just a new wire), but then she also put an 18x25 on the bottom as well. She said that she was trying to get my top and bottom on the same size wire.
The bottom has been a bit sensitive over the past couple of days, but nothing too bad. No pain at all on the top.
The other interesting thing is that my son got his braces this morning. It was funny watching him from the other side of the chair. Tonight he is still in the 'I can't get over how weird this feels" phase. I've had my braces for almost 7 months now, but my bet is that he'll be done before me. My ortho said that kids teeth move much more easily. I'm sure that is true - my son had almost no pain with his spacers, where as mine were really uncomfortable.
Anyway - here are the latest pics - not too much change from last time.
Front:
Bottom:
Top:
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Click on www below to see my braces story.
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TheBigBrace
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:26 pm
- Location: Good ol' NC
Adjustment 6
Adjustment 6 yesterday -
The last six weeks have been a bit more painful than usual. About a week after my last adjustment I developed some pretty severe sensitivity to cold liquids on my lower rotated canine. Room temperature liquids were uncomfortable, and cold liquids were unbelievably painful. I started using the Sensodyne toothpaste and after about a week the pain subsided. It's still a bit sensitive if I drink something really cold, but nothing like before.
I asked the ortho about it at this last adjustment, and she said that cold sensitivity is fairly normal. Sometimes it is simply due to the tooth moving, while sometimes it is due to a root being newly exposed. She suggested that I continue using the Sensodyne toothpast for a while.
She left the bottom wire at what it was (18x25), but increased the upper wire to a 19x25 stainless steel wire. I was in pain today.
I didn't take any pictures after this adjustment. Interestingly, there has been very little visible movement over the last 6 weeks, but my teeth sure have been sore. I gues we are now into the 'root movement' phase.
The last six weeks have been a bit more painful than usual. About a week after my last adjustment I developed some pretty severe sensitivity to cold liquids on my lower rotated canine. Room temperature liquids were uncomfortable, and cold liquids were unbelievably painful. I started using the Sensodyne toothpaste and after about a week the pain subsided. It's still a bit sensitive if I drink something really cold, but nothing like before.
I asked the ortho about it at this last adjustment, and she said that cold sensitivity is fairly normal. Sometimes it is simply due to the tooth moving, while sometimes it is due to a root being newly exposed. She suggested that I continue using the Sensodyne toothpast for a while.
She left the bottom wire at what it was (18x25), but increased the upper wire to a 19x25 stainless steel wire. I was in pain today.
I didn't take any pictures after this adjustment. Interestingly, there has been very little visible movement over the last 6 weeks, but my teeth sure have been sore. I gues we are now into the 'root movement' phase.
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Click on www below to see my braces story.
7th Adjustment
I had my 7th adjustment about 10 days ago - It was one of my more eventful visits to the office.
First, my ortho said that I was ready to move up to a new wire on my lowers. She changed me to a 19x25 stainless steel wire on the lowers, and left the 19x25 that I previously had on the uppers.
Then, she said that I was ready to start elastics . I wasn't particularly looking forward to wearing elastics, but moving to elastics does mean that I am entering the next phase of my treatment, so I was very excited about that. She said that they were going to start me with a class 3 elastic on one side and a class 2 on the other, to start to align my midline. She put them on, and I was on my way.
As I was leaving the office, I realized that the wires were still poking, so I asked the tech to trim them. As she did, my upper right bracket on my very rear molar popped off. The tech called the ortho back and she said that we would have to rebond the bracket.
After the bracket was back on, my ortho said that I needed to go back a to a softer wire with the rebonded bracket, which would mean no elastics
. She thought about it for a minute, and decided at this point that starting to align my bite was more important than the last molar, so she left that tooth off of the wire, and kept me in the elastics. She said that we would pick that tooth up again later in my treatment (not quite sure when).
She also switched me from 6 week visits to 4 week visits, which I am very happy about because it means that my ligs won't stain as much.
The elastics hurt a bit for the first few days, but nothing that a couple of Motrin couldn't handle. 10 days later, I don't feel them at all.
Here are the pictures:
Front:
Lowers:
Uppers:
Elastics:
First, my ortho said that I was ready to move up to a new wire on my lowers. She changed me to a 19x25 stainless steel wire on the lowers, and left the 19x25 that I previously had on the uppers.
Then, she said that I was ready to start elastics
. I wasn't particularly looking forward to wearing elastics, but moving to elastics does mean that I am entering the next phase of my treatment, so I was very excited about that. She said that they were going to start me with a class 3 elastic on one side and a class 2 on the other, to start to align my midline. She put them on, and I was on my way.As I was leaving the office, I realized that the wires were still poking, so I asked the tech to trim them. As she did, my upper right bracket on my very rear molar popped off. The tech called the ortho back and she said that we would have to rebond the bracket.
After the bracket was back on, my ortho said that I needed to go back a to a softer wire with the rebonded bracket, which would mean no elastics
. She thought about it for a minute, and decided at this point that starting to align my bite was more important than the last molar, so she left that tooth off of the wire, and kept me in the elastics. She said that we would pick that tooth up again later in my treatment (not quite sure when).She also switched me from 6 week visits to 4 week visits, which I am very happy about because it means that my ligs won't stain as much.
The elastics hurt a bit for the first few days, but nothing that a couple of Motrin couldn't handle. 10 days later, I don't feel them at all.
Here are the pictures:
Front:
Lowers:
Uppers:
Elastics:
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Click on www below to see my braces story.
8th Adjustment
I had my 8th adjustment today. It was a rather uneventful adjustment, certainly compared to my last one.
My ortho said that the elastics were working well. She made a few bends in my existing upper wire, and told me to wear the same elastic configuration for only 12 hours per day (rather than 24 hours).
I took the elastics out during the day today, and my teeth began to hurt. When I put them back in this evening, the pain stopped. I guess that I got used to the pressure. I am not sure that I am going to like the feeling of having them off for half of the hours each day.
Next appointment in 4 weeks. My ortho said that they were going to take an Xray at that visit to see how my roots were aligning.
Things are moving forward ....
My ortho said that the elastics were working well. She made a few bends in my existing upper wire, and told me to wear the same elastic configuration for only 12 hours per day (rather than 24 hours).
I took the elastics out during the day today, and my teeth began to hurt. When I put them back in this evening, the pain stopped. I guess that I got used to the pressure. I am not sure that I am going to like the feeling of having them off for half of the hours each day.
Next appointment in 4 weeks. My ortho said that they were going to take an Xray at that visit to see how my roots were aligning.
Things are moving forward ....
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Click on www below to see my braces story.