mikesmile's Orthodontic Journey

[SilverGirl]

Congratulations! That is so exciting! I totally know what you mean about preparing yourself for removal - I am so used to these things in my mouth, I can imagine it will feel very odd without them. I've developed so many new habits related to them, like digging around my brackets with my tongue every time I eat anything!

So do your teeth feel loose? Does your face appear any different with your mouth closed - do you notice a lack of bulk, or does it look pretty much the same?

Thanks so much for writing about your experience - it sounds like it's pretty quick and not too bad to get them off!

[mikesmile]

Thanks so much, SilverGirl, everything you said, I feel exactly the same! I'll answer your questions as I finish my narration...

When I returned to the ortho's office for my retainers, the place was packed with kids. After a 15 minute wait, I was called into the main room, and seated in front of a large mirror. A tech came over and presented me with a pair of nice shiny essix retainers. For those of you not familiar, these are clear moulded plastic resembling the 'invisiline' type devices. She instructed me on how to put in/take out, as well as their care. The bottom retainer fit tight, but fine. The top one had to be cut back to where my missing premolar is. Rather than being 'U' shaped, the top retainer is now 'J' shaped. It fits super-tight. At some point after my cosmetic work, both retainers will have to be remade to accommodate the changing landscape of my teeth. My final instructions were to wear them full time - only removing to eat or brush, floss, etc. I also have to remove them any time I drink hot liquids, as the heat could distort their shape. The tech cautioned me to take good care of my retainers, as they are $500. a pair to replace!!

Before leaving my ortho's office, he and I spoke for a minute. I told him I'm very happy with this work he did. He thanked me and added that the benefit of all the orthodontic work will be much more noticeable after my restorative and cosmetic work is completed. I'll see him again in 4 weeks for my first follow up appointment. In the meantime, I have my first bridge appointment with the dentist on 4/26 and a cleaning appointment with the hygienist on 5/9. Boy, it will sure be a treat having a good cleaning done on my naked teeth.

[mikesmile]

I am indeed happy with the end result of my second round of orthodontics. Unlike some of you here, I knew my teeth would not be entirely beautiful when the braces came off...but: They are as straight as can be, the arches are nice and rounded and my bite is textbook! I have a normal healthy overjet now - no longer do my top and bottom incisors smash into each other when I bite down! My face doesn't look any different to me with my mouth closed. I thought there might be a difference - the braces did add a little bulk around my mouth - but I don't see much difference with them gone. The difference is more one of feeling.. I'm more aware of the missing bulk from the point of view of there being more room in my mouth now that the braces are gone. I will miss the smiling metal mouth image that I got so used to seeing in the mirror...how many hundreds of times we see that image during the course of treatment! I agree with SilverGirl about developing a lot of new habits related to the braces. While I'm eating, I still have the impulse to dig around the wires and brackets with my tongue. Right now my teeth are still a tiny bit loose, as they've only been 5 days without braces at this point. RE:Flossing - It's a breeze!!! truly a pleasure to floss now without all the hardware to get hung up on. I won't miss that part of having braces at all.

It has been a fun, interesting and rewarding experience to go thru this process. I'm glad to be free, but have mixed emotions about it really...So much thought, preparation and diligence goes into one's orthodontic planning and treatment. Because of that - as many of you can confirm - it can become rather preoccupying, even obsessive at times. Once you 'embrace' your braces, it can also be a lot of fun! I grew to like the braces (esp. the colored ligs) and liked myself in them. I will miss that little bit of uniqueness that I enjoyed while being a "brace face". Just as it took time to get used to having braces, it will take time to get used to not having them, as well. In the meantime, I still have to adjust to the retainers, so there's still something in my mouth to play around with.

I'm grateful for all the support and friendship that I've received here. You guys have been awesome, and I've learned so much from following your stories as well. I don't plan on going anywhere soon, and plan to continue my story into the realm of cosmetic dentistry.

Photos to follow.....




Second Time In Braces - Estimate 12-14 Months - Treatment Only A Month Past Estimate

[mikesmile]

I will first show some pics taken during my last couple of months WITH braces, before showing photos of myself WITHOUT them....



