My story, initial situation, with pics.

Message

#91 Post by **Lingualita** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 11:30 am

Today it's my 11th. month mark with braces. Hooray! In one month I hit that magic one year mark, and I'm so happy about that.

That bing said, today has been one of those "I'm so tired of my braces"-day. Especially since I haven't noticed any changes since starting with elastics. Hoping that'll change soon!

#92 Post by **teach** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 12:48 pm

lingualita

I have a overbite as well. My ortho didn't want to extract any teeth yet. so Im just curious why you had couple extracted. I had my uppers put on last week and lowers last month. I havent seen any change so far.

Im having more difficulty with the uppers in regards to speech and eating.

#93 Post by **Lingualita** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 11:59 am

Hi Teach.

Do you have linguals as well? How are you finding them? I started seeing changes after my second adjustment, but I really recall reading about all those who were seing changes within a few days and thinking, aww, why isn't that me? But don't worry, they'll start moving for ya soon

I found my lowers more difficult with respect to eating and speaking, but I ham them put on last, which makes me think that perhaps it is the combo of both upper and lower braces that makes it more difficult.

When it comes to why I needed extractions, I have a lot of teeth, and there simply wasn't enough room in my mouth for all my teeth. So even though my overbite will be corrected during braces, my lower teeth are now further behind than what they were when I started, if that makes sense

I know there is loads of debates regarding extractions vs no extractions, but in my case it seems like it was the right thing to do. Good luck!

#94 Post by **Lingualita** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:05 pm

Hi there,

I thought I'd update my summary of my treatment plan and progress so far. I understand that this might be a pretty boring post, but I find it useful when I go through my thread once in a while. It's remarkable how quickly you forget things

, and those days I get sick of my braces, I find comfort in looking back and seeing all that I've actually been through so far. Here it goes:

11.12.2008:

I finally took the plunge and saw an ortho. He took x-rays and made a moel of my teeth, and roughly described my treatment plan and gave me a treatment estimate of 18 months.

09.02.2009:

I had brackets and arcwire (lingual) "installed" in my upper jaw.

04.03.2009:

Extractions of four teeth, number 14, 24, 35 and 45.

06.03.2009:

"fake" teeth glued on in my upper jaw.

20.03.2009:

Installation of linguals in lower jaw.He also took digital pictures of my profile and front.

18.05.2009:

Adjustment, repositioning of one of the lower brackets.

20.06.2009:

Adjustment, working on aligning the teeth.

20.08.2009:

Changing the archwire in my upper jaw, did not work on lower jaw.

23.09.2009:

Changing the archwire in upper jaw and lower jaw, wires with closing-loops.

07.11.2009:

"Activation" of archwire in both upper and lower jaw, to start closing extraction-sites.

12.12.2009:

Glued on 2 surgical hooks on tooth number 36 and 46, used to attach elastics which I from now on wear 12 hours a day.

04.01.2010:

Deep cleaning and x-rays to check for cavities. Everything looking good.

27.01.2010:

Next appointment.

That's the story so far

. And I looked over my invoices, and so far I've paid about 4000 USD. I "pay as I go", and my ortho said I should expect to pay around 8000 USD all in total.

#95 Post by **Lynne** » Thu Jan 14, 2010 9:34 am

Hi Lingualita,

I'm so sorry not to have replied to your post on my story...I don't seem to have received the usual emails to let me know, and as I have been a bit fed up with progress I haven't been checking on here regularly.

Wow...your last photos look amazing, you can really see how beautiful your teeth are looking...I love the way your temporary tooth is now so tiny...brilliant progress

Glad to hear the elastics are not too bad - I'm dreading that a bit

I know you feel frustrated with slow progress, but having been away from here for a while, I can really see the difference

We have had bad snow in the UK and my orthodontist surgery stopped working and rearranged all the appointments...so I only had my adjustment (due 6th Jan) today. Got a really stubborn lateral incisor refusing to get inline

, but going back in only 4 weeks, which isn't too long to wait.

Apologies again for missing your posts...good luck with your next adjustment

#96 Post by **Lingualita** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 3:48 am

Hi Lynne!

Thanks for your reply! I know, the temporary teeth are really decreasing. Perhaps he'll make them even smaller on my next adjustment, really hoping so.

