Mel & her Teeth -- 2 YEARS!! -- New pics 23 Nov 08!

[becks]

Looks like pretty dramatic changes to me. I'm very impressed!! Your teeth look great

[overseasmel]

It's been six months! Time seems both fast and slow. Going well, but open bite is getting a little worse (on its way to getting better, of course!). Here are some pics of now:

[jennielee81]

Wow, they're looking fantastic!

[Elyse84]

Am so jealous. I have had my braces for just over 4 months and I don't see nearly as much change as you - my front gap hasn't closed at all from what I can tell.

Your teeth are looking great!

[overseasmel]

A couple of weeks ago it was my nine month anniversary. I was very excited about this, and things have been going well.

The major new development in the last couple of months has been elastics. I have been wearing a box at the front (front 4) and class II and class III on the sides. These were for 24/7.

After my most recent adjustment (this Monday), the ortho said I had been going well and only needed to wear the elastics on the right side 12 hours a day now. The others are still 24 hours, but he said I could be a little more lax with the front box if I wanted. I am used to them now though so I said I was happy to keep them on if it gave me a better result.

My dilemma now is about extractions. To get them, or not to get them? I have posted relevant pictures and explanation at this post: viewtopic.php?t=21043&highlight= Please (pretty please!) go there and give me your words of wisdom and advice.

More generally though, here are my 9 month pics:








And here are some pics from the end of month 1, i.e. 8 months ago:



You can also compare them with the 6 month pics at the top of this page. I think it shows good progress with my bite.

[hannahwebbo]

Hi Mel

Ive just read your story and ive got to say that your teeth are looking fantastic. They really have changed so much.

My ortho advised me to have my four first premolars taken out as that would help to pull my teeth backwards (i have an 8mm overjet). And i dont mind losing those four teeth as long as it makes a difference in my smile. I have all the rest of my teeth so i think that losing four isnt such a big deal. I cant tell you my experience as i havent had it done yet.

Good luck with the rest of your treatment and making your decision on the extractions

Hannah x

[sjsarre]

WOW - fantastic progress...

[MissDiana]

WOW, what unreal progress!:shock:

Your teeth are looking fantastic.

[joney]

Hi Mel

You've been in braces about the same length of time as me. Your teeth are looking fantastic. Good luck with your decision. My daughter was in a similar position with slight flaring and offered the option of going for 4 extractions which in the end we decided against. However she has been left with a good bite and a fantastic smile. The good bite bit is very important I think, the effect on profile is something that you should discuss further with your ortho.

Regards
Joney

[overseasmel]

Thanks everyone. I am very happy with my progress and once I make a final decision about this whole extraction issue I'll be happy. Still to'ing and fro'ing a bit. I had myself convinced I wasn't going to extract and then when I saw my ortho today he seemed to really prefer me to have it done. I guess he's a perfectionist!

My bite is close to right though so there'd be no worries there either way- it's just the aesthetic/ profile thing. I wish I could time travel and see pictures of myself either way!!

Mel

[cwatt1]

Hi Mel!,

Just read your blog and also your other post regarding the extractions. Your teeth look fantastic -- what a difference from when you started! I"m especially impressed with how symmetrical your arches are now.

My own take regarding the extractions: Based only on your photos I think you look great just the way you are right now, and since your ortho has told you there will be no long term ramifications based on your decision, why extract 4 perfectly good teeth? But then again I'm not into perfect aesthetics -- my main concern is correcting my bite.

[overseasmel]

It is officially one year since my little teethy pegs were braced in for the long haul. It's been a pretty good ride so far- my teeth have moved well and reasonably quickly by adult standards, and pain has been very minimal.

The latest development was the removal of all of my 5s- the right side on October 2 and the left side a week later. As I had some issues with a dry socket my ortho decided to wait a while until trying to close the gaps.

3.5 weeks ago he did start, however, using a powerchain all across the top and "closure chains" at the gap sites at the bottom. Yesterday I had my first appointment to see how these were going. I was very pleased that the first thing the ortho said when he looked in my mouth was "Wow, they're closing fast!". I haven't been measuring, but I would guesstimate that they have gone from about 7-8mm to 5-6mm in that short period. 2mm in 3.5 weeks! I am very pleased indeed.

When I go home tonight I'll try and get someone to take some good clear pics of my teeth as a memento. First anniversary feels like a big deal!

(I'll post them when I've got them)

[overseasmel]

Finally I have had a moment to upload my one year pics (from almost 3 months ago!). It's actually nice to do these now as I was getting to that point where I was doubting I'd had any progress in the past few months. When I look at these I can see that there have indeed been positive changes recently- and this is on top of the good changes I can see between the 9 month shots and these.

[kittymeow84]

Wow looking great! So much change in just a year

[METALMOUTHPOOH]

Looking good