OK--This was not the plan!
Moderator: bbsadmin
Re: OK--This was not the plan!
Hey Star--No, the subject of surgery never came up even though I started with a 10mm overjet. I wasn't even aware of surgery until I read about all the people faced with it on this site. I never would have been able to afford it anyway, and it's worked well without surgery. Guess I just got lucky!
Re: OK--This was not the plan!
UNBEWEEVABLE!!!!! I had to go back to the ortho today--AGAIN!!! 
I was noticing that the Forsus on the left--the one that is doing all the work--the same one that came off the archwire the other day--was catching then letting go etc etc etc...
At first, I thought it was my imagination--even when I sat down in the ortho chair, I apologized because I didn't want to come in and waste their time...
Ya....hmmmm.....ok, so here's the story:
The Forsus has a metal spring and bar. Well, apparently my little Forsus bar was born without a stopper like all the other little metal Forsus bars have...And my little Forsus bar was so mad that it was wrecking the Forsus spring.!
So, basically, ya, my left sided Forsus was totally defective. The whole thing had to be replaced. Where she (the ortho assistant) had double activated on that side (at 4mm activation), it's back to being single activated (at 2mm activation.). But she put a longer spring on--whatever that means. Whatever she did has thrown my teeth into a totally tizzy. They have no idea where to go, and the top and bottom are no where near like a "hand in a glove."
She told me it will be soft foods and soreness for a few days--somewhat like when you first get braces. So far, so good--no problems. I had a McDonald's meal right after the appt.. It was awkward but I got it down. But my bite is so off it isn't funny. My teeth don't meet at all!
So, I asked how a bite that's so off gets in the correct position. She said that the upper and lower teeth are "dying" to get lined up with each other--so they adjust and settle into a good bite. With some people it only takes a few weeks. With others, much longer.
One can only hope!!
For a fleeting moment there--when she took off the defective Forsus to put on the new one, my mouth was free. Like a bird in the sky.... like a fish in the sea..... like a Lotto winner who doesn't have to go to work anymore! It was glorious!
I was noticing that the Forsus on the left--the one that is doing all the work--the same one that came off the archwire the other day--was catching then letting go etc etc etc...
At first, I thought it was my imagination--even when I sat down in the ortho chair, I apologized because I didn't want to come in and waste their time...
Ya....hmmmm.....ok, so here's the story:
The Forsus has a metal spring and bar. Well, apparently my little Forsus bar was born without a stopper like all the other little metal Forsus bars have...And my little Forsus bar was so mad that it was wrecking the Forsus spring.!
So, basically, ya, my left sided Forsus was totally defective. The whole thing had to be replaced. Where she (the ortho assistant) had double activated on that side (at 4mm activation), it's back to being single activated (at 2mm activation.). But she put a longer spring on--whatever that means. Whatever she did has thrown my teeth into a totally tizzy. They have no idea where to go, and the top and bottom are no where near like a "hand in a glove."
She told me it will be soft foods and soreness for a few days--somewhat like when you first get braces. So far, so good--no problems. I had a McDonald's meal right after the appt.. It was awkward but I got it down. But my bite is so off it isn't funny. My teeth don't meet at all!
So, I asked how a bite that's so off gets in the correct position. She said that the upper and lower teeth are "dying" to get lined up with each other--so they adjust and settle into a good bite. With some people it only takes a few weeks. With others, much longer.
One can only hope!!
For a fleeting moment there--when she took off the defective Forsus to put on the new one, my mouth was free. Like a bird in the sky.... like a fish in the sea..... like a Lotto winner who doesn't have to go to work anymore! It was glorious!
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Ellebraced
- Posts: 335
- Joined: Wed Nov 17, 2010 10:41 am
- Location: BC, Canada
Re: OK--This was not the plan!
F*&^%)$)#k how annoying!!!
I have been to ortho 3x in 10 days, I am sick of people in my mouth LOL!!!
To be free !!!!!!! How exciting? It is hard to imagine life without braces annoying us !!
You wonder why they just don't try elastics instead of that scary forsus thing??
I have been to ortho 3x in 10 days, I am sick of people in my mouth LOL!!!
To be free !!!!!!! How exciting? It is hard to imagine life without braces annoying us !!
You wonder why they just don't try elastics instead of that scary forsus thing??
34 years old, 2nd timer, Original sentence 2.5 years - Updated to about 20 months
Braced December 16th , 2010
Debrace Date August 22, 2012
My story http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... =9&t=37941
Re: OK--This was not the plan!
