OK--This was not the plan!

[Kipepeo]

Hey iBorg, you're obviously not watching my progress because you've figured out I'm a terminal ortho patient.

[iBorg]

Kipepeo:
I love that term (terminal ortho patient).....

I think I'm the longest adult patient my ortho had. Some of her kid/teen patients with Phase 1 and 2 may take longer but normally that's to avoid surgery which I wasn't able to do.

I'll pop over and check your progress.

[TMJJill]

Ouch klobird. And here we were just talking about having had some nice "routine" visits for a while.

I have the clear Damons on top and they couldn't pop hooks on those like they did the bottom metal ones. I'm really not liking the wire hooks they wrapped on the top brackets because they keep moving around and causing some irritation. The ones on the metal brackets are just fine though.

My new elastic boxes are trapazoids with 3 teeth on top and 2 on the bottom. I think it is easier to put on than the V's I had on my back molars. I'm glad you find it easier than some other configurations too. I'm excited to start seeing the movement with the boxes though. I'm really to have some more of my teeth touching. One of these days I'll be able to chew on the left side of my mouth.

Congrats on finally reaching your "home stretch" though.

[klobird]

Hey Jill!--Love the pumpkin pies!!

I have seen so much movement in just these last 3-4 days....well, and felt it too...You know, that good kind of felt it soreness--the kind that lets you know something's happening! I am so excited! My midline is almost completely lined up--now I can really begin to believe I'm on the final stretch.

On a side note--my ortho had a drawing for the new "Twilight" movie...they will be showing it in a rented theatre the day before it actually comes out. I won! 2 tickets--and I'm giving them away--to a receptionist at work who is going to flip. Yippeeee--because tomorrow I need to talk to her about some of the recurring complaints about her... She's really a great person, great personality, good receptionist--just likes to flit about the office a little too much while the patients stand out in front wondering if anyone's home....I hate to have these talks....someone's gotta do it.. But all she talks about is the "Twilight" movies, so I'm glad to give them to her since I don't know a dang thing about the saga....hmmmmmm.....it's all good though.

[TMJJill]

I debated about the pumpkin pie. We had a bunch of snow last week... it went up to 75 yesterday though so I thought I could still do fall.

I know what you mean about the "good" soreness that comes with the lots of movement. I haven't been able to do very well with most solids for a while now. My upper teeth have moved quite a bit though. (Someday I need to see if my ortho will share the picts he took since I haven't been good about doing that.) I'm really excited to see what the boxes do. I hope that my bite starts closing up more quickly.

The midline progress is wonderful!!!

Good for you for sharing your Twilight tickets. I have to do some of the same kinds of things with my staff and even some clients at times. Definitely not the favorite part of my job. I hope your talk goes well. I'm not good with the creative part of fun rewards for my staff when they are doing well either. As a non-profit, I don't have any budget for good stuff either so what I do has to come from my pocket.... which is pretty empty since my $ has gone to my ortho and a series of docs.

Let us know how your staff likes the experience. It isn't often you can make someone's day like that.

Tomorrow I'm off to my ortho for the 3rd time in the last week. I developed a slippery wire again that keeps popping out. I realized yesterday that the clamps that had been helping are now under my brackets and not working so I need them moved. I'm also hating those wire twist hooks they put on my upper brackets for elastics. They slip, slide and cause irritation. Keeping my fingers crossed it will go well.

[TMJJill]

klobird,

How are you doing with all of your new hooks? I ended up having 2 more added last week that are holding a wire in place UNDER my lower canine brackets so I now have 9 on each side too. For the most part, they aren't too bad, but my newest in the front poke out some into my lip. I think those two will take a lot longer to adjust to. I hope your experience is going well. Keep us updated.

TMJJill

[klobird]

Ya, I'm using a lot of wax right now over the hooks. All these hooks just to wear a box elastic at night.
And yes, they are poking......but the worst thing right now is that my mouth is the dryest it has ever been. It's awful. I can't quench it. And that Biotene stuff is so icky--I can barely tolerate it.

Oh well....and now it's time to go brush my teeth...

[Roboto]

Oh well....and now it's time to go brush my teeth...

That's how I feel every night lol

[klobird]

Ya, I know Roboto!! Some nights I'm just like...ok, tonight I'm not going to floss-I'm just too tired. And then I always end up flossing. It's not even that long of a process anymore, but I still intensely dislike it. I don't know about you, but I still have to stand in front of the mirror to floss....

Hey Roboto--when is your predicted deband date--since we got braced on the same day, I'm wondering who will be out of them first!!

OK, ok, ok.....I have one less elastic hook today! I think I swallowed it--2nd one.
They have these ends that are like if a staple was straightend out...So, I think I'm going to die.
The bracket is going to cut wholes and tears all over in my innards. And I really wanted to get my braces off before I die!! Well, at least I wouldn't have to go to work anymore....

That is the 4th elastic hook to just come off--I really think there is a design flaw...I told my ortho that once and he just laughed.....hmmmmmm....

[Roboto]

haha I'm the same.. I can't floss without a mirror and I feel guilty if I decide to skip it.. but it's just. so. annoying.

My ortho won't give me a deband date just yet. I make some kind of comment about it at just about every visit. Last time I told him that my braces were telling me they want out and he thought that was hilarious... Apparently it's not normal for patients to hear voices coming from their braces? He always says that my progress looks great but we're not there yet. My original guesstimate was 24 months so no later than April.... or else!!!!! Wouldn't it be crazy if we got them off on the same day??

[klobird]

That would be sooo cool Roboto--braces on the same day, and off the same day!
My ortho is starting the detailing on my next appt...I am really,really hoping for maybe a late March debanding date...

Wish me luck and I wish you luck!!

(The swallowed hook didn't kill me, but this cold I have might!! )

[Angel269]

I can't floss without a mirror and I feel guilty if I decide to skip it.. but it's just. so. annoying.

I totally agree and I only have upper arch up to premolars.

[klobird]

I don't know if it's because I'm super stressed at work or what, but I am breaking every ortho rule in the book!

I'm eating caramels and nuts, I'm only wearing the box elastic at night like 1/2 the time, and I
"forget" to floss at night. This is all new. I need to get back in the groove!!

I have swallowed (I think that's what happened) 2 elastic hooks on the multi-hooked right side of my mouth--and I'm just like "Oh well..."

This is all new--I wonder if it's because I'm so close to the end and I just don't care anymore.
I have ALWAYS been SUPER anal about this whole process and doing what I should be doing.

OK....so today is a new day...I will make a pact with myself to get back on track!

(Oh--there is one rule I have not broken and don't think I will before debanding day and that's eating popcorn. My sister got a popcorn hull stuck under her gum once and it caused a multitude of problems. She didn't even have braces at the time and she is super anal about her incredibly beautiful teeth. So ya, I just can't break that one rule. Not right now anyway!!)

[iBorg]

Klo:
Don't feel bad about breaking the rules (except for the caramel). I think the rules are there because without them no one would really do their part to take care of their teeth during the stress that is being braced. Think about the torque they're expected to endure. With elastics constantly pulling, any little thing can screw them up.

I understand the flossing part. I did a much better job flossing when it was a pain to do. Now I floss about half the time. Not good, but I bet better than 80% of the 35% of the population who regularly see their dentist.

Mike

[Kipepeo]

Hey klo, I ate popcorn at the movies last night and it was good. Swallowed the unpopped kennels whole! Took extra care flossing after.