Finally !!!

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Attagirl2
Posts: 703
Joined: Thu Apr 14, 2005 8:19 am
Location: Ohio

Finally !!!

#1 Post by Attagirl2 »

Well, today marked the beginning of the end of my braces journey. I just returned from having impressions made for a bite positioner. I asked about what it looked like, becuase I was invisioning a hinged contraption that covered all my teeth. It does not look like that at all. It is a one piece elastice appliance that covers both top and bottom teeth.

To make it they use the impressions of my teeth to make plaster casts. Then they cut the individual teeth from this cast and reposition them to the best possible positions - then they make the positioner. When I get it, I will be wearing it pretty much 24/7 for the first 4 days and then a few times during the day and all night. (Oh, by the way, my braces come off at this time!!! - October 18th, 2006)

The following week (October 25th, I go for impressions to get my Hawley Retainers made (well, this is what I asked for anyway)

And on November 1st, I pick up my Retainers.

After 1 year, 23 months and 1 day, I wonder if I will miss these little buggers... - NOT
Had Damon 3 / Smart Clips for almost 2 years
Now in Hawley upper 10 hours/day, permanent lower retainers

jcdamon3
Posts: 1237
Joined: Thu Sep 22, 2005 12:30 pm
Location: Northern California, USA
Contact:

#2 Post by jcdamon3 »

That is fabulous! Congrats! I wonder if I could benefit from a bit positioner. What is it about your bite that still need solving? Or is it just to maintain what you have?

I would love to see "after" photos if you get a chance! Oh, and a picture of the bite positioner!
Braced on 8/05 - Braces off 12/06
Mid Forties!

Lisa65
Posts: 3469
Joined: Thu Jun 01, 2006 12:12 pm

#3 Post by Lisa65 »

Great news, Attagirl :D

Look forward to seeing the "after" pics if you have any.

Attagirl2
Posts: 703
Joined: Thu Apr 14, 2005 8:19 am
Location: Ohio

#4 Post by Attagirl2 »

Thanks folks. jc, I asked the assistant a couple of visits back about why I was getting a bite positioner and she said that my orthodontist puts all his patients into bite positioners at the end of treatment. It allows for fine tuning of the bite, plus it will correct the molar spacing where I had to have the bands placed. He is a very detailed and thourough orthodontist - good guy all around, as is his staff.

Lisa, The appliance is made by Allessee Orthodontic Appliances, so maybe you can check on line. I am not able to post pictures, other than my Avatar - maybe, what I will do is take a picture of it in my mouth when I get it and change the Avatar...
Had Damon 3 / Smart Clips for almost 2 years
Now in Hawley upper 10 hours/day, permanent lower retainers

Joual
Posts: 145
Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2006 5:36 pm
Location: Buffalo, USA

#5 Post by Joual »

Congratulations Attagirl! The bite positioner sounds interesting. I'm glad that you had a good experience with your ortho & his staff.

Samantha08
Posts: 190
Joined: Wed Nov 30, 2005 12:54 pm
Location: Louisiana

#6 Post by Samantha08 »

Awwwww yay!!! Im so excited for you!!! I get mine off at my next appointment, which is the day after yours. I get my molds done for my upper hawley, I get my bonded retainer put on, and then off comes the braces. I go back 4 days after to get my retainers. Im surprised your braces are going to be off so long without retainers.. I guess its probably common though. Congratulations!!!
Estimated Time: 15-18 months
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Granola
Posts: 540
Joined: Sat Nov 19, 2005 3:58 pm
Location: Earth

#7 Post by Granola »

That is fantastic news, Attagirl!

