Another braces story

[luchababe]

It's the night before my next ortho appointment.

My elastics "make" me clench my teeth so just about every tooth feels loose and achey. It's not like the elastics are really tight, it's the mental thing of sub consciously knowing they're there so I clench without knowing it.

My bottom 4 teeth at the front are all that's left to move and I don't think they HAVE moved in months, except a mm or two. Those teeth have hurt or have been sore since I got braces and I'm getting weary of it.

Just feeling frustrated. I'm in the home stretch even though it's a long one. I can't help but think those teeth have to finish off, my elastics have to finish their work, then there's the finishing wires for a month or two I bet. It'll be a while before I get a debracing date.

I'm pretty sure I'm past the half way point, that at 17 months in braces I will have less than 17 months to go before they're off, but I'm having a low patience day all around. I feel like I'm living in 4-6 weeks increments all based around my ortho visits. Each holiday or event to look forward to has a "I'll probably still have braces then" thought attached to it. Trips, weekends, Easter, May 2-4 (for us Canadians), July 1, FanExpo in August, fall, Halloween....

Ok, I think I'm done ranting. But not quite done feeling sorry for myself. Just a bit longer and I'll be back to normal.

[Ellebraced]

Awwww Luchababe I was just thinking, I wonder how that chic is doing? Does she know she's probably on page 2 now lol

MAY 2-4 !!!! Best long weekend.

Yes I hear yeah. It's like this is NEVER GOING TO END, even though we know it will. It is not really exciting any more, its just another event with braces. I was unrealistically thinking for summer even though it will only be 18 months (sentence 2 1/2 years) but I am thinking if its Christmas I will be lucky then oh maybe Halloween or Oh WHO KNOWs?????

SERENITY NOW SERENITY NOW!!!!!!!!!!!

I have a lot of things to move but one tooth I know is going to be the one that doesn't want to move.

UGHHHHHHH!!! Hang in there. I can't wait to hear what your ortho says, ask how much longer? LOL

Elle

[luchababe]

Visit #17 today and it was a painful one. I was teasing (though I was serious) that my hands were sweating by the end of it.

Top teeth are still good.

My bottom teeth are "stubborn" so he torqued the heck out of the wire to help rotate and even off my front teeth. So much torque that he had to call over an assistant to hold something down with a pick while he pushed and tugged. Then he leaves and comes back and says, let's do that again with a bit less torque! So the wire comes out again and back in with more struggles. Yeesh. He said he might have to torque the wire again next time but he'll see.

No more bumpers on my bottom front teeth but he had to scrape off some plaque that built up underneath then. He didn't get it all and I can really see some blech there on my brackets. My next cleaning isn't until the first week of May. I guess I shouldn't fret since he never asked "When's your next cleaning?" or mentioned it at all. Speaking of plaque, that one bottom front tooth has ANOTHER smudge of calculus! That ONE TOOTH is just a magnet for the stuff.

I'm back into Thailand elastics. I was in those to start with then spent the last 3 weeks in Switzerland which are lighter. But back to Thailand 24-7 for 4 weeks. I've figured out it's the elastics that make everything hurt. Just taking them out for an hour at night to eat dinner makes everything feel better. Then once they're back in, the ache comes back.

On the plus side, he said at my next visit he'll start evaluating me to get me out of them. That's a good thing I'm sure but it sounds vague!

Ellebraced: Funny how excited and "into" our braces we were at the beginning, like most people I would think. Now I'm like "Meh, you'll get over it". When I read posts. But in a good way, not in a "stop whining" kind of way. I keep telling myself and my answer when people ask is "I'll have them off this year." I hope I'm right!

[luchababe]

Ortho appointment # meh.

I think my butt was in the chair all of 45 seconds. He moved my jaw around, said he loved what he saw and that he'd might tweak my bottom wire again next time I'm in. Then I left with another bag of elastics which I still have to wear 24/7. I guess it's a good thing because my one bottom tooth is really sore from the kink he put into it last time. For the first time I was really NOT looking forward to them pushing and pulling at my teeth. So I have another 4 weeks to stop the ache. He also said it'll be a few months more then I can get them off. No definite date, just "a few months more". As long as it's in 2012...

