mikesmile's Orthodontic Journey

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#46 Post by **petitcanard** » Sun Apr 04, 2010 11:55 am

Hi mikesmile! I've reappeared briefly out of the void and noticed you'd posted an update today, so I had a zoom through - a huge congrats! Your new hardware looks fantastic and it sounds like things are on the move which is great! I can't believe how quickly things change, hey??

Re food, I think you guys should adopt me - after reading about the delicious food your wife cooks I'm all drooly for a feast of asian cuisine.. I'm out in the sticks (more or less) so can't even trot off to a nearby restaurant for a fix!! haha

As for emergencies, that's great you were able to fix the wire issue.. it's too bad a bracket popped off but sounds like the fix was quick. I had a wire break within a week of my end of feb adj, but happened to be in town and had it replaced in a jiffy. Haven't had a bracket break off, but keep waiting for it!

Black ligs - good for you!

Better run, work is insane here (my busy season too) but while I'm online just wanted to quickly say good job and hope you're doing well!

#47 Post by **jensceana73** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 12:03 pm

Hi Mike

....hope your not in to much pain....but totally, super excited for you and your "movement"!!!!

#48 Post by **Trish** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 12:23 pm

congrats on the new wire mike! After 1 week of a new wire, things settle donw for me, but man my bite is completely wonky! I'm sure you feel that way too!

here's some advil for you!
trish

#49 Post by **mikesmile** » Tue Apr 06, 2010 5:20 pm

Hi

I actually got a compliment on my braces from a long-time customer yesterday. He stopped by my shop to drop something off. When I smiled, he pointed to his own mouth and asked "Are those new?" (meaning my braces). "Yup", I said and then he says very cheerfully "They look good!"
I was kind of surprised, but it was sincere so I smiled, half giggling and thanked him.

Thanks petitcanard, so very nice to hear from you "out of the void"

...and thanks for the compliments. Yes things change quickly with wire attached to your teeth, ain't that so? About your hankering for some of my wife's asian cooking...hmmm...if you're ever near Boston...

Thanks ken, jensceana & trish ! I'm a little more comfortable today, although the discomfort from this wire change has gotten my premolars involved for the first time!

I have some recent photos taken yesterday. I've finally located the macro setting on the camera. What a difference in quality!

Click on the photos to enlarge. My teeth have definitely moved. Of course they have a long way to go. the front ones need to be angled and advanced forward. The gaps between them are growing as this happens. Later they'll close up with a power chain...I'm not worried about it. The ortho said the uppers need to come forward more before the lower braces can go on. I thought that would happen by now, but it's ok. I know this isn't an exact science...

I'm so glad my ortho gave me a little time to ask question at my recent appointment. I have a history of grinding/clenching my teeth and mild tmj issues. I've had this symptom with my right ear for the past several years: where it tingles near the boney part of the ear. I always thought it was an ear problem, but it doesn't affect anywhere near the ear canal. Well I've noticed since I got braced that it's happens more frequently. So I put 2 and 2 together...&... one day it dawned on me that maybe it's related to my jaw joint.....so I asked the doc. He said it definitely was related! He said it's not unusual for these symptoms to increase with the braces because of all the movement and disruption. He said he feels confident that my tmj issues will all be relieved by the time my treatment is completed. I'm very happy to hear this!

Estimate 12-14 Months

#50 Post by **catgyrl** » Tue Apr 06, 2010 10:00 pm

Aloha Mike!

Just finished reading your story. I'm so glad you're seeing progress and things are going smoothly. Please keep the pics coming. (And don't feel bad about having problems with taking pics. I found my macro setting and am practicing for the big day, and I'm STILL having problems getting good pics/angles. One out of every 5 or so looks decent.)

Oh, and Ken is a naughty boy for coercing us to eat bad things...

My sister said she wants to go to dinner and a movie "soon" and all I could think of was "NO POPCORN!"

I suppose I could try "gumming it", but it's just not the same.

Keep us posted, please. I love these stories!

-Cathy

#51 Post by **mikesmile** » Mon May 03, 2010 7:11 pm

Greetings!

I went for my 3rd adjustment last friday.. It went quicky...and at first I thought unevenfully. My ligs were changed out. The tech asked what color (something besides black or silver...) and once again I felt nudged into a new choice. The girl says"Why not have fun with it?" Indeed, why not? I broke the color barrier with dark blue. My 2 year old daughter picked right up on them when I smiled at her later that day..."Daddy, your braces are blue!" She thinks they're so cool and likes to point to my teeth...

