Have you ever doubted your decision?

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turrrtlelove22
Posts: 510
Joined: Sat Sep 02, 2006 3:42 pm

Have you ever doubted your decision?

#1 Post by turrrtlelove22 »

I'm kind of feeling that way right now. I have to keep reminding myself this is for the greater good. And how great things will look in the end...Up until now I could not be more happy with everything, But now it just seems like a waste of time. It's just depressing...

Why the glum mood? I went to get my band fixed today and ended up with the not so polite assistant. I tried to ask what could be the problem and why are things popping loose. She ignored me. I'm like WTF...I'm paying cash for this and I get treated like this? She acted like it was my fault it happened. I just want to throw in the towel... :(

On top of this she didn't put everything back the way it was. The two wire ligatures, the lace backs aren't there. They were there for anchorage, to keep my molars from tipping and something else...I can't remember. Instead I got just a powerchain. I'm guessing it does the same job. But it's not on enough teeth. It's just on 3 on the right, the lacebacks on the other side are on four teeth. Does this sound right to anyone?

I don't know what to think and at this point I really don't care. It should be all legit, guess I'll find out in a month... :roll: :roll: :roll:
LiFe iS A HoOt iF You arE aN oWL...O.o

Sept. 28 ~ Consult with Orthodontist
Dec. 5 ~ Spacers In
Dec. 12 ~ Braces On!!!






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Kat
Posts: 358
Joined: Mon Sep 04, 2006 4:26 pm
Location: Califorina, USA

#2 Post by Kat »

Yeah about a million times. Kinda have a love hate war going on with these things.
I now look at as something I always wanted to do, to make my self feel better about my apperance. And even though my teeth are bucked out at the moment sinse being braced I do see a better in what I was looking for in the beginning.
Almost every night before bed I think "ok, time to take off these chains that bind me" then remember there on there for two years or more.

I had always been self consience (SP?) of my smile. Now my bite has changed somewhat I'm glad I did this. I'm only a few months in.

My boyfriend has some dental work on his top teeth and I must say when he smiles the whole world lights up. If I can have some of this positive change in my mouth, wow, I'll be one happy camper and will really be able to smile at the world!

It's worth the crap in the end.

RainyDay2
Posts: 60
Joined: Sat Aug 19, 2006 10:55 am

#3 Post by RainyDay2 »

I know what you mean. All the time anymore. I'm at 5.5 months and I havent' seen much change recently on the extraction sites. I'm so sick of these gaps. I just had an adjustment and I was hoping to start closing the gaps. He keeps saying next time. And up until yesterday i kept asking at every adjustment. I didn't yesterday. I figured what's the use!!! :roll: The more I sit here and write the more ticked off I get! :shock: I know, I know it will get better sooner or later. :) I just wish it was sooner! You're not alone! :lol:

Lucifina
Posts: 263
Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2005 12:36 pm
Location: IL
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#4 Post by Lucifina »

Sorry about your bunk adjustment! I had one bad assistant once and now I just hope that I never get her again! :x She did what she was supposed to do but she took 3 times as long and talked to everyone else in the office while she was doing it and kept messing up and having to start over and no she was not new so she had no excuse! Anyway I have be lucky so far and not had her again *fingers crossed* I have had the grill on for one year and 2 months now and the only time I regret what I have done is when I start to think about the surgery I have to have in June. :shock: That is because I am a wuss though and do not want to have all the pain and suffer through that. :oops: Other than that I have not really regretted it at all. :) I am glad I decided to do it and I am sure I will be pleased after the surgery as well. I know I am certainly going to get all the princess treatment I can out of it :wink:
~Luci~ Image
It will all be worth it in the end!
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lionfish
Posts: 2635
Joined: Wed May 18, 2005 4:16 pm
Location: emerald city, oz

#5 Post by lionfish »

Sorry to hear you've had a few hiccups with your last adjustment, turrrtle.

I've never had any regrets about this decision. Goodness knows, it took me long enough to make up my mind, so by the time I made the decision, my head was in the right space.

Also, my ortho and his support staff have been nothing short of terrific; I've never had any problems with any of them, they've been very supportive and accommodating of my numerous "emergencies".

Keep the end goal in sight, it is so worth it. And the time flies so quickly, the end will come sooner than you think.

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

#6 Post by Lisa65 »

Sorry you had a bad experience with the not-so-nice assistant TL. Sometimes feeling like you're dismissed or not listened to can be a contributory factor in your attitude, not just about braces, but about all kinds of things in life!

Regarding your question - I haven't regretted going into treatment. The changes I see in my teeth always keep me in the mindset that I made the right choice. The only doubts I had were about the first lot of implant screws because I had a lot of trouble with one of them, and there was a point where I wished I'd just gone for extractions instead.

