TinkB's Story

[drgnchsr36]

Hang in there, it'll get better....

About getting hit in the head.. I've been hit in the head by my almost 3yr old more than a few times... heh, kids just don't think anything of it.. and it's usually an accident so you can't really brace yourself for it.

[TinkB]

Thank you for the support, drgnchsr36.

My youngest has now officially, accidentally, hit me in the face twice. I don't get mad at her. I just have to remind her to slow down but I don't think that is possible for a 3 year old to slow down.

Flossing has gotten better. Still not the most fun chore but I would feel guilty if I skipped. I was a little discouraged because one of my lower teeth, near the front, moved back a little further. Of course, it was while I was flossing. It is a bottom tooth that was pushed back from all of my crowding anyways but I noticed it moved out of place a bit more. I know I should not expect too much change in the first week but I have noticed other people on this site that already had change in the first week.

I also have to admit that a Waterpik is a wonderful invention. I wish I would have bought one a long time ago.

I have decided to post a couple of pictures.
This is obviously before braces.

This one is after my 4 extraction and the day I got my wires put on.


I wish I would have done a better job with my picture taking skills. My teeth look so white in the first one. The day I took pictures in my full braces, my mouth looks miserable. lol

It's also funny how much straighter my teeth look before braces. Those silver brackets and missing teeth sure show off all of my flaws.

[drgnchsr36]

Flossing does get easier, I had a hard time flossing for the first week when I got my bottom brackets on.

Hehe, so true about 3 yr. olds... I don't get mad either, it's not intentional..

[HeyBuckey!]

Hi TinkB!

For some weird reason. Teeth look alot worse after the braces go on. It's a wonder in and of itself...Your teeth weren't bad looking at all, your results are going to be phenomenal! They're a great shape and color. Did your dry socket heal enough before you got braces?

I wonder what the issue is when it comes to our teeth and our family. It's mind boggling!

[TinkB]

HeyBuckey! - Thanks for the positivity about my teeth. I feel like I can never get my teeth clean enough now. Maybe it's the metal brackets and bands, maybe I am just crazy.

When I first got to the ortho's office, the assistant told me that she thought they could not put the wire through because of the dry socket. I told her that I called the day before and the ortho said it was up to me and how I was feeling. I even asked the oral surgeon and he said it was no problem too. When the ortho came up to add my last 2 bands, she checked everything out and said that I had a very mild case of dry socket. They added the last 2 band and put the wires through. I go back in 5 weeks and the ortho said that's when she is really going to get things moving.

I was brave today and ate Cheerios!! Usually my breakfasts are more soft foods like oatmeal or eggs. I feel scared to eat too hard of foods because of my gaps.

I wish that I could say that I have seen a ton of movement in my teeth but I don't see too much. One tooth has actually moved more out of place on the bottom. That was not very encouraging. On the top, one tooth has gotten a tiny bit straight. Not too noticeable but it was noticeable enough for my husband to be the one to see it. I know I need to be patient but I want to see progress. It's too bad my teeth won't listen to me.

[TinkB]

2 weeks down and I am not even going to count how many more to go.

It's funny how at first, certain teeth kind of ached and 2 weeks later, different teeth ache. I don't notice it too much. More when I am flossing or I put pressure on them.

I have not noticed much change with my teeth. The extraction gaps are healing pretty good but that's the only change I really notice. My stubborn tooth on the bottom that is behind everyone else, has moved further back. It kind of concerned me but my husband reassures me and says, "Somethings might get a bit worse before they get better." I guess that makes sense. It is just disappointing to see that tooth move further back. At least, it is not hurting or one of the sensitive ones.

It's also amazing how much food gets stuck in my braces. I thank goodness that I have a waterpik. It is awesome!!!

[Nettie]

I'm behind you.... Day 2 here.

How can we make our time or progress move along faster?????

keep us posted on any progress....

