Estelle's long orthodontics journey to a perfected smile

[EstelleDeParis]

I have been in treatment for 2 months.

I just had an adjustment and all rewired at the bottom. The top was left with the original wiring.

There has been A LOT of movement and the bottom teeth are getting less and less sore!

That picture was taken the day I got braced.


This picture was taken today. 2 months and 6 days in treatment.


Pictures speak for themselves!!! Of course like a lot told here, it gets worse before it gets better but you can see how fast the process goes.

My ortho says he thinks it will take something like 6 months to move my teeth to a more lined up position and the rest of the treatment to play with my bite.

I am able to floss the bottom front teeth with a lot of ease and my gums are already liking this a lot!
Apart from a little bit of sensitivity to cold after each adjustment and a few days of discomfort, all together it is not so bad.

The worst part was when they put them in, 2 months ago. I was litteraly crying at night but really after a while it's getting better.

[BaliGirl]

Wow, great progress so far! Your bottom teeth moved a lot. Looking forward to future updates (we were braced about the same time).

[EstelleDeParis]

I had an adjustment on the 22nd of December but never took the time to take pictures.

Power chain on the top and lateral bottoms. Along with first attempt to rotate one tooth (see top left).

[drgnchsr36]

wow, looks great! seems like your teeth have moved pretty fast

[EstelleDeParis]

@drgnchsr36, they sure did!!! It's quite impressive how it did.

Now that the teeth have moved a lot and find a better positionning in my mouth, I have to say that the pain is really manageable and I am able to chew and not experience pain at night when clenching.

The worst part was definitely the first month! After each adjustment, it is of course a few days of tightness and soreness but nothing too bad really.

[JennyLaughs]

Now that the teeth have moved a lot and find a better positionning in my mouth, I have to say that the pain is really manageable and I am able to chew and not experience pain at night when clenching.

The worst part was definitely the first month! After each adjustment, it is of course a few days of tightness and soreness but nothing too bad really.

I LOVE hearing posts like this! It's sooo encouraging for a newb like me! Thank you!

[EstelleDeParis]

@JennyLaughs, I'm glad my experience helps you feel better

Wishing you the best!

[Jay04]

Wow. What amazing progress so far. Your teeth are going to look fantastic when your treatment is over.

[sjeanine]

ROFLOL! That's exactly what I've been saying! I just turned 54 and had braces put on recently. I have 2 extractions coming up this THursday that I'm scared to death to have cuz I have a very low pain threshold and have never had teeth pulled but, I have had 4 children so should be able to get thru it. I'm mostly worried and scared that the gaps wont close afterwards. I was surprised that my ortho put braces on my bottom teeth too cuz, they are all perfectly straight already! When I asked why they were putting braces there he just said he automatically does that cuz he uses the bottom teeth to help anchor the top ones? Anyone ever heard of that?? I hope he knows what he's doing...especially with pulling two teeth from the top. Nearly every tooth in my mouth has been filled or crowned so I'm surprised that they can straighten or move mine at all. My teeth are basically all straight except the tooth that is on each side of my two front teeth....one is slightly overlapping a front tooth and they are both shorter than the front teeth so....not sure why I was told 18 mths either. I would post a pic but cant figure out how to....

Hi,

My goal is to be better at 40 than I was at 20 and 30....I'm getting there, hopefully....hopefully, when my eyebrows have sagged completely over my eyes, and my wrinkles look like small caves....people will only notice my wonderful, nice...new...bright...STRAIGHT....smile...and not even think twice to ask about the nose hairs. Good luck to you...it does get easier with each day.

[EstelleDeParis]

Jeanine, you know it only takes a few months to straighten teeth then it's all about fixing your bite.
I'm no expert but if they move the top ones, they will need to adjust the bottom ones accordingly so you have a comfortable and coherent bite.

[andi3]

Wow! Awesome improvement! You should be psyched!

[EstelleDeParis]

Thank you andi3, I am indeed psyched! It's crazy how much straighter my teeth are in such a short time. The orthodontist told me it would take probably 6 months to straighten them and then the rest of the treatment to adjust my bite.

[MarciLouWho]

I had an adjustment on the 22nd of December but never took the time to take pictures.

Power chain on the top and lateral bottoms. Along with first attempt to rotate one tooth (see top left).

AMAZING progress! Thanks so much for the pictures.

I, too, have a rotated tooth on my right side and I think it might even be the same tooth. I'm interested in your experience with that - because my ortho put a power chain on that tooth straightaway the first day and BOY is that side of my mouth sore. I'm barely two weeks in, so it is to be expected.

Thanks again and wow-wow-wow your teeth look great!

[EstelleDeParis]

@MarciLou,
My ortho is taking it easy on the pain and because he knew the bottom would move really fast and cause a lot of pain. He didn't want to take care of the upper premolar that rotated. In fact I stayed with the original top wire for a little over 2 months. If I were to go to an adjustment and tell them I am in pain, they leave me alone and work around it. He always say "If it's too tight, if it hurts too much, you come over, we don't want you to feel miserable!". I like that approach!

This is why it's only after 3 months that he started to power chain and attach that elastic thing to rotate the tooth. I am glad as I found that the pain on the first month was quite something!

The rotating tooth is sore right now and I don't chew with it. It started to rotate already but now the gap between the power chained teeth and the rotated premolar is getting bigger. I have an adjustment on the 24th of January and I am pretty confident it is going to be taken care of. I'll post about it after I see him, if you want.

[EstelleDeParis]

I had an adjustment on January 22nd which consisted in changing the wires for bigger gauge ones. I will take pictures if I notice drastic changes. I do feel like the two front upper teeth are aligning better but it might be too early to tell.

The good news is that I got a cleaning! Removing the tartar that built up on the crowded teeth over year and that all the shifting around has revealed! It was so great to get that mess all taken care of!

The hygienist told me I was doing a good job at keeping my teeth and gum clean which was very encouraging.