My Braces Story - Overbite Overjet

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

Monday I called the office and they said oh how about Tuseday the 20th at 1:40pm. So I took that one. Ok so today I had a final exam in Anatomy and Physiology. My teacher was very cool about me leaving at 10:30 to walk over to the bus terminal so since I came early ay 8am to school he let me take the lecture exam before the practical in Lab thne just leave when I was finished. So I hopped on the bus to go see my orthodontist and was off by 11am. There was NO traffic up there at that time so I managed to get there within an hour and 15 minutes to the station which is actually more north 30 minutes than her office. SO my friend who hooked me upw ith the orthodontist picked me up from the station. He had to do work at her office because she asked him to check a few things out and fix some things. He built her office actually if I did not mention that before. Her staff were on their lunch at the time we went there. So we walked ofver to get our own lunch at a place called Richie's. REALLY GOOD. I ordered chicken which eneded up lasting me like 3 days in leftovers sooooo good. It was phenominal chicken. So we were done eating and it was just about time for the appointment so we walked back over to her office. So I went right in and my friend went to talk to my ortho and I asked Kathy; "Cna I use the brushing station?" she said of course. So I did and my ortho was looking at me the entire time like how much longer you gonna take brushing? LOL So I went to go back to sit down but before I could even sit down Jackie comes over and called me in. So while my friend was doing the work my ortho had asked. My ortho came right over and fixed the bracket like new, I noticed when she put it on it was on more straighter than it was before I dont kow if it was because the tooth itself had gotten straighter or what. So then awesome Jackie let me take a picture of the awesome stuff. So I had left the bay area and my friend was past this big hard solid wood door that said "Private" and the ortho was over there. Funny thing is I snuck back there and said to my friend "So WOW this is that staff loung you told me about and that random bathroom that I did not even know was here. And the whole time I was back thar I thought for sure, and so didnt my friend that the ortho was gonna kick me out and go make me waiting in the waiting area where patients "should be". I was in the waiting room actually for a long time talking to the patients and chatting it up with Kathy for a LONG time. We were talking about Stop and Shop, school how I want to be a Surgeon and all that fun stuff. Kathy is a really awesme person to talk with. I also spent some time playing the two SPAMS she has in her office But it was funny because Yessica (she is spanish and really nice) was cutting up a green apple when I was in the staff lounge and I ahve a tendancy to talk aloud about things I see. So the assistant was cutting herself that apple and I said "Ooh an apple" and I guess she heard me. So she was like "You want some?" I said sure I don't see why not. So I went to go turn around and leave the staff lounge when the ortho comes in to check to see how my friend was making out with the work she had and she seemed really mad at me saying "JENNNNNNNN!?!?!? Of ALL the apples you picked a granny smith apple, those are the hardest ones. Who gave that to you?" I said "She did" *pointing to the assistant* So then the assistant said "No, she asked me for some." I said "no don't be pinning this on me it was all you." So my ortho goes in her fridge and said "Let's get you a softer fruit so you don't break anything but by that time I was like done eating the apple pieces. So she gave my friend a pear as well. So towards the end I ended up helping my friend clean up after he did his thing. So we're on our way out and my friend notices and says "Oh you're light burnt out. Want me to fix that while I'm here she said "oh I didn't even notice that *goes in closet* Here's one." So he changes it and its a totally different brightness she comes out and has him re change it and Kathy went and found a good one. While he was changing it I walked by a piece of artwork on my orthodontist's wall in the little hallway area/vestibule type area that connects the consult room, behind the front desk, open bay area, staff lounge/private sector and the waiting room. I says to my ortho as she walked by for something: "I LOVE this art work my dad does art just LIKE this and all sorts of stuff." So she asked me what other kinds does he do and I started telling him about the wire sculptures and she was all telling me how she would love to see some of his artwork. She told me that the artwork in her office was done by her friend whom I found out is Adrienne Shishko, so if you all want to see the cool artwork. This artist is really good. I am a fan of her work. So yeah all in all spending about three hours at the ortho's office was A LOT of fun.