We all have low points in treatment and I guess you're having one now. But stick with it, and the results will be worth it in the end.

alexa
Posts: 1055
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2005 10:50 am
Location: San Francisco, CA
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#7 Post by alexa »

Sorry you had a bad experience that has put you into a braces funk. I hate those braces funks, but we all go through them, I think. Sometimes I can't stand the things, and then there are times like now where I don't mind them so much. Just stick with it. The end results will make it all worthwhile.

As for whether I have regrets...none whatsoever. My teeth look a bazillion (that sounds really big and impressive for a made up word, no?) times better than they did. Despite all of my grumpy times over the last couple of years, it's all been worth it.
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

turrrtlelove22
Posts: 510
Joined: Sat Sep 02, 2006 3:42 pm

#8 Post by turrrtlelove22 »

Thanks you all for being so supportive and for all your answers and experiences. I'm trying to keep my head up and think this too shall pass.

Initial exam where he checks my progress and writes my "diagnosis", tech visit to get the actual work done, then back to my ortho for his stamp of approval and next appt scheduling.
Denise, yea that is how it usually works. The assistant takes off the old o-rings, I pick colors while I wait for her to come. She's like this needs that, this for this...put this here take this off...new this...keep that...writes it down and the assistant goes at it. Next time while I'm waiting I'll be asking questions while picking colors. I feel much better today, btw...from now on I refuse to let her get to me.

Kinda have a love hate war going on with these things.

Kat...I so know what you mean...LOL...it's love when you see progress and things are going great and you get the routine down...and then it's hate when you encounter something you can't do...like bite your nails or something...haha...


I'm at 5.5 months and I havent' seen much change recently on the extraction sites.

hey rainyday2...is it possible that he might working to get something else taken care before he starts closing those gaps? Hopefully he will start to soon... :D :D :D


Lucifina, this assistant is new. I don't think she's been there for very long. A lady I know mentioned this and we confirmed as being the same person. She said that she hurts and is rough...I feel for the children that go there...I'd be afraid of her!!! It's like she's in an ill mood ALL the time...it's like for her to smile at you is painful or something and when she does it's fake and forced...gah...

You know what? If I get her next time...I'm just going to smile and be even nicer to her...hehe...try to make conversation or something...and juice the niceness out of her...if there is any HAHAHAHA....




Sorry you had a bad experience with the not-so-nice assistant TL. Sometimes feeling like you're dismissed or not listened to can be a contributory factor in your attitude, not just about braces, but about all kinds of things in life!



I'm never in an ill mood when I go there. I smile...A LOT. I'm polite, please and thank you...all the time. I'm in a good mood when I got there cuz this means one more step forward in getting this over with. I think I felt dismissed because I know I tend to be shy and softspoken. And most ppl tend to overlook the meek. Who knows. For sure this will teach me to be more outspoken...like I said before I'm not going to let her get to me anymore and ruin my day. She is not the owner of my feelings. I let her own them when I get in funk. Never again... :D :D :D
LiFe iS A HoOt iF You arE aN oWL...O.o

Sept. 28 ~ Consult with Orthodontist
Dec. 5 ~ Spacers In
Dec. 12 ~ Braces On!!!






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invisagirl
Posts: 215
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 3:27 pm
Location: Colorado

#9 Post by invisagirl »

I find that my braces gloom moods often times correspond to when I'm not feeling well. I busted my knee last February and for months (while I waited for knee surgery) all I thought about was removing these braces one by one. Thing was knee surgery came and went and then I was fine. Unfortunitly I really, really messed up my shoulder a week ago and now I'm back in that mood. I really think that its just I'm barely hanging on as it is and then I have to worry about brushing all the time which is the most painful thing to do right now, flossing, and all the rest. I think subconscienly its like my brain knows that something has to change and I can't remove my shoulder so lets remove the braces. :lol:
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2.6 years (30 months) with Invisalign plus 19 months 2 weeks with metal braces to achieve the perfect smile.

Delag
Posts: 834
Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2006 4:46 pm

#10 Post by Delag »

hmmmm.....I agree with the above poster, when things are going well I don't even notice my braces. Do I regret my decision...hard to say. I know I am doing the right thing, but jaw surgery is a lot to take on. I wish it could be 'just braces'. Perhaps because I am going to have the surgery, the braces seem like the 'no big deal' part of the process.

I think that he next time the assistant ignores a question you should say in a loud voice very sweetly, 'Im sorry, I did not realize you were hearing impaired...' and then repeat your question :twisted:

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