Can I do it?

[anngie27]

Wow ebony, your teeth r looking great!! So glad u r sticking with rhis. Congrats on yor 6 month anniversary!

[jem]

Hello Eb,

That is great progress in the month since your last pic and definitely great progress in only 6 months total. You must be so pleased you have decided to continue your treatment.

Congratulations!

Jem

[EbonyQ]

Thanks guys! Right now I’m very glad that I did not take them off and I must try to remember this feeling when/if the anxiety will be back. Have had some nights where I can feel it but I try to push it away.

And I think my ortho and I just found the right groove too . We have had a few ups and downs, some downs might come in the future too, but it looks like he understands how my anxiety works and how best “treat” it now.

Last time he showed me an x-ray of someone with an impacted canine and the chain attached to it and the braces. I turned around at once and he started to laugh . He then tried to explain how this worked and when he came to how they tightened these he made those crazy bone crackling sounds while he showed with his hands in the air how they do the tightening (just with a “little” exaggeration from his side ). It looked like he had the time of his life

He did the same in the reception too right before I left, that awful noise and the tightening in the air

Since this is not something that I will have in my treatment he knows that I won’t react the same way to it. This is why I can work at a ortho clinic without “die”, I can separate treatment on others from my own. But he would never have done that in the beginning of our treatment, that's for sure .

I’m sure if someone put a camera in there they would die of laughter

When all this is done I must give him a huge present, he is working like a hero for this

[starfish88]

Thats an amazing difference! Congrats! I'm so pleased you have been able to keep going with braces to get and hopefully build on this incredible smile!

[NICURN85]

Ebony,

Your teeth are looking GREAT!! I am glad you decided not to give up on treatment. Way to go and keep it up!!

[Teacher03]

Just read ur amazing story............. amazing progress!

[EbonyQ]

So it’s settled, I’m getting my lower braces. Had my extraction today so there is no way back now!

Not only did this tooth have a tiny space to grow (and for the dentist to get hold on it) but the root was bent too. This made it more complicated: the root broke and he had to “cut” some gum to get the tooth out, using all his muscles so it felt like my lower jaw was going to break. He gave me so much LA that it looked like I had a stroke in the chair (he had to because the first “shot” did not work and I could feel some pain).
A few stiches and we were done .

One thing is sure and that is that I would rather do this extraction one more time than have an ortho appointment!

My ortho know about extractions and since I’m such a “special” pt he found a bonding app very fast, he did not want me to wait too long (hahaha! ). Don’t know when, he will call me on that day. He just “I will call you very soon!”

[klobird]

WOW!! 7 months!! You are passing up a lot of people on this board now!

I would have 10 ortho appts instead of another extraction-- And I was asleep!
How many teeth have you had pulled now?

I get it now about being called for an appt at the last minute--when my dentist called out of the blue to ask me if I wanted an open spot on their schedule last week (for my 6 month check-up), or to wait until my appt in a couple of weeks--I jumped on the appt last week. I didn't have any time at all to freak out--it was really good. I wish they would do that every time. Maybe I need to talk to them about it!

You sound so much better now as far as the braces--you've really got some serious time invested now!

Oh--I have a new neighbor who is really into traveling--maybe we will both be in Norway in 2013!!

[EbonyQ]

Thanks Klobird!

Yes, not knowing the time and date is a “blessing”, no date to focus on. I think this was the thing that saved me. The funny thing is that my ortho is so thrilled about this, I guess he finally could see some result from all the time and energy he has put into this (he has truly been amazing). I’m sure most other orthos had given me up a long time ago.

Wow, 7 months! Where did the time go?! I guess part of my counting will start on day one when my lower ones go on. I wonder how I will react, if I will react same as I did with uppers or be more in control.


And yes, come come to Norway!

[TMJJill]

Way to go for sticking with the braces!!!

Look how long you've made it. You need to find something to treat yourself with when you get the lowers on.

You beat me with your lowers. I got mine last month at the 11 month mark.

[plugnickel69]

Hey Ebony. I've been following your story and want to say that I admire your courage and respect the fact that you are following through with treatment and getting your lower braces. It must be very comforting to you that you have so much support on these boards. Keep up the good work! Hard to believe you're already 7 months in. I'm only a couple of weeks behind you.

[Angel269]

Hi Ebony

Your uppers are looking great at 6 months

Good luck with your lowers, you will be fine (you know what to expect)

I have my 2nd adjustment tomorrow and am now 2 months in-I was told max of about 9 months. My teeth are pretty straight now and upright, just a case of closing up the gaps so powerchains for me (I already have a powerchain on just my 2 front teeth!)

[EbonyQ]

Thanks everyone! I must admit that I can feel the anxiety a bit since this tooth is out but I hope it won’t make me run away. Got a strange feeling that my ortho will call me on Friday

Angel269: Power chains "shudder"
Wow! That’s not bad my brave friend! Power chains is not on my treatment plan, at least not until I ask him to use one (something that I do not intend to do). He is treating me as if there is not going to be any power chains, even though I know he want to use one to close a gap (I’m just pretending that I don’t take his hint, lol ).

9 months treatment?! Do you want my treatment plan instead? You get a power chain free treatment and a wonderful ortho with it. 9 months will be over before you know it Good luck!

[Angel269]

Hi Ebony

Thanks for your comments. I don't think I could hack upper and lower braces at the same time

Had my 2nd adjustment today-I think I will be looking at the 8 month mark now, so that takes me to Feb (I'm 1/4 way there!)

[jem]

Hi Ebony,

Congratulations on getting your lower brace soon. I'm sure you will find it quite easy having now become accustomed to your upper brace and with the support of such a lovely orthodontist. I look forward to seeing pictures!



Jem