Decisionmade's (D.M's) story:summer '07 update

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#181 Post by **hannah164** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 7:07 pm

Congratulations on your hecka awesometacular progress DM!

I wish I had that much progress after 22 months!

Love your attitude! You're going to have a great smile!

-Hannah

Top braces: 4/28/04
Bottom braces: 11/16/05
Next Adjustment is 2/1/06 where they will bond a bracket to my cuspid which was impacted!!!!

#182 Post by **hannah164** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 7:07 pm

Congratulations on your hecka awesometacular progress DM!

I wish I had that much progress after 22 months!

Love your attitude! You're going to have a great smile!

-Hannah

Top braces: 4/28/04
Bottom braces: 11/16/05
Next Adjustment is 2/1/06 where they will bond a bracket to my cuspid which was impacted!!!!

#183 Post by **decisionmade** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 6:09 am

Thankyou Hannah, karen, Lucy, Brandy..so many of you for your encouraging words. It was my hope when I began documeneting my progress that it would help others especially those considering or undegoing palate expansion surgery ..and I am so pleased that it has

And Brandy no one has EVER said they want a smile like mine so you've just made my whole day!!!..You will do great..It is clear that you've put in the research and making well informed choices is half the battle right there!...I've read some of the other descriptions of sarpe that people have told you- and as you can see each case can be very different..while the surgical procedures are similar there are always some differences depending on the case at hand and he surgeon involved... For example I had no nose bleeds at all, lots of annoying stiches, only one tiny spot of bruising and huge chipmunk cheeks!!..My surgery was in my os office- I was awake for the whole thing ..just had lots of novacaine like shots to numb me up-and I went home immediately afterwards..driven by my mom -drank a smoothie on the way home with an ice pack on my face.....From then on I sat up in a recliner and watched lots of tv and read....My one word of advice would be to be sure you have someone to care for you..bring you drinks..write down when you've taken any meds, bring you ice packs, prop your pillows etc...It will be time for you to be taken care of.

oh and yes I also couldn't wait to get this all started once I made the decision..hence my name "decisionmade"...The day I got braces was a major step after sarpe ..and I counted down the days..now I count down the days til each adjustment!

Of course all this info is probably hidden within the many pages of my posts..but it actually feels good to talk about it again to remember how far I have come since the girl that didn't have one picture of herself showing her teeth!..

All the best to you Brandy and keep the questions coming..happy to help in any way that I can.

#184 Post by **chrisd** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 10:16 am

i did not have to have surgery but it is great to hear about others expereiences and read about there positive results, and to especially see those progres pictures.
things look like they are going great for you, and i am sure things will continue to progress nicely
chris

#185 Post by **jennielee81** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 6:07 pm

Wow, your progress is fantastic!

Your teeth are beautiful!!!

#186 Post by **Brandyleigh35** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 11:05 pm

Ok DM,
I can officially say that I'm totally freaked out about this SARPE again now! OMG! It never even dawn on me that my OS might do this surgery with just novocaine! I so don't want to be awake during this procedure! I want to go to sleep, and wake up and have it all done! I don't know what I would do if I had to feel all that manipulation etc....that is just going to make me crazy!

I need to talk to my ortho and see what kind of appliance I"m getting. My braces go on before my appliance, so I'm wondering if my RPE will attach to my secondary molars instead of my back ones. If they put braces on they will need the back molars for the bands to attach the braces right??? My Ortho has all the appliances he uses on display in his office so I'm going to ask to see what exactly is going into my mouth when I go in on the 3rd.

Truly it sounds like this is going to be a difficult journey. Now I know I can make it, and certainly will be glad in the long run that I did, but while it is happening it sounds like there are definitely going to be moments that I question what the heck I was thinking when I committed to all this!
Especially during this whole expansion stuff!

Your progress is definitely inspiring though, so I will keep reading your stuff and try and be tough! LOL..

Brandy

#187 Post by **katemm06** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 11:40 am

DM~As always your teeth look better and better

Congrats!

