DrBlur's story

[DrBlur]

Update! I had my last adjustment on June 24...I got new wires on the top and bottom teeth, and my ortho kinked the wire up or down, depending on what I needed, between each tooth as he constantly put it in the brackets and took it out, in order to get the right leveling for my teeth. After putting the wires in, I got a power chain across the entire top (to bring the remainder of my teeth in and close the gaps) and two wire ties on my bottom front teeth and then elastics. Holy cow did this all hurt like hell! I was definitely more sore after this adjustment that I had been for any of the others...I was eating soup for over a week this time before it finally wore off enough that I could chew, but my teeth still feel really tight, tighter than they ever have after an adjustment. I'm exciting to finally be closing the gaps on the top (right now my front four teeth are centered and together after the SARPE and expansion, but from the canines back on both sides, there are gaps between the canines and the second incisors).

[DrBlur]

Wow, I can't believe it's been over a year since I updated. Well, to make a long story short, after 2 1/2 years of braces, a palate expander (following palate expansion surgery), and the last 6+ months with box elastics and some front-to-back elastics to align my bite and teeth, I GOT MY BRACES REMOVED LAST FRIDAY (3 days ago!). I have my retainers now, and it's such a weird but nice feeling. I was so used to my braces...how they felt, how they looked, the routine of eating/flossing/brushing/taking care of them, etc. I was, truthfully, a little sad to get them taken off as I was so used to them and they'd become a part of my identity a bit, but it's so nice not having them on anymore! The retainers take a bit getting used to but are very easy. The only thing that they're more of a pain with is having to remove them to eat and then clean them and then put back in...braces were easy since they never came off

So I'm really excited, but still getting used to it all!