[TinkB]

Wonky tooth on the bottom keeps going further and further back. The bracket is now hitting the tooth in front of it which is not the best feeling. I also noticed that my bottom teeth are leaning more forward. All of this just makes me nervous. I am a worrier anyways so, braces my not have been the best thing for my obsession problems.

My 1st adjustment makes me nervous because I keep think about how the ortho said, "That's when we are really going to get thing moving."

[TinkB]

It has been a month since my 4 premolars were extracted. The darn tooth fairy still never gave me any money for those teeth. I still have not found out if the insurance will cover it so, maybe the tooth fairy is working out those details.

I called the ortho's office today because on Friday, I noticed that my front bottom 2 teeth were tip forward. It scared me because those are the 2 teeth that I have slight gum recession on and I don't want to lose those teeth. My ortho's office has 2 receptionist. One is usually grumpy and the other is really bubbly. I was kind of hoping to get the grumpy one so, she would tell me to "suck it up" since, I like to worry and obsess over everything. I go the nice one. She told me that I was welcome to come it. I just told her that I wanted to find out if this is normal. She said that the wire I have on is really weak and right now the wire is more rotating and breaking the bonds of my teeth. So, the rotation may have made them come out more and I was welcome to come in or if I have any pain or discomfort to come in.

I almost wanted to go in but I don't want to worry about every darn movement. I have only had these braces on for over 3 weeks and 2 to 2 1/2 years is a long time to worry about everything. I am going to let if go and just see how it goes. I only have 9 days till my 1st adjustment.

The gums still look pink so, it looks okay so far.
If anyone has experienced their teeth "tipping forward" let me know if this is was your experience and if it was normal? Thank you!!!!!!!


5/31/2011


6/19/2011

[TinkB]

I am very happy to have one month completed. It felt like it went by really slow and fast at the same time.

Braces has not been too bad. I was a "clean freak" about my teeth already but now it just takes longer to do everything.

My bottom 2 front teeth are really loose and still tipped forward. That scares the crap out of me because I am afraid that when they take ligs off at my 1st adjustment, my teeth are going to come out. Not a very happy thought but, I am scared and feel like I have no one to relate to.

Here are my start pictures top & bottom and my 1 month pictures. I apologize in advance for the terrible picture taking. I try to do it in my bathroom mirror and I can't stand the lighting in there. It makes my teeth look yellow.

On a positive note, I am happy that the arch wire is much more curved than when I started.

Wish me luck at my first adjustment. I have all kinds of soft foods all ready for my teeth to be sore again. I look forward to more movement and some gap closer this time around.

Beginning

1 month


Beginning

1 month

[TinkB]

I really do need to take pictures when it is sunny in my bathroom and not at night. My teeth look so yellow.

[threescompany]

There's definitely progress going on! Your upper arch is really smoothing out and those bottom teeth are getting more even. I bet they wire in the one that's tipped back at your adjustment.

[TinkB]

There's definitely progress going on! Your upper arch is really smoothing out and those bottom teeth are getting more even. I bet they wire in the one that's tipped back at your adjustment.

Thanks for noticing the progress.

I would be so happy if they did. I have no idea how that tooth is ever going to join up if it keeps moving back.

[TinkB]

Had my 1st adjustment today. It was not as bad as I thought it would be. Asked about the tipped teeth and she said they weren't going anywhere, especially because they are attached to the wire. I am not sure if that should make me feel better or not.

Had stronger wires put on top and bottom. I have 4 sections of powerchain from each of my canines to my premolars to close the gaps. I have to go in every 4 weeks for the next 6 months. She also mentioned that I will have a bunch of "What is she doing?" and "Why is she doing that?" moments over the next 6 months. She told me not to worry. The first 6 months is the most aggressive part of the process. She also told me that my bite is going to be off and on for awhile.

I got lots of questions answered so, I feel good.

My mouth is getting more and more achy as the day goes on. Looks like I will need the ibuprofen handy for the next few days. Maybe a soft foods diet too.

[kmluvgod]

Hey TinkB your teeth looks great!! Do you have powerchains to close your extraction gaps? If so, how are you doing with that?