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

[Ellebraced]

OMG that's hilarious (about the guy asking the same thing). Well not that you can't get them off THAT SUCKS!!!! But your teeth look so perfect to me, he must be a perfectionist. Well I guess he went to school, so his opinion is right. Why is it we never quite make the event we want but are sooooo close. You should have used the ticker excuse, that would have worked lol

Not 6 months is a good sign still though, hey better than another 12 months. Least that's this summer!!!

My lig came off my lateral incisor last week (they reused the ligs the had taken off to put the wire back in they never put in properly) So now I get to go back for a third time in less than 2 weeks and its a bit of a drive so not impressed ughhhh. The wire is still in place but I think the tooth has moved they had done some IPR around there this week

Anyways, Sorry to hear it is not going to happen too soon but a few more months of being patient is worth it after all the $$ you spent lol ....trying to be positive though I know you feel like

Take care, if you got white or clear ligs the day before your big event I think they would be almost totally invisible though

[catgyrl]

Thanks, Elle! Your post cracked me up!

Sorry to hear about your lig falling off, and having to go back again. I've had that happen, and it was a disaster. The wire pressed up on the bracket and pushed it up into my gums, so one tooth was only 1/2 the length of the other. Thankfully I got in and had it fixed. I think once a lig is put on, it really stretches out and can't be out on again properly.

I, too, have an emergency and have to go back in on Monday. The wire hook they replaced on my broken bracket doesn't want to stay in place. Instead of being up straight like this: | it leans over like this: \ (more like almost laying on its side). He's just going to replace the whole bracket with one that comes with a hook. That should feel great... NOT! Well, at least I will know how it is to get a ceramic bracket removed.

My uppers are definitely on the move. They are KILLING me today, and my middle gap has reappeared. Why is it that I think it's kinda cute? Not cute enough to not fix, though.

OH... almost forgot this: My reason for getting them off in July is now MOOT. My nephew has decided to have a very, very small wedding (just parents and siblings), so I'm actually only going to see everyone for ONE afternoon/evening for dinner at my sister's house. No need to look gorgeous!

I guess things happen as they are meant to, huh?

[catgyrl]

All righty then...

I just got back from my ortho's office. They tried to reattach the metal hook, but as soon as they put an elastic on it, it collapsed. So, she proceeded to remove the ceramic bracket. She prefaced it by saying, "I hate removing these brackets!" Not a good sign. It shattered IMMEDIATELY. She had to make 3 tries before she got the whole bracket off. Some of it shattered on my tongue and I kinda laughed when she just reached in and picked it out WI her fingers. The laughing stopped there because it was then time to scrape off the glue. No electric tool for her... She actually took something and literally SCRAPED off the glue, while holding the back of my tooth. I thought she was scraping off my enamel along with the glue.

That did NOT feel good... Not one bit. I can only imagine how horrible the debracing is going to be. I guess by that time, I won't care, right?

After he replaced the wire, he looked again and said, "Hmmm... They're looking better already!" I see the difference, too. And the bracket is strong enough to hold my elastic already!

[iBorg]

Glad (I think it worked for you). I can't imagine her not using a tool to grind off the glue. That almost sounds like something in violation of the Geneva Convention.

[opera^gal]

Oh Cathy, I'm so glad you got that bracket replaced. Trust me when I say, going back every couple of weeks to get those metal/wire hooks replaced, for months on end, is much more of a pain than you experienced today. Things are looking great!

[catgyrl]

Thanks, iBorg and opera^gal! I, too, am glad I got it fixed. That scraping was insane, but I wonder if she might not be comfortable with--or allowed to use--the electric sander thingie. Ortho had not yet come back from lunch, so she was getting as much done as she could. When he came back, she told him, "We're replacing the bracket," and he said, "Are you asking me, or telling me?" I laughed and said, "I think she's telling you, cuz she already took the other one off!" She scared the crap outta me for a minute when she said she was putting another "Clarity" bracket on. My eyes got real big, but I couldn't talk because I had that spit-sucker thing in my mouth. Thankfully, ortho told her no, that was the wrong one.

Wow! I can already see the bite on the left side lining up properly.

[Snowglobe32]

Hi Cathy,

It's been a while since I have been on this webpage.. Was it bad that I went right to your story to find out if you have been debraced yet? Then, was overjoyed when you hadn't??? That is just terrible of me I know...

Well, as you can see, I still have braces. I went in a couple of weeks ago for elastics. I am in cross-elastics again, 3 on the right and 2 on the left. Unfortunately, I have not been wearing them 24/7 because I am working on a political campagin and I can't talk to people with a mouth full of elastics, right? Plus, one of the left elastics has left a painful cut on the inside of my cheek! These things have been by far the worst part of braces! Plus, I hate the way they taste...just gross. If they can make flavored medical gloves, can't someone make flavored elastics?

I did meet one girl today who has had her braces for 5 years! She is 17 and said she hates to wear her elastics and that is why she is still in them....so maybe I should go put mine in and just grin and bear it???

I have to go back for an elastic check sometime in the next 3 or 4 weeks. I have been so busy that I can't remember anything these days.

But as for your teeth, I think they look beautiful, what is left to do? I don't get it?

[catgyrl]

Hey Snowglobe32!

