The Wait Is No More!

[kmluvgod]

Hows things going?? Hope you're not getting canker sores

[Waiting4braces]

Things are going well thank you

I think I'm still on my lucky streak - touch wood - as I haven't had any problems with sores so far. My cheek sometimes gets caught on the last brackets and the bit of wire that peeks out of them, but it so far hasn't been enough to roll out the ole wax and Bonjela. I'm keeping them handy though!!!

I got a note from my dentist today advising that it's time for a checkup, and I think it's time for a professional clean as well- good timing!

(I'm sure the gap in my top row of teeth has opened up a little bit, here's hoping it is so that a spiffy fake tooth can sit in its place soon!! )

[Waiting4braces]

Three weeks in, and I've just been comparing some pics:

Day One:

Today:


As I've mentioned, I do think my bottom left tooth is coming down a little, and the gap seems to be widening with the spring. There seems to be a gap widening between my two front teeth as well, but I suppose at least it shows that my teeth are definitely moving!

I wish the rest of my bottom teeth would make more movement, hopefully they'll get started soon.

I'm so happy I finally got braces- I'm sure I'll look a sight for a while, but I'm sure it'll be so worth it in the long run.

[Rach44]

I love your braces! They look great! My bottom teeth are similar to yours where I have two teeth setting farther back (though yours looks more easily correctable than mine!) I have an open coil to make room to bring mine forward. Is that a coil you've got on top? I really love the way your braces look - I think your progress is going to be fantastic!

[Waiting4braces]

Thanks Rach- yup, it's a coil on my top teeth! The plan is to create more of a space between my front tooth and the one next to it (still haven't got the technical jargon figured out! ) so that I can get an implant or something. I can't wait to have a fake tooth there- it will be so awesome to finally have a symmetrical(ish) smile!!! Can't wait.

Thank you- hope your braces are going well!

[Waiting4braces]

It's been five weeks now that my braces were put on-

Then

Now


I would be lying if I said I wasn't a teeny bit disappointed with the lack of movement.... it seems to have ground to a halt! The spring has certainly done its job, but all my other teeth appear to be a little stubborn!! Except for the one tooth I've mentioned before, my bottom teeth still haven't budged- bah!

I was a little concerned a few nights ago when brushing, as I saw a small tan coloured line around the side of my top tooth, next to the spring. It seems to follow the excess cement line, so I'm hoping it's just some staining. I'm definitely going to check it out with my ortho at the adjustment.

The weird thing is that I swear my smaller top tooth has gotten a little bigger- the cement was right at my gum line before (you can see the faint line in both pictures), whereas now it is a little bit down the tooth. I think the tooth may have come down slightly, as it seems to line up more with the other now- how weird! Maybe it has rotated a bit, giving it the impression of being a bit bigger... who knows?! I'd love it if the tooth could magically grow a bit, but was told at the beginning that orthodontics cannot change the shape/size of teeth, so it has sure got me stumped!

My first adjustment is on Thursday afternoon, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what the ortho has to say about the progress. I've booked a dental checkup for Friday, so it's a big teeth week!! Haha

Hope everyone's braces are going well!

[kmluvgod]

Hows it going braces buddy!! Just read through your post dont be discouraged about the lack of movement in due time those pearly whites will be on the way to their new destination. Hope your appt goes great!!

[Waiting4braces]

Hey Kmluvgod! It's going okay thanks, hope you're doing well too?

I've just come back from my first adjustment, and OMG that hurt!!!!!! It is the first time I have felt PAIN with braces- OUCH. I've taken some paracetamol and it has subsided into the tingling pressure I felt when they first went on, but I was actually screaming with pain in the chair- I kept apologising to my ortho! He was lovely about it and said I can't help it if I'm in pain! The ortho assistant said they've seen/heard much worse- they are so nice and really do try and put you at ease! My ortho kept cracking jokes to try and take my mind off it, haha My bottom teeth didn't hurt at all; it just felt like he was pressing on them, but the top right side of my mouth (where almost all of the movement has been happening) honestly felt like my teeth were actually going to come out!!! I have no idea why it hurt so much, but I'm definitely going to be taking some paracetamol before the next appointment. The first thing I did when I got out was run to a chemists for some painkillers!

The spring has come off, and my ortho didn't seem overly concerned about the tan line I mentioned on my front tooth- he had a quick look and said he reckons it is superficial, but there's plenty of space for the dentist to have a good look tomorrow now that the spring has been removed.

He was very pleased with the amount of movement that came from the spring, and said that he thinks my tooth has moved quickly. I couldn't resist asking when he thinks I might be able to get a little fake tooth attached to the braces, but he just repeated that the teeth are moving quickly. I guess he didn't want to get my hopes up by giving an approximation, but I still just couldn't resist asking!

New picture- sorry it's a little blurry! Notice the lack of spring!!! It is interesting to see that there is a slightly thicker wire on my top teeth than on the bottom row:


Anyway- I've been feeling a bit sorry for myself since the appointment, but I'm also loving it- it means that my teeth are on their way to looking a million dollars!!!

My next appointment is on August 4th, so I can't wait until then- one more step closer to the finish line and awesome teeth!

Hope everyone's braces journeys are going brilliantly!

[Waiting4braces]

Second adjustment is done-



This appointment didn't hurt much as I made sure to take paracetamol and ibuprofen before going to the appointment! It was a bit tender when he was taking the ligs off and putting new ones on my bottom teeth (which have finally started moving- woohoo!!) but other than that, things were good. He sanded between some of my bottom teeth and put a spring back in the top. I had been hoping he might have popped a false tooth in there, nothing yet but maybe next time I'll get lucky?

