Nawners ~ 2nd Adjustment ~

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#16 Post by **Nawners** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 8:42 am

Oi!!

So funny....

I lost another spacer. Same side, different spacer. Only a few days left of this misery!

#17 Post by **Nawners** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 3:36 pm

FINALLY!!! I am officially braced!
And most importantly, I got those damned spacers out! Immediate relief for sure!

The worst part of the whole experience was the drying of the teeth. I HATE having a half dry mouth.

So far, no pain at all, just some pressure. The only annoyances are the bands, and it seems that the wires may be a tad too long because I have been poked on both sides. Not even really poked, my cheek has gotten stuck between the wire and the band. Really stuck. When I reach back with a finger I can feel the wire, and the inside of my cheek is much more sensitive than the tip of my finger. Yay for wax!
Right now I'm debating on whether or not I should call the ortho or just have my bf clip the bit of wire off.
Also, the hooks for the elastics feel like needles poking me if my lip hits them just right....

I am thoroughly exhausted, having been full of adrenaline for the past few days in anticipation, and not being able to sleep. Now that it's finally done... WHEW!!!

It's strange, but it feels exactly how I pictured it would, except for the weird pressure. Almost like it's meant to be...

I am still at work (regretting that decision, because I'm so tired) so when I get home I will be posting pics!!!

#18 Post by **LithpingLitha** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 5:02 pm

Congratulations!

#19 Post by **manglemouth** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 5:51 pm

Hi Nawners!!!

WE DID IT!! Glad to hear that it went so well for you. You must be so happy to finally be rid of that pressure from the spacers! I would definitely get that wire clipped, cause it's not gonna get any better, it's just gonna keep irritating you. I know what you mean about the adrenaline rush finally being over. Isn't it great to finally have them on? Now progress is being made every single minute!

Looking forward to this journey with you!

#20 Post by **Nawners** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 8:51 pm

Here it is! My new grill...(I've been wanting to say that for a while)

Sorry for the crappy quality, I really need a new camera!

I am certainly going to keep up on those salt water rinses! As long as I have the wires covered in wax, they feel great. Still no pain 9 hours later, but I'm bracing myself for it! (no pun intended)

Is it fairly common to leave the ortho with wires poking out?

Here is a more detailed description of the big day. I woke up, or shall I say got out of bed, because I didn't really sleep, at my normal 6am. I got the kids ready for school, got ready for work, and headed off like any other work day. I only had to work for an hour and a half before going to my appointment. That was a LONG hour and a half. I got to my appointment about 10 mins early, and they took me right back. I brushed my teeth and sat in the chair while the assistant who was to help the ortho, spoke to some contractor guy. I was very pleasantly surprised to be greeted by another assistant who I had never met before. She said "Hey Shawna, are you excited? It's your big day!" I thought "whoa, I've never even seen you before, and you know who I am? I hope that's a good thing... "
I was a little worried because the assistant that was helping with my braces today seemed a little stern. But when she introduced herself she was very cheerful. WHEW!
We got started by taking those HORRID spacers out. AAAAAAHHHHhhhh relief!! She then fit the bands. The taste of the adhesive was terrible, but the worst part was the mini jackhammer they use to pound them on. The cheek separators were placed. She let me adjust them to my comfort level, which was nice....But not comfortable by any means. She then polished my teeth, and sprayed them with a powder coating of sorts. My mouth was then rinsed, and DRIED with some kind of little blow drier. Guess it could have been worse. It could have been cold air....
That was the worst part of all. She applied something else, I'm assuming some sort of primer, that tasted terrible. Then the ortho came over and started gluing the brackets on. That was all he did. The assistant put the wire in, and placed each lig on. It was no big deal at all, considering the poor little girl next to me was in tears while she was being worked on.
In less than an hour I was finished.

Thank you all for your support through all of this, it has been a long road, and I still have a long way to go, but you've all made it so much easier!

#21 Post by **Nawners** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 8:51 pm

Sorry... double post. Again....

#22 Post by **manglemouth** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:41 pm

LOVE THE COLORS!!! That looks great! Your braces look very nice overall too!

LOL had to laugh at the "little blowdrier thing". Yeah I had that too, and mine WAS cold air though

I didn't like that part either because I kept dreading her going over my one super sensitive tooth with that ice cold air ...luckily she didn't pay too much attention to that one tooth.

I think it's a great sign that the unknown assistant greeted you with your name. It means they want you to feel at home there, and that just sounds like you are off to a great start with them!

I would still tell them about the wires poking you. One clip and you'll feel so much better!

