I had 2 adult canines that didn't come in... I had my baby canines pulled, then braces put on September 2001. After my teeth were straight enough to get the heavy archwire needed, I had exposure surgery to bring the adult canines in to place in May 2002. First surgery, we exposed the canines and placed gold chains on the teeth and to the archwire. Each month, we would tighten and take off a link or two of chain. Went this way for quite a while. Second surgery was in May 2003, the teeth had moved all they could behind the gums, and had to be exposed and left exposed so tiny buttons could be placed on them. Unfortunately, the bone and gum regrew over them very quickly, and by the time I got to the ortho, there wasn't enough space even for that. So, I had my third exposure surgery June 2003 to do the same thing as the second one. Buttons were finally placed. Once enough tooth was showing, we could put the real brackets on them! That happened in October 2003. Then we closed the overbite with powerchains and elastics. Removed: July 6th!!!
My canines decided to go back up in the gums a bit. My ortho's office agreed to redo my braces for free to bring them back down... REBRACED December 7th, 2004!
Well, at my last ortho appointment (April), my doc said maybe one more wire in May, then we'd see if we can get them off in June or July. You can see the canines are just about in the right place. Hopefully they stay DOWN this time!
All my OTHER pictures are on my website at the WWW button below this post.
Pamela W.
FORMER IMPACTED CANINES,