Elle--I had elastics since I got braced right up to the Forsus. So ya--you know what though?
As far as the Forsus--it can't get much worse, can it? I mean like it should only be one way but up by now, one would think....
It's by far not the worst experience I've ever had in my life--so it's all ok....
As far as the Forsus--it can't get much worse, can it? I mean like it should only be one way but up by now, one would think....
It's by far not the worst experience I've ever had in my life--so it's all ok....
Re: OK--This was not the plan!
Mercy......If I was near you I'd offer a hug or a cold beer. I suffered a couple of three times in a month ortho visits but that's crazy. I just hope your employment is more understanding than mine.
As far as your teeth finding a good bite, I'd love to give you wisdom from my experience. I didn't have a good bite. Went to sleep in an OR and woke up with a near perfect bite......and a whole lot of swelling.
Mike
As far as your teeth finding a good bite, I'd love to give you wisdom from my experience. I didn't have a good bite. Went to sleep in an OR and woke up with a near perfect bite......and a whole lot of swelling.
Mike
I wore braces (this time) for 1294 days or 3 years, 6 months and 17 days.
But who's counting?
Jaw Surgery June 1, 2009
Thanks for praying for me and thinking happy thoughts.
But who's counting?
Jaw Surgery June 1, 2009
Thanks for praying for me and thinking happy thoughts.
Re: OK--This was not the plan!
Hey Iborg--hug and a cold beer--that's what I'm talking about!!
As far as surgery--no way, no how--takes someone a lot braver than me for that! And when I read that people are excited about it...hmmmm...I just can NOT relate!!
As far as surgery--no way, no how--takes someone a lot braver than me for that! And when I read that people are excited about it...hmmmm...I just can NOT relate!!
Re: OK--This was not the plan!
I opted for surgery for a couple of reasons. Because of previous orthodontics and the pulling of teeth, my teeth would not have been visible without the surgery. My ortho didn't think she could achieve a good bite without it (she was the only one who even suggested she could improve my TMJ issues). I didn't really have a chin. I do now. The biggest improvement was my increase in my airway. I went from suffering asthma attacks about once every two weeks and having major sleep issues to having a couple of attacks a year and sleeping through the night. The increase was from 38mm (medically at risk) to over 80mm.
I wouldn't recommend the surgery to anyone. Its major and has long term recovery. You may end up with numbness (the voice of experience....errrrr). Knowing what I know now, I would still do it again. My quality of life is much better.
If the ortho were to suggest considering surgery, I would ask if the ortho can create a stable correct bite without it? If not, it is something that deserves to be considered.
I wouldn't recommend the surgery to anyone. Its major and has long term recovery. You may end up with numbness (the voice of experience....errrrr). Knowing what I know now, I would still do it again. My quality of life is much better.
If the ortho were to suggest considering surgery, I would ask if the ortho can create a stable correct bite without it? If not, it is something that deserves to be considered.
I wore braces (this time) for 1294 days or 3 years, 6 months and 17 days.
But who's counting?
Jaw Surgery June 1, 2009
Thanks for praying for me and thinking happy thoughts.
But who's counting?
Jaw Surgery June 1, 2009
Thanks for praying for me and thinking happy thoughts.
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VancouverJude
- Posts: 98
- Joined: Thu Jul 29, 2010 12:24 am
Re: OK--This was not the plan!
Klobird, you're getting good at describing how the Forsus looks & works! It's pretty tough without visualization, hand flapping movements, etc.
Glad they figured out your left side rig was defective. Mine only had a problem the one time I broke it, from chewing too hard. That was months ago when I still had a semblance of a bite on the right side of my mouth.
Wanna hear how my teef are doing? Oh good! <LOL>
It will be one year (what the what!) of wearing the Forsus, only on the right side, on June 16th. I was told it would likely be for seven months. Anyhow, like anything to do with braces it's been up & down. Not knowing elastics, so far, I have nothing to compare it to. Sometimes I can go weeks without wax, other times I need it daily.
I can confirm my midline was way off and my bite quite bad, to begin with, but still one year seems quite long, especially as now there is zero bite on the right side of my mouth and elastics will have to be used to yank the teeth up. This seems to be a regular case with Forsus, that Ortho's never mention until you're well into the process. Apparently it's a fairly speedy process. Also my lateral incisor has rotated a lot (this tends to happen.) But once the teeth are yanked up everything should be a-okay. Mmm-hmm we'll see.
