Jen's Braces Journal--Braces OFF (PICS)!!!

Message

#16 Post by **jenfire** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 9:46 am

Today I had a teeth cleaning, and it went really well. The lady who does my cleaning is super nice and she went through orthodontics herself several years ago, so she always has great insight into the process and what to expect.

She said she noticed a lot of movement which made me feel positive. One of my teeth was completely overlapping the other on the bottom but now they have moved apart.

I received a referral to an oral surgeon to check into having my other 3 wisdom teeth removed. I will also be checking into the possibilities of a tooth implant on my upper front tooth, which is now a crown but it has some bacteria. The implant should come after I have completed my orthodontics, however. Does anyone on here have a tooth implant or know anything about them?

~jenfire

#17 Post by **jenfire** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 9:36 am

Here is a recent picture of the lowers.
July 25th:

July 2nd

Lots of crowding-but I do see some changes. I can't wait until they can move that tooth forward to join the rest

#18 Post by **antsika** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 1:44 pm

Hi Jenfire,

You had very nice movement in 3 weeks, especially on the left side! And the space for the not-in-line tooth is also wider! Congrats on your cleaning as well!

Antsika

#19 Post by **jenfire** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 4:06 pm

I got my upper braces placed today.

Pics:

#20 Post by **antsika** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 12:25 pm

Congrats Jenfire for your upper braces!

Tell us how is it to have them on

#21 Post by **sjsarre** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 12:19 am

Congrats on becoming fully braced...

I have severe crowding on my bottom row (well and my top) but the bottom I had two extractions. I was told that the bottom row tend to move more slowly than the top. I'm four months in and now i'm really starting to see movement so hang on in there...

#22 Post by **jenfire** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 2:59 pm

Thanks for the encouragement everyone!

I am very excited about my top arch...here is a recent pic

This was an earlier picture (I don't have one from before the RPE though):

~jenfire

#23 Post by **Joanna20** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 9:23 pm

Hey! Nice movement on the uppers! GREAT!
Good luck with everything!!
Joanna

#24 Post by **OneTime** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 9:28 pm

Congrat!

Did anyone tell you look like ashley johnson in the first picture?

#25 Post by **juf_84** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 12:19 am

Wow Jen, your top arch looks great! Here's to many more changes!

Jennifer

#26 Post by **antsika** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 2:20 pm

Hi jenfire, you had very nice movements, congrats!!

#27 Post by **RainyDay** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 9:40 pm

wow. you can really see the movement. That's great Jen! Very encouraging for someone who just started the process!

#28 Post by **jenfire** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 1:15 pm

Just a couple pics..I've had the top braces for over a month and lowers over two months. I will be going in for an adjustment on Tuesday. The ligs are quite stained but I haven't been very careful since they are going to get changed on Tuesday.

#29 Post by **kisses14** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 9:33 am

Hi Jen,

I'm new to this site, and was reading your story and thought I would post a reply. I am 26 years old, and have been wanting braces for some time now. So, I recently went for a consult. She told me I needed to get an RPE to widen my upper arch, then they would put the braces on (similar to your story). I was just wondering what your experience was like with that appliance. I have to say it looks VERY uncomfortable, and I'm very nervous!!! Was the activating process painful? Did you notice a big difference?

I have read that after 12 years old in females, the mid palatal suture fuses, and you have to have surgery to cut it again and widen it with the RPE appliance. Did your orthodontist try to convince you to have this surgery? I'm very nervous about this, and would love to hear your story with this device! Thanks so much!

#30 Post by **jenfire** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 1:24 pm

Thanks for the words of encouragement, everyone.

kisses14-The RPE is definitely something that takes getting used to. I have had mine in for almost 6 months. I only had to turn it once every 3 days and only had to do that for a month or so. Overall, it is not too painful, but it annoying especially in the beginning. You may have a lisp for a week or two and eating will be difficult (certain foods) because food gets stuck and I have also found it difficult to take certain pills with the RPE in my mouth. I would occasionally have headaches and just took some tylenol which helped a lot. The RPE is a lot more difficult to deal with than the braces are.

The orthodontist never mentioned the surgical (SARPE) process at all. I never got that gap between my front teeth that many do. I noticed a lot of tipping and some flaring of the top front teeth, but once the upper braces were placed, that has seemly gone away.

For the longest time, I didn't actually know if the RPE was really "working." I went in to get a cleaning and the hygenist noted that it was working and that it would soon be ready to remove (I think the ortho has left it in even though I'm done turning b/c he wants to give the teeth time to settle in the new position). The way that I can really tell the difference is looking at the pictures that I have taken of the upper arch. I think that it has also widened my smile.

Let me know how the RPE goes for you, kisses14! Good luck!

~jenfire