CarolEEna's journey to a better smile...

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#16 Post by **carolEEna** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:39 pm

Went to get the 2 spacers put back in yesterday. I had a different person do it and the way he did was so quick and painless! Wonder why the girl I had didn't do it the way he did it. She hurt me badly! Hope they stay in place.

Today is my 4th day and I'm still very sore. But I haven't had to take any pain medication today. Like I said, I think it's mainly because of the spacers. I am not able to chew anything yet. So as long as I don't chew anything I'm good to go.

I'm getting my 4 teeth taken out tomorrow @ 1pm. Quite nervous about it. But hoping it all goes well. DH will be with me. Am crossing the border again, so it will be a long drive home. Hope he gives me some good pain medication.

I am taking Monday off to recover.

#17 Post by **Miss Smiley** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:45 pm

crossing the border? Geez, how far is your dentist? Anyhow, good luck on your extractions, don't forget to eat something before hand so you aren't starving while your mouth is numb!

#18 Post by **HIMgurl** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:56 pm

Good luck tomorrow! Everything will go smoothly! No worries!

#19 Post by **carolEEna** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 4:44 pm

Miss Smiley wrote:crossing the border? Geez, how far is your dentist? Anyhow, good luck on your extractions, don't forget to eat something before hand so you aren't starving while your mouth is numb!

Well, to do it here it'd be between $800 and $1,469. It's $280 to do it in Mexico. It's about an hour and a half drive (depending on traffic of course). Thanks for the reminder, I'll be sure to fill up!

HIMgurl wrote:Good luck tomorrow! Everything will go smoothly! No worries!

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll let you guys know how it goes.

#20 Post by **Miss Smiley** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 5:07 pm

$280 for 4 extractions? WOW totally worth the drive and time!

#21 Post by **carolEEna** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 5:20 pm

I know! I did do a lot of research though to find him and make sure he's a good dentist.

#22 Post by **carolEEna** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 8:29 pm

I'm finally home and in a lot of pain.

But I just downed a vicodin, so I should be feeling better soon.

I must say that he was a great dentist. Wonderful chair-side manner, making sure I was okay throughout the process. Barely felt anything when he injected the novacaine. He also explained to me what I'd feel and hear. He was great. It took a while to get the teeth out as they were very stubborn and he had to be really careful not to break any of my brackets. So I was there for about an hour and a half. No joke.

I'm still bleeding a little though.

Just finished biting down on teabags in hopes it stops the bleeding. *crossing fingers*

I have to keep reminding myself why I'm doing this. For a beautiful smile!

#23 Post by **carolEEna** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 3:56 pm

Hello again! It's been a few days since posting. Sunday was really bad as I thew up a few times. Guess I swallowed a little too much blood. Yuck. The vicodin wasn't working very well and was making me super jittery and my heart race, so I nixed that and had DH buy some ibuprofen which worked like a charm as long as I took it on time. The salt water rinses have been really helpful. I was out from work Monday and Tuesday recovering. Went back to work on Wednesday. Each day it gets better and better. Thank goodness!!!!!

Two spacers came out. Will get them put back in on Tuesday as well as the rest of my wire/bands. That's about it so far!

#24 Post by **Miss Smiley** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 6:31 pm

Glad to hear you're recovering well!

#25 Post by **carolEEna** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 9:53 pm

Thanks Miss Smiley!!!

I got 6 molars banded yesterday and 2 spacers on the others. They didn't realize I was supposed to get a TPA appliance when I called to tell them 2 spacers fell out. So they're in for another week. These hurt really bad because I have bands on the molars next to them, so a band and a spacer. Ouch!

I also got completely wired on the bottom! My top wire got changed and goes all the way back to my 1st molars. It feels better when I smile now.

The lower left band is really annoying; keeps nicking my tongue, so I've been putting wax on it. The lower arch wire is digging into my lip, so that's also getting waxed. As well as the hooks/brackets on my top & lower 1st molars. Other than that and a little soreness and pressure, it's all good!

Wax is my new best friend, again.

I bought a waterpik this weekend and tried it out this morning. It felt really weird, a little too strong even on the low setting - it also depends on how I angle it and which area. But I can see it's great at getting the stuff out of your brackets! And whoever said it gets you to clean your mirror more often was right!

I'm sure I'll love it once I get the hang of it! Maybe it's too soon to use too, with my extractions still healing.

Next is my quest for an electric toothbrush. There's so many choices!

#26 Post by **Miss Smiley** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 10:31 am

Waterpik is awesome! I also found that you get the hang of not giving your mirror a powerwash after a few days. Though, I still forget sometimes and get a big dribble down my shirt. Sorry you have bands and spacers... I only had two spacers and one band... but they were both after I had been braced for a while so it was no big deal. Sorry that isn't the case for you.

#27 Post by **carolEEna** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 10:59 pm

Thanks! Nice to know I'll eventually get the hang of it.

My teeth have been very sore, but I'm amazed at how quickly they have moved. I'm not using wax much either, just a little here and there. Oh and I also bought that Rincinol P.R.N Oral Rinse and while I dislike the flavor and smell (similar to black liquorish), it's helped tremendously the 2 times I've used it. Worth the $.

I also purchased the flossfish from dentakit.com (super fast shipping btw) and while I only got it yesterday, it's been a lifesaver with flossing. So much that I showed it to my ortho and suggested she buy some and add them to the 'starter kit' she hands out. I also mentioned the dentakits and how they had them for adults and teens. Hopefully she buys some! I know she's getting the floss fish for sure, she was so excited about it.

Oh and I've been clenching my teeth at night, so my ortho recommended the stressguard ($45 in her office; $10.95+shipping on dentist.net). It's a little too big for my mouth and not sure where I'm supposed to trim it. So I'm really glad I didn't buy it from my ortho.

Today I went back to get my upper back molars banded and the TPA impressions made. The bands went on just fine. And then I got some AWESOME news...No TPA appliance!!!!!

She said that since my molars are in the right place (a little crooked, but right place) and my roots are deep and strong, that she would use them instead as the 'anchor' (I think that's what she said). Fine by me!!!

So I'm finally completely braced and wired! Do I start counting from today or from when I got my brackets put on?

Next appointment is in 4 weeks!

#28 Post by **Miss Smiley** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 11:34 am

Woohoo! I got both arches braced separately so I'm not sure when to count my b-day. Does that mean I could possibly get two braceversaries!

#29 Post by **carolEEna** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 3:26 pm

I know I haven't been here in a long time, but I wanted to give a quick update.

I was de-braced this morning @ 9:00am!

It didn't take long and there were only a couple of brackets that were uncomfortable to remove. The removal of the glue wasn't too bad; it was more the noise and smell that bothered me. I got the chills a few times. lol

They sang me a song and gave me a goodie bag full of chocolate candy bars with two balloons attached, as well as a card signed by the entire staff.

She’s giving me Essix retainers for both upper and lower. I pick them up this afternoon.

It’s sooo awesome to be free of my braces!! I keep running my tongue across my teeth. lol

Before being de-braced:

After being de-braced:

Metal Mouth Message Board

CarolEEna's journey to a better smile...

I've been de-braced!!!