I'm now at 19.5 months in total. If I'm super lucky it'll be two years and out the door, but not about to hold my breath. I have to say that during the past 2.5 months there has been a LOT of movement throughout my mouth. My back teeth are finally catching up; the lower front have come forward quite a bit (although I'm concerned maybe too much? will discuss); and there's been more "something's working" discomfort than from Jan to March.
When the Forsus is off and the teeth are being brought up I'll begin the finishing phase where Ortho is gonna do some tweaking. We're still working on moving my lower teeth a titch more to the right, my next appt is on June 5th (cleaning too yay!) I have a feeling it'll be another 6 weeks of Forsus from then (it's like the Groundhog Day movie.)
Oh and guess what? Total bummer. I've gained back 8 of the 10 or so pounds I lost since getting braced. Kind of funny actually (sad, not ha-ha amusing) I was at my doctors for a routine visit and got weighed. Yikes. I had thought I was looking a bit muffin-toppish but 8 flippin' pounds!
I blame the above on a blue-cheese binge I went on (that's it, no more cheese, it's a gateway drug); plus I ate McDonalds three times in one month (it just sticks to me); and I think the "medicinal wine" caught up with me.
So I'm acutely aware of my weight, I felt the weight loss has been a nice bonus to having braces, and I'm going to try to shed a bit of the gain. Heck summer's here I'll be more active and less booze.
Hang in there!
Glad they figured out your left side rig was defective. Mine only had a problem the one time I broke it, from chewing too hard. That was months ago when I still had a semblance of a bite on the right side of my mouth.
Wanna hear how my teef are doing? Oh good! <LOL>
It will be one year (what the what!) of wearing the Forsus, only on the right side, on June 16th. I was told it would likely be for seven months. Anyhow, like anything to do with braces it's been up & down. Not knowing elastics, so far, I have nothing to compare it to. Sometimes I can go weeks without wax, other times I need it daily.
I can confirm my midline was way off and my bite quite bad, to begin with, but still one year seems quite long, especially as now there is zero bite on the right side of my mouth and elastics will have to be used to yank the teeth up. This seems to be a regular case with Forsus, that Ortho's never mention until you're well into the process. Apparently it's a fairly speedy process. Also my lateral incisor has rotated a lot (this tends to happen.) But once the teeth are yanked up everything should be a-okay. Mmm-hmm we'll see.
I'm now at 19.5 months in total. If I'm super lucky it'll be two years and out the door, but not about to hold my breath. I have to say that during the past 2.5 months there has been a LOT of movement throughout my mouth. My back teeth are finally catching up; the lower front have come forward quite a bit (although I'm concerned maybe too much? will discuss); and there's been more "something's working" discomfort than from Jan to March.
When the Forsus is off and the teeth are being brought up I'll begin the finishing phase where Ortho is gonna do some tweaking. We're still working on moving my lower teeth a titch more to the right, my next appt is on June 5th (cleaning too yay!) I have a feeling it'll be another 6 weeks of Forsus from then (it's like the Groundhog Day movie.)
Oh and guess what? Total bummer. I've gained back 8 of the 10 or so pounds I lost since getting braced. Kind of funny actually (sad, not ha-ha amusing) I was at my doctors for a routine visit and got weighed. Yikes. I had thought I was looking a bit muffin-toppish but 8 flippin' pounds!
I blame the above on a blue-cheese binge I went on (that's it, no more cheese, it's a gateway drug); plus I ate McDonalds three times in one month (it just sticks to me); and I think the "medicinal wine" caught up with me.
So I'm acutely aware of my weight, I felt the weight loss has been a nice bonus to having braces, and I'm going to try to shed a bit of the gain. Heck summer's here I'll be more active and less booze.
Hang in there!
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starfish88
- Posts: 398
- Joined: Tue May 22, 2012 8:57 pm
Re: OK--This was not the plan!
Hey, sorry about all the faff you seem to be having with the forsus, hope they sorted it this time! Its good to hear even with the faff you can be positive about it (glad your not telling us how awful and scary it is!). hopefully your bite will settle soon. And sorry to keep bugging you with questions but I spoke to my ortho today and he said that if i didn't want surgry or 'perfection' he could do braces only. Yay! Without extracting any teeth! I don't get how though without dragging the top teeth back into extraction gaps. Did you have teeth out? (Sorry but you now seem to be my oracle of once big now fixed overbite!) Thanks
Re: OK--This was not the plan!
Hey Star--no problem!! Ask away!