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

This was a bit different as I had three dental related appointments in one day. The first to get the wires out, second teeth cleaned and such a basic dental appointment, and then to get the wires back in/ adjustment. My friend took me to this appointment.My friend and parents like to switch off,
9:30 AM [Wires Out]:
I arrived early at the orthodontist at 8:55am, and got called right in surprisingly. I sat in the last chair, and just got my wires taken out and colours off and the doors of my brackets shut. My orthodontist wanted to see some of my dad's artwork so I brought two paintings and the tooth sculpture my dad made for her. I showed her the artwork and she loved it and then I told her i had a gift for her and she said "Jenn I told you no more gifts." I said "HAHA tell my dad that cause I tried HAHA." So I pulled out the box (which I used my digital camera box and had to assure her it was NOT a camera LOL) so then I showed her the tooth sculpture made of wire (how appropriate ). She LOVED IT. She was a little sad knowing that my dad did not sign it so I promised her that he would bring his finishing touches (felt feet and signature pen) the next time I came. Then she told me she noticed how well my teeth were moving. She even went over to the computer that I was near and pulled up the pictures (even though it wasn't the adjustment yet). I told her that I don't smile like that anymore; gummy smile. She had asked me to do it on purpose just for a second and I did and she said WOW yes they are DEFINITELY going great. I asked if I still needed the Herbst Appliance, she said more than likely not and probably not if my teeth keep going the way they are which she thinks they will.

10:00 AM [Dental Cleaning & Examination]:
I got there at 9:05 AM and waited a little while and got called in 15 minutes later. The assistant scrapped my teeth of plaque and such, especially of the areas most hard to clean with braces on/ the wires. She had to get a special head for the tooth polisher, kind of like a kids version because the spacing in between the brackets and the amount of tooth surface available to be cleaned. So then my dentist came in, not the same person I had the last time a way cooler dude, he's arab and I LOVE his almost Indian accent. He was soooo nice, I told him about my friend being the one whole built his office too and he said "Ahh yess I know him. Mike's a good guy".I said "Yeah he's pretty awesome." He told me he needs to keep a close watch on my upper left second molar/last tooth. As it seems to have been a poorly done cavity, buildup on the surface, etc. So I left there with pretty much a clean bill of health on my teeth, no periodontist or gingivitis or anything bad. We left literally at 10:59AM because my friend was helping out around the office at my dentist.

11:00 AM [Adjustment Appointment]:
I went in for the adjustment at a few minutes late around 5-8 minutes past 11AM. This time I sat in the first chair. I was asked what colour I wanted and I picked up the colour wheel and the colour I picked it up by was a clear sort of colour and I said "OMG is the GLOW IN THE DARK?!" The assistant said yes and I chose it, kinda because I was taking my sweet time thinking of the colour I wanted. HAHA. The orthodontist came over and I told her about how my cleaning went. She said I needed two new wires, both being .018 on both upper and lowers. I asked about elastics and she gave me more quails. I wear them the same place as last time from the top first pre molars to the first lower molars on both sides. I am in Quails again, and the orthodontist gave me two more packets. I asked for some more mouth wash and she said "I told you not to be eating that stuff Jenn." I said "It's been three months like you said though." She was like "Oh my bad sorry Jenn." I laughed. So she came back over did Interproximal Reduction (IPR) in between my six front teeth top and bottom. She noticed my chipped front tooth and said "Oh i will fix your chipped tooth once it starts to turn for you. I thanked her for that. So then I left with my next appointment on March 1st, 2012 at 8:20 AM.

So apparently I need to buy a Sonicare toothbrush because my Oral B Pulsonic which is the EXACT same thing isn't good enough. I was upset when I was told that because I am a college student I cannot afford that. So I might as well just brush a little longer than normal no big deal.

So I got stuff from the Dentist and the Orthodontist's offfice
Dentist:
Proxabrush on a stick by GUM brand with replacement heads
Floss
Floss/Bridge Threaders (which are AMAZING)
Super Floss
Orthodontist:
2 Travel Colgate Gum Protection toothpastes
Phos Flur Bubblegum Mouthrinse
Appointment Card
2 Packets of Quail elastics

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

January 2012

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

Hey everyone, So I've been having trouble with my elastics, they seem to snap very easily, whether I am talking, yawning or eating. So I called up the orthodontists office and they said that it is pretty much normal to happen with the thinner elastics and won't happen once I get stronger ones. So they asked me if I needed more elastics and I said yes and made mention that I needed another elastics tool because I had lost my other one at my physical. So the assistant who was on the phone said she would put those in the elastics packets and send them in the mail for me. This was in February, since I wasn't due to go back until March. I received them two days later. While I am very far from the Orthodontist's office I am still in the same state. They're not expired or anything.