[luchababe]

Well that was painful. Again. Back from the ortho. Powerchains back on the top and bottom. The added little wire hooks to the brackets on the top teeth on either side of my front teeth. So instead of elastics 24/7 it's now a triangle shape from the top 2 to the bottom 1 only at night. The elastics are "India" and they're teeny little things which will probably hurt like heck for the first few nights. The Dr. re-kinked my bottom wire, then it was him and a hygienist working together to put that sucker back in. PAIN. ACHE. Squinty eyes and balled fists kind of pain and discomfort.

Back in another 4 weeks.

There is a small light at the end of this tunnel though. The appointment after my next one, so probably in 8 weeks, they MIGHT put in the bonded lingual retainer on the bottom. MIGHT. Not holding my breath here. I'd rather have definite answers than "We'll see" so I don't ask a lot about how I'm doing or when they'll come off.

[luchababe]

Finally did up my 18 months photo set.

[luchababe]

Last night was probably in my top 3 most painful nights in braces ever. The powerchains made my top and bottom teeth ache to start with, then the triangle shape of the elastics pulled on the already sore teeth from the freshly torqued wire and powerchains, which made me clench my teeth all night. I woke myself up a few times, once I managed to get to sleep, by moaning in pain.

[BellaBraces]

I love the progress pics!

Hope the ouchies stop soon. I had my first adjustment yesterday. Oh how wonderful I felt yesterday when it felt no worse than it did before. This morning I feel like I have been kicked in the face by a horse!

[Ellebraced]

LOOKING really good LUCHABABE!!

No pain no gain but ouchy ,sounds horrible.

Sounds like they will be off in no time. I will race you to the end!! (though I am going to the ortho for the 3rd time in 10days because a lig came off my front lower bracket ughhhhhhh after normal adjustment and then wire wasn't installed) Getting really sick of going there this much .....unless its to have them off



Have a great long weekend!! I have house guests arriving any minute!! Let the summer of chaos begin!! Only downfall to living in a tourist town!

[luchababe]

Back from the ortho. Fresh powerchains on top and bottom. Had a nib of wire that was poking me snipped off the top right at the back. Don't have to wear the elastics at night anymore. For future reference, they looked like this:

and hurt like a son-a-ma-gun. Back to an elastic on the left side 24/7 and then both sides at night.

It's possible I could have the braces off in 2 visits, which is about 8 weeks time. It was written in my file as "BD??? 2V". So those question marks keep it up in the air, and the Dr. said "Don't hold me to that" but at least it's something to look forward to just a little bit. I'll be having them off, molds done I guess, and the permanent wire bonded on the bottom all in the same visit.

Longest summer ever ahead.

[Ellebraced]

Hey I was wondering how you was been. I go to the ortho later today to find out my fate too.

Your teeth look awesome I don't know how they could get any better, your ortho must be a perfectionist.

I just noticed your elastics are one tooth over than mine, how do you even talk with them on??

YEAH TO 8 WEEKS!!!!! That is my estimated date too or sooner ?? Let you know later. Yes that's two long weekends and a lot of BBQs but hey its almost over !!!!!!!

[luchababe]

Your teeth look awesome I don't know how they could get any better, your ortho must be a perfectionist.

I just noticed your elastics are one tooth over than mine, how do you even talk with them on??

I only had to wear them at night, for obvious reasons! Couldn't talk properly at all with them. And I hope he's not TOO much of a perfectionist. My bottom front 4 teeth still sorta slant down, like they're not perfectly even across the tops. I figure if you look at some of today's celebrities they have some crazy teeth stuff going on. Surely little ole' me can get away with a bit of wonkiness! Can't be perfect all the time.

[GillyWeed]

Hey luchababe:) I was just scanning your story and my God, your teeth are beautiful! I cannot wait till I have perfectly round arches like yours.

Here's to wishing you the best in what little of your journey is left

[Johnie Cocoa]

OMG! Your teeth look amazing!!! I hope my results are as good as yours! Wow.

[Johnie Cocoa]

I also like the amount of detail you put into your journal posting. Just amazing