Here's to a great 2 years or so

#23 Post by **Nawners** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 3:26 pm

Thanks, everyone!!!

I did get my pokey wires fixed. My ortho said they looked ok, so he just had to bend them in closer to my teeth, as you said Denise. MUCH better. No more wax needed.

Still no pain, other than some pain on my right canine when I bite down, but that's where I had most of my spacer pain so I think it could just be residual from that.

I am a little more self conscious than I thought I would be. I was initially excited to show them off, but I find myself hiding them more. Pretty much everyone has noticed, and most are surprised that I have two different colors.... That's what I get for living in a small town, I guess!

That's a great color of pink! My ortho calls it bubble gum pink.

Thanks! Pink is my favorite color... I did want a lighter pink, but I took what I could get!

LOL had to laugh at the "little blowdrier thing". Yeah I had that too, and mine WAS cold air though

Oh my, that sounds painful!!

Have a great weekend, everyone. I am looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow!!!

#24 Post by **Nawners** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 11:30 am

Had a pretty uneventful weekend...
Two snaps up in a 'z' formation for salt water rinses!!

I had a very painful sore on my tongue from the cleat on my left band, and after a few rinses, it was healed. I also started getting raw spots from the brackets with the hooks, but those also went away.

I loathe flossing. Really. I bought these G.U.M. flossers with a stiff end, and a spongy part for wide spaces, which I have, and got it stuck around the hooks on my brackets. Just like getting a chinchy comb stuck in your hair. UGH!

I also got some G.U.M. ortho wax, which is terrible. I got some really good stuff from my ortho, but it was quickly used up. The stuff from my ortho wasn't at all sticky, and it stuck well and stayed in place. This G.U.M. wax is very sticky, yet I can't seem to get it to stick to my bands or brackets. I'm glad I haven't really had to use any in the past day or two.

Still no pain! I'm trying to keep KK's mantra in my head "Gain without Pain" but I still can't help but wonder why I am not having the typical ache of braces. Then I also wonder if maybe it will sneak up on me like the spacers did, after a week.

Happily, I haven't had to give up any food, other than really super crunchy stuff. Although I'm sure that will change when I get the lowers...

All is well in my mouth so far!!

#25 Post by **manglemouth** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 11:53 am

Great to see you are doing so well! I don't like the flossing either, it's a big mess. I too get the floss stuck around the hooks and just the threading alone..ugh. Glad I only have to do that once a day, the rest of the day I just make sure I WaterPik in between all my teeth so that nothing builds up.

The wax works well for me but I am starting to wonder how much I am supposed to depend on that. Eventually my mouth has to start handling these braces without wax. I only need it on my one canine..but 24/7 though. This is the only thing that makes me self concious about my braces. I wanna smile and show them off but I can't because I have a gigantic blob of wax right in the front

I'd see if your ortho can give you more. On my ortho's website it says to ask them for more wax when you run out. If theirs works so well for you I would definitely get more, or see what brand they use at least.

I haven't had any pain yet either and I've been wondering the same thing...are these working? But I remember the ortho telling me that he was gonna start me out "easy" with a really thin wire. I am sure we'll fondly remember these times of no adjustment pain someday when we get those heavy duty wires

#26 Post by **Nawners** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 7:14 pm

Week 1 is OVER!

Still happy to report that there hasn't been any pain, and only some very minor discomfort with the cleats on my tongue. I think I'm going to request that they be pushed down a bit at my first adjustment appointment.

I am getting to the point that I barely notice them in my mouth anymore, which isn't something I expected this soon. Everyone is so surprised when they notice them, I didn't think anyone paid that much attention to me!

Just wanted to post a little update while I'm bored at work!

#27 Post by **Nawners** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 10:41 am

Let there be pain...
I woke up this morning with a painful left lateral and canine. I took a look at my arch and the lateral has actually moved a bit. It's not as flared as it used to be. I'm stoked!!

I think it's a bit odd that I'm feeling pain on the left, when the right has had the pressure since day one.
But oh well, something is happening already!

#28 Post by **Tin Indian** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 7:25 pm

Congratulations on the braces Nawners.Hope your pain has slowed some. Love those colors!

#29 Post by **manglemouth** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 9:27 pm

Your teeth are on a timer Nawners

If I remember right, your spacers started hurting after a week too!

Awesome to read that you can see changes! We wanna see too, pictures please!!!!

#30 Post by **Nawners** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 1:38 pm

Thanks, T.I.!

The pain is still the same, but I think I'm getting used to it.

MM... I will take pictures tonight!!