TinkB's Story

[TinkB]

I had my 9th Adjustment last week.

I also had a cleaning and the dentist said that everything looked great. She also asked how much longer with braces. I told her that I was only hitting the 10 month mark. She said I look further along than that. It made me happy to hear her say that but, I am not getting my hopes up.

At my adjustment, I had my first session of IPR on 4 of my top teeth and 4 of my bottom 4. It wasn't too bad. I actually thought it would be a lot worse. Good thing I didn't mind it because the ortho said I will have more treatments as we move along. I moved up a wire strength on top and got powerchain. On the bottom, kept the same square wire, wire laced my social 6 together and added powerchain. I also got my dragon elastics back. Have to wear them from my canines to my 1st molars.

The good news was after 2 days, one of my gaps closed up on the bottom. The bad news was, my mouth hurt for about 3 days. Every tooth in my mouth hurt and was sensitive. It was like getting braces for the first time again. It's amazing how bad it hurt but, at least I knew that I was making progress.

I only have one more gap on the bottom right.

My 9 year old daughter is going for her ortho consult the beginning of April. She is going to see my ortho first. My daughter's dentist mentioned that she might have to have her premolars extracted because of her crowding. If my ortho gives that as a plan then, I am going to get another consult. I don't care how much I like my ortho office, that is not an option. I hope.......

[TinkB]

Here are my 10 month pictures.

TOP


BOTTOM


FULL

[TinkB]

Nothing real exciting at my 10th adjustment.

More IPR done on the top and bottom front teeth. New powerchain top and bottom. I am still in dragon elastics.

6 weeks till my next adjustment.

[TinkB]

My 9 year old daughter got spacer yesterday. She was feeling great then, this morning, she was complaining. She only has 2 on the top but, I can really sympathize with her.

She is definitely a trooper. We go back next week so, she can get fitted with molar bands. Then the week after that will be the expander.

[libbylou]

Hi Tink B! I too have a nine year old daughter awaiting braces, my twelve year old daughter is almost done! Her braces come off in late June. Feel exactly as you do - no pre molar extraction for either of them, and luckily the orthodontist agrees or I would have done exactly as you would and searched out another opinion. How I wish my first round of braces in my early teens had been the same - I was extracted to death! My profile sadly has never recovered Keep us updated wont you!

[TinkB]

Hi Tink B! I too have a nine year old daughter awaiting braces, my twelve year old daughter is almost done! Her braces come off in late June. Feel exactly as you do - no pre molar extraction for either of them, and luckily the orthodontist agrees or I would have done exactly as you would and searched out another opinion. How I wish my first round of braces in my early teens had been the same - I was extracted to death! My profile sadly has never recovered Keep us updated wont you!

Thank you so much for reading!

When we went to the ortho, for my daughter, the ortho did mention that she might need extractions. When we looked at the x-ray, you could see that her adult teeth have no where to come in. One of her adult canines are coming in on top of an adult incisor. She is so crowded. I told her that I disagree with extractions in children and she told me that maybe if I would have had my premolars extracted as a child, I would not be in braces a second time. My daughter has a small mouth and big teeth like me. So, the ortho made a deal with me that we go with phase 1 treatment, wait the 2 years after its finished and then re-access her case. She told me that I can get my second and third opinions at that time and decide which route I want to go. That sounds like a good option to me because you never know how her mouth will develop over the next 3 years.

[libbylou]

Hi Tink B Your ortho sounds really great - exploring all options before considering extraction, it sounds like you have a sound plan in place there for your little girl, as you will know that if you do indeed end up with extractions for her, then you tried every which way before doing so. Have managed to get away with no extractions, despite overjet and lots of crowding with my twelve year old daughter, just by using IPR and a bit of palate expansion - she too has quite large teeth, and has an incredible result so far, her teeth are almost perfect, just a few finishing touches left before debonding - I am in awe looking at how different she looks, and I just cant figure out how the orthodontist has done it! Just cant believe the difference in her bite and teeth, with no extractions, she used to have difficulty in closing her lips her teeth were so proclined due to crowding. My nine year old little girl has very similar teeth, lots of crowding and overbite, so it will be interesting to see if our ortho can manage the same with her, as he thinks he can. Its braces round 2 for me, despite lots of extractions when young, and oh I could weep when I look at my flat profile in photos It was just very bad orthodontics back then I think - and the remedial work is now needed. Lots of luck to you, in both you and your little girl's journey.

[TinkB]

Today is my 1 year anniversary with braces.

Lots of mixed feelings. I feel so happy because I can see such a huge change. Not so happy because progress has been slow and I feel like I am done with braces. I thought about asking the ortho at my next adjustment, "How much longer? or "How is everything looking?" but, I am sure I am going to get a generic answer so, I don't have my hopes up.

Just need to be patient.

[TinkB]

May 21st was my 11th adjustment. Nothing really exciting again. A little more IPR between my top 2 and bottom 2 front teeth. I got new powerchain top and bottom. Still in dragon elastics.

I miss the excitement that I had in the beginning. The ortho also mentioned that I am having x-rays next time and we will start my finishing wires soon. It made me excited but she mentioned that even though my teeth moved fast the first year, sometimes the next half is really slow. Way to ruin my excitement.

[stepher7]

Oh boy, do I ever feel your pain! I feel like I'm in the same boat as you, I'm 15 months in so there's no substantial improvements happening. Overall my teeth are looking fab compared to the beginning, but I'm definitely in the slow and steady time now. I'm also so over having these things on my teeth, but with (hopefully!!) only about 9 months to go I should be in the home stretch.
Good luck with the rest of your progress, I'm sure the rest of your "sentence" will fly by!!

[GillyWeed]

Hi TinkB!

I've just started my journey so it's always nice to see someone a lot further along to remind myself just why I got these little bits of metal glued to my teeth. Your teeth look awesome. Fingers crossed you'll be done soon

[TinkB]

Thank you - stepher7 & GillyWeed for reading my story and responding. I wasn't sure if anyone even opened my story. LOL

On Wednesday, I went for my 3 appointment marathon. Went in the morning to get my wires off by the ortho. Went to the dentist for my cleaning. It wasn't too bad except at the end when the hygienist mentioned that one of my bad fillings is "breaking down". She said it was nothing to worry about right now but, when I go back, the dentist might want to replace it. So, I might have to add another marathon day just for a filling. I went back to the ortho and had my scans and pictures redone.

I am going back in 2 weeks for Suresmile wires. Not sure how many sets I need but, I am sure I will find out in August when I go back.

Still wearing dragon elastics and new powerchain top and bottom. When everything got put back together, my teeth were real sore. Maybe a half of day of freedom made them go crazy. Here it is the second day and my molars on top are still sore.

[TinkB]

My 9 year old daughter and I are brace face buddies.

It was so hard to watch her get braces because she looked so uncomfortable in the chair. All I could think is, "That's my baby! Don't hurt her!!!!"

After 3 days, she was feeling normal again. I was jealous because I was down and out for about a week after getting braces.

She is doing first phase treatment so, she will only have braces for a year. I have 10-14 months to go on my treatment. It will be interesting to see who gets them off first.

[NICURN85]

Aww that is so sweet that both of you all have braces. You never know you both may end up with the same debanding date!

[RainbowWarrior]

I love reading your updates! You had so much progress in just the first month, pretty amazing!! I hope my teeth move as fast as yours