Three years in, and...

Message

#1 Post by **Neva** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 4:35 pm

I'm getting debanded.

And then immediately rebanded.

The day after Tax Day, about one month short of three years since I started, I go in for two hours to have all my old hardware removed and new stuff put on. The new ballpark figure is 27 months, plus probably two extractions and possibly surgery to expand my palate.

Somebody reassure me that this is all worth it? I know it is, academically, but... argh.

#2 Post by **browneyedgrl** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 5:27 pm

#3 Post by **METALMOUTHPOOH** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 5:41 pm

Wow that is a super long time in braces.... why do u have to have them removed then put back on??

#4 Post by **platinum** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 7:57 pm

Wow!!!!!!!!!

I am asking as well: why do you have to get braces again after such a long time having them?

#5 Post by **Neva** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 1:25 pm

My presumption at this point is that the old orthodontist screwed up more than a little, but also that since I'm 26 things aren't moving as fast as she originally thought so it was destined to be somewhat longer than my original estimate of two years to begin with. The one thing we're sure got messed up, though, is that the old one said nothing about my upper arch being too small and seemed to have no intention of even telling me it was a problem, much less getting it fixed if I wanted to do that.

So the new one--who is *adored* in this town, I can't mention his name without somebody telling me the story of how much they loved him--is stripping all the old hardware off and basically starting over, except that at least I don't have to re-do the canine exposure.

But... yeah. It seems like forever.

#6 Post by **jennielee81** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 2:09 pm

Wow, what a journey you've had!

I want to wish you the best in the remainder of your treatment!!!

also, I would like to assure you that your age does not affect your tooth movement speed. I was 42 when I got braces and my teeth moved with ease and speed. Age is not a factor in how fast teeth move, individual dental issue and genetics may effect it.

Let us know how things go, hopefully, they'll move quickly and you will also find that this orthodontist is worthy of all the adoration!!

#7 Post by **Lola** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:01 am

I'm sure that the second time round will go much quicker as much of it should be done by now. It's terrible for you that after three years you have to start again, but the alternative is to quit- and have wasted those three years. Do you have top pay full whack for the previous treatment that didn't work? I know money isn't the main concern when you're worried about your teeth, but I would be unhappy about that losing 5grand and three years to the first attempt

#8 Post by **purpleteeth** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 10:40 am

I would be getting a second opinion!! Yikes, it sounds like you have had a bad experience and I would almost be afraid to get braces put back on. How can you wear them for over 2yrs as an adult and then have to go through it all over again? That just blows my mind... That previous ortho needs to be reported or something because that is simply cruel!!

If you need your top palate expanded and teeth extracted, ask your ortho about the Damon System. They can do it often without surgery. My top palate is too narrow and they are just using elastics, which has extremely opened up my top palate (I have felt it literally splitting).

Did you move or what caused this drastic change in treatment? I would be spitting nails out my brackets if the ortho told me what you just said... and I might be moving during my treatment, so if that is YOUR CASE --- I have just gotten spooked. I might not move just to avoid some ortho making a mistake with my teeth.

#9 Post by **Neva** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:57 pm

I moved, but that's not what's requiring all this--if things had been going as they should have, the new ortho would have just finished things off, because my old one claimed I only had a couple months left to finish moving my formerly-impacted canine down. Needless to say, I've seen pictures now of how my bite actually is, and her plan would have left me going back into them even where I used to live, because the overbite was *badly* noticeable and my back teeth don't even begin to line up.

So, the new ortho was basically a second opinion to start with... and I went on another consult, too, and they both said the exact same thing, that her plan left me with a crossbite, the overbite, probably would have taken months longer than she said even to get that far because the tooth coming down will need to be rotated... ugh.

The old one was, at least, relatively inexpensive, so I'm only down about two grand after insurance, which I had at the time, on that, and it did at least get my impacted canine exposed which would have taken a long time either way. But it is a very long time! I hope it'll be worth it.

I looked into the Damon thing, but nobody in my area uses it anyway, it seems.

#10 Post by **Clo** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 1:26 am

Isn't she great, our Meryaten !

Hi Neva,

I think it is indeed all worth it. I have a similar thing going on. Ortho 1 could
indeed line up my teeth, but ruined completely my bite. It took her 22 months
to do that. Ortho 2 tried to get my bite better. It took him 8 months to finally
admit it wasn't working. I saw then a 3rd ortho. She insisted to wait 6 months,
sans braces, to let everything rest a bit. This became 9 months, and then, she
started a new treatment. So, since August of 2007, I have braces again. Up to
now, my bite hasn't improved a bit and very probably, I'll too have to admit only
a jaw surgery will be able to get things better. I post from time to time here in
this forum about my experiences. There are pictures too.

So, if this new ortho really knows his stuff, it'll be indeed all worth it. Some of
us here really are experiencing a rather long journey. I hope all turns out well
for you too.