#188 Post by **Slawdawg** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 3:34 pm

Brandy,
I'm right there with you, dear. I'm headed in tomorrow to put the braces on and be fitted for the expander. I've had braces before, so no big deal...but I've also got the SARPE and a Le Forte procedure looming in the future. I'm not at all excited about the procedures, but I am very excited about the end result. My teeth have not ever met together except for two at the back, so I can't wait to be able to bite through something. I'll be chronicalling my journey in Slawdwg's journal and I look forward to hearing more from you as well. Reading about and seeing DM's progress has been a great boost and I hope I can provide the same for others. We'll make it. And we'll have a happier life for having gone through it. Best of luck to you.

BTW, I must agree. Incredible results for 4 short months!

#189 Post by **decisionmade** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 6:17 am

I just had another adjustment 3 days ago and wow i was in some pain but am feeling better today...The assistant got that remaining crooked tooth engaged with the archwire so that makes me very happy! ..I continue to wear one elastic on my right side and the two rotated uppor back mollers continue to straighten out..My bite changes constantly..so the progress continues...

This may not be a good thing to say to those of you just beginning all of this but-- while I am nothing less than thrilled with my progress..I am aware of the braces almost all of the time..although the self consciousness has definately decreased....I will have had them 5 months on February 28th..
Today I'll be seeing some peope who I haven't seen in a while so I will be curious about their reaction...

My next appointment is in 4 weeks..I'll post more pics then

#190 Post by **decisionmade** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 3:23 pm

Well I am now just beginning my 6th month with braces and now I'm a bit frusturated.. I see so little change now but probably because I saw so MUCH in the first 4 months! So I shouldn't complain....My top arch to me looks perfect and its my bottom now that needs to catch up..not much to report..just anxious for my next appointment in two more weeks!!

#191 Post by **decisionmade** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 7:32 pm

thanks linda21..you've lifted my spirits!

#192 Post by **decisionmade** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 1:25 pm

I am still waring elastics..a "blue" one now still on my right side and she changed its positioning so that it is a bit uncomfortable now...but with it my bottom jaw should get pulled back just the right amount... My question for my doc next visit is that when my top arch is perfect, ( which it seems close to being and I'm now in a nonflexible wire)can the braces be remeoved and the retainer warn on the top even if the bottom still has some work to be done?..Maybe some wishful thinking in that question!..
right now i have a terrible "canker" sore inside my bottom lip thathas caused my lip to swell..i think its from a wire tie thats not on quite right..so i'm a bit uncomfortable but will start waxing...5 weeks til my next appointment

#193 Post by **decisionmade** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 6:23 am

I will be 6 mos. w/braces on monday..3 days away..i may have to do something to celebrate!!..mind you including surgery i've been at this for 9!!..Here is my before surgery pic followed by today..

and now that I look at them side by side I definately didn't pick the best pics to illustrate the improvements..but i think you can still see them a bit. After my dr. removed the old wire on top I couldn't believe how incredible my smile looked..I'm just stunned!! now I have a ss wire on top and the bottom is lining up niceley as well..still in the flexible wire on the bottom ..lots of movement!..oh and flossing for me is now easier even with braces than it ever was without them!!

oh and here is my natural smile!

#194 Post by **katemm06** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 9:49 am

DM~Your teeth look great. The upper teeth crowding is a thing of the past

I've had my bottom braces for a year now and things look almost perfect (at least to me)! The top ones will probaly take a while before they are straight (since the wire was only put on this past December). But I definently can't wait to get the whole process over and done with.

Congrats again!

#195 Post by **decisionmade** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 6:31 am

no kidding katem..even with all the positive thinking in the world.there is no denying braces are awful!! but yet at the same time a mere setback in the scheme of things:)

As I read the posts on the "sarpe" page..I just nod yup..yup ..yup..I tottally understand all the issues..as I know you do to...

bracedagain -good luck to you and thanks for your encouragement..I went on a small shopping spree in celebration of my 6 mos!!..

Spring is in the air here in boston so it is lifting my spirits..as well as the excitement of the marathon coming up...! looking forward to smiling big at the finish line!

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Decisionmade's (D.M's) story:summer '07 update

D.M's story update