The real news is: I'm getting my lower braces on at the end of this month!

This is happening a little later than my ortho originally figured, but I don't think it's setting me back any. It means my top arch had advanced forward adequately enough to begin the work on the bottom. The doc says he'll have to use a band on a bottom back molar (which has some large fillings on it). He normally uses molar brackets on adults, but explained that a bracket won't bond well to a tooth with that much amalgam. So I thought I'd be spared the dreaded spacers this time. I know what they're like...had them during my previous stint in braces.

Well...for old times sake I get to experience the pleasure of one spacer in my mouth for 2 weeks! So on 5/14 I have a quick appointment to insert the spacer, then on 5/28 my bottom braces go on. It's exciting to be able to celebrate a Brace Day #2! I'll feel like my treatment's in full swing up once I'm "fully braced".

I continue to see/feel changes in my front bite. My top and bottom incisors are almost free now from the direct contact of their edge-to-edge bite. The top arch is rounding out slowly. There are still big spaces between central and lateral incisors, but all in good time....

Tomorrow morning I have an appointment at my general dentist's office for a cleaning. I'm a little excited to show off my braces there since my last visit was 6 months ago - before I was braced. At the last cleaning, my hygeinist was very instrumental in discussing my orthodontic issues, and offered some good feedback. She really put the initial bug in my ear. I'm really hoping for a great checkup tomorrow!

Estimate 12-14 Months

Mon May 03, 2010 7:16 pm

Hooray for getting bottom braced. Thats exciting. Its always nice to have even a little movement. And aww even two year old's love braces. My 5 year old neice (she looks just like me. might as well be mine) loves my braces and I make sure she has excellent hygiene so she can avoid all of this!

I cant wait to see some dentists here at home because theyre the ones who told me i didnt need them!

#53 Post by **cmone** » Mon May 03, 2010 11:41 pm

Congrats on getting your bottom braces! Slow progress is better than no progress. Good luck with the spacer.

#54 Post by **gracey82** » Tue May 04, 2010 8:57 am

tHANKS for dropping by my story!

COngrats of getting braced and way to go! You have only been braced for 3 months and look at the progress! Pretty amazing what these buggers can do to our teeth huh, just have to love them , dont you?

Keep it up and cant wait for the updates!

I will certainly bring up my gummier smile next time i visited her. Though I brought it up when during my initial months and she said braces alone is not possible to create gummier smile :S

#55 Post by **gokix** » Tue May 04, 2010 4:54 pm

Congrats on your lowers! I had my cleaning just recently, felt good to get the gunk out after a few months of wearing braces. Brushing/flossing helps but the cleaning was much needed.

#56 Post by **mikesmile** » Wed May 05, 2010 5:10 pm

Hi

Thanks chelsea. I've noticed how much little kids seem to like braces. Maybe 'cause their so shiny? When I had braces the first time, my friend's little boy used to always ask me if he could touch them!

Thanks cmone. I'm actually pleased with my progress so far

. Gracy, thanks for compliments! Yes, it's very amazing what these little buggers do for our teeth (& self esteem!) I do love them - they're great inventions! Gokix, thank you. I agree it does feel great to have a cleaning!

Yes, my cleaning yesterday went really well. My hygienist (same girl has cleaned my teeth twice a year for the last decade) was thrilled to see me in braces. I really have her to thank for being honest enough last year to tell me I needed braces. She gave me an extra good cleaning, and did the bottoms twice, saying she wanted them all ready for the brackets. She also issued a strong warning that I really stay on top of my hygiene program while I'm in braces. She cautioned me how wearing braces can make the teeth succeptible to decay & said that she'll get on my case if she notices any evidence of slacking

Estimate 12-14 Months

#57 Post by **catgyrl** » Wed May 05, 2010 6:26 pm

cheyeaitsxchelsea wrote:Hooray for getting bottom braced. Thats exciting. Its always nice to have even a little movement. And aww even two year old's love braces. My 5 year old neice (she looks just like me. might as well be mine) loves my braces and I make sure she has excellent hygiene so she can avoid all of this!

I cant wait to see some dentists here at home because theyre the ones who told me i didnt need them!

Chelsea-

I've been following your story, too, and your teeth look amazing!! I only hope I can see such quick results.

