Been far too long since I updated in here ... in fact, it's been so long, that yesterday was my de-bonding day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Unfortunately, because our camera broke a few months ago, I didn't get many pictures over the last few months, including my time in elastics, but the pictures will give you a clear indication of the success!
So to sum up my 21.5 month 'sentence' in fixed braces:
I started with
- an open bite between the canines and laterals
- incorrect lower midline
- crowding of teeth on the right side, and throughout the lower front teeth
- very poor molar contact and alignment, with tipped molars
Throughout my time in braces, I had:
- 4 bicuspids extracted
- The following lig combinations:
Uppers: Silver consistently (apart from a couple of months in a clear power chain. Silver definitely resisted staining, and only looked dirty for last 2 weeks of my 6 week appointment gaps.
Lowers: Pink + purple; Pink; metallic blue; pink + yellow; pink power chain + teal; teal, orange + yellow (orange fades!), luminous green!
- A triple wire across the upper extraction gaps to protect the initial flexible wire
- Long 'e-link' elastics stretched from the last lower molars forwards to hooks on the wire next to the canines, in order to close the gaps
- Twisted wire across the front 6 lowers to hold them together (metal powerchain), unfortunately I don't have any pictures of this
- Elastics: 6 weeks of very light elastic wear from last upper molars to lower canines to pull lower teeth back and begin correcting the bite
- Elastics: Triangular L, rhomboid R to correct the open bite
- Fixed retainer on lower and upper central and laterals
The removal process was relatively smooth. He uses a pair of pliers to squeeze the metal brackets which causes them to deform, and they just pop off the cement - amazing when you consider they are strong enough to stay put for 2 years, but pop off with a simple squeeze! The ceramic brackets are slightly different, as they won't deform, but when they are squeezed they shatter, and can be lifted away from the cement. It's a relatively pain-free process, and remarkably quick!
The glue removal is slightly less pleasant, especially if your teeth are a little sensitive, as my lowers are now.
A little reshaping to my R canine, a final polish, and the job was done. Oh, apart from the 'delightful' moulds for my retainers, but they are over in a jiffy. I couldn't believe my eyes when I looked in the mirror for the first time - yes, teeth looked huge, yes they felt sooooooo smooth, but most of all, they looked better than I could ever have imagined!
I get my retainers in a couple of days, I am having Essix (or 'blow-down' as my ortho calls them) retainers top and bottom, but I also have the added security of the fixed retainers helping to maintain my Hollywood smile!
So, for you all to feast your eyes on, lo-and-behold my new gnashers!!
New Smile
New bite
First day in braces
You're going to look fantastic in your wedding!
