opera^gal's story

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#196 Post by **bethyd** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 2:55 pm

Hey Opera Gal, just joined this site and have been thoroughly entertained by your story.

I was just "braced" two weeks ago and had a question for you regarding enunciation. Although my current 'speech impediment' doesn't effect me musically (I'm a pianist), I am very self-concious about it and thought who better to ask for help from than a singer with braces?

Most of my vowels are good ('o' is sometimes tricky), but it's more the "th"s and the"f"s. Any helpful hints or tricks to improve the situation?

Also wanted to congratulate you on all of your progress and hope to be able to share similar stories soon!

#197 Post by **opera^gal** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 8:12 pm

hey bethyd!
I wish I had some magic for you but I did not experience any speech difficulties to date. Many years of being heard over an orchestra both musically and in dialogue, sorted that out ages ago. I'd suggest you practice in front of a mirror and record yourself. Tongue twisters might help as well:<try to say each one 3 times quickly in a row>

1) Pleasant Valley Pheasant Pluckers
2) Aluminum Linoleum
3) I slit a sheet, a sheet I slit, upon a slitted sheet I sit
4) toy boat

Hope that helps, or is at least a little bit entertaining for your friends to listen to during the orthodontic journey!

#198 Post by **opera^gal** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 11:44 am

One week since the last adjustment and most of the pain has subsided. It was a VERY long week getting to this point. The forward advancement worked beautifully, moving the top incisors away from the bottom incisors and their brackets. Question remains as to whether it will hold this time around. Last time, it regressed either by itself, or by the doc moving other things around. At this point, I'll stay in the 'settling' process longer and not complain <much>, so ensure both Fleetfoot and Slowpoke remain status quo. Still hating these box elastics and the complete drudgery of off-eat-brush-on-repeat! Maybe March will be the magic month for a change in configuration, or better yet, release from elastic bondage!!

#199 Post by **opera^gal** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 12:41 pm

And here comes the same ol' song: broke ANOTHER koby hook today, mid-blizzard!! It's the last original one from the December placement <all the others have been replaced, some a few times>. Called the office, and needless to say, it was closed down during this Nor' Easter we are having today. Will call tomorrow and try to get fit in on Friday, probably when all the Wednesday ppl who got cancelled today are trying to be fit in..grrrr!

#200 Post by **kilikena311** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 1:56 pm

You're really good at breaking those hooks!

At least they know for sure that you are wearing those elastics.

#201 Post by **opera^gal** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 7:50 pm

Will be fit into the schedule tomorrow morning, and a good thing too as...boom boom boom..another one bites the dust! Current total count for broken koby hooks now stands at six (6).

If I'm in these elastics for much longer, wouldn't brackets with hooks make more sense? Save the doc time replacing kobys and save me some serious frustration!!!

#202 Post by **iBorg** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 10:00 pm

I agree the brackets with hooks might make more sense. For some reason orthos would rather you come in for several emergency visits rather than take the time to replace the brackets. I don't understand why, its just their standard practice.

Good luck with convincing her to do it. I know mine took forever to swap from ceramic to metal even though I was loosing a bracket about once a month when I had ceramics. Since then, I've not had one loose bracket. My space would not close with the ceramic bracket. Then she took my suggestion to change it (after springs, powerchains and elastics) and lo and behold, the gap started to close......progress after nine months of NOTHING.

Good luck with this, at least you can pick up a new toothbrush for your troubles.

Mike

#203 Post by **opera^gal** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 8:16 pm

Doc was late getting to my appointment, due to a consultation running longer than expected. First thing she said was 'I'm so sorry for being late', which I appreciated, after having sat in the waiting room and chair for over 40mins. The tech gal said to the doc when getting out the new koby hooks: 'I know you don't like the thicker wires...', to which I popped up out of the chair and said 'Hey..thicker aka STRONGER wires that might not break every 2 wks...sign me up!!'. Low and behold, I have 4 brand new kobys, of a much stronger wire..yeehaw!! Then, doc did the usual 'bite down, bite down, bite down' routine and said 'While I've got you in the chair, I'm going to slip on some mini powerchains to get those lateral upper incisors to move forward with the program, thus reducing gaps as well'. An unpleasant surprise to be sure, just for pressure/pain levels, but a bonus to tend to gaps a couple weeks early. Now, if the 5ft tall snowplowed blockades will melt so there is actual parking...

#204 Post by **opera^gal** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 12:02 pm

I'm very happy to report that the new koby hooks have NOT budged since installation. WhooWhoo! Now, if the elastics would move things along a bit more speedy now that they have secure anchor points..I'd be thrilled. Pain has disappeared from the mini-chainlettes and those gaps closed up. Now, how many times have those same gaps opened-closed-opened-closed-opened-closed? Too many to count! At least it's snowing again..LOL

#205 Post by **Trish** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 2:50 pm

Hi Opera^gal!

Glad to hear that you got your gaps closing in with the power chains. i got a power chain last week and i swear it is doing nothing! Only closed smaller gaps, but my big one--not much goin on there!

Hope your koby hooks stay put!

Just wanted to say hi as I'm following your story! I'm sick of the snow too.....but I saw a strange yellow orb in the sky today--maybe, just maybe, we'll see it more and more now. BUT we are supposed to get more snow this weekend.

Good luck with your gaps!

ttyl
trish

#206 Post by **opera^gal** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 7:36 pm

Hey trish, thanks for stopping by! Gaps and no-gaps..each month seems to be different but that goes with all the shifting this way and that no doubt. The new kobys are hanging in there brilliantly..even made it through pizza without a single bend. Progress!!

#207 Post by **opera^gal** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 11:15 am

One more week until my next adjustment. I can't tell if the elastics are doing much at this point. If there is a change, it is probably microscopic which undoubtedly means another month in this configuration..bleh! I might push my luck and ask about getting the bonding removed next week, as well as the chips underneath ground smooth. Even if they aren't ready to be brought down yet, would be something new happening for the better! This week is looking like rain/snow every single day..what a mess!!!

#208 Post by **opera^gal** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 11:17 am

Gah! Forgot to say where the bonding was..and what was being brought down... top incisors!!

#209 Post by **opera^gal** » Sat Feb 27, 2010 7:21 pm

Day 5 of the worst cold I've had in many years. As if coughing, sneezing and buckets of stuff being blown out of my skull wasn't enough...the sinus congestion WHILE wearing elastics is about to drive me to tears! The adjustment coming up in 2 days ought to be a real experience..bleh!

#210 Post by **iBorg** » Sat Feb 27, 2010 8:01 pm

Hey PT friend (or fiend) have you tried nasal rinses to help with the drainage?

Remember in this journey sometimes new things aren't always pleasant. Of course, the finish is!

Mike