Catgyrl's (Cathy's) Journey at age 42...

[catgyrl]

Sadpanda

Thank you for your kind words. I think my overjet became noticeably smaller at around the 4-5 month mark. I didn't really start taking pics of the overjet (from the bottom angle) until 4 months or so, and that's when I noticed it. Don't get too discouraged by what you see as a lack of progress. There were areas of my teeth that weren't that bad before, that are now kinda messed up because everything is shifting around. My ortho doesn't tell me much, either. We just have to trust the process. I showed my dad my "before pic" of the overjet, and then the one from today, and all he could say was "Wow..." Most people don't notice our dental issues, and some of us don't even realize how bad our teeth are until an orthodontist points it out.

Keep your chin up, and just let things take its course.

Cathy

[Snowglobe32]

Kathy,

Try a heating pad if the elastics are still hurting. In the beginning days of mine, the left side of my face felt like someone was standing behing my pulling at my joint. The pain was horrible but just on that side. OTC medicines didn't help so I pulled out the heating pad my friend made me. It was the perfect size and the type that is filled with treated beans or corn. I even used it at work. It took about 2 weeks to get used to the elastics.

I go in on Monday for my SureSmile wires and hopefully no more elastics for me.

[catgyrl]

Hi Snowglobe

Thank you for the heating pad tip! I remember making one like that a long time ago by placing uncooked rice into a sock, and microwaving it. My jaw really isn't sore anymore, but my TEETH sure are!

I'm trying to figure out if I'm supposed to wear the same pair of elastics for the whole day and overnight, and just change to fresh ones the next morning, or put fresh ones in the morning and change them later in the day/evening. They really get stretched out by the end of the day. Oh well, I will check with him later this week when I go for my cleaning (next door to ortho).

I can already see a difference in my bite...it's amazing!

Cathy

[mikesmile]

Cathy

Glad to hear your dad's having such positive response early on...

Your recent pics are showing some lovely improvement. I can really see the difference in both your overjet and the gaps getting smaller.

Congrats on your elastics! Those little babies really bring changes quickly, as you're finding out. I've had excellent results in the 5 months or so that my ortho introduced them. I'm wondering why your ortho is recommending you only change them once a day, though. When I was started on elastics, I was told to change them 3-4 times a day (so that they would always be nice and taut). Every time I have an adjustment they're always offering me a new bag.

See Ya,
Mike



Second Time In braces - Estimate 12-14 Months

[catgyrl]

Hi Mike!

Thank you very much for your kind words. I'm going to give my doc a call on Tuesday when they open to ask why it's only once a day. Maybe it's because they're already the Extra Heavy Force ones, and he doesn't want to overcorrect too soon? Or maybe he's being nice and doesn't want me in agony? (Nah, can't be that last one... ) He gave me 2 bags, with over 100 elastics in each bag, so either he does want me to change them often, or he has little-to-no faith in me that I won't snap every other one!

I have decided that I AM going to remove them when I eat my regular meals (not snacks) because that's the only time that my teeth don't ache and I'm actually able to bite down on anything. I know it's only been 2 days since I got them, but they sure are working wonders.

Cathy

[nightowl]

Hello

Your pictures are wonderful, you can really see your progress ! I'm just dropping by to leave a little note to say good luck with your elastics and continued stubborn gap closure haha. I remember a little while ago you commented on my story asking about my orthos plans to close up my extraction gaps. Since then i got powerchains on top and bottom (woohoo! ) and my top gaps are neeearly gone but my bottom teeth just don't want to budge These pesky gaps sure can be stubborn and not want to disappear haha Also, looking forward to the day when i too get the wonderful elastics

-nightowl

[catgyrl]

Hey nightowl!

Thank you so much! I just re-read your story and saw your updated pics. Your teeth look almost perfect already. I totally agree that the power chains do an amazing job at closing up gaps. I've heard that gaps in the lower teeth can take longer to close than those in the upper teeth, so just hang in there.

How strange is it that the more gadgets they put in my mouth, the more comfortable I am smiling? I'm waiting form the elastics to correct my midline... Now THOSE should be crazy!

Cathy

[Snowglobe32]

Cathy,

My ortho recommended chaning my elastics at least 3 times a day and after I eat. He also said not to have them out for more than 2 hours total in one day. From what I have researched, elastics lose "power" within 2 or so hours. What you eat and drink can also effect your elastics. I wear latex (the ones ortho gave me, cream colored) and non latex elastics (the only ones I have found that are "crystal clear" in color)

Here is a link about a study done between latex and non latext elastics. It is pretty scientific but there is some good info there.

http://orthocj.com/2010/08/the-evaluati ... tro-study/

When I leave the ortho, they always give me at least 4 bags. One time I asked them to mail me some more, and they sent me flourescent ones! I am interested in hearing what his reason is for you to change them only once a day. I can't believe he told you to put them on your finger! That is funny!

