Harriet's Journey

[Harriet]

I had my appointment with the oral surgeon yesterday, as I suspected I won't be having the frenectomy until the end of my treatment, if at all! The thought that I might not have to have it is quite pleasing, as I know the recovery time will be quite sore.
I phoned my ortho to let them know, and to ask if I could have my uppers put on at my next appointment in 3 weeks time which they said is fine.
I'm hoping that getting used to uppers will be easier than getting used to the lowers!

[Harriet]

Just got my upper braces fitted!
They also put a new thicker wire on the bottom arch.
Here are the photos:





The bottom arch is coming along really nicely

I'm quite depressed about the top arch, I feel like everyones going to be staring at them at work tomorrow.

[chocomorsel]

I have had my braces for over a year and some people are finally commenting on them asking how long I have had them. Good luck. Bottom is looking good already.

[Harriet]

I had an adjustment today, I got new wires top and bottom! I think I'm on an 18 bottom and 16 top? Not sure, something like that. They were pleased with how clean I am keeping them, which was good to hear, as I wasn't sure I was doing a good enough job or not.
I had my molar build ups built up a bit more as I'd worn them down a lot and my right upper canine was touching the bracket on the lower canine, and I kept biting my lip in between them.
Not sure if the lowers have changed that much since the last adjustment, but the uppers have changed a fair bit.
Pictures:

[pinaypie]

wow they look good! I wish I have the option of doing the six months smile, too

[stepher7]

You're so lucky that you could do the 6 month smile braces! I wish my case were less complicated and could have gone for something like that. Your teeth are looking great, the lowers have really shaped up in a short period of time!

[Harriet]

Thanks, I'm really pleased with how it's going. I hardly notice my braces now, which is such a relief after how tough the first few weeks were. I lost my first ligature yesterday but luckily the wire is being kept in place by the ones either side. It's only a week until my next adjustment so I think i'll wait until then to get it replaced.

[Harriet]

I had another adjustment this morning. It was slightly traumatic! I had the bracket on my left central incisor replaced, and those teeth are really sensitive at the moment so it was actually quite painful (not looking forward to the debonding now ).
Aparently the bracket was placed correctly, by because that tooth is so slanted (it comes in at this angle / as opposed to | like it should) he's put the bracket on wonky to over compensate or something and get it moving quicker (its hardly moved in that direction yet).

It's bad enough having a wonky bracket, but to make things even better it doesn't match the rest!! I didn't find this out until I got home otherwise I would have complained. Its clearer and smaller than the rest so looks quite odd. Its a bit upsetting because the wire was starting to straighten out a lot and look nice (I like the look of braces when the wires are straight) and now I'm back to a curvy wire.

The bracket seems quite high on the tooth, I'm not sure if its an illusion or not. I'm kind of worried that tooth it going to end up longer than the rest.

Other than the repositioned bracket, they just changed my ligatures. No new archwires this time, which I'm glad about because I'm already hurting quite a bit with the extra pressure being put on the left central incisor.

Anyhoo, here are todays pictures:

[Harriet]

Owie! officially most painful post adjustment so far. Even my nose is hurting (which I suppose makes sense as the roots are quite close to it). i'm sure i've seen movement in just a few hours too.

[Harriet]

I had an adjustment today, a new wire on the top, replacement of ligs on the bottom and a power chain from canine to canine on the top! At the time I was thinking, yeah that's gonna hurt later, and I was right

I don't think there's been a huge amount of movement since last time apart from the left central incisor becoming longer (he's going to reposition that bracket and a few others at the next appointment).

Here are the pictures, you'll have to excuse the poor quality, my new phone doesn't seem to cope so well with close ups.

[dreamrio]

Your top arch is coming along nicely! Love the white archwires. I wish those were an option for me.
You're gonna be done in no time!

[Lia77]

Looking great!

And agree with the above poster, you are so lucky you have white archewires. Never came across them before!

[Harriet]

Thanks guys! The white wires are nice but still don't blend in quite so well as the adverts would have you believe!! The coating does chip off too especially by the molars which isn't ideal. I've stopped caring now! Since they put the power chain on the a week ago the top is looking so much better already. I'm finally starting to be able to imagine what my teeth will be like when I'm done!

[Leftie]

That's great that you have now got an idea of how your teeth will look when they are done, I can't wait to get to that point.
I suddenly realised today that I can no longer fit my tongue in the gap between my front teeth!!

Your teeth are looking fab!

[Harriet]

Lots of news today! The most exciting being that I get the bottom braces off in two weeks! Hurrah! They are by no means perfect but they are close enough for me, I will have some reshaping done which will make them look even better.

On the top I didn't get any brackets moved after all as they are still waiting for the central incisors to straighten up, but hopefully at the next appointment they will do it. I'm getting fed up of having them different lengths. Apparently the gum line is perfect so he doesnt want to mess to much and mentioned maybe disguising it with reshaping and bonding too.

I've got a rectangular wire on the top now (owch!) which I think I heard him say is a 22 16? I also got wire ties on the central incisors and a powerchain on them too. When he put the wire ties on I literally felt my teeth move, lo and behold when I got home the bottom part of the gap had already closed.

On to the pictures. I swear my teeth look much straighter in real life!







I also got complemented on how well I was cleaning again, apparently my gums are really healthy! Yay!