Can I do it?

If you want to share the detailed saga of your braces story, this is the place to do it. You can use this forum as a braces journal, editing and updating your posts as your treatment goes on. Remember to also visit the main ArchWired.com site for additional stories from other readers!

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EbonyQ
Posts: 425
Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2011 1:20 pm
Location: Europe

Re: Can I do it?

#301 Post by EbonyQ »

I’m enjoying my limited time with braces just in my upper jaw and wonder if I will be able to get braces on my lower jaw when my ortho calls. That can be interesting! :shock:

The university got a new building for dentistry and even though it’s not official open yet my boss (who teaches orthodontic there) showed me around. My ortho works there too and I crossed my fingers that I would not meet him (my anxiety would go haywire because I connect him so much with treatment). We did not meet him so everything went fine.

Did not know what my boss thought of my “orthodontic fear”, if he thought it was a good thing or bad thing to have in his clinic, someone who is terrified of power chains, elastics; basically everything with orthodontic. It might be a bit too much fear? :?
When he introduced me to one of his students he said “This is my assistant. She has braces and dental phobia, so she is perfect to understand those with braces and those who are afraid”. And kept talking about how good this was, so I guess he looks at is as a good thing.

My boss has never had braces before so he does not know how it is. What he knows about painfulness and discomfort is what he has read in books, if he tells his pt that this may be a bit sore for 5-7 days then it is because he has learnt it. If I tell a pt that it may be a bit sore for 5-7 days than it’s because I know if from my own experience and know how it is.

So I'm glad that I did not met my ortho. I’m sure I would freak out if I one day saw him a store or something… Yay for this fear (or phobia as my ortho and boss calls it) :( . Wonder what I can do to get over this fear... there must be something that can be done...
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BracedSurgeryStudent
Posts: 1091
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2011 10:02 pm
Location: Dartmouth Massachusetts
Contact:

Re: Can I do it?

#302 Post by BracedSurgeryStudent »

Sos sorry I haven't posted in a while I just moved upstate to school. Closer to my ortho, YAY! But your teeth are AMAZING.<3 Want to trade? lol
Jenn Medeiros

Jamie91
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Aug 28, 2012 1:07 am

Re: Can I do it?

#303 Post by Jamie91 »

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EbonyQ
Posts: 425
Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2011 1:20 pm
Location: Europe

Re: Can I do it?

#304 Post by EbonyQ »

I feel like posting this video on my blog:

http://youtu.be/rPupaOFGW-4

This video explains much of my braces journey, and I think my blog needs it :HugeGrin:
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EbonyQ
Posts: 425
Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2011 1:20 pm
Location: Europe

Re: Can I do it?

#305 Post by EbonyQ »

My ortho called today to let me know that I have an appointment today. As always the last pt of the day and it’s in a few hours…. Don’t know if I can managed to get my lower braces today, the anxiety is high.

Not knowing the day of the appointment is great before they call and even though the anxiety is there when they call and I get my time, it’s working. This weekend would be toture if I knew that I had an appointment today.

So we will see when I’m back if I have my lower braces or not :paperbag:
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jem
Posts: 942
Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2008 10:05 am
Location: UK

Re: Can I do it?

#306 Post by jem »

Good luck, Eb, I am sure you can do it! I look forward to seeing your photos in due course.

Jem
Sectional brace with Damon clear brackets fitted to front 6 upper teeth 3 January 2012
Brackets added to premolars 2 April 2012
Estimated treatment time originally 6-9 months
. Brace removed on 22 July 2013 after 18 months and 19 days
Now enjoying bonded upper retainer plus part time essix/hawley( I have both)

Click here for my story http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... =9&t=42194

klobird
Posts: 1375
Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:45 pm
Location: Washington State, USA

Re: Can I do it?

#307 Post by klobird »

Hey Eb--Let us know if you get bottoms!! I want pics!!

Good luck and I'm really glad the short notice is working for you! I think when I get closer to my 6 month cleaning (which is in oh, about 5 1/2 months :) ), I think I will call them and ask if they will put me in a cancellation at the last moment like they did this last time. It worked great--I almost felt cheated out of my mass anxiety!! :crazy:

It's weird to hear you say you have an appointment today--it's a holiday here--called Labor Day. Not much happens except we get one last summer day off before all the schools start back up. And thankfully, where I live, we are actually going to have a warm, sunny day...Yippeeee!!

Ok--so waiting, waiting, waiting...!!!

EbonyQ
Posts: 425
Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2011 1:20 pm
Location: Europe

Re: Can I do it?

#308 Post by EbonyQ »

When I arrived I was sure I could not do this, that we were only going to have a talk-appointment or do something small on the uppers. He came to get me in the waiting room with his usually “Are you ready?” and asked how things were going.

We started to talk a little bit about orthodontics (Cephalometry) which I’m trying to learn and he showed me his method. This took away much of the anxiety, I find it so interesting. It helped a lot.

