Rachel's journey - better photos

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#46 Post by **Tommm** » Tue May 12, 2009 1:08 pm

Congrats on the 3 months! Sweet progress!!

#47 Post by **Rachel B** » Sun May 17, 2009 8:50 am

Thanks guys for the encouragement.

I had my 3rd adjustment on Friday.
I had a new wire put in on top and the powerchain taken away - which is ok but the gap is opening up again now. My ortho said it doesn't really matter because during my next adjustment I am having a TAD (mini screw) put in my upper jaw and anchored to my canine to help pull the four teeth at the front round into a central position so gaps are going to open everywhere anyway.
I didn't get a new wire on the bottom and that is my own fault because I didn't go in and have a replacement lig put on two weeks ago when I ate one! That meant that that tooth moved and until it has moved back I can't go up to the next wire - grrr! Stupid me thinking it would be ok.
I am nervous about the screw thing next time but happy that it will all be good progress.
Time is flying by now. I even have to stop and think how many adjustments I've had now!!
Keep smiling.

R x

#48 Post by **LizinBraces** » Sun May 17, 2009 3:43 pm

Your teeth are looking great, I really look forward to watching your progress!

#49 Post by **Rachel B** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 7:36 am

Hey all,

Well I had my adjustment (5th? I can't even remember now) just over a week ago on the 19th.
I had new wires top and bottom and a TAD fitted to move my front teeth around on.
It didn't really hurt at the time because I was well numbed but the sound of the screw going into my jaw bone was really horrible.
It does hurt now but only because it is scraping the inside of my lip so badly. It's much worse that a bracket. I've had a canker sore for the whole time since then, despite muchos wax. Sometimes my lip gets caught on it when I smile too which isn't nice.
My bite has changed a lot and I can't believe how differently my teeth fit together now. My boyfriend looked at my teeth the other day and said "your teeth make more sense in your mouth now" which is the point of it all really!

I'm now at my 5 month braceaversary - hooray!!!

Thanks for all the kind words, as usual,

and now onto pics:

Rach x

#50 Post by **Tommm** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 7:53 pm

Your teeth are looking great Rach! I can't believe how fast time is flying and I feel like our braces newbie days are over. Congrats on your 5 months and the scary TAD!

#51 Post by **pisceangirl** » Fri Aug 07, 2009 3:11 am

Hi Rachel

Long time no see......I've been away from the boards for so long! Your teeth are looking really good. It's amazing how quick the first 6 months went isn't it?

Hoping to post my own update soon (-:

Ruth
xxx

#52 Post by **Dutchess** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 8:40 pm

Hi Rachael

I was searching for info about TAD's and came across your story. My midline is also way off and although my ortho has never mentioned anything about tad's I am scared he will soon because I don't know how else my huge gap is ever gonna close!

It was good to read your story and see your progress. Your teeth look great! Please keep posting!

D

#53 Post by **Rachel B** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 12:51 pm

Wow! I'm now 10 months in.
Sorry I haven't posted for ages. Lots of things are changing with my teeth.

The TAD has really moved my canine round a lot and as a consequence my front teeth are beginning to shift into a more central position- hooray!!!

I have some little buttons on my lower wire which are helping to close up the gaps in my lowers.

I had my xth adjustment yesterday (don't have a clue which number as I've had sooo many). The ortho asked if I wanted different coloured ligs and I have to say I was tempted but I'm not really sure about that!!!!

I'm so pleased with how it's all going and am hoping I now only have 8 months to go!!!!! We'll see.

Here are some pics, sorry they're a bit overexposed but when I took them without a flash they came out really dark so I had to use a flash:

Thanks for all your continuing support.

Rach x

#54 Post by **Rachel B** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 1:02 pm

Some comparisons to show my movement over 10 months!! I can't believe how much my teeth have changed.

#55 Post by **Tommm** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 3:51 pm

congrats on the amazing progress! I can't believe it's been 10 months already!! Time flies huh?

#56 Post by **Rachel B** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 7:44 am

Hey everyone.

Well I just had my xth adjustment on Friday and decided to try some different colour ligs. My ortho kept saying "are you sure you don't want to try another colour? Pink?" so they tried loads of colours on and I decided I wasn't quite ready to go for a full on colour but I did want to try a colour that wouldn't stain so much as clear. I know it's naughty but over the last few months, I have swapped some of the ligs around with tweezers as my front teeth ones seem to get most stained - probably because I drink loads of tea.
So I decided to get silver ones because by now I've kind of realised that despite having clear braces, there is no hiding the fact you have them so I thought I would get a colour that looked "normal" but that wouldn't stain.

In terms of teeth progress, it's all going as planned, my front teeth are moving round into a central line and my ortho said that next time he'll lever my front tooth onto my TAD instead and that then all there is to do is close the gaps - I'm guessing this is where the pain will begin!

The thing I'm noticing most is that my bite is completely different. I have never had such a well fitting bite and both sides now nearly close completely. I love my bite!!

I had my hair cut short the other day as well. I was going to wait for my braces to come off because in my ridiculous brain I though that having longer hair made my braces less noticable - hello?!! That totally makes no sense so I cut it all off. The only problem is that now I keep getting ID'd everywhere when I'm 10 years over the legal drinking age of 18! In the supermarket the other day I was buying wine and got asked for ID. I suppose having short hair and braces makes me look 17!! Could be worse I suppose.

Here's a pic of my silver ligs. By the way my nose really isn't as big as it seems to look in front on pics!

I definitely feel happier to smile than I ever have because now my teeth are pretty straight and even with braces that's better than having a mouth full of crooked teeth.

Take care,

Rach

#57 Post by **Tommm** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 9:34 pm

Congrats on the progress! Do you have a expected debanding date yet?

#58 Post by **shinyRiver** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 5:25 pm

your smile is beautiful! congrats on all of the progress!

#59 Post by **Rachel B** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 9:53 am

I went to the ortho today, thankfully through all the snow.
I have finally had a powerchain put on my top teeth which is good news because finally the gaps will be closed.
My teeth absolutely kill right now. The tops ache hugely and the bottoms aren't far behind!
My ortho is pleased that my midline is now pretty much in the middle. I just need all my gaps closed fully now and he also want to try and pull down my tooth on the left hand side as one side of my bite appears higher than the other. He said it could be because of the force from the TAD pulling it upwards and round. He's left my TAD free this time.
I asked him how much longer and he said, Easter, or that he would be setting a debanding date at Easter - HOORRRRRAAAAYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's a pic. You probably can't see my powerchain as it's clear.

Rach x

#60 Post by **Boohill** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 12:44 pm

Hey Rachel. I just read your story and you have had amazing movement and it started so early. This is very inspiring. I get braced in 3 days and seeing your movement has only made me more anxious. Thanks for all the great images. I look forward to following.