Braced on October 19, 2006

Message

#1 Post by **wavetech** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 10:16 pm

Hello all,

where to start this?? I was blessed with straight teeth when I was little but after the new set came out, I became a mutant

I wonder what went wrong with the structure of my jaw as I grew up? anyway I wanted to get braces ever since I entered high school which was about 6 years ago. But I know that my parents couldn't afford it anyway. Pass forward four years, I had a job the summer before I entered my senior year of high school so that means I COULD get braces!! But for some reason I never did and here I am with braces torturing my teeth

I recently spotted this site after I did some research about braces. I was partially braced on that day, which is on the subject title. The ortho also put 8 spacers between my molars and bicuspids (or is it premolars??). A week later, she put the molar bands in. I live in california so I have western dental so if you have western dental, just provide me some feedbacks about this company. There are only women working at the center I have. I find it sort of strange that all women working there.

Anyway I didn't say anything about the condition of my teeth so...my problems are overbite (not sure about the length or size or whatever you call it), crookedness, and spaces. My upper teeth are so messy that I don't think anyone wants to look at it or even my face if I grin...my bottom teeth are not that bad looking but there are very tiny spaces between my incisors and bicuspids. The four front bottom teeth are somewhat straight. I guess that's why I grow up having low self-esteem. I envy those who have straight teeth! i know that sounds weird and lame but yeah...

Tomorrow will be my second week of being braced!!

The first week wasn't that bad but i just didn't eat that much

The ortho told me that on the next appointment, she will change my arch wire. I guess that's my first adjustment!!

I can post up some pictures of my teeth, but I'm afraid it might pop out your eyes...

I hope you guys enjoy my story. And my journey started on October 19, 2006. Treatment time 18 months to 24 months (I hope so.)

#2 Post by **xtrememkovr** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 2:39 am

I'm in California also and I just happen to be a patient of Western Dental. I have heard mixed reviews about this clinic, but overall I'm impressed with the work my DR has done - so I'll stick it out. Not to mention the plan they provide was about the only option for me and my student (poverty) income.

I've found this forum to be excellent in filling in the little holes my DR doesn't tell me about.

If you ask to see your records and your diagnosis they will provide you with the info you need, I found out. I asked them for my chart information and that is when I found out about the expander (though I didn't quite understand WHAT type from the DR's chicken scratch) and also the retainer (Hawley) after my treatment is finished. I have my first adjustment in a few weeks as well (4 weeks after my arch wires went on) and I will ask the doctor more specifics at that time.

X.

#3 Post by **wavetech** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 6:37 am

To xtrememkovr

Not to mention the plan they provide was about the only option for me and my student (poverty) income.

i'm a poor student as well. The ortho treatment at western dental is relatively cheaper than most places in California. But the one I go to (in sacramento) really annoys me sometimes especially on the general dentistry side.

I've found this forum to be excellent in filling in the little holes my DR doesn't tell me about

I figure that the orthos won't have time to tell every patients about their problems or how to fix it. They just do their work. Problems could occur like this though.

If you ask to see your records and your diagnosis they will provide you with the info you need, I found out.

while I waited for the ortho, I was looking at my record and the assistant scolded me for looking at my OWN record. I found that to be more annoying.

#4 Post by **wavetech** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 6:44 am

To KK

Hi and welcome wavetech!

Great that your journey has started and is going along ok at this early stage!

If you check through the beginnings of the stories in this section, you'll soon find that your teeth are nothing to worry about. Remember many people are having treatment for the same reasons as you, so you'll find many different pics of teeth with problems ... and no one here will judge!

Good luck with your journey! Take good care!

Thanks Karen. I woke up earlier and I found my mouth were full of dead blood cells. I think the brackets caused that.

I think the scariest part of this treatment is when my teeth actually move.

#5 Post by **wavetech** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 5:02 am

I haven't logged on in a long long time.

I have had braces for about 21 months. I'm in the final phase of closing my last two gaps (I hope). The thing is the new orthodontist (The first one was pregnant and I don't really know what happened to her anymore, and the second one probably quit, at least I assume, because Western Dental has bad management) told me that I'm gona need bonding to close up the gap between the maxillary lateral incisor and maxillary canine. (My incisors are small.) It was frustrating after I heard that because it would cost me more. I'm not sure whether that ortho is being faithful to Western Dental and want them to make money by recommending me to get bondings from them. He told me that the day of my appointment was his first day working there, and he looks young like he just graduated from school and started working. I need at least one or two more opinions from different orthos before I agree to get bondings, but sadly there is only one ortho working at Western Dental Orthodontic Center.

Does anyone have similar problems?