mikesmile's Orthodontic Journey

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#31 Post by **mikesmile** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 10:04 am

That's funny Brenda, we both have our appointments on the same day

. I can see/feel slight changes myself, and not not much tightness or tension now. Let's see what our orthos say next week, eh.

#32 Post by **brendap27** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 2:27 pm

We can compare notes!

#33 Post by **Trish** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 2:43 pm

HI mikesmile!

thought I'd say HI and see how you were doing almost ONE month into this! I'm sure you can't wait until your first adjustment. boy I don't htink this is anything like when I had them the last time, either!

hope all is well...
trish

#34 Post by **mikesmile** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 8:24 am

Hi

Thanks Trish for stopping by. My next appointment is this friday, and yea, I'm pretty excited

to hear what my ortho has to say about my progress so far.
I'll be having a bracket re-cemented, so the wire will have to come off anyway to do that. I figure he will most likely replace it with a thicker one.

Today is my 1 Month Braceiversery ! It's gone by like a flash, really ! I find that I'm appreciating this process so much more the second time around...

#35 Post by **wycket** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 9:05 am

Congrats on the 1st month, Mike!! I am so glad to hear everything continues to go well for you!

Can't wait to hear how your adjustment goes! I won't have my first adjustment till 3/23, so I still have ages to wait!!

It's definitely hard being patient, but if it's anything like the first 6 weeks, I know the next 4 will go by very quickly!

As for your teeth, have you noticed any changes up to this point? I know everyone is different, but I've been quite pleased with everything that I've experienced so far. It really does make the whole process that much more rewarding, when you can see the changes.

#36 Post by **mikesmile** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 8:45 am

Thanks so much wycket and ken for the well wishes. I'm really looking forward to my first adjustment tomorrow.

I have notices some subtle changes at this point and decided to compare them in pictures. Just click to enlarge....

The top one was taken at 3 days in.
The bottom one was taken this morning at 1 month+ in.

What I notice right away is the space increase between central and lateral incisors on both sides, which have advanced forward ever so slightly. The centrals are still jammed tightly against each other, though.

I also feel slight changes in my front bite, particularly when I first wake up in the morning. Like everyone says, you can't see these changes by staring in the mirror ten times a day...

#37 Post by **mikesmile** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 2:11 pm

I went for my first adjustment today. It was actually kind of un-eventful. The doc did ask how my first month went, but made no comment about my teeth, or progress so far. When the ortho assistant removed my ligs and wire, I asked her if she was going to put a new wire on. She said "No, the doctor only changes the wire about every 4-5 visits." It looks like I have a bit of a wait ahead of me yet. Oh well...

I was sure they were going to put the new one on, and had convinced myself that it was somehow the marker of progress that I needed today! Well anyway they cemented my new bracket on , put the old wire back in w/ new ligs. (I haven't worked the courage up to get colored ligs, yet.) It did feel noticeably tighter, though, after everything was back in place. The assistant told me that the ligs (because they're elastics) lose their elasticity after a while, and the wire slows down it's work. When they're replaced w/ new ones, the wire is reactivated and starts working again. That makes sense to me since I can feel renewed tightness and slight changes in my bite since this morning.

My front bite is the most critical issue, so I'm very keen to any new sensations there when I bite down. Although incorrect, I've gotten quite used to the feeling when my teeth make contact. Now they are hitting each other in new and unpleasant ways. At the moment, I'm not liking this temporary contact as the bite landscape begins to change. Like a lot of folks in braces say - It gets worse before it gets better.

With orthodontics, patience is always our friend....

#38 Post by **brendap27** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 11:50 am

mikesmile wrote:
I went for my first adjustment today. It was actually kind of un-eventful. The doc did ask how my first month went, but made no comment about my teeth, or progress so far. When the ortho assistant removed my ligs and wire, I asked her if she was going to put a new wire on. She said "No, the doctor only changes the wire about every 4-5 visits." It looks like I have a bit of a wait ahead of me yet. Oh well... I was sure they were going to put the new one on, and had convinced myself that it was somehow the marker of progress that I needed today! That makes sense to me since I can feel renewed tightness and slight changes in my bite since this morning.

