Lau's Story

[BraceFace2o1o]

Hi Lau, just been reading about how you are unhappy with your midline and your ortho has agreed to try and correct it. Are you going to be wearing any elastic/s to correct the midline? I see the common one is one across the front of the mouth (from lower canine to upper canine). My lower midline is off by about 2-3mm which doesn't bother me too much but I have discovered it's messing up my bite on the right side so now I would like it corrected but have a feeling my ortho will say he can't. With no space/gaps on the left side (the side the midline needs to shift) I can't see how it would shift anyway so thought I would need IPR like yourself. My midline was off to the right prior to braces but did get worse and I think it's because of a little too much IPR on my right side! (I had the IPR to help the crowded teeth straighten up).

[lau]

hey BF2010- i have been reading about midlines for a year and each ortho takes a different approach. Mine was to do IPR top and bottom and wear chains on the top on one side to pull the teeth.

if i was you i would bring it up on the next visit and see what he says. my dr wanted to remove 3 of my teeth to make my midline perfect when i started the treatment but i refused. i went 10 months without caring about my midline since it has always been to the left, but as the end of treatment got nearer and my midline shifted more than originally, I felt that since i have invested a great deal of time (and embarrassment) by having braces at 38 i might as well wait a little more to improve the midline. people from this forum also agreed and convinced me to go for the IPR- and I dont regret it. I probably would have been done by month 13-14. But I think i made the right choice, i definitely will not be getting braces again, i will wear retainers in my sleep for life if i have to but no more tinsel teeth.

So my advice is to go for it and discuss with your ortho your options and how much longer will it add to treatment. my ortho doesnt say, but since i brought it up i am willing to be a little more patient to get a good result that will last a lifetime.

keep me updated pls- good luck

[lau]

hey anyone out there reading my forum-
so here i am in my 11th month, cannot believe its been this long with metal mouth! yikes

I went for my 4 week adjustment and they changed my ligs and my chains- only that the next day i ate hot dog with mustard - so my new clear chains look APPLE GREEN YELLOW- Lol!

so here is the long awaited 11 month update- drum roll


thanks for reading-

[jem]

Hello Lau,

Your teeth are looking ever better and I think I can see improvement in your midline. Soon be 12 months and before then it is downhill from there.

Good luck,

Jem

[BraceFace2o1o]

Hi lau and thanks for your reply

I am glad your ortho is willing to work with you on your midline! Hopefully things will move along nicely. Like Jem I can see that your midline has improved in your before and now pictures.

I have had my most recent appointment and I tried to explain to my ortho but his first language is not english so I am having a hard time getting my point across and I'm not sure he even got what I actually meant. It is so frustrating as I am pretty much done apart from the lower midline/bite correction.

I have been put in zigzag elastics on the right side but am now worrying this will shift the uppers when they are fine as they are, it's the lowers that need shifting.

Because your upper midline is going to the left do you happen to have a class II molar relationship on your right side? Just curious as my lower midline is causing a class II on my right side.

[lau]

Hi braceface2010- my ortho is still having me alternate between class III and class II elastics. They did both top and bottom ipr so I wouldnt get a class III.
One of my gaps reopened but i'll have to wait 2 more weeks till next appt
This process is taking long- and once it closes only THEN i'll get the rectangular wire. Are you on your final one?

Does your ortho have an assistant that speaks his-her language?

[lau]

Hey there brace world,
so I've reached the 12 month mark. Should have a few months to go (I hope) and so I feel like it should be downhill from here, as a wise fellow Braceface pointed out recently.

The gap still hasnt closed BUT the good news is I have been placed on the rectangular wires- that hurt like Crazy!

Here's the progress so far- hoping those roots are being moved and stay in place.

All the best

[braceface74]

amazing lau
I think your teeth look just amazing now but if your midline is bothering you then you have definitely made the right decision to get it sorted, may aswell suffer for another few months now than a life time of regret that you just didn't just sort it at the time.

You have faboulously white teeth that are going to look just awesome once the tinsel comes off

[jem]

Congrats on your 12 months, Lau> looking ever better!

Jem

[AM21]

Congrats on your 12monthiversary! Your teeth are looking great!!

[GillyWeed]

Lau, your teeth are looking wonderful. You are going to have a beautiful smile when the braces come off.

[lau]

Hey people! promise to follow up on your stories soon, it's been really crazy at work- anyway, cant believe its my 13th month. It looks like i dont have a lot longer either. While my smile is not worthy of Colgate commercials, I feel good about it. I mean it is missing a tooth and i've corrected what i wanted as much as was possible without removing 3 teeth.
here's the pic

[TMJJill]

Your arches are looking really beautiful. What a change is such a short amount of time.

[jem]

Hello Lau,

Your teeth are looking great. Surely not much longer now?

Jem

[lau]

Hey people! so here i am with braces still, one gap hasnt closed yet, but hanging in there with the tinsel teeth

here's my latest pic- cant wait to have the suckers off and whiten my teeth - eesh! anyway, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!