It's been freezing and snowing here i Norway as well, but I suppose we're more used to handling snow than you guys

. I know how you feel about that lateral incisor. I had one of those too, and it refused to get in line with the others. But it gave up, finally, and I'm sure it will for you too soon!

I just noticed that you were braced two weeks earlier than I was, which means your soon to celebrate your 1-year brace anneversary. Time has gone by pretty fast, huh? At least that's what I feel when I look back.

How long were you told you'll need them? My ortho said about 18 months, but I'm pretty sure I'll have to have them longer.

Good luck on your next appointment! My is in less than two weeks, can't wait!

#97 Post by **Lynne** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 5:54 am

Hi

You are right, I was braced just a bit before you, but as I didn't have my uppers put on until September, I don't feel I have got as far through my sentence as you have

I was told nine months if I was just having the lowers done (which is all I did initially), and 18months-2 years for both. I'm sort of hoping 18 months from having the uppers added...wish I had just had it all done at the beginning...but at least I'm well on the way now, and so pleased to be having this treatment at last!

Good luck with your next adjustment...it will be here in no time!

#98 Post by **Lingualita** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 2:21 am

Today it's only a week until my next adjustment, simply cannot wait! Still getting pretty frustrated with the fact that I haven't received an appointment with an oral surgeon yet. Initially my ortho said there was about 5 months to wait. Then he said 8 months, and now it's been at least 9 months since he referred me. I'm trying not to think about it, but it's really annoying from time to time. I kinda wanna know whether I'm facing surgery and more time in braces, or wheteher I can expect to just proceed with the braces and get them off in a year or so...

#99 Post by **Lingualita** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 4:15 pm

Hi guys!

Today I finally got the letter. I have an appointment with an OS! 15th of february, less then a month until... I'm excited, nerveous, happy, frightened, all at the same time. But I'm finally going to see an OS to discuss potential surgery. I was originally told 3 months, then 5, then 8 months, but I ended up waiting 10 months to see an OS. But now, finally something is happening. Will definately keep you guys posted!

My next adjustment with my ortho is on the 27th. of january, coming wednesday. Will keep you posted on that as well.

#100 Post by **Lingualita** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 3:01 pm

Tomorrow I have an adjustment 09.30 p.m. I'm really looking forward to it. After a long time feeling that nothing has happened, I have an adjustment, a meeting with an oral surgeon and my 1 year braceaversarie all within 2 weeks

Will definately keep you posted for the next few weeks!

#101 Post by **catfish** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 10:03 pm

Hi Lingualita, I just caught up on your progress. Your teeth are looking so good! I can't wait to see the final result. I'm sure you will have a lovely smile when this is over.

I'm happy for you that you finally have an appointment with your OS. That's one step closer to the finish line.

How was your adjustment yesterday?

#102 Post by **Lingualita** » Sat Jan 30, 2010 1:54 am

Hi Catfish! Thanks for catching up on my story

. I am so happy that I'll finally be seeing an OS. Monday in two weeks it is!

My adjustment went fine. He shaved down a little more on my left fake tooth, and bent the wire here and there, not quite sure exactly what he was doing. But it went very quickly, and I was only there foor 15 min or so.

I told him that I finally had got the meeting with an OS. He told me that most patients are happy with the results after surgery and glad they did it, but that he had had two patients that simple could not adjust to their new face. But I guess he's just saying that to emphasize that it's not a decision that should be taken lightly. My next adjustment is in 6 weeks.

Here's some pics of my progress:

All the pics: Last adjustment, about 7 weeks ago vs now:

You can see he shaved down bit oof my left fake tooth, and that the gaps are slowly, but definately closing up.

I'm not sure if it's visible, but my extraction gaps are starting to close up in my lower jaw as well:

My tooth is defiantely looking WEIRD now that it's so thin, but I comfort myself that it is almost gone.

#103 Post by **Lingualita** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 2:17 am

Today it's exactly two weeks until I'll see the OS to discuss surgery. Have to admit that I'm very excited. Not nerveous yet, but I'm sure that'll come once it gets closer. Have a great week everyone!

#104 Post by **Lynne** » Wed Feb 03, 2010 10:40 am

Hi Lingualita,

Good luck for your OS appointment...thinking of you.

#105 Post by **Lingualita** » Wed Feb 03, 2010 10:49 am

Thanks Lynne! Will post as soon as I've been there!