Got some panic attacks before getting in the chair but I did it. He made some jokes with the cheek extractor thingy (try to laugh with that thing on your mouth!) and before I knew it we were on. It went fast and it felt strange when they were on.
When he saw my reaction to the braces (they looked horrible since my teeth are so crooked) he chuckled “It’s when you get them braced that you can see how crooked they really are” he could not have been more right :shock:

I have decided to get treatment at the Dental Phobia Clinic (part of the University) and after talking to a friend working there (who will treat me) we decided that the best thing would be if my ortho could join this treatment too. Asked him today if he wanted to join it (it means that he have to be at this Dental Phobia Clinic when I'm there. It’s on the days when he working on his PhD not far from this center). Told him that he did not need to do this because he already is doing so much but he wanted to join this treatment, so it will be me, my ortho and a psychologist friend who will try to fix this once and for all. I think it’s about time that I do something about this...

Wow, how amazing is this? When I’m finished I seriously need to buy him something nice for what he does :heart:

We did not do anything with the uppers because my ortho did not want me to be sore in both jaws.
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TMJJill
Posts: 827
Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2011 7:18 pm

Re: Can I do it?

#309 Post by TMJJill »

Congratulations Ebony!!! :jump:

You should be so proud of yourself, both for getting your lower braces and for taking the huge step in seeking out treatment for your dental phobia. You have come so very far.

It sounds like you found just the right orthodontist for your orthodontic treatment.

Keep us posted with how you are doing.

TMJJill
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Braces as Phase II treatment for TMJD.
Lower mandibular repositioning splint 26 months.
Lower braces on 10.75 months into Phase II treatment.
Duration in braces: 2 years, 2 weeks, 5 days
Removal of Braces: September 18, 2013

TMJD treatment now complete!

klobird
Posts: 1375
Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:45 pm
Location: Washington State, USA

Re: Can I do it?

#310 Post by klobird »

OK--TIME OUT!!--NO FAIR!! :gavel: :gavel: :gavel: --Who on earth gets an ortho like yours???? (And who on earth needs it more than you????? :heart: :heart: :heart: )

Sooooo, one question....is Eric ever moving back to Canada??? :HugeGrin: (Where exactly in Canada?) I really need to see this guy!!

You got bottoms!!! I am sooooo happy for you--and you are going to start to see why we all put up with everything--because the results can be astonishing, and in such a short time! (It's all that stupid "bite" stuff that takes so long... :roll: )

I go back for an adjustment next Monday--I don't think a darn thing has changed since the last visit-- probably means he's going to throw a new psychologically traumatizing piece of sh*t in my mouth---but I don't know-he's kind of running out of stuff....hehehe...Dental Phobia Clinic where are you?

braceseire
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2012 10:19 am

Re: Can I do it?

#311 Post by braceseire »

Big fairplayvery bad when it comes to dental fear and is now starting to for overcoming your dental phobia. My bother is very bad for the dental fear and is paying the consequences big time now so at least you'll have a healthy as well as a beautiful and straight smile when the braces come off in time

jem
Posts: 942
Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2008 10:05 am
Location: UK

Re: Can I do it?

#312 Post by jem »

Well done Ebony! No doubt we will be seeing brilliant progress pics of your bottom teeth soon.

Jem
Sectional brace with Damon clear brackets fitted to front 6 upper teeth 3 January 2012
Brackets added to premolars 2 April 2012
Estimated treatment time originally 6-9 months
. Brace removed on 22 July 2013 after 18 months and 19 days
Now enjoying bonded upper retainer plus part time essix/hawley( I have both)

Click here for my story http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... =9&t=42194

Angel269
Posts: 561
Joined: Wed May 30, 2012 11:39 am
Location: UK

Re: Can I do it?

#313 Post by Angel269 »

Must be chuffed about getting the lowers too :-)

I could never have done what you are when my phobia was bad as a teen-I couldn't even go for a normal dental check up :-(

I'm so pleased for you given your phobia and tbh I'm pleased with myself that I overcame my dental phobia 3 years ago and am doing this :-) We both know how worthwhile the end result will be :-D

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[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/]
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My braces story: http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... =9&t=42457

Impressions-08/06/12
Big Day-22/06/12
Started using Bite Plate-14/07/12
Estimated treatment-8 months (upper ceramics)
Debond date-04/03/13

TMJJill
Posts: 827
Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2011 7:18 pm

Re: Can I do it?

#314 Post by TMJJill »

Hi EbonyQ,

I was thinking about you today. I've had lots of trouble with a slippery wire since I got my lower Damons. (I'm one of the 'lucky' few that end up having this happen regularly.) I went in today to have a new set of stoppers clamped on. This was my 5th appointment in the last 2 weeks. I figure I'm viewed as "problem" patient by now. :roll: Anyway, I LOVE my orthodontist and the assistants. I've been going there for almost 3 years. They have been really caring, allow me to ask lots of questions and allow me to proceed at my pace. He has gotten me through some really tough TMJD problems and my TMJ has been pretty "happy" for most of my orthodontic treatment.

This morning going in I thought this was going to be a quick in and out visit since it just takes moments to clamp those stopper tubes. Instead, I was in the chair for 1 1/2 hours. I left with things fixed, but my experience wasn't good and my TMJ is screaming that it is unhappy. My regular assistant was out for her child's first day of kindergarten and