opera^gal's story

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#166 Post by **opera^gal** » Sun Dec 27, 2009 7:53 pm

Love love love...the new Sonicare!! On gentle, it does such a good job without feeling like all the brackets on my teeth are going to be shaken loose. Plus the smaller brush head is easier to get around all the do-dads.
One more week to go in these box elastics..hoping for a change in configuration!!

#167 Post by **opera^gal** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 5:06 pm

Wow...11 month braceversary...where has the time gone? Adjustments, poking wires, torturous pain..oh yeah..that's where time went!! Still hard to believe. Looks doubtful I'll make the early estimate for release (12months), and no telling about the original late estimate (18months). Couple days until the next adjustment..looking forward to new ligs and possibly a diff elastic configuration!

#168 Post by **opera^gal** » Sun Jan 03, 2010 7:50 pm

Thanks for the well wishes ken...appreciate it!

#169 Post by **opera^gal** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 9:38 am

A fairly information filled adjustment this morning. Real-feel temperature of 7 degrees when I left the house, the office heat was set on solar-radiation..nice for the first defrosting period, but a bit much while waiting.
Anyhoo..the wires remained the same <blah!>, the box configuration elastics are on for another month <double blah!> but they are doing their job nicely, so said the doc. Mini power chainlettes went on top from lateral incisor to canine on both sides, and a nearly complete power chain was added to the bottom, from premolar to premolar. What came next was a flurry of information: 1) things are looking good for a summertime release from bracket bondage <whoowhoo>, 2) new wires at the next adjustment in Feb <yay!>, 3) box elastics should be done next month, replaced with lower canines to upper molar singles <less blah than before>, 4) doc will re-advance the upper arch again, to preserve a slight overjet, 5) retainers <OMG yes, the magic word was spoken today> will consist of a hawley on top and bonded on the bottom...possibly a bottom hawley, depending on how things look when the time comes. And the time is coming, baby! Oh yes... orthodontic hump-day has been crossed and it's down hill to the finish line. Move aside folks, comin' through, no autographs, prepare to release the balloons!! <can you tell I'm just a smidgen excited?>

#170 Post by **opera^gal** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 7:05 pm

Throbbing from the new power chains...wow, I'd forgotten what that was like..back to soft foods for a while..still thrilled with the latest news!

#171 Post by **opera^gal** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 1:01 pm

Saw the dentist today for a cleaning and general 'look-see' on my progress. It was all good news I'm happy to report. I had zero...yes, that is ZERO tartar to be jackhammered off, gums were perfect and only had a little polish on the surfaces that could be reached and a super power wash on the rest. I was in the chair a total of 15mins. He gave the 'ok' on the following: 1) advancing the top incisors to preserve a slight overjet, 2) hawley retainer on top, with springs to retain the overjet, 3) losing the bonding on the same teeth, grinding the chipped edges and bringing them down from the gumline *IF* there is enough tooth/root/stability, 4) hawley retainer on the bottom at first <if it isn't enough, can always put in a bonded retainer>...Yipee!!!

#172 Post by **mikesmile** » Sun Jan 10, 2010 8:50 am

Hi opera^gal

Congrats on your 11 month mark

So nice to hear about your progress. Despite the ups & downs, it looks like you're getting there! Your elastic experience sounds like a trip...
As we talked about before, our cases are kind of similar - including the grinding. Because I already had braces before, my teeth are pretty straight going into this a 2nd time. It's mainly the bite issues that need correcting. I'll have to wear elastics too, but not that crazy pattern you've had to endure

. My ortho is also going to create a slight overjet by advancing the top incisors. Are your bottom teeth being moved back as well? Apparently that's in my plan.

I'm also inspired to hear about your impeccable oral hygiene program

. BRAVO!!! It sounds like you're doing a bang up job keeping everything spic & span. That's something I want to continue to stay on top of once I'm braced.

