Renee's Story

[Chaplains Assistant]

Well I've been lurking around this site for a while now and thought I post my story.

I got braced 6 days before my 43rd birthday back in August (the 23rd). I spent 6 months wearing a splint to help with clinching my teeth and got the final go ahead for braces 6 weeks earlier than expected. I had to have #4 tooth on left pulled to make room for my croweded mouth.

All my life people called me buckey beaver and that got old. I was one of 8 kids so my parents couldn't afford braces even though I was the baby of all 8. I have 2 sons 20 and 23 and my oldest son sucked his finger for a long time and had to have braces for 5 years from start to finish but my youngest son has perfect teeth.

I decided to get braces when my new dentist told me it would help with my TMJ and overcorwding and I'd get beautiful teeth to boot. So I bit the bullet and started my journey.

I can say the mouth retractors were probably the most painful part of the process. Once they had the brackets on I was surprised with a lingual arch wire too. I wasn't prepared for or told about that. That day I had lots of pressure and got a migrane but all in all it wasn't bad. Figuring out how to eat was a chore but I'm finally doing better with that after 2 months.

They are trying to close my gap from the extraction and it is definitely being stubborn to say the least. I have normal o rings except where the gap is - they put a power chain there. I got a new wire on the top at my 1st adjustment and a new wire on bottom yesterday. They said the wires are rectangle to help widen my arches. I hurt pretty bad last night and this morning. The tech also found that my top wire wasn't engaged in 2 different brackets on the right top side so she fixed that making things incredibly tight.

I was told in the beginning that my journey will take 2 years. Funny thing about this is my 13 year old niece got her braces on a week before me.

I will post some pics once I figure out how to and also take some. I don't have before pics but will get them from my ortho.

[catgyrl]

Welcome, Chaplains Assistant!

Congrats on beginning this wonderful journey to a beautiful smile! Our stories are very similar: I, too, was a "bucky beaver" with a very large overjet (thanks to my childhood thumbsucking habit). I also had one extraction, my #4 on the left side, and ALSO have a powerchain (TWO, actually) across that gap trying to close it. I am also "sentenced" for about 2 years. I THINK WE'RE TWINS!!

If you want, you can read my story and see my pictures (click on the "www" below). It's been almost 5 months since they started actively trying to close the gap, and I feel that the most progress has been made in the past month or so. Be very patient, as teeth move on average of 1mm per month. However, any movement is wonderful.

I would love to see your "before" as well as "during" pics! The best angles to get are front (smiling); front (clenching down); left; right; upper arch and lower arch. It may take some practice getting the angles down right, and if you use the "macro" setting on your camera (most times it's a little tulip-looking icon), you can get really close-up, clear pics.

Do you have regular braces on the front of your teeth, or do you have linguals (on the back)?

Good luck to you!
-Cathy

[catgyrl]

Sorry... I meant to call you "Renee", but I forgot to change it before I hit "submit".

EDIT BUTTON, PLEASE???

[Chaplains Assistant]

Thanks Catgyrl - I did read your story and love your pics. you're definetly on your way. I have regular braces - ortho didn't give me a choice so i took what I got. Will try to take pics tonight with my new periwinkle ligs

[mama2cute]

Looking forward to seeing pictures!

[Chaplains Assistant]

Had an ortho appt today for an adjustment. All they did was changes my ligs and send me off for another 3 weeks. Man I wish they would do something more already. Ortho said he is waiting for my gap to close where he pulled my tooth before the ligual archwire comes out and he does anything else I guess I'll just have to be patient. I've been braced 4 months and 4 days now but there has been some significant movement if you look at where my 2 front teeth are - looks like I have 1 front tooth now.

Will update when something new and exciting happens!

[dickyb2000]

the wire in the roof of your mouth looks awkward, do you have trouble talking without lisping?

[BracketRacket]

Is it a TPA? Looks kinda like one.

[Chaplains Assistant]

dickyb: I had a lisp for about a month and then I got used to the wire in my mouth - it also helped to figure out where to put my tongue while talking.

bracket racket: Not sure if it is a TPA ortho never told me what it was called or even that I was getting it until it was in my mouth the day I got braced. He made it himself out of wire that he bent.

[Chaplains Assistant]

Had an ortho appointment today. They changed my bottom wire to the biggest one they have the tech said and I got class II rubber bands (elastics) too. So needless to say my teeth hurt and no amount of Tylenol has helped yet. They didn't remove the annoying wire in the top of my mouth either. Ortho said it wouldn't come out till the gap where they pulled my tooth is completely closed. I have another appt in 3 weeks.

I will try to post new pictures soon.

[Chaplains Assistant]

Had adjustment yesterday took out the upper lingual wire Yipee but they suprised me with a full powerchain on top Teeth have been killing me - woke me up all night long - took tylenol every 4 hours. Needless to say soft food was in order all day long today. The ortho said next time new xrays to see where roots are and may move some brackets. Still using elastics 23 hours a day on both sides.

My gap between front teeth is almost completely closed now just over night. No pain no gain I guess. Still not been able to get pics taken - will see if hubby will do that tomorrow and post tomorrow night.

[Chaplains Assistant]

Had adjustment today and they moved lower left #5 bracket and put on a new band on lower left #6 (may have those backwards). They had the mouth spreader things on way too long while waiting for ortho to get to me. Was not happy at all - appointment took an hour and half. New powerchain across top from one end to the other. Teeth are killing me as usual. Still in 1/8" (debbie) elastics on both sides - but since they put in new bands on molars where the elastics attach can't put them on till tomorrow morning. Next time they may move more brackets if my extraction gap closes more - slow to close Got dark navy ligs and powerchain. Will see if my hubby can take my pics tonight to post tomorrow.

[Chaplains Assistant]

Trying to see if I can add a ticker.

[Chaplains Assistant]

Had another boaring adjustment today. The right #6 lower molar band came loose again last wednesday so I couldn't wear my elastics. My teeth moved some after not being able to wear them - my extraction gap got bigger I've been trying to get that closed since the beginning. Today is my 9 month braceiversary and ortho said things are moving fast and looking great. I asked how much longer for elastics and he said I'm almost done and under my year. I was confused to say the least so I asked the tech to get more answers - she told ortho I was told 2 years in braces and he said well you'll dfinitely be out before that. He thought I was only going to be in them a year till she job=gged his memory. Still no real answer on how long for my elastics. Tech said 6 months usually but who knows.

Still no luck getting good pics darn it - the flash keeps bouncing back and making the pics too bright. Will try again with my Cannon professional camera - I just hate to get it out since it's so big. Will try again after I have my mushy food for dinner.

[Chaplains Assistant]

Went to ortho yesterday for my latest adjustment. Had brand new girl learning on the job no school to speak of. She was trying to get my ligs off the bottom and ended up popping one of my brackets off by accident. Great more lip spreaders and glue YUCK After sitting waiting for ortho to take a look at my bite etc he decides since she screwed one bracket up he might as well move another one so now 2 brackets have to be moved and glued After sitting for 30 minutes waiting for ortho to come back and place brackets while I sit with lip spreaders on (killing me) he finally comes over and does his thing. Once he's done the newbie tries to take off my powerchain on the top teeth and pokes me more than once with the hook till I bleed. Finally the other tech that is supposed to be teaching her comes over and shows her how to take the powerchain off and puts the new one back on. I ask how much longer I have to wear elastics - no answer just the question would you rather have head gear - NO WAY. Teeth are killing me today but not as bad as they could hurt I guess.

Nothing else really exciting. Still can't get camera to work for new pics Back again in 4 weeks.