Powderpuff's Story (overbite)--Pictures, 3 Pages

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#1 Post by **powderpuff** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 10:50 pm

I have recently just gone to the orthodonist after delaying it from embarassment for many years. My parents were very poor and could not even afford dentist visits for us. We only went to the doctor when we were very very ill. Luckily we all came out normally lol.

I have gone to the first orthodonist doctor whom I really liked and felt comfortable around here in Baton Rouge. My estimate was $6160 with various discounts for paying it in advance and payment options. He also advised me to get a lower jaw surgury to fix my overbite. He gave me the option to do braces alone, however my overbite will be a lot more noticable. I do not have health insurance right now but I am starting a new job as an engineering intern (I'm a senior in environmental engineering at LSU) and insurance may be offered to me.

I can afford one of the payment plans for the braces but I cannot afford the surgury unless it's outpatient. I have yet to meet with the surgeon and am going in for my second appointment with my orthodonist Thursday.

I have no pictures of me showing teeth b/c I'm ashamed of them. They slant backwards and b/c of shadowing they look dark colored and yellow when they are white. I also have found out that I have only one wisdom tooth on top and it is in my skull. The two on bottom are already coming through and from the look of the xrays, perfect but needing removal for room.

#2 Post by **KJNELLAMORE** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 6:07 pm

Welcome! I am also in BR. Just a gander.. was this Dr. Sherman?

#3 Post by **powderpuff** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 8:56 pm

Yeah it was....Is he your orthodonist? I am wondering about getting another consult from another doctor but he seems pretty knowledgeable.

#4 Post by **KJNELLAMORE** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 10:51 pm

Nope, I decided against him

#5 Post by **Apple** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 6:21 pm

I'm in Baton Rouge too.

Please don't be ashamed of your teeth. None of us have perfect teeth. That's why we are here.

#6 Post by **powderpuff** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 3:12 pm

Today I visited with Dr Misuraca and his rates were half of what Dr Sherman's were. I took impressions and pictures right then and there and am going to have braces put in the Tuesday after next. He referred me to a dentist to get everything checked out.

YAY!!!

2 weeks!

#7 Post by **Apple** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 5:51 pm

I'm so glad Dr. Misuraca will work for you and that I could help.
Dr. Misuraca and his orthodontal assistants are great about getting you in if there are any problems. I've only had two issues since November - once my bracket popped open and the other time I had questions about my elastics - and I was able to see them the same day I called.
I got ceramic tops and metal bottoms. I got the impression that he doesn't do many ceramic braces. He made a comment about not liking them much when he put them on, but he was the person to recommend them to me. And sometimes I feel like he has more children than adult patients, but there are always adults in the waiting room when I arrive.
The only thing I worry about is the fact that he is the only orthodonist serving three clinics (in BR, Prairievill and Denham Springs). I wish he spent a bit more time with his patients, but then again ... I like talking about me.

#8 Post by **powderpuff** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 7:58 pm

My doc said I could take my time with getting my wisdom teeth pulled. He also said that if I want the jaw surgury at a future time (after removing braces) he can put them back on me for little or no charge and then take them off after I heal up. It's nice to have options.

The only thing I did not like was seeing a braces assembly line in that office. I get quite psychotic being vulnerable around strangers...I hope I don't like hyperventalate or something.

#9 Post by **Apple** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 7:06 pm

When I had my braces put on, I was in the "assembly line" for quite some time. I know people were looking at me, because I always look at people when they are there too! But since then I've only had to sit in the assembly line for a few minutes. Normally they put people away from one another. For any "big" issues, they'll put you in a back room.
I'm not exactly sure why the place is set up that way. It certainly does feel a bit like an assembly line.

#10 Post by **powderpuff** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 5:05 pm

I am getting 7 fillings tomorrow and then I am good to go for braces. Turns out a had a bad case of gingivitis. The hygenist was asking me to get a sonicare tooth toothbrush and telling me how to use it, and to floss and such. I already had one lol. But my flosses has been very lax. When i had a dentist appointment 3 years ago I only had 7 fillings to do but couldn't do them b/c of lack of a car. I'm glad they haven't gone up in number

.

I'm so excited about braces. What should I be doing? Rinsing with salt water or something like that? I made the cutest little dental kit with everything that I will need to carry with me. I will pose pictures once I get braces and such. I have a very nice SLR camera but it is in the repair shop right now. The orthdonist has pictures online but I can't log onto this site

#11 Post by **powderpuff** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 10:37 pm

I am wondering about maybe calling to see the price difference between metal and ceramic? Is smoothie king acceptable for the first few days if my mouth is sore?

#12 Post by **powderpuff** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 9:00 pm

My mouth is just now starting to ache. I guess it's all catching up to me.

I got the braces on today...Hot pink o-rings

I have trouble chewing anything. My back teeth do not come together b/c they cannot move downward ( blocked by a bracket)

I guess it will be Smoothie King for a little while until I figure out what to do. I had some mac-and-cheese but had to swallow it whole.

#13 Post by **mighty mo** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 9:29 pm

Powderpuff, there's lots that you can eat, even if you can't chew for a few days. On my b-day I had ceramic posts built up on my molars, and it has been a challenge to find things that were tasty and edible. But if you are creative, you'll have a great time coming up with new and unusual combos. I found rice, spicy refried beans, shredded cheese and sour cream to be particularly pleasing. Also, I had home made turkey curry, spagetti sauce and chilli in the freezer: I simply heated it up and blended it -- with rice there is no chewing required and with pasta, there is very little chewing required (I just mashed it against whatever hard object I could find in my mouth!!) When I became bored with mashed potatoes, I added a packet of sweet and spicy tuna -- mmmmm. Even in restaurants you can find things that won't cause you grief: My local noodle house has been great at accomodating me by providing thai noodles without all the hard meat and veggies, and rice with sauce only. You'll be amazed at how quickly you will adapt to your new teeth, and how quickly you begin to chew again (in your own new and idiosyncratic way)

I'm a little over 6 weeks into my treatment. Tonight I had pizza for dinner.

Good luck!

#14 Post by **powderpuff** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 9:34 pm

My tongue is also chewed up from when I was driving to the airport....Stress!!!

I am just pityful.

Isn't not chewing solid food very bad for the digestive system?

#15 Post by **mighty mo** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 7:26 am

Powderpuff, I found it very hard to chew at first, but was determined to persevere, as I read so many posts that said that chewing helped with the healing process. It may have been coincidence, but I found that whenever I began to chew, movement also began