Jade's Story - braces round 2

[sjs8906]

Thanks so much Beauty is Pain, Joye30 and Openbite209!

Openbite209, here's hoping that you find an orthodontist that can treat you without surgery!

Joye30, good luck!! I'm so glad that my story could be a bit of encouragement for you! Hope you add your story as well!


Not much has changed since I last posted, except I have four new hooks in my mouth. The assistant putting them on joked that I hold the record for "patient with the most hooks." I'm not thrilled to hold that record lol. Here's my new elastic configuration (yes...still in elastics...forever), sorry for the weird focus in the photo:




My natural bite...mostly closed! (I don't think I've ever pointed out the kink in my archwire, on the canine in the left of this picture. It's supposed to be like that, ortho put it there ) :



From the side:



My upper arch...just for the heck of it (hasn't changed much):

[sjs8906]

At my appointment today my ortho took out the rest of the molar build-up. I had gotten so used to it I actually didn't know there was any left in there, I couldn't see it when I looked in the mirror. So after removing that my bite is better than I thought it was! Yay!

After that he said, "We are definitely nearing the end. Next appointment we'll talk." I hope that means, "Next appointment I will tell you when they're coming off!!!!"

Other than that I have no new news. But my teeth should be naked by the end of October, at least!

In celebration, I got adventurous:



ETA: He did tell me today that my bite will not be perfect when we finish, and that we can't achieve "perfect" without surgery. But I went into this experience with realistic expectations, so I knew that. My bite honestly FEELS perfect to me right now, compared to where I started! It has come SUCH a long way, and my orthodontist has just been so great about everything. So I am okay with slightly less than perfect!

[Joye30]

Woo-hoo for being near the end! Can't wait to see pictures w/o your braces on. I get mine on tomorrow, yikes

[bustachaina]

Looking great!

[sjs8906]

Thanks bustachaina and Joye!!



Soo...
I got a removal date! October 31st, Halloween!

[ajs604]

Hi sjs8906,

I have been reading your story and need an opnion from someone who has been through the same treatment as my dentist proposes. I have a very severe open bite approx 7-8 mm and only my back teeth touch. I have been reading your story. Anyway I have read out surgery ect and it is definatly a no go for me. I have been to see a orthodonist who has taken immpressions of my gums ect, ect. Anyway he has proposed using an expander like yours and 4 TAD's to intrude my back molars. He says he has very little expereince in dealing with open bites of my severity so is not sure of relapse occurences ect but he told me there is a good change it will improve - it can then be fixed in place with retainers.

What is your advice, has your treatment been a success since remval. Would appreciate any advice. Total price is $9000 (Aus). Look forward to hearing from you.

[sjs8906]

Hi sjs8906,

I have been reading your story and need an opnion from someone who has been through the same treatment as my dentist proposes. I have a very severe open bite approx 7-8 mm and only my back teeth touch. I have been reading your story. Anyway I have read out surgery ect and it is definatly a no go for me. I have been to see a orthodonist who has taken immpressions of my gums ect, ect. Anyway he has proposed using an expander like yours and 4 TAD's to intrude my back molars. He says he has very little expereince in dealing with open bites of my severity so is not sure of relapse occurences ect but he told me there is a good change it will improve - it can then be fixed in place with retainers.

What is your advice, has your treatment been a success since remval. Would appreciate any advice. Total price is $9000 (Aus). Look forward to hearing from you.

Hello! I still have 2 more days before removal so unfortunately I don't have much of an update on that.

Like you, I read tons of information about surgery and decided that it would be an absolute LAST option for me. Right now I'm extremely glad that I went the non-surgical route, because there has been so much improvement using TADs. Of course, there's no way to know if my teeth will shift back but right now things are looking really good.

Perhaps it would make you feel more comfortable to have a few more consultations with different orthodontists? Just to see if someone else may have more experience with open bites like yours.

Not sure when you are planning to start your treatment, but I am going to continue to update my story on here if you are still trying to make your decision in the weeks to come.

Personally, I say go for it...though I'm sure everyone is different, I have had a really good experience. Just make sure you choose an orthodontist that you trust and are comfortable with!

Good luck!!

[sjs8906]

Tomorrow is the big day!! After 20 months in braces and more than 2 years since I began treatment with the TADs and expander...tomorrow is removal day!!

I am SO excited. A little worried about the permanent retainers I'm getting because I'm scared that they will affect my speech, and after the awful lisp I got with the expander, I NEVER want to go through that again! But it seems like most people don't have a problem so hopefully I'm worried for nothing.

My appointment is at 8:45 tomorrow morning, I'll get them off (and have the last TAD removed, I'm a little squeamish about that too but removing the first TAD was a piece of cake) and have the permanent retainers put in, and take impressions for the removable retainers. Then I go back at 4:30 to pick up the retainers...and I'll be brace free for Halloween night!!

I've picked up some Crest White Strips that I'm going to TRY to refrain from using for a few days because I know they hurt sensitive teeth. My cleaning with my dentist is next week and I know they are going to try to talk me into professional whitening, but I loved the results I got with the white strips before braces so I plan to just stick with those...cheaper...

[Kipepeo]

I'm so jealous...and your teeth look awesome!

Think about me tomorrow night, Halloween, as you enjoy caramels, Jolly Ranchers, Snickers, and I am just saying NO!

[GillyWeed]

Your teeth look soo good! I hope removal is smooth for you. What kind of removable retainers will you be getting?

[sjs8906]

Thank you so much Kipepeo and Gillyweed!!! Kipepeo, I will definitely think of you while I eat Halloween candy haha! I can't wait to have caramel.

So...they are OFF!!

The removal went very smoothly. Some of my teeth felt kind of tender when she was snapping off the brackets but it went super quickly so it wasn't bad. Removing the TAD actually hurt a little...I didn't even feel it when they removed the first one a few months ago. But that was over quickly too so all in all, not too bad.

They put on my permanent retainers (they don't feel bad at all), took impressions for my removable retainers (I'm getting upper & lower Essix), took a picture for their Facebook page (ugh, lol), and they sent me on my way with a bag of caramel popcorn.

My teeth feel sooo smooth...and big haha. I remember thinking that when I got my first braces off as a teenager.

Overall...I LOVE THEM! I can't stop smiling! I was smiling in my rearview mirror the whole way home LOL.

Well, here they are! The first is a BEFORE shot for comparison.

P.S. My midline looks a little off in the 2nd picture but I think it's just the angle!

[BetsyBug]

WOW!!! Your teeth look amazing Jade!!!

[Kipepeo]

Very pretty. My open bite is not that bad, but I sure hope it will be fixed without TADs, because my ortho never mentioned them.

[sjs8906]

Thanks so much BetsyBug and Kipepeo!!

I don't think I have stopped smiling all day hahaha.

Aaannd one more photo just for the heck of it. Feels strange posting my full face!

[jem]

Your smile is fabulous. Congratulations

Jem