Next time: ELASTICS!!

I'm a bit apprehensive about elastics- I assume it will be the same configuration as seen in this YouTube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ9e-fbm77c

Hopefully I am wrong! I have no idea how folk would eat or speak with elastics covering their mouth like that but hey ho, people seem to get amazing results from their elastics so I will wear them religiously

My appointment is only three weeks away, since my ortho will be away in four weeks. Bring on August 25th!

Hope everyone's braces are going well!

[Snowglobe32]

Your teeth are on the small side, just like mine. Things are coming along great. I can't wait to see your end result.

[Waiting4braces]

Thanks Snowglobe!

My plan is actually to look into gum contouring when I'm done with braces. I'm not going to make my final decisions until I've seen the finished result from braces, but I'm thinking it will be on the left lateral incisor and canine. I just want them better proportioned- I'm happy with the size of the left central incisor, as it seems to 'fit' my smile. I want those teeth on the left hand side to fit more with that size. I'm going to see what happens during braces treatment with the right central incisor- a few weeks ago it looked a similar shape and size to the left one, but it seems to have gone back to its original form! How bizarre!

I'm so happy with the way the braces are progressing though- it's insane to see the difference between how they were at the start and now, and to think we're just getting started!!! Absolutely dreading elastics but cannot WAIT to see the difference they'll make!

[catgyrl]

Hi there!

I just loooove your white wire! I never knew those existed until just a few months ago, but haven't had the merge to ask my ortho for one. I'm not sure if they're available in the really thick wires, which is what I'm wearing now. Also, I think the wire is whiter than my teeth (haha), so it may even be more noticeable than my metal one.

At any rate, one great way to look for progress is the straightness of the wire. Look how much straighter your wires are now! You're going to have really good results.

As for your midline, yours looks just about like mine did; only a couple of millimeters off. I highly doubt your ortho would use such an extreme elastic configuration for yours. If your teeth were off by a whole tooth's width, then maybe... Mine was actually trying to correct my overjet, and the midline popped into place. I know that we all complain one way or another about elastics (except klobird... She LOVES them! LOL), but you'll probably find that after a while, you won't feel right when they're not in. My teeth feel "loose" when they're out, so I always rush to put them back in. I think if you can get used to that spring, elastics will be a piece of cake.

Have a great evening!
Cathy

[Waiting4braces]

Hi Cathy,

Thank you for the encouraging words, I hope I have good results! The wire was bending all over the place when I started- you're right, it is a good way to see progress.

The spring I think probably looks worse than it actually feels. I think the worst thing about it is having it taken out and a new one put in- *ouch*!!! But day to day it's as though it isn't there, so will keep fingers crossed and hope elastics are similar! Hopefully they will correct the midline without too much hassle.

[Waiting4braces]

Third adjustment over with!

Teeth on Day Five:



Teeth after three months, two days and third adjustment:





I went there expecting to come away with elastics, but not this time... He did put a power chain on my lower teeth, so I wonder if that's what he was referring to before? Hey, I'm not complaining- I'm sure I'll fall victim to elastics sooner or later!

I had a few questions to ask him this time-

1. Is it fake tooth time? Answer: One more millimetre! (So close, and yet so far! Gutted!) He said I'm one, maybe two more appointments away from THE TOOTH.

2. I'd been concerned that my teeth were looking a little on the yellow side, despite regular brushing. He said he would have a look once the wires were off. He said that the top and bottoms of my teeth are white, and the discolouration is only around the brackets, so he is confident that it is just the glue staining around the bracket. He said that when the braces are removed he will polish the glue off and he is confident that my teeth will not be discoloured.

3. I've had a spot on the inside of my lip where the braces have been catching- my Dad insisted that I should make sure it's normal to have it for a few weeks. The ortho said it is normal, and I'll be having lots more of those when the power chain kicks in! Bring out the wax!

My teeth are a feeling little bit more sensitive than usual, so it will be soft food for dinner today. The pain during adjustments again wasn't as bad as before- I'm definitely always going to take painkillers before going, it makes such a difference.

As I said, there's a power chain along the left side of my lower teeth. It's really hard to see even in person, so it doesn't show up too well on camera. You can see it between the lower central incisors- it finishes on the central incisor, and starts on the first bicuspid. He said it should help sort out the bottom row. (I'm so happy with them so far- the tooth that I disliked the most has come down and is now in front of a tooth it was previously behind, if that makes sense)

I'm quite pleased as I also got a free ortho toothbrush! I was given one in my swag bag on the first day, but I filled in a survey about my appointment this afternoon and got given a free brush! That will come in so handy. It doesn't take much to make me happy!

Unfortunately due to my studies, I'll have to have Saturday appointments for a while, so my next adjustment isn't until October 15th! Boo- it feels like a century away! But hopefully in that time there'll be lots of positive changes, and maybe the space in my top teeth will open that extra millimetre for a fake tooth! I can't wait to see what this power chain is going to do. Roll on October 15th!

Hope everyone's braces journeys are going brilliantly!

[kmluvgod]

Hey your teeth is looking good! So how about that powerchain lol? Im sitting here amazed at the strength of theses elastics. When you go to your adjustment do your ortho tell you what he's doing? My ortho tells the assistant and she does a fab job, I just feel left out sitting in that chair (lol).