LOL! I take no offense to your comment, because you've been braced even longer than I have, so I completely understand.

He's mainly working on my bite. I have a bit of an open bite on my left side (very, very slight, and nothing that's noticeable by anyone not versed in orthodontics), as well as trying to bring back my two upper central incisors. They still stick out a bit (but only noticeable if I tilt my head back). if they still look like is in July, I'm going to just tell him to remove them in August.

Re: Elastics: you really should try to wear them as much as possible. I know what a PITA they are. As long as I've had these zigzag "finishing" (what a joke that term is!) elastics, they still feel as tight as the day I first out them on 5 months ago. My speech is horrendous, and my coworkers are actually giggling at me when they can't understand me. I'm only able to wear them about 19-20 hours a day because I, too, need to talk a lot at work. But they most definitely DO work. I see a difference after only a week since my wire tweaks.

5 YEARS?! Aw, he'll no! That poor girl. But I can almost guarantee it's because she hasn't worn her elastics like she should.

Crossing my fingers for ya, girl!

[catgyrl]

Well, Adjustment number 850-something is done...

First thing I asked: "So... September?" I know that's not a grammatically correct sentence, but he knew exactly what I was asking. He actually said, "Yeah, I think that's do-able." I tried to ask, "How about August?" and he said, "Don't push your luck..." LOL! So, it looks like I may have a tentative debanding MONTH of September. Not going to jump for joy just yet, but I am hopeful.

For the first time in I-don't-know-how-long, he actually removed the bottom wire and made more bends in it. He said that because the top edges of my lower central incisors are sort of V-shaped, he wanted to raise those two teeth higher, and then do a bit of sanding down next month. I'd forgotten how sore those lower teeth can get when he makes those wire bends. OUCH! Headache already, only half hour after I got home. He's pleased with the progress of the uppers ("Lookin' really good.") He can't understand why I don't think the zigzag elastics aren't "the best thing since sliced bread". Very funny...

[Ellebraced]

Hi Cathy

YEAH a debanding month is a great thing. !!! And September is my favorite month of the summer (cause its cooler and all the tourists have gone home lol) ...not sure if that's the best month in Hawaii LOL cause you have 12 good months.

Thanks for the well wishes about my debanding date. I am very excited though suddenly 68 days feels SOOOOOO long. But all the next 3 appointment dates are booked so that is very exciting to know when things are going to happen. I already notice things moving in my mouth and think these extra couple changes are going to make a good difference.

Talk to you soon

Elle

[iBorg]

Got to post my "You Go Girl!" wishes. September may seem far off but it will be here before you know it. Strange thing is you'll miss them at times. Then you'll get giddy when you see someone with wires and think to yourself, "I'm glad its you and not me......"

When you'll miss them is when you want to scratch the inside of your lips and they're not there.

I look forward to seeing your big grin minus the tin....(yes I had to work for it)

[catgyrl]

Thanks, Elle and iBorg, for your support! I'm not sure how much I will miss my braces, though. I can't imagine that right now, but perhaps that will change. My friend got hers off over 20 years ago, and she still says she misses them.

I forgot to mention that my ortho and I had a rather lengthy conversation about black triangles/bonding/bone grafting. I had asked him if the black triangles that I have between the bottom front teeth (rather large ones) would need to be fixed with bonding. He went into this minute+ discussion about how I have a bit of bone loss there... How bonding could cover it up, but it wouldn't be something he would recommend because (1) it would probably have to be re-done, and (2) nobody can see those teeth, anyway. It just wouldn't be worth it. If it were between the upper teeth, that's a different story. I was thinking along the same lines, too, but just had to throw it out there. (Him, after a couple of minutes of talking: "Shall I go on...?" Me: "Nah, I think I got it. Not worth it."

I can't wait until next month when he shapes my teeth a bit more. It a little hard to see things clearly when your teeth are uneven. But, I trust he knows what he's doing.

[libbylou]

HI Cathy - so lovely to read that your date to be set free is in sight! My 12 year old has LOVED your story so much, she gets debraced in just one weeks time now, and she has followed you right the way through since she began. Its funny how she has fixed upon your story in particular out of all - I think its the way you write, and your overjet was similar to her own. You will be very much missed on this board thats for sure, once your debonding date comes!


All the very best of luck to you Cathy

[catgyrl]

HI Cathy - so lovely to read that your date to be set free is in sight! My 12 year old has LOVED your story so much, she gets debraced in just one weeks time now, and she has followed you right the way through since she began. Its funny how she has fixed upon your story in particular out of all - I think its the way you write, and your overjet was similar to her own. You will be very much missed on this board thats for sure, once your debonding date comes!

All the very best of luck to you Cathy

Awww... you just put the biggest smile on my face, libbylou! I'm glad my story has been of help to anyone. I'm trying to think if I had written any curse words over the past 2 years. I hope not... if so, I apologize! LOL!

I plan to stick around for a bit after debracing, if for nothing else but to grumble about my retainers. Best wishes to your daughter on her debracing next week!

[iBorg]

Cathy:
I'm glad you plan on sticking around after debracing. I think for many of us owe a debt to those who held our hands and listened to our vents. Its the pay it back portion of the pay it forward.

Mike