I will be interested to hear about your bite positioner. I remember having a positioner post braces the first time around (25 years ago) and wonder if they are similar, or the same. You must be so pleased to be so close to the end of being braced! Congrats.
Uppers placed 2/8/06--Inspire ICE ceramics
Lower (stainless) placed 2/23/06
Treatment time: 17 months (estimated was 12-18 months)
Debonded: July 11th, 2007
Next appointment: June 2008 for retainer & nightguard check

alexa
Posts: 1055
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2005 10:50 am
Location: San Francisco, CA
Contact:

#8 Post by alexa »

That's such great news!

I'm jealous! :lol: :D
Spacers: 1/26/05; 2/6/06; 3/15/06; 4/24/06
4 First Bicuspids removed: 2/2005
Metal Braces, top and bottom: 3/1/05; Debanded 7/26/07
Hawley retainers top and bottom

Chris
Posts: 2326
Joined: Sun Aug 29, 2004 9:18 pm
Location: Southern California

#9 Post by Chris »

Congratulations! So happy for you! :-)o :-)o :-)o
Top Braces June 2004
Bottom Braces November 2004
Debanded January 2007

Clo
Posts: 969
Joined: Thu Sep 02, 2004 5:05 am
Location: Belgium
Contact:

#10 Post by Clo »

Wow, great news Attagirl2, congratulations !

Does that mean we loose here again someone who was braced in 2004 ?
Weeeep, I am going to be the last here :cry: ...

It is awesome that your ortho is such a perfectionist. I know now all about
bites. So it is just great how your ortho does the finishing job.

Again, congratulations !

Attagirl2
Posts: 703
Joined: Thu Apr 14, 2005 8:19 am
Location: Ohio

#11 Post by Attagirl2 »

Thanks everyone.

Samantha, I will be two weeks without a retainer, but I have the bite positioner to wear. The first week, as much as possible, then I go in for the retainer impressions. By then my bite should be excellent - assuming I do the bite positioner exercises! I will continue to wear it some during the day and at night, so there shouldn't be too much movement. If I find there is, I will just try and wear it more.

Congratulations to you, too!
Had Damon 3 / Smart Clips for almost 2 years
Now in Hawley upper 10 hours/day, permanent lower retainers

joplin
Posts: 639
Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2004 1:38 am
Location: Europe

#12 Post by joplin »

Congratulations, Attagirl!!!

And Clo:
Does that mean we loose here again someone who was braced in 2004 ?
Weeeep, I am going to be the last here Crying or Very sad ...
You're going to be stuck with me :lol: Started my journey with the RPE in 2004, got braces in 2005. No signs of getting them off any time soon.
Case: Impacted canines, crowding & crossbite.
Treatment: SARPE 2004/10/6, RPE 2004/9/28 - 2005/1/31, w-arch until 2005/11/22, impacted canines extracted 2005/5/18.
Braces on: top 2005/6/2, bottom 2005/8/30.
Braces off: 2008/6/9.
Retainers, phase one: expanding Hawley retainer 24/7, bonded retainers on top & bottom.
Retainers, phase two: Hawley on top, bonded both top & bottom, positioner for night time use.

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jennielee81
Posts: 2144
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2005 2:31 pm
Location: The Old Line State

#13 Post by jennielee81 »

Oh wow, this is wonderful news!
"Life is an occasion; RISE TO IT!" --Mr. Magorium
I wore Damon 3's and Opals for 20 months at age 42. Braces off January 2007
http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=3535 a little more about me here: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/co ... 961130.htm

Chris
Posts: 2326
Joined: Sun Aug 29, 2004 9:18 pm
Location: Southern California

#14 Post by Chris »

Does that mean we loose here again someone who was braced in 2004 ?
Weeeep, I am going to be the last here :cry: ...!
I'll still be here, Clo. :) :( :)
Top Braces June 2004
Bottom Braces November 2004
Debanded January 2007

Evelyn
Posts: 858
Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2004 9:13 am
Location: Virginia
Contact:

#15 Post by Evelyn »

Congratulations Attagirl! I'm so excited for you!!

Eve
Braced September 9, 2002
Debanding: JULY 5!!!!!!!!

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