My Dental Journey

[sdawdy]

(This is long but have a good read)

As far back as I can remember I have been going to the dentist for cleanings every six months. My parents instilled proper dental hygiene in myself and my brother and sister. To this day have never had a cavity due to proper hygiene and a healthy mouth. I on the other hand have had numerous problems with canker sores.

When I was younger (around 7-8 years old) my adult teeth started coming in however, my baby teeth would not let go. My baby lower central incisors had to be removed by my dentist as the roots would not dissolve and the adult teeth had already come in. Several shot in the mouth and yank, yank they were out. Then the next teeth that had to come out due to the adult teeth coming in were my upper central incisors. Thankfully, they came out on their own (with the help of my dad giving them the one last tug as they were only hanging on by a thread of gums.) When my adult teeth came in I had a HUGE gap between my two front teeth and it made me very self-conscious. Of course I was told “it gives you character!!!â€

[sdawdy]

Well in about four hours I will be having another adjustment. I really hope that my teeth have been working like I and my ortho wants them to. If they have then I will have an adjustment of a lifetime. I will tell more when I get back!

[sdawdy]

Well, I had my adjustment and I was thinking that oh yeah it will be the same as the last few...not much said and wires back on and go...Oh boy was I wrong!!!!! (I love it when I am wrong in this case ) I got in the chair, they took off my power chain on top and all the ligs on bottom...took out both wires and had me go brush. I came back and my ortho was ready for me. She had me open, close, open, close as she was looking for things. Then she sat me up to check out my midline. This is the first time she has even mentioned it. So it appears that my upper teeth are perfectly centered and my bottoms are way off... . She made no mention of the closing loop like she had in the past few appointments. She put on a power chain on top from first molar to first molar. This time they did not put any extra spots between my lateral incisors and my cuspids. They did leave the wire tie power chain on. She also made several bends in the wire. On the bottom, I got a square wire (I want to say she said it was a 16 but not sure what else). And I have normal ligs on the entire bottom except on my right side I have a power chain from the cuspid to the first molar. She said we would slowly start closing the gaps on the bottom!!! She mentioned the "E" word for next appointment. Well I got Gold Power chain on top and Orange on bottom (fall colors). My next appointment is not until 1/6/09. So I am stuck with these colors over the Christmas Holidays....Oh Well!!!

MY THEETHIES ARE SORE THIS MORNING!!!!

[sdawdy]

Well, the last time I posted, I was very sore. I had not been that sore at all during the time that I have had my braces on. As been said many times and many ways....chew no matter how much it hurts....that gets the blood flowing and things will calm down. That is exactly what I did...It works!!!! Things have settled down and eating just like normal...ate steak on Saturday night....oh boy was it good!!! Things are going good, I have noticed where the powerchain on the bottom is, the teeth are all lined up really nice and together! The gaps on top are slowly closing. I really cant wait to go back and get new colors...these fall colors are getting old! I have a pokey wire on the bottom right but its not too bad that I cant deal with it...little wax as needed....

My advise to anyone who is thinking of starting your journey...do it!!! The time will go by if you do or do not do it. so why not and get it started quicker and the quicker it will be over

[sdawdy]

I had another adjustment on Jan 6th. Several things happened that day. I got new power chains on both top and bottom. Both go from first molar to first molar. I was told that I should start using the basic gray/silver power chains as they are the strongest ones and I need all the strength I can get.

I also got class II elastics on the left side. It is from the first bicuspid on top to the first molar on bottom. It took several days to get used to it however, now, i forget its there. Sometimes i have to check to make sure it is there. Now I don't know if my bite off due to these or not...but i don't know where to set my teeth any more, If i move my bottom jaw back my teeth go together...but if i put it at what feels natural, i have very few spots that actually meet....I'm sure it is just the elastic doing its work!!!

I had promised myself that I would not ask about how much longer I have until I was at the 2 year mark....well I am at it now and was wondering (obviously i would not get an exact date)...but just wanted a further estimate. I was advised that they highly underestimated my mouth and its stubbornness....I have been given at least 9 more months. Not what I wanted to hear but....what can i do, nothing cause the time will fly...it has thus far???

I am fairly disappointed with my teeth and their lack of response to treatment....but i knew they were stubborn from the start....

I have noticed that at night when I am in bed just about asleep and when I am totally relaxed, that my tongue sits between the roof of my mouth and top of my bottom teeth. yes, I do have molar build ups or ramps. Any opinions on if it is just the extra room and my tongue is relaxed or should i bring this up to the DR?

[AMiles]

Okay I haven't read all your story yet, but I'm planning to.

I had to pause at the getting eight teeth removed in one day part. You stayed awake for it?

When I had my seven removed they had to knock me out for it. I would not of been able to stay awake during that. Even the dentist completely freaks me out, I don't handle the noises that everything makes well. That and anything that feels like a nail file turns me into a shuddering ball in the dentist chair.

Did you eat anything after you got your teeth removed? That's the part I remember after getting mine removed, three hours after getting mine out I ate a foot long subway sandwich.