When I first went in, the ortho said that my upper jaw was wide enough and that "there is plenty of room back there"--which I guess means that all the teeth had room to move back. (
). So ya, no extractions. Surgery, like I said, never came up and financially, emotionally, etc. it would have been a no-go. I would have had to choose less than perfect, if the ortho would do it. (Our ideas of perfect are waaayyyy different than the orthos.) My regular dentist had braces for 4 years and finally made the ortho take them off. She thought the perfecton he was trying to achieve was ridiculous. Keep asking the questions on this webite, and with your ortho, and doing your research online!!
Hey Jude,
Almost a year in the Forsus!!! OMG
!! I honestly think I would be crying if the ortho kept putting off taking the Forsus off!! What I wonder is if these first 2 1/2 months have been a waste of time because of the problems. I wonder if it just now has started working correctly. And your bite has been off all this time????? This is the first time in braces for me that my bite is so off that I am having trouble chewing. When I get this Forsus out, I'm thinking it will be as joyous as the day I get the braces off!! And how in the world did you break your Forsus?? Were you eating rocks??!! 
Interestingly, when I called to make the appt. to get the rod/spring changed out, the receptionist asked me if I was making the appt to get the Forsus taken out.
OK, well, so a couple of days ago, I did fill out a survey that the office sent me on my personal section of their website. It asked if there was anything else they could do for me. I replied, "You could take this d*mn Forsus out of my mouth!" But then I added "Oh ya, I forgot...I really am committed to this process"... If I had it taken out, I fear that I would be adding another year to having braces! No way!! So, on we go!! 
When I first went in, the ortho said that my upper jaw was wide enough and that "there is plenty of room back there"--which I guess means that all the teeth had room to move back. (
). So ya, no extractions. Surgery, like I said, never came up and financially, emotionally, etc. it would have been a no-go. I would have had to choose less than perfect, if the ortho would do it. (Our ideas of perfect are waaayyyy different than the orthos.) My regular dentist had braces for 4 years and finally made the ortho take them off. She thought the perfecton he was trying to achieve was ridiculous. Keep asking the questions on this webite, and with your ortho, and doing your research online!!Hey Jude,
Almost a year in the Forsus!!! OMG
!! I honestly think I would be crying if the ortho kept putting off taking the Forsus off!! What I wonder is if these first 2 1/2 months have been a waste of time because of the problems. I wonder if it just now has started working correctly. And your bite has been off all this time????? This is the first time in braces for me that my bite is so off that I am having trouble chewing. When I get this Forsus out, I'm thinking it will be as joyous as the day I get the braces off!! And how in the world did you break your Forsus?? Were you eating rocks??!! Interestingly, when I called to make the appt. to get the rod/spring changed out, the receptionist asked me if I was making the appt to get the Forsus taken out.
OK, well, so a couple of days ago, I did fill out a survey that the office sent me on my personal section of their website. It asked if there was anything else they could do for me. I replied, "You could take this d*mn Forsus out of my mouth!" But then I added "Oh ya, I forgot...I really am committed to this process"... If I had it taken out, I fear that I would be adding another year to having braces! No way!! So, on we go!! Re: OK--This was not the plan!
EFF IT ALL TO EFFING EFFING HELL!!!
I just had my adjustment. First of all, my teeth aren't moving with the Forsus. I asked him if I would get it off at the 6th month mark as he estimated. He said probably not because of all the interruptions in my treatment (when it fell apart, when it was found to have been defective and not working at all for several weeks etc etc).
So, to top it off--to put the big cherry on top--I am looking at getting a molar and or wisdom tooth or teeth removed! (Because he thinks they may be in the way of my progress).I may have had one extraction in my life--I don't remember. If "superdentist" was doing it, I would be fine. But it's not. It will be an oral surgeon. I go in for the evaluation and plan this Friday.
I am TERRIFIED of dentists!! The ortho is fine--they don't even use tools most of the time. But the oral surgeon? KILL ME NOW!!
What the hell have I gotten myself into?.....I can't even think right now...
I just had my adjustment. First of all, my teeth aren't moving with the Forsus. I asked him if I would get it off at the 6th month mark as he estimated. He said probably not because of all the interruptions in my treatment (when it fell apart, when it was found to have been defective and not working at all for several weeks etc etc).
So, to top it off--to put the big cherry on top--I am looking at getting a molar and or wisdom tooth or teeth removed! (Because he thinks they may be in the way of my progress).I may have had one extraction in my life--I don't remember. If "superdentist" was doing it, I would be fine. But it's not. It will be an oral surgeon. I go in for the evaluation and plan this Friday.