I am glad your dad is doing better!

[catgyrl]

Morning, snowglobe!

Thank you for the link. Very technical, but interesting stuff there. I will definitely be asking him about the frequency of changing them. Maybe there's only so much "correcting" he needs to do, and doesn't want to do too much. I'm going to be at my dentist's office (next door to ortho's office) on Thursday, getting my semiannual cleaning, so I'll just pop on in and ask him. They really DO stretch out a lot, even if I'm not doing a lot of talking. I put a fresh one in last night at around 5:00 pm after I'd eaten dinner, and when I woke up this morning, I was able to fully open my mouth and yawn, and it felt like nothing was in there - it stretch THAT much in my sleep. Everyone's right - I feel strange without them in there, and when they stretch, I want to replace them right away. For now, I'll put in a fresh one in every morning, and evening, and also one after lunch.

Have you actually worn your fluorescent ones? I would actually try those, even though I've been sticking with Obscure for my ligs and powerchains. Would add a "pop" of color without making the full commitment.

Have a great week!
-Cathy

[Snowglobe32]

Hi Cathy,

I wore the neon elastics a couple of times at home. They didn't seem to be as tight as the others so I went back to the regular ones. They were four different colors, purple, pink, green and orange so I had all four colors in and it was mighty colorful.

At my appointment today, I got my SureSmile wires and....he said I could STOP WEARING ELASTICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Apparently, I was starting to overcorrect on one side. The funny thing is that I noticed this about 3 weeks ago so I stopped wearing them all on my own. Then I started up again this past Friday since I knew I was going in today. I know I should have asked to stopped..... but oh well!
The bad news is that I will eventually be wearing elastics again. He wants my SureSmile wires to work their magic.

[opera^gal]

Just another 2 cents on elastic wear: I was told to swap them out after each brushing <after every meal>, as they tend to lose their snappadittitydoo otherwise.

[nightowl]

Helloo

You're welcome, it's only the truth! The power of orthodontics really is amazing, i think that powerchains are my new best friend. Well they could be if they didn't hurt so much when i first had them put in hehe. Thank you for dropping by my story and your kind words

[catgyrl]

Operagal - Switching them out after each meal/brushing makes perfect sense, to me. That's about when they start to lose their "snapadittitydoo" (LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THAT!!). If I want to snack in between... well, that's my problem. I tried eating some Ruffles chips yesterday with them in, and discovered the right one was almost completely SHREDDED! I should've taken a pic of it; it was so strange looking. I think my ortho will know that I'm certifiably nuts if I ask him whether I can change them out MORE often.

Snowglobe - Congrats on getting rid of the elastics (for the time being)!! That will be such a relief for you, and a nice rest for your jaw. I'm finding that I can actually feel either the upper jaw moving back, or lower jaw moving forward (probably the former, since my lower jaw isn't the one with the problem.) It feels weird - I can feel it quivering a little bit sometimes.

I would have no idea if I'm being overcorrected, or not. I guess that's another thing I have to ask him on my next visit. Maybe he thinks that because I'm always on the internet, I must know everything he's doing and there's no need to explain to me. Probably thinks I'm a Miss Smartypants... I can't imagine where he'd get that idea.

-Cathy

[catgyrl]

Okay, I rang up my ortho's office to check on the frequency of changing my elastics. The girl at the front desk said there was NO problem with my changing them after every meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner), and if I started feeling too much pressure, then I could change them less often. (Right now, they aren't hurting me a bit. My teeth don't even hurt anymore, even with fresh ones in.) I can eat with them in, and the only problem I have is that they get in the way, sometimes. He will evaluate me at my next visit, and either give me stronger elastics, weaker ones, change the configuration, or get rid of them altogether. (Highly doubt that last one... Haha) She also reiterated that he WILL be able to tell how well I've followed his instructions. Hehe... I think that's the "scare talk" they give to patients; more likely, kids.

I really can see and feel a difference already. I'm patiently waiting for the little, eeeny weeney gap to form between my upper central incisors. It's about 3/4 of the way there!

Cathy

[chocomorsel]

Do you want that gap permanently? I actually kinda do. Like 0.5-1mm or so because I kinda like the gap in the middle. I will ask him in the end if he will leave me with a little gap. Is that weird or what? I just saw mine two days ago and we stayed with the same elastic strength and configuration. I am certainly noticing a difference in my overbite and am quite excited. Gaps are now starting to close. Yeepee.