[sdawdy]

Thank you for reading....hope you get to read more soon....i warned it would be a long one from the first start...

I really dont remember much of that day or a few days after that. I remember having pain meds and mom tucking me into bed right after getting home (I think she kept me well medicated for a few days so I would not have any pain). About all I remember is being told that I could not suck on straws nor could i play my sax. (I was really upset as I was just learning to play the sax).

I remember being really nervous and when the intercom crackled in my science class that day and I got the message that mom was there to pick me up, my tummy did a complete flip. I did not want to go instantly.

Yes I was awake thru the whole thing. I am one of the lucky ones to have had a really good dentist as I was growing up. He talked me thru every step he took. Taking a look at this, I realize how lucky I was to have him as a dentist.

[sdawdy]

For the first time in my brace journey....I HAVE POKEY WIRES!!!!!! Ok so you may think I'm nuts....but my journey has been correcting a cross bite, rotating teeth, erupting my bottom molars more, and several other things....lots of stuff that you really cant see very much....now that we are closing the gaps and working to change my class II bite to a class I, i have pokey wires and that excites me!!!!!!!

[amandad09]

hahaha... that sure is a lot of happy dancing bananas!

[sdawdy]

I feel i deserve lots of dancing bananas.....after two years with little that I can see....stupid me didnt take pictures....i finally have pokey wires...i read about people all the time with pokey wires and able to see massive movement....and finally its my time

[amandad09]

It sure does deserve a lot of dancing bananas! Congrats on the progress! Hope it is all downhill from here for you!

[sdawdy]

Thanks Amanda--
I just read your story...I hope all goes well with the expander and you can avoid surgery...yuck....gives me shivers thinking of surgery....that expander looks like a major torcher device.

[sdawdy]

Today I had an adjustment, I was nervous about this one due to the fact that they had started me on elastics and i could not really see any difference. I got there a little early and had to sit...they were running about 10 minutes behind...I got called back and I got to ask all my questions.

The first is where in the world are my teeth supposed to be sitting. I was shown a trick and told that if I open my mouth relaxed and put my tongue on the roof of my mouth and closed that is where my teeth should sit. Then with that knowledge, I asked then where is my tongue supposed to be as when my teeth are in that position then my tongue sits on top of my bottom teeth in front and between them and my top teeth. This was explained due to my overbite that since that is not closed yet then it is just room for my tongue to play with.

So, then came the question of how much was I wearing the elastic? I advised it was only out for my brushing routine. They were really happy.

Oh yeah...super A++++++++++ on hygiene.

Dr. M came over and took a look and was very disappointed with my teeth not moving (big surprise) and asked me if i noticed any of my gaps closing. I advised that sometimes they seem smaller, however, later they will seem bigger. She did not like that answer.

So, she decided since there was a gap not responding to the power chain between my front lower incisors, she had the assistant put a lig (you know what they normaly put around a bracket to hold the wire on) from bracket to bracket.....oh my goodness that hurt!!! the gap was closed half way by time she got done with all the other stuff....

Then the wires both top and bottom went back on (same ones) then a really thick power chain on top and bottom. My power chains have never been this thick before. HOPEFULLY they will do the magic.

Then, they told me that the elastic that I had been wearing was to help with my midline (which is why it is only on one side) and for me to continue to do the elastic the same way except change it everytime i eat, sleep, or do anything!!!! so basically change it around 4 times a day... Dr. M decided to give me a stronger elastic. I was all game as I am honestly sick of having braces right now....She gave me 2 bags of elastics and what are they called????

BUMMER. Yes, that is correct, my elastics have the name Bummer. We all got a good laugh out of it.

I am starting to go back every 3 weeks to get my power chains replaced and to check on the elastics as she feel now the 6 week mark is not working (i could have said that a long time ago)

So right now the gap on my lower incisors has closed so much i can barely fit a fingernail between them... and my teeth are pretty sore...but i will take the soreness as then i know something is happening.

Sorry for being so down, but i am now over 2 years with an estimated 1 year left (if my teeth cooperate). I was originally given a 18-24 month sentence with my braces and that has been blown out of the water. Any encouragement would be greatly appreciated.

[brika]

Hi sdawdy,

I'm so sorry to hear your treatment hasn't gone quite as planned. I know you must be bummed ( ) about it, but just keep in mind how amazing the end result will be! Hopefully this combination of PCs and elastics will turn out to be the key in getting those stubborn teeth to move!

That's a very interesting trick to find out where teeth should sit...I'd been curious about that myself. Thanks for sharing it!

Good luck, and I hope your extension turns out to be much shorter than the doctor estimates!

[sdawdy]

Thank you brika...I was in a really bad mood last night and the pain was kicking in quite a bit...some advil and sleep does wonders!!!! I still laugh everytime i look at my bag of elastics...and see bummer. I think i might take a picture and post it because it is just really funny! I did do a comparison from the bummers to the tortous and they are even smaller than the tortous elastics.

I cant chew this morning!!!!!!! Its time to go look at the post that shows all the good soft foods, because a bagel (not toasted) is not even an option this morning.