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

February 2012

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

My dad made this Thank You present for my Orthodontist. He's an artist, you can see and buy his art here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Art-by ... 97?fref=ts

PS you can also send him pictures and stuff to have him make something special for you to buy.

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

Hey so I have a tough time with the braces pain nothing really helps it at ALL. So I found an alternative Method; Therapy/Bite Wafers. They're like a silicone-y material and you bite on them to restore blood flow to the teeth and help with the pain. You can order them here:
http://www.dentakit.com/bitewafers.html

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

Hey Everyone, so I had my fourth adjustment. It was at 8:20 AM and I got there early studying my flashcards so then I brought them in with me and went in early at 8:15 AM and sat in the waiting room and studied my flashcards. I talked to Kathy and told her what I was studying and what not. So in walked my orthodontist like 7 minutes later with a HUGE thing of flowers bigger than she is. She's on the shorter side; smaller than me. She walks by me saying "That Jenn is always studying." She went in her office and get ready for her day of work. Weird thing is she came out to the waiting area and called me over herself, usually her assistants do that. So I sat in the first chair. As I was about to sit down my orthodontist looked at me and said "You're scary!" (Which makes me think she is a Harry Potter fan or has seen the movies because Ron is always calling Hermione scary for being a smart know-it-all, I ought to ask her next time I go). Funny thing I dropped my new cell phone on the ground and the battery came out, talk about embarrassing she she picked it up for me. So she looked at my teeth and was super excited about the movement she said "WOW! Your teeth are just cruising along." So then I asked her to pick out a colour. She said "No way, not unless you want brown." I said "Why cause no one wants it?" She said "Exactly I'd spring clean them on you." I said "No thanks" So then she said ".018 on .018 on the bottom same wire on the top). That is the square wire on bottom. The orthodontist got up and went over to two younger girls, teenagers. They bother had to wear elastics:
To the Zebra elastics at night girl:
Ortho: Have you been wearing your elastics?
Girl: No
Ortho: You need to be wearing them if not every niht most nights of the week
Girl: Yeah about that.
To the 24/7 elastics girl:
Ortho: Have you been wearing your elastics and all the time?
Girl: Yes
Ortho: NO you haven't, I can tell.
Girl: I swear to God I have been.
Ortho: no you haven't and I don't appreciate you lying to me. I can tell you have not because your teeth have not moved at ALL since the last time you were here. How old are you?
Girl: 14.
Ortho: Yeah you're old enough to follow my simple instructions and yet you have not. Start wearing them.
So that is a little word of advice: NEVER lie to the orthodontist, well basically never stop following her commands and you will avoid that embarrassing situation. So I asked to brush my teeth and the assistant let me, I took out my electric toothbrush and brushed at the brushing station after waiting for one of the patients to finish. I turned around to sit back where I was and the orthodontist looked at me like I was nuts I said "Yes, I've gone bonkers and lost my marbles." She said "You aid it not me" We laughed. She came back over to me and did major "Reprox" Intersproximal Reduction(IPR) on the upper four and a small amount on the bottom. I said to her "Hey save me some tooth too ya know!" She said "What do you think I am doing, stealing your whole tooth?" I said "Maybe." She said "No, I only take 1/10th of a mm. Which is small and good. She told me the same elastics and I got some more. I told her I was going to visit my college, the one I am transferring into. I ended up choosing blue (the sparkly one) for my braces this time around. She said "Oh good, and I will see you in 6 weeks." She walked over to some lady who was like 60 and I find that odd. So I made the appointment with Kathy, and so I left and visited the school in the same area just 20 minutes south. It was AMAZING. I CANNOT WAIT. I got a free shirt.

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

Hey everyone so it's my 6 month anniversary for having braces, in March 8th, 2012. I've officially been through this journey for half a year so only two years left.