#173 Post by **opera^gal** » Sun Jan 10, 2010 4:22 pm

Hey mike..thanks for your kind compliments. As far as forward advancement AND lower retraction: yes, both have been being worked on slowly throughout my treatment. The overjet will be re-advanced once the elastics have completed their job, which will include the last bit of lower retraction. I'll warn you now, that advancing the incisors isn't fun at all. In fact, it was pretty painful, much more than a regular adjustment. Good luck with it, and invest in a good pain reliever! If you don't already own a Sonicare, it really is worth the investment in keeping things tidy. And the dreaded threaded floss and proxi brushing, etc. Best of luck and thanks for stopping by!

#174 Post by **opera^gal** » Thu Jan 14, 2010 11:20 am

The same place where I broke a twisted wire hook for elastics...broke AGAIN today...Argggg! What must be happening there that is causing this recurring issue I wonder? I've got an emergency appt tomorrow morning to install my *third* one <insert eye rolling here>. If the plans the doc spoke about at the last adjustment are true, I won't be using those twisted wire hooks starting next month. Guess the good thing is, I didn't poke a bloody hole in my tongue this time around.

#175 Post by **opera^gal** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 10:04 am

Emergency appt was quick and easy. Got the hook replaced <apparently they have a name: Coby..'she broke another coby', and here I thought my secret rendevous with a basketball player had been unearthed..lol> and I asked if I was doing something incorrect to cause this epic failure of the lower right hook twice in a row. Doc said 'well, you are wearing your elastics as prescribed, unlike the snot-nosed brats that run through here'. I laughed and replied 'so being a compliant patient is *bad*?'. After more laughing, I updated her with my latest trip to the dentist. Shared all his comments about the hawleys and possible incisor lengthing/advancement and the doc once again agreed and jotted lots of notes in my file. She also confirmed that I will be DONE with the dreaded box elastic configuration at the next adjustment only 2 wks away..and she will begin advancing the top at that time as well!!! Should be getting X-rays the same day, for a general check on progress and to confirm I have enough tooth/stability to bring the incisors down and get rid of the nasty bonding/chips from years of grinding.
Hopefully everything will check out, and I'll be in the home stretch soon..whoowhoo!!

#176 Post by **mikesmile** » Sat Jan 16, 2010 8:52 pm

Thanks for the advice and warning opera^gal

You mean to say there's pain involved?

This week I'll get stocked up on the extra "equipment" for keeping up the oral hygiene while I'm in braces.

...hmmm lengthening your incisors. That sounds wicked interesting. I didn't think it could be done.

#177 Post by **opera^gal** » Sun Jan 17, 2010 7:50 pm

hey mike! Yes, apparently *if* there is enough tooth and stability within the skull, it can be done. I don't need much, just enough so I can get rid of the bonding and be tooth-on-tooth again..although after advancement forward, there shouldn't be *on* anymore, to help prevent any further chipping.

Now, onto the way I was amazed this evening, yet again! I am nearing my one year braceaversary, and what came sneaking out from under my gumline at the newest of the molar bands?....a piece of excess bonding material!!! I could NOT believe it...after all this time, still shards of this stuff are appearing as if from some other universe. I suppose as things shift, the stuff that overflowed the band when it was applied, decides to exit stage left and pretend to be a caraway seed. Onward and toothward!!!

#178 Post by **opera^gal** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 11:21 am

Only 10 more days of the box elastics!!! Whoowhoo!!! Then the torture of advancing the top..done it once and it was sheer agony BUT in the long run, was sooooo much better to not have incisors crashing down on/against each other! Tick tock little clock, hurry up already!!!

Sun Jan 24, 2010 1:31 pm

what color are your braces? theyre cute!!! :]

#180 Post by **opera^gal** » Sun Jan 24, 2010 7:56 pm

Thanks chelsea..in that pic, I was wearing teal jelly ligatures on plain metal brackets.