I am TERRIFIED of dentists!! The ortho is fine--they don't even use tools most of the time. But the oral surgeon? KILL ME NOW!!
What the hell have I gotten myself into?.....I can't even think right now...
Re: OK--This was not the plan!
I know what u mean-- i had all 4 wisdom teeth out at once plus at a second visit all 4 second premolars both times with just the injections. I held off on yrs because i was petrified. You'll get through this--?
You' ve come this far already
Good luck!!
You' ve come this far already
Good luck!!
Re: OK--This was not the plan!
Thanks Anngie--
Thanks so much for your encouragement. Eight teeth--OMG!
When I wrote that this morning, I was kind of in shock. It was so totally,totally unexpected.
I don't think it's going to be a simple thing--I'm not sure--but one of the teeth is ankylosed (like grown into the bone or something) and the wisdom tooth is horizontally impacted. They are really close together. That side of my mouth is going to hurt like a mother. Hey maybe they will take this d*mn Forsus out for a while. This is going to be a rough summer. I think I need to reward myself, after I'm healed, with a fun little trip or something.
I know a lot of people on this site have had to have teeth removed. I'm good with the ortho, and my "superdentist"--and I have come soooooo far as far as the dental fear is concerned. I just can't believe it...For me, this is mental,emotional torture...
I really try hard to stay positive--but it's getting harder....
Thanks so much for your encouragement. Eight teeth--OMG!
When I wrote that this morning, I was kind of in shock. It was so totally,totally unexpected.
I don't think it's going to be a simple thing--I'm not sure--but one of the teeth is ankylosed (like grown into the bone or something) and the wisdom tooth is horizontally impacted. They are really close together. That side of my mouth is going to hurt like a mother. Hey maybe they will take this d*mn Forsus out for a while. This is going to be a rough summer. I think I need to reward myself, after I'm healed, with a fun little trip or something.
I know a lot of people on this site have had to have teeth removed. I'm good with the ortho, and my "superdentist"--and I have come soooooo far as far as the dental fear is concerned. I just can't believe it...For me, this is mental,emotional torture...
I really try hard to stay positive--but it's getting harder....
Re: OK--This was not the plan!
Okay.....let's try to spin this. You have faith in your ortho and your superdentist. Your ortho is recommending this. Has he recommended the surgeon? That should be a positive. Ask superdentist what he thinks of the surgeon or would he recommend someone else.
I'm not a fan of teeth extractions. Let me rephrase that. I'd avoid them like the plague but...... if the wisdom teeth are coming in at an angle, your final result won't be staple. That puts you back in braces in ten or so years or looking at your smile and remembering it used to be nicer. That's the voice of experience. I'm not sure about the molar. I'd ask for second opinions. Here's something to consider. If your ortho said you could keep it but your treatment would be extended 12 months would you keep the molar?
I hope this whole process goes much better than you fear. Plan ahead and avoid tomato based products as they're fairly acidic and will hurt the extraction site.
I'm not a fan of teeth extractions. Let me rephrase that. I'd avoid them like the plague but...... if the wisdom teeth are coming in at an angle, your final result won't be staple. That puts you back in braces in ten or so years or looking at your smile and remembering it used to be nicer. That's the voice of experience. I'm not sure about the molar. I'd ask for second opinions. Here's something to consider. If your ortho said you could keep it but your treatment would be extended 12 months would you keep the molar?
I hope this whole process goes much better than you fear. Plan ahead and avoid tomato based products as they're fairly acidic and will hurt the extraction site.
I wore braces (this time) for 1294 days or 3 years, 6 months and 17 days.
But who's counting?
Jaw Surgery June 1, 2009
Thanks for praying for me and thinking happy thoughts.
But who's counting?
Jaw Surgery June 1, 2009
Thanks for praying for me and thinking happy thoughts.
-
VancouverJude
- Posts: 98
- Joined: Thu Jul 29, 2010 12:24 am
Re: OK--This was not the plan!
Hey K-bird,
It seems to me if having a tooth removed will speed the process up, and is being recommended at this point then it is meant to be.
Iborg is one smart cookie. Er, person. If you can co-ordinate suggestions for the oral surgeon with your beloved regular dentist then its a win-win situation.
Either way, no turning back now. Right? Right!
It seems to me if having a tooth removed will speed the process up, and is being recommended at this point then it is meant to be.
Iborg is one smart cookie. Er, person. If you can co-ordinate suggestions for the oral surgeon with your beloved regular dentist then its a win-win situation.
Either way, no turning back now. Right? Right!