ilovemacs' Story- Almost Done! (Aug. 21)

[mariahfromchicago]

IloveMacs, i want to wish you good luck at your adjustment. before my first adjustment in February, I thought that they were going to physically tighten the braces . Shows how much I know about orthodontics . I want to be a Real Estate Agent when I am older. Hey, don't worry about the Ortho telling his daughter about it. It's not going to happen.
Picking colours/colors is fun!!!
It will just feel strange.
- mariah

[ilovemacs]

Today (Dec.11th) is my two-month anniversary in braces. Currently I've only got top braces on, hopefully on Thursday (my 1st adjustment) I'll find out when I get my bottoms on!!

[ilovemacs]

Today I had my 1st adjustment! It was a success. They didn't do much; the assistant just changed the ligatures and the wire to a stronger one. Then the ortho came in had a quick look, and answered some of my questions which include:

1. When do I get my bottoms on? Jan. 23/08 at 11:00 AM EST (Eastern Standard Time)!!! I'm excited, BUT I get my bottoms on two days before exams. (I'm in secondary school.) I remember that the tops hurt for a week, so during exams I may be in pain! Oh well, that's what NSAIDs are for.

2. Do my buccal tube have hooks? Yes, they do!

3. Are my 2nd molars getting braced? Nope, they're just where they need to be! My bottoms will be though! Yay!!

I have blue and hot pink ligatures!!

Here are some pics!





So far just a little pressure, no real pain!!

PS. Sorry for the bad quality pictures, they were taken with a webcam.

[ilovemacs]

Sounds like a great appointment Ilove and fantastic you got your questions answered!

Yes, it was a fantastic appointment! I quite happy I got my questions answered!!

Your ligs look very pretty!

Thank You!! I love them! Even for a teenager the bright colours took some getting use to (I had light pink and black before.)

It's good news you don't need all your second molars treated. It's so far back there ... and I've found it slows my flossing down and you have to be extra careful with your hygiene and your cheeks. Wish all mine were left bracket free!

I'm quite excited the top set of 2nd molars don't need to be treated. The bottoms do though. No big deal, I'll figure that out when the time comes (I get my bottoms on Jan.23/08, at 11:00 AM EST!)

Here's to continuing great progress!

Thanks! I hope so too!

[ilovemacs]

Last night while eating I had a little bit of pain. Today is a bit worse but it's not that bad. I didn't take any Motrin, I may take some when I get home. I packed soft stuff for lunch today.

[ilovemacs]

Last night Friday (Dec. 14) I went out with my youth group for dinner and bowling as a Christmas party sort of thing. We went out for supper to Taco Bell. Taco Bell was good, but since it was only one day after my adjustment it hurt to bite into the tacos. I got soft tacos because I like them better and my ortho doesn't want anyone eating "taco style hard chips". Bowling was fun.

[KateinCO]

Hi Ilovemacs -

Congrats on a good adjustment! The ligs look pretty fun - I like the bright colors - very festive for the holidays. Your teeth look great, and it should be very exciting once you get the bottom braces on.

Good luck and have fun! Bowling is one of my favorite things to do! (I am originally from the midwest in the US - it's what we do for fun there! )

Happy holidays!!
Kate

[ilovemacs]

Thank you KateinCO!

I love the ligs as well! I'm quite excited to get the bottoms on, but the day I get my bottoms on is two days before exams. Luckily I don't have an exam on the Friday, I don't think I have one until the Tuesday. Luckily during exams I only have to go for the morning and then go home. On the Friday I may sleep in and let the pain go away!

Bowling is very fun, even though I'm not very good!

Happy Holidays to you too!

[iBorg]

I find your attitude so wonderful. When I was your age and had braces the first time, I felt like they were a punishment for some crime of genetics that I somehow was guilty of. I truly believe you see this as something good you're doing for yourself. Your enthusiasm always brings a smile to my face. Plus being a Mac lover, I have to like you.

One warning, I found the bottoms much harder to get used to than the tops. Plan ahead. Stock up on NASIDs and wax. You may want to make arrangements to take your finals early.

Keep on smiling.

Mike

[ilovemacs]

Thank you for the compliments!! They make me smile! The odd thing is that both my mom or dad don't have that bad of bites or teeth. My mom has a little bit of a space between her two front teeth but that's it, and my dad's are perfect. My aunt's teeth (my dad's sister) had braces when she was my age. Her daughter had braces.

I also think I'm doing something great for myself as well! I think a new smile will give me more self confidence.

Eeek... That's not good news, that bottoms are harder to get used to. I've heard that from a few others too! Well I've got wax and NSAIDs so I’m ready!!

Bring it on!!

[LateStarter]

Your ligs look great

Good luck with your bottom bracing - I hope you don't experience too much discomfort. I don't have my bottom arch fully braced yet (I have some brackets, but not all and no archwire) because there isn't enough room, so after you've had yours done, you'll be able to tell me what to expect

[ilovemacs]

Thanks! I get my bottoms on Jan.23/08!
I'll let you know how they go!! Good luck with your journey!!

[ilovemacs]

I got an electric toothbrush for Christmas and Oral-B orthodontic brush heads! I'm so happy!! Those were the only things I asked for, I got more though. To me Christmas isn't about getting presents. I got the Oral-B AdvancePower 400 and the orthodontic braces essentials brush heads!! The brush makes everything feel a whole lot cleaner. I haven't used an electric toothbrush since way before I got my braces. I was scared I was going to break something. I also found brushing under my gum line felt strange. I didn't want to hurt anything. I just need more practise with it to feel more comfortable. Anyone have any tips?
Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and has a Happy New Year!!

[kittymeow84]

Yay ilovemacs thats such a great present! Once you've used electric you'll never go back to boring old manual brushing. They make your teeth so much smoother and cleaner.

I don't have braces yet so I can't give you any specific tips on that, but when I first got my Oral-B I stopped doing as much of the vigorous "back & forth" motion with the brush. Instead I focus on one tooth at a time and the gum area around it and let the power do all the work Not quite sure if that's the correct technique but it seems to be the most thorough! Hope that helps some.

Oh and I don't use regular toothpaste in the tube anymore, I get the Colgate 2-in-1 Toothpaste & Mouthwash (can you buy that where you live?) because it's a bit more liquid and froths up better. The tube stuff is generally too thick and gluggy. This doesn't replace regular mouthwash despite it saying that it can - its just a better texture.

Anyways, hope you've had a fantastic Christmas and Happy 2008 which isn't far away!

[LadyJ]

Good for you!!!

I got a Triumph (Oral-B) for Christmas after starting out with a Vitality a couple months ago. I don't think I can ever go back to manual brushing!

Glad to hear the braces heads work so well. I'm not braced yet, but I've been stocking up on the replacement heads for when I am - I have a 2-year supply! (Seriously, 8 sets of the bracket heads and the power tips.)

When you need more of the replacement heads, I suggest eBay. I've been getting mine from seller whammy11111 for $6 for a 2-pack!

Like kittymeow said, I just focus on tooth-by-tooth and let the brush do the work. I have to be careful because my gums are already fairly recessed. As for toothpaste, I still use regular and I hold the tube right up to the brush head and squeeze it so it goes down inside the bristles. That keeps it from flinging off as soon as I turn the brush on.

Are you gonna post a review of the brush heads in Dental Do-Dads?