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

Hey so I know a lot of braces patients like yourselves have had a lot of pokey parts of the braces. Usually wax will do the trick, sometimes you either have to cut something or take care of it yourself or go in for an office visit. That was impossible for me considering it was midnight and I am working all this week. For me it is mostly these two upper Canine hooks that were not being used. the thing with Damon braces is that you can add or take away hooks at any time to any bracket. We had these from the first time. The other day it was really bad, it was like a cheese grader making mozzarella cheese of the inside of my mouth ripping it up making horrible sores and causing it to bleed. I could not even eat or close my mouth it was HORRIBLE. So I put wax on it, DID NOT stay on long nor did it help and I put a heaping wad. So I took out both of these hooks. I called the office the next business day and let them/Kathy be aware of what I had to do and she said it was not a problem at all and did not matter because that was not the hooks I was presently using. I told her I tried to salvage the hooks when trying to take them out so then can put them back in but I couldn't she said it was fine they have a ton in the office.

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

Hey everyone so Recently, while taking my progress pictures, I noticed from a certain angle my lower front teeth, the gums were swollen. And also the top fronts were red and such and when I flossed between the front left tooth and the one next to it it bled a little. So I called the orthodontist tonight when I was on break at work. I told her about it and she said the sullenness can get contributed by mouth breathing (esp. at night). And so i asked her about there being a special mouth rinse to help with that and she said "Yes I have some, I will give it to you at your next visit." So I told her I was going in on the 22nd with my friend who has a consultation with her. She said not a problem she would give it to me then and maybe look at my gums, if not at my visit she will. She said it sounds like there maybe some food stuck somewhere but the best thing is to brush and floss on a regular basis and that will help. The mouth rinse is called PerioMed.

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

So these are pretty amazing and cool. These are NOT used but new braces brackets on powerchains. of my different colours.

http://bracedlets.com/

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

March 2012

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

April 2012

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

This appointment I nearly had to cancel because my ride could not bring me. Or at least at the time it was scheduled for. So I called up on Tuesday and told the receptionist and she told me to call back on Wednesday evening and if I had to, reschedule it. So My ride ended up being able to let me do a 2pm appointment. That was ok with the office. So I got there literally at 2pm, not earlier like I usually do. So I walked in and sat down then one of the assistants called me over and I sat down and my orthodontist came over and checked out my teeth. She said they were looking amazing if she did not say so herself. Funny thing, I'm a nerd: Biochemistry Pre Med double major over here. So every time I get all nerdy when I'm there or am there studying waiting, my orthodontist calls me scary because I know too much. So I asked her if she watches Harry Potter. She said "Yeah, why?" I said "Because Ron is always calling Hermione scary because she knows a lot." The orthodontist told the assistant .018 on .018 on top and .014 on .025 on the bottom. I asked if we could up the elastics and my orthodontist I don't know if she was in a bad mood that day or what, but she got really upset and defensive I asked that and before I could explain why (them snapping) she said NOOOOO!!! She told the assistant to hook up the bottom 7 (back most teeth/second molars), and to include them in the archwire. The assistant took out the wires and I went to floss and brush my teeth. I came back and asked for Slytherin Green and Silver but she told me my braces were already silver so I was just like fine whatever, I'll take just the green. The orthodontist warned me now I was going to be mega sore. Weird ting it was VERY quiet there and there were no patients the entire time I was there. So my friend told her "Jenn's gonna sing for you ok?" She told me when I first met her and asked if braces would affect my singing that she wanted me to sin for her sometime. So we thought today would be the perfect day to do so. I sang Nel Cor Piu Non Mei Sento. She LOVED it and was shocked. Even the receptionist came over. So then my orthodontist said in a joking way "He where are all my patients?" The assistant said "Probably skipped." Then my friend said "People actually skip and don't call?" the orthodontist said "You'd be surprised how many people I have to call and hunt down to come to their appointments." I leaned over and said "I'd NEVER skip, I'd even take a day off work and school JUST to come here." So her assistant that was working on my mouth today noticed my time turner necklace the one from Harry Potter and she obsessed over it. She wanted one sooo bad she even went on the patient computer to look for it on eBay. She said "Shhhhh not so loud I don't want the orthodontist to know what we are doing." So then they all said bye as I went over to the receptionist and made my next appointment for May 31,2012 at 8:20AM. So my friend put me on the bus to go home, since he had work up north more and had to be there at a certain time and my orthodontist's office is 2 hours away.