Snaggletooth's story... just got 4th adjustment

[joney]

Great progress Steve.
Regards
Joney

[snaggletooth steve]

Thanks everyone... good to see that my original support crew found this post!

I went in for the adjustment Monday... they fully engaged all brackets to the top wire. I thought they were gonna snap my top front teeth out of my head when they started cranking down! I've had some soreness but overall I haven't had a problem eating or anything. Based on their reactions to the movement, they seemed a bit surprised that I had made it this far so quickly. I'd always considered my teeth a little loose and I think it is because they were just so snaggled... no support from the neighboring teeth, so to speak.

No changes done to the bottom wire.. I still have two teeth off the wire but they expect to put on on the wire in March. They were very pleased with the movement of the teeth in question as well.

On a side note, they are now a client of mine! I literallly went from working to the chair and back to working. Feels weird not to be out in the waiting room waiting for my name to be called. I'm still doing work for the original ortho as well. As of the moment, we are trading services so I was able to avoid paying this month's payment. Let's hope this arrangement works out, as both of our kids are going to need braces I'm afraid.

[snaggletooth steve]

Updated top post with details of my 4th adjustment. Still very pleased with the movement, although I know I'm about to get into the subtle movement phase with all the rubberbands and such.

Sometimes I still can't believe I'm in braces, or that my teeth could possibly look this normal after 35 years of snaggle! But then I bite into something and see a nice arch. Amazing how satisfying something as simple as that can be!

[joney]

Looking really good Steve

Sometimes I still can't believe I'm in braces, or that my teeth could possibly look this normal after 35 years of snaggle!

I know exactly how you feel. I think people like you and I who start out with bad malocclusion really appreciate the changes we see. I keep checking out my 4 in a row bottom incisors now and am so happy with them.

Keep us updated, I look forward to seeing your final pics when they come off, it will be a really good day.

Regards
Joney

[snaggletooth steve]

I haven't been around much lately but I'm still out here. Thought I'd share a photo of my last free tooth. It's putting up a fight but in 19 days it shall be enslaved to the archwire like all the others. As you can see, I've had significant movement to make room for it. All this movement from one little rubber band on the back bicuspid. Really should have the rubber band on the front bicuspid now since it needs to rotate slightly to fit the back one. Anyway, there is nearly enough room for the canine to fit in place now. It is quite annoying to have it sticking up when the rest of the arch is lined up.

Also when they tied that front bicuspid into the arch wire, it pulled the row of incisors down. They were very sore for a week! And now when they hook that canine up, they'll be pulled back up! Another week of soreness for sure, well worth it though.

steve



Day 194

[Danielle]

Your pictures look great! Congrats on all the progress!

[Laurie]

Oh Wow! That's a lot of progress! I hope things keep moving as fast in the future!

[snaggletooth steve]

See top of first post... today was my 4th adjustment. Ouchie!

[snaggletooth steve]

I'm still out here! I'm right at two years in now and still in braces. Things are going ok. Progress has slowed down but everything is in the right place. I just went into my first upper power-bands, although only on the four front teeth. Also just got my first rubber bands connecting uppers to lowers. They are 6 ounce bands and very tight.

During my last appointment, they removed and replaced four brackets. I was expecting a lot of discomfort but they all popped right off.
Definitely ready to get out of these things though. It looks like I have six to nine months left depending on some decisions I make at the next visit.

The biggest problem now is just leveling and a few minor position adjustments. The Dr wants me to get two uppers removed to reduce over-bite but I'm not too hot about losing any more teeth than I did before all this began.

I'll throw up some pics in the near future.

Steve

[acd]

It's good to hear from you again Steve and I'm glad things are progressing for you. I just hit the two year mark as well and the novelty of having braces has definitely worn off, though I’ll keep them on as long as it takes—I’m only doing this once!