Tommm's story

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#16 Post by **Tommm** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 2:26 pm

One Month Anniversary!!

Ok actually tomorrow is my one month anniversary but I jumped the gun. Let's start with the pictures!

Here's day 1 (or 5?):

1 month later:

So no major difference from what I can "see" but I definitely "feel" the difference. My bite is totally different and my teeth are hitting in strange places. Sometimes I clash them together at night and it hurts! I've also started to notice some strange spaces in the bottom front teeth.

Summary of how I feel/things I've learned after month 1:

1. I actually love having braces!! I guess I'm a sucker for mixing forward progress with bouts of self pity.

2. I would kill for nachos!

3. Brushing your teeth at a fast food restaurant "feels" dirty. But my teeth are clean!

4. Canker sores = bad. Ortho wax = good

5. My smiling frequency has not changed at all. Keep smiling everyone!

#17 Post by ***tap*** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 2:45 pm

hey tommm, nice to see your progress cos like you said in my story we both have high canines and it does look like its getting into line and your bottoms ones have moved too

..i hope my canines do soon they make my brace so much more bulky than it is, i really like your brace too good choice its not really that obvious isit... sooo wish my teeth were kinda straight gna take forever. god it will be worth it i cant wait!!!!!!!!!!

#18 Post by **real2** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 9:54 pm

I'm surprised that canine hasn't moved more, but considering the wire (probably the thinnest one right now), and ceramics, it's probably taking a tiny bit more

#19 Post by **brika** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:18 pm

Happy First Month Braceversary! Look at that wire starting to straighten itself out. Fantastic progress! :D
Its great to hear you're loving your braces. (Don't tell anyone, but I secretly love mine too! Shh..)
Do you have a first adjustment coming up soon?

#20 Post by **Tommm** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:34 am

Thanks for the support everyone

The first adjustment is coming up on March 9th. Can't wait!

One question though. I was under the impression that the clear self ligating brackets don't increase treatment time like the traditional ceramics? Not that I would have gone metal but it would have been nice if my ortho had mentioned something...

#21 Post by **Rachel B** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 1:21 pm

Hey Tommm,

I can definitely see some progress on your lowers.

Happy one month!!

#22 Post by **Blake24** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:15 pm

Hey Tom,

I can definitely see progress, especially on your lowers! My 1 month is coming up (March 2nd) and I haven't seen the tiniest bit of movement, so good for you! I still have to wait till mid-April before I get my first adjustment and my lowers on. I am guessing at my first adjustment they will increase the gauge of the wire. I hear after the 1st adjustment (or maybe the 2nd, I can't remember) you start to see some big improvements. But it looks like you are coming along!

Blake

#23 Post by **Miranbrady20** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 11:20 pm

looking good! i love when i see progress! its makes it all worth while

Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:50 pm

Hey Tommm,

Congrats on making it through the first month. Your progress has been amazing so far!

#25 Post by **pisceangirl** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 1:51 am

Hey Tommm - good luck with your first adjustment!

#26 Post by **amandad09** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 12:21 pm

Be sure to let us know how today's adjustment went! I had my first one today also, I've updated my blog!

#27 Post by **Tommm** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 5:16 pm

First Adjustment!!

I read a lot of posts on this board about how it hurt really bad to have Damon doors opened and closed. I wondered how it could hurt so bad to have little slider things move up and down. So I walked into my first adjustment today thinking that it'll be cake. Then I proceeded to learn my first lesson of the day:

Lesson 1 - Take 2 advil before going to an adjustment!

Ok so it wasn't that bad but it was NOT pleasant on some of the teeth. I swear that the the assistant, who ironically has the same name as a gentle flower, was sadistic and laughed as I groaned in pain. She said, and I quote,

"You're going to think a lot about me for the next few days."

To this I replied, "It could have been in a good way but now...aaaarrrrgghh" as she closed a particularly tight bracket door onto my new archwire.

But it really wasn't that bad, since I'm a tough guy and all. I was just sweating because it was hot in there. I swear...

Oh and on the way out my ortho gave me the excellent news that I have to get three wisdom teeth extracted asap. Gah!

Cool Changes!

So hear's the cool stuff. The top archwire was changed from a 0.04 to a 0.08. The bottom wire is now a 16s (don't remember exactly) square wire from the same 0.04. The wires are much more noticeable now but I'm excited about the change and I'm looking forward to seeing how things move with the thicker wires. This is what they look like from the front:

Day 5:
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/523/day5web.jpg

Today:
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/6080/1 ... tfront.jpg

Now check out the lowers since my one month pics (about 1.5 weeks ago):

1 month:
http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/833/1monthlower.jpg

Today:
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/4354/1st ... tlower.jpg

How can these flimsy little wires do so much! It never ceases to amaze me. Next update will probably be the puffy faced update post-wisdom teeth extraction. Until then, keep smiling everyone![/b]

#28 Post by **Tommm** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 5:20 pm

Forgot the image tags! Hopefully the edit function will be available soon

front:

Day 5:

Today:

lowers::

1 month:

Today:

#29 Post by **wallywest** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 5:42 pm

that arch is looking pretty good , and I wish my ortho used your brackets, those things are self ligating and clear , win win .
Progress is looking pretty sweet and quick
Looks like your are going to be outta here sooner than expected

#30 Post by **amandad09** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 6:56 am

Wow! Big changes! That sucks about the extractions.

I forgot to take some pain meds before my appointment too. It wasn't too bad but boy do my teeth aaaaaaaaachhheeee this morning. I hope this is only temporary. Ouch!