My Orthodontic Dreams Realized...

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#16 Post by **sunflr77** » Tue Aug 30, 2005 4:55 pm

I have spoken to my ortho about my concerns and she seems convinced that they cannot be fixed without jeopardizing the stability of my bite.
I know when my braces come off my teeth will look great to the casual observer but as someone who has been obsessed with her teeth for the past 12 months I will notice the minor imperfections.

I'm sure I'll be delighted when they come off I was happy 3 months into my journey when my gap initially closed.

Thanks KK and hannah for your support.

#17 Post by **HollyDontSpend** » Tue Aug 30, 2005 8:18 pm

Sunflr, you're teeth are beautiful! I apologize if someone has already asked, but how do you keep your brackets so clear?? Wow! I feel sheepish for the less than adequate care of my brackets. Wishing you well on your eventual deband date.

#18 Post by **sunflr77** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 8:30 am

HollyDontSpend thanks for the compliment. I must admit that my photos my be misleading. It boils down to 3 things:

1. All of the pictures were taken the day of or several days after an adjustment. The pictures show my ligs at their best before any food managed to stain them.
2. I use my Sonicare toothbrush religiously. I love it and bought it shortly after getting braced. The 2nd best investment ever as far as my teeth go.
3. I think the lighting and the flash of my camera make everything seem brighter and shinier.

#19 Post by **sunflr77** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 7:18 pm

I went in yesterday to have my braces removed and honestly I did not get excited until I was about 2 blocks away from my orthos office. The days leading up to yesterday I wasn't excited at all about having them removed.

When I got there the assistant had me rinse my mouth out with 3 cups of warm water. She said that it helps with the removal of porcelin brackets. After that my ortho came over and had me open and close a few times and then she took out her special tool and started popping the brackets right off. This part was pretty uneventful as most of the brackets came off in one piece with very little pain. There was one tooth that actually hurt when she put pressure on it to try to pop the bracket off but that was it.

After all the brackets were off I of course ran my tongue across my teeth and they felt like slime. Not the best feeling in the world. Now here's the part that no one told me about that was the worst part about the whole removal process. My ortho started to sand the glue off of my teeth and that in itself was not so bad what was bad was the fact that the instrument she used shot water all over my face and neck and even up my nose. Had I known that I was going to be doused in water I would have worn a wet suit and swim cap. That part took quite a while and then she polished my teeth like my hygenist does and then she handed me a mirror. OMG I was shocked, I couldn't believe the teeth that I saw in the mirror. My teeth looked HUGE I felt like I had horse teeth and I was in total shock.

After my quick sneak peek at my new smile my ortho proceeded to apply my upper and lower bonded retainers. This part really wasn't that bad but it seemed like a tedious process. She first applied this etchent to the back of my teeth and let it dry for a minute of two and then she put floss between my teeth and did a whole bunch of other things that seemed to take forever and left a foul taste in my mouth. After that was finished I had molds made for my essix retainers. I got out of the chair and took a look at my teeth in the big mirror and was still in shock. One other thing that amazed me was how flat/thin my teeth seemed I don't know if that makes sense at all.

I go back in a week for my essix retainers and then a month after that.

Anyway, here are some pictures of the final results.

I tried to take pics of my bonded retainers but that proved to be an impossible task. My speech has not been hindered by the retainers and they really do not take much time to get used to. The only issue I am having with them is that my tongue is still getting used to the bumpy feeling on the back of my teeth and I'm sure that will subside in a few days.

#20 Post by **Nikkiekoala** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 7:26 pm

Your teeth look fantastic! Congrats on making it thru' the process with flying colors

#21 Post by **sunflr77** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 7:29 pm

Thanks so much. The final result was definitely worth all the pain and aggravation.
Best of luck on your journey.

#22 Post by **Clo** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 12:54 am

Oh my,

your teeth look like that model my ortho showed me at my first
consultation. That model that everyone knows is just so perfect nobody
can get teeth like that. But you do, congratulations ! Again a prove
what braces can achieve. Just WOW !!

#23 Post by **sunflr77** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 5:45 am

KK thanks a bunch for the compliment, I am proud of myself and it was the best money ever spent on myself and I'm happy that I finally bit the bullet. I sometimes wonder how different things may have been for me had I made the decision sooner.

Clo your words are too too kind. Believe you me, my teeth are far from model perfect. I've been following your story for the past year or so and you've made some great strides so far and I'm sure you'll be blown away with your final results as well.

#24 Post by **nahky** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 8:00 pm

A big congratulations to you sunflr77!

Before my bracial journey, i came across this site and read your story. It was a a big source of inspiration to my because i had a gap in my front teeth and i would come to your story and would hope my gap would close as quickly as yours. It has closed now and everything is great

Its nice to see your teeth have come out so well

once again, congrats! I bet you are smilin and grinning more than ever.... woohoo!

#25 Post by **bbsadmin** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 11:38 pm

You look terrific!

Congrats on having naked teeth again....and no more gaps!

#26 Post by **Dodger(UK)** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 4:51 am

Hi sunflr77 - Your teeth look nothing short of sensational!

You should have warned me then I could have put the shades on

You described your debonding experience very well, and it was almost identicle to how it was for me too. Welcome to the naked club - and you will soon get used to your bonded retainers behind your teeth

#27 Post by **M1k3y** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 2:08 pm

I know I'm late on this but your finished results look marvelous.