As you can see by these shots, my top left central incisor (your right) was a very bad boy and gave the ortho a lot of trouble near the end, but finally submitted after a few months of switching the rotation wedge back-and-forth to either side of the bracket!


...and here's what we've all been really waiting for: FIRST, WITH RETAINERS.....

By mikesm at 2011-04-18


...and here's my first shot of MY NAKED TEETH.....

By mikesm at 2011-04-18

This is not a very flattering picture, I'm afraid. They still show the considerable damage sustained from many years underbite and misalighnment! If only I'd gotten braces at 12 when the family dentist first said I needed them! Besides the restorative work, my teeth are in dire need of a good cleaning and whitening. The braces actually helped hide some of the sins, but thankfully they look much nicer when someone isn't right on top of them - as in this picture. My ortho told me he can't wait until my 2 front incisors are crowned. He says they look like they're missing about 30% of their original height!!!

I plan to submit some better photos of my corrected teeth, and even more as we move along with the restorative work. I think the teeth photographing habit will be hard to kick!.....LOL!

Thanks, Everyone.
Mike



Second Time In Braces - Estimate 12-14 Months - Treatment Only A Month Beyond Estimate

[lilone]

Woohoo! Looks fab, Mike! You must be so pleased to be free! It is very obvious from your recent bite pictures just how much of a difference there is in how your teeth meet. Your early pictures showed that your uppers had almost carved out a space in your lowers and now you have a textbook bite...that must feel good! Congrats:)

[msbee]

Hey Mike, congrats on reaching the end of the journey...It's so exciting isn't it!
For some reason, I can't see the pictures of your naked teeth, but I'm sure you've got a lovely smile just based on the ones that you've put up of the final few months!

[catgyrl]

Awesome, awesome, awesome!!! Your bite looks great, and I'm so glad you posted a pic of your Essix retainer. I honestly didn't notice it when I first looked at it... which is a good thing!

Did the debonding hurt (specifically, the removal of the glue)? When I switched out my metals for ceramics, I remember the awful smell, but more than that, I remember my butt flying out of the chair when he got to my laterals and canines - WHOAH!!!! I know you're a guy, so you'll probably say it was a piece of cake...

Great job, sir. Can't wait for when my time comes.

-Cathy

[Jethro]

Congrats Mike! I look forward to following your restorative journey too.

[mikesmile]

Today would have been my 15 month brace-aversery! It's now been 7 days since my slightly unexpected de-bracing! The week has gone by so quick...I feel like... if suddenly I woke up one morning with the braces back on, that I would still feel quite normal with them there. It's as if I have "phantom braces" still in my mouth. It kind of blows me away that just 2-3 weeks ago my teeth were in a lot of pain (and loose) from a power chain, elastics and rotation wedge....Now here I am all done! I have to say the science of orthodontics really impresses me!

Thanks Lilone! ...Yes, I'm quite pleased with everything....and what you described about my "uppers carving out a space in my lowers" is so true! If you saw it in 3D, it all fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. My dentist said that my top teeth were kicking my bottom teeth's ass!

Thanks msbee! I've reached the end of the ortho part of my journey, yes...and my bite is perfect now...but my battle worn smile must move on now to more TLC from the good doctors!

Thanks Cathy! I'm so grateful for your enthusiasm on my behalf. My bite is great indeed. I ate a whole bag of popcorn on the first day. Yesterday I devoured a half a can of mixed nuts. It was awesome!!! ...yea the essix retainers aren't real noticeable!...and I don't lisp at all with them-which I had feared. The top one is a pain in the ass to get in and out, though. RE: the glue removal. Guy or not, it was painful!!! I have some teeth that are particularly sensitive...and...I kept clenching my fists as the girl came to certain areas. Oh man! When I have cleanings done my hygienist is aware of it, and she's always super careful around those areas.

Thanks Jethro. I'm looking forward to my restorative journey with relish! If money were no object, I'd get it all completed this year, but it's going to take some time...



Second Timer - Estimate 12-14 Months - Treatment Only 1 Month Beyond Estimate