Jay04's Braces Story

[Ellebraced]

WOW!!!

Looking really good and straight!!!

I like your lig colour too!!

Elle

[MarciLouWho]

Can I just cut and paste what Elle said?! Amazing progress. I adore your lig colo(u)rs, too.

[Jay04]

Thanks guys,
They are starting to straighten out quite nicely. It's just the annoying gaps left now.

I like the lig colour too. It was a light blue which I stained green by eating an indian takeaway I don't actually like the light blue ligs. I only get them so I can stain them into the pretty green colour. I guess I could just get green ligs to start out with, but that would just be boring haha

[Jay04]

Had a new wire put in yesterday just on my upper teeth. She also pulled another bracket off up there and repositioned it. It didn't hurt at all this time which was great. I got silver ligs on this time. She said my teeth are rotating nicely. I think it's the ones near where I had my extactions done that she means. The power chains were taken off again. It seems like I wear them for a month, then off for a month. It's great as there was only minor pain this time due to the new wire. Power chains are evil!

[Jay04]

Here's my 3 months in upper braces pics




This is how my bite was before I started wearing braces


Compared to my bite today (Yay for the lack of teeth hitting the gums, I kinda forgot my bite was so bad)






I'm wondering how long it will take to close all these gaps. I think they've closed a bit, but I haven't really been checking out my pics for any difference lately.

I went to the dentist last week and he said I was keeping my teeth really clean. I was so worried that I hadn't brushed enough even though I am a bit obsessive about it.

I mentioned to him about some plaque behind my teeth so he got rid of it. It's left me with little black triangles between my bottom teeth though so that kinda sucks.

[BraceFace2o1o]

Wow your teeth are looking great! Great progress in just 3 months. I can't believe how much your bite has changed, amazing

I mentioned to him about some plaque behind my teeth so he got rid of it. It's left me with little black triangles between my bottom teeth though so that kinda sucks.

I had the exact same thing when I had a good clean in November. I got some plaque removed that was behind my lower front teeth and afterwards I had black triangles ... I think the plaque disguised them for ages so never knew they were there lol. But looking at photos of my teeth before the clean, I prefer the black triangles to the plaque/stains I had . I'm going to try and get another clean done in March or April, so about 3 or 4 months since my last... I can't afford it any more than that, and I've read so many different opinions on this, some people say once every 6 months while in braces and some say every 3 months.

[BraceFace2o1o]

Hey Jay!

I was just wondering if you've had any of your wires changed at your adjustments or just your ligs? I've had 2 upper 'adjustments' but only my ligs changed, I am still in the same wire that I got on fitting day.

[Jay04]

Hey Chrystal,
They seem to change my top wire every time, but I haven't had the bottom wire changed in months. Maybe it depends on how fast your teeth are moving? I think if they move to a thicker wire too soon, it puts too much pressure on the brackets or something and they can come off. Either that, or your teeth may move too fast which apparently isn't a good thing, as it can cause damage to the roots or something. I always get the ligs changed every time though.

[Jay04]

These are the pics I took at the 4th month mark. I was too lazy to upload them at the time

[Jay04]

And heres the photos from the 5 month mark.

Check out the weird gold hooks my ortho attached.








I've hit the 5 month mark and my top teeth have straightened out loads. I still have sooooo many gaps though. I was hoping the powerchains would start to move things along but haven't seen any movement since these photos were taken.

On another note, I moved house. I now have to travel 360 miles to see my orthodontist!!!! I had to move as I was living with a relative who sadly passed away over christmas. I hated living alone so I moved back in with my parents. They live by the beach so I'm happy I get to put my surfboard to good use again. It was getting a bit dusty in the attic. I kinda suck as I haven't been in so long, and I'm trying my hardest not to get hit in the face by the board as I don't want my teeth rearranged again!!!

[Jay04]

I've hit the 6 month mark for my upper braces!




My ortho put powerchains across all of my upper teeth on my last visit.

I actually got a bit of a shock as she said if they keep moving the way she hopes, I may only have 3 or 4 more visits left Ok, that translates to 3 or 4 more months but it's still great to be given an estimate of a debracing date.

[Jay04]

7 months in upper braces pics







She took off the awful gold hooks at my last appointment and also pulled off some brackets and stuck them on again in a different position. It hurts like hell every time. I also went back down a wire size for the moment.

[Kipepeo]

Wow Jay! I just read your story. Your teeth are looking amazing. I can't believe you had to wear that removable thing for so long, and really had few complaints about it.

[Jay04]

I'm free. I got my braces taken off on the 14th of July. It was extremely quick and painless. I had 3 appointments as I has a bonded retainer put behind my teeth first and some impressions taken. Then I went back for the braces off and more impressions. On my final appointment, I just had to collect my plastic retainers which I have to wear every night for like 5 months. I think the time has just flown by. I sorta miss my braces actually I'll post some photos when I have time.

[BraceFace2o1o]

I'm free. I got my braces taken off on the 14th of July.

Yay I am so happy for you!!

I just had to collect my plastic retainers which I have to wear every night for like 5 months.

How are you getting on with your retainers? I am going to be having the clear retainers too.