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I posted once in a different spot on this website but I thought I would post my story and update here.
I have always wanted to have my bite corrected and my teeth straighter but I was told that I would have to have my jaw broken in the past and I didn't want to go down that path! After going to a consultation in the fall my ortho said that he would be able to fix my overbite, crossbite and straigten my teeth without jaw surgery. Since my teeth were starting to wear on the bottom and the backs of my front teeth I knew I had to do something about it soon. So I took the plunge - only 2 years and 4 months right??
Here are pictures of when I got them on Feb 25 and now at my first adjustment of my top wire on June 18, 2009
I am very pleased with the changes that have taken place so far, it seems to be working.
It's always nice to read of more people in my situation - overbite, cross bite, and crooked teeth You have made progress - congrats!
Do you have a bite ramp or molar bumps (I think that's what they're called?) to prevent your top front teeth from biting down onto your lower brackets?
No I don't have a bite ramp or molar bumps, my top teeth clear the lower brackets. So far the only thing I have had done is the braces themselves. No spacers, extractions or palate expanders, I should consider myself lucky since I have read so many painful sounding stories!
I went to see my ortho because I kept popping the wires out of the brackets on my lower molars. While I was there I asked if they go move up to the next wire early (not due until Aug 10) and he said go ahead to the assistant. So I now have my second wire on my lower teeth almost a month early - maybe that might shorten my time in braces (I will do anything)!
I was eating cherries last night and I felt the wire come off, went to check and realized that one door was not closed on the bracket so with much force I managed to get the stiff wire in and close the door so I don't have to go and visit the office again
My teeth are quite sore this morning but I swear I can already see a difference on my on tooth that has yet to move into place.
Way to go on getting the new wire sooner - I did the same thing haha! At my first adjustment I asked if I would be getting a new wire and the assistant said probably not. But when she was looking around at my progress she said, "well, I could put you in the next wire" but she was hesitant if I was still really sore. I was only still slightly sore but I said DO IT!
Brace days:
uppers - June 11, 2009
lowers - August 27, 2009
Well I have made it to the 6 month mark on my journey! I just realized that I forget to mention my name. It is Csilla (pronounced Cheela).
I have had no big problems just he usual pain and canker sores, my next adjustment is September 14 when I get new wires (3rd ones) on my upper and lower braces. I can hardly wait. He is still working on my arch on my upper teeth and that is why the front is still a little crooked.
One thing that I need to mention is that I found a Chiropractor in my area who happened just to get out of braces himself and he is going to adjust my mouth and jaw right after an ajdustment to help with the pain. Has anyone else done this?
Just went for another adjustment today and had both wires replaced with even stronger ones. I am sure that I will be feeling it later today.
The good news is that I will have elastics added by October 20. So that means that I am coming along. I have noticed lots of changes especially with my bite so this will speed that along.
I do have to have one of my brackets repositioned since it is twisting the tooth around a little too much which they are going to do in early October but other than that my ortho is quite happy with my progress. I am scared to ask if I can have them off sooner than the estimated time maybe once the elastics are on I might ask.
I have finally gotten around to getting some pictures since my latest adjustment. I noticed that my one tooth in the front is now longer than the other.
Should I get this shaved down or what else can they do? I know that I have to do something with my bottom 4 teeth since they are quite worn down from my bite being so off. All in good time!
In November I had an appliance put in that moves my upper molars back, I believe it is called a Wilson Distalizing Arch and also elastics. Well after 8 months I finally had them off today.
I am soo happy that I am onto the next stage. I have to wait a couple of weeks to have the appliance put in to keep my molars where there are now and I am also having a few brackets repositioned. The next step is to move all my upper teeth back to fill in the the spots that were created when my molars were moved back and then make sure all my teeth are properly lined up.
For now I am just happy not to have elastics and that appliance that caught way more food than just my braces alone. I am back to just a thin wire for now since I have had only my front 4 teeth in brackets while the molars were being moved.
Well it has been a few months since I have posted and I have had 2 wires changes on my upper braces and they are working on moving all my teeth back to correct my bite. I also have elastics AGAIN yuck! Still to correct my bite. I also have a lovely applicance in on the roof of my mouth to keep the molars where they are since it took 7 months to move them back they do not want it to slip back.
Everytime I go to the ortho I am asking him to tweek this and tweek that, he keeps telling me that he will get to it when I have the final wire on that he can bend to make the changes. I am getting very impatient with this whole process! He did lengthen my front two teeth so when I finally get them off my teeth won't be to "perfect" and it will look more natural.
I am almost finished!!!! The ortho is just closing some gaps on the top row and then is going to do some tweaking of some of the teeth to align them better (he said it wouldn't take more than a week to do it), he will be moving the shorter front tooth down a tad and my left eye tooth down a bit as well. It has taken quite a bit of time to close the gaps that he made to correct my overbite. My bite is now in the right place but there are still some gaps by my eye teeth that have yet to close.
I have been going in weekly to have the powerchain changed and have been religious about wearing my elastics so I hope that I can get them off soon. He initially said 28 months and I am at the 24 month mark on Feb 22 for the top braces so it may mean 4 months early
I will ask at my next appointment if he has any estimates and I will keep my fingers crossed that he has good news.
Thank you! I am sooo looking forward to not having to rush and clean my teeth after every bite that I eat. I think that is the worst part of it, I am very self-concious about having food stuck in my teeth. Also not having the pain, pressure will be great.
You have made progress - congrats!