Hi Mikesmile,

I saw my ortho on the 26th also, but in my case they did change the wire. I had mine on for 2 months before my first adjustment though so I'm a month ahead of you. I went from a .014 wire to a .016 wire. Although I didn't think I'd seen much in the way of movement except for a tooth on the bottom that had been kind of twisted and tilted, they showed me the pictures from when the braces were first put on and there was more movement than I thought. Keep up your positive attitude!

#39 Post by **mikesmile** » Sat Mar 13, 2010 7:38 am

Thanks Ken and Brenda for stopping by. Sorry for my slow entry. Now that spring's coming my business has picked up, and I've had less time to visit here.

I'm quite comfortable with my braces now.....in the way they feel as well as the social aspect of having all this "mouth jewelry" that others can see.
Since the last adjustment, I've continued to see and feel movement in my 6 upper front teeth - particularly the lateral incisors. All these teeth are loose at the moment. The top laterals now clear in front & no longer hit the bottom teeth when I bite down. Only the centrals still hit, but I can tell they've moved too 'cause they don't make contact the same way. Also the gap that I have between my left central and lateral incisors has widened up a bit more. I know this is a temporary thing and I'm not worried about it. I feel like the teeth are all moving at different rates, and the pressure from the wire seems to change from time to time. It's all good.....

#40 Post by **gokix** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 12:52 pm

Hey mike! Just read through your story, good luck with your treatmeant! I refer to my braces as "bling" as well, haha!

#41 Post by **mikesmile** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 7:16 am

Hi

Thanks, Goki for your well wishes. Speaking of "bling", did you know that a lot of young people in Thailand get braces just to look cool - even if they don't need them?

I'm just past the 2 month mark now. It's hard to believe...the time really does pass so quickly, especially when we're busy! I think the period before getting your braces seems to drag because of the excitement & nervousness leading up to the event. Once we settle in, we remember that life is still happening all around us and we just happen to wear braces.

I feel my wire continue to work & look forward to my 2nd adjustment next friday. I have a feeling that the doc is planning to put my bottom braces on at the 3rd adjustment.

Fri Mar 26, 2010 7:38 am

Things seem to be going good :]]

#43 Post by **cmone** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 5:53 pm

Hey Mikesmile, thanks for passing through my thread & the well wishes. Glad things are going well for you.

#44 Post by **jensceana73** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 3:36 am

Hey mikesmile...just wanted to drop a quick "thank you" this morning before I'm off to my appointment, for you words of encouragement...I'm gonna need all I can get. Stay tuned, I'm sure I'll have a tail to tell tonight!!!!

#45 Post by **mikesmile** » Sun Apr 04, 2010 8:41 am

Hi

I had my 2nd adjustment 2 days ago. To my surprise, I actually got a new wire ! (only braced on top so far.) This visit went kind of funny, though. I was ushered into the chair rather quickly with a very young looking ortho assistant waiting for me. She quickly proceeded to remove my ligs and wire. Then she asked if I'd like to choose a color for my new ligs (something besides just plain silver). The way she asked made me feel kind of obligated to pick a color. I looked at all the bright colors for a moment...hmmm...I just didn't feel brave enough for a bright color (or a girlie one), so I went with black. Although they seem to define my metal braces more, they actually look pretty cool. My wife thinks so too. When the assistant finished, she put the chair upright and said "You're all set". Meanwhile, my ortho was on the phone on the other side of the room. I said politely to the girl "Don't you think the doctor would like to take a look at me before I go?" She says "Oh yeah, maybe you should sit there for a minute." Ya think so?

So when the doc gets off the phone he comes over to my chair. He puts the chair back down and looks around my mouth a bit. Then he says to the over-enthusiastic assistant "Mike will be getting a new wire today", and then hands her the wire. "Take 2..." she says as she begins taking things apart again.
Things felt much tighter with this change. In fact, I've been in more pain from my new wire than when my braces were first put on!. I feel it mostly in my left canine and first premolar. OMG!!!.....but the results - 2 days later are already noticeable.

Estimate 12- 14 Months