My 4-year-old grand-niece (who normally doesn't give me the time of day - she's like that with everyone) walked up to me and just stared at my mouth. Then she pointed to her own teeth. I said, "Do you know what these are?" and she (the smart girl that she is) said, "Braces! Why do you have braces?" I told her that my teeth were a little crooked and that I wanted a pretty smile like her mommy had. She proceeded to tell me, "I'm never getting braces!" and then turned to her aunt (my other niece, who's had a lot of teeth pulled) and said, "YOU NEED BRACES!!" My niece laughed and told her, "No, I need TEETH!"

My 6-year-old nephew isn't quite as observant. When I asked what these things were on my teeth, he said, "Sparkles?" After I told him "Braces", he proceeded to introduce me to his teacher at school as "This is Auntie Cathy, and she has BRACELETS!" I thought that was the cutest thing.

Sorry to hijack your thread, Mike: I'm so glad you're finally getting you lowers. Since you've already had uppers for a while, the adjustment period should be a piece of cake. They really do wonders for our self-esteem, don't they? Even as we go through our "worse before they get better" stage, which is where mine seem to be heading now. haha

#58 Post by **mikesmile** » Sun May 16, 2010 7:56 am

Time for an update. I had my appointment friday to have one spacer put in before my lower teeth get braced. Now I thought something like spacers being put in was part of the ortho's job (not the tech's). Well, I was ushered into the chair by one of the tech's (the"rookie"). I heard the otho's voice from his office in back. "Good morning, Mike". Then he instructed the tech to put two spacers in - one on each side. My bottom teeth are very tight together and crowded. She had a really tough time with the first one, and poked me a couple of times with the instrument (ouch!). She couldn't get the second one in and called the senior tech for help. The second girl got it in without too much trouble. My last molar on that side has a ceramic crown on it, which is a tight fit.

After my appointment, I had lunch. I can't believe how these things feel

...kind of like chewing calamari! After lunch, I went to brush my teeth and realized that I had chomped into one of the spacers (and broke it). I called the ortho office and asked if I should come back to have them put another. Yes, of course. When I got there, a third tech worked on me, but with no success. Finally my ortho stepped in. He made it look easy, then gloated "what's wrong with you girls...I guess it takes a man's touch!"

Then the doc asked me very enthusiastically " Ready for your bottom braces next time?" "Yup!", I answered trying to match his obvious excitement at gettin' me fully braced.

I woke the next day expecting to feel pain from these spacers. Guess I'm lucky 'cause all I felt was a slight ache. I hope they stay in. I worry every time I eat now!!!

Second Time In Braces - Estimate 12-14 Months

#59 Post by **mikesmile** » Mon May 17, 2010 6:14 pm

I've got some pics I'd like to post. Just click to enlarge:

Above is my normal smile after my 3rd adjustment at about 3-1/2 months in.

Above is my normal smile 3rd day after getting braced

My top arch after my 3rd adjustment.

Normal bite down - clenching. The space between left front and lateral incisors is huge now and really shows in this picture. I wonder when it will be time for power chains...?

The above 3 photos shoe the extreme damage my front teeth now have from years of wear caused by an improper bite. They look horrible and are the primary reason that led me to get braces. When I glanced at my ortho's notes on my treatment plan, the word "trauma" stood out. What puzzles me the most is how my bite got this bad despite having previous ortho treatment!! It's been so many years now...I just can't remember what my teeth looked like after braces the first time...and never took any close up pics.

For me, correcting my bite is the first step - and I wish that braces were all I needed - but my teeth really won't look nice or even be stable until the restoration work is completed.

Second Time In Braces - Estimate 12-14 Months

#60 Post by **catgyrl** » Mon May 17, 2010 10:32 pm

Hey Mike!

Thanks for posting your pics! This may sound strange, but I'm fascinated to see someone else with lower-front teeth that look like mine - also from "trauma". I know I don't grind those teeth in my sleep, so it must be from my bite. And THAT'S what I cannot get people to understand. Honestly, I don't feel the need or urge to sit there and give them a dissertation on why I got braces. I got them because I wanted and needed them... end of story.

Sorry for the rant.

I'm back now...

Your "normal smile" is much improved after only 3.5 months - that's awesome. I'm waiting with baited breath for my "normal smile" to improve, and that will happen when my left central incisor decides to move about .5 mm away from my right central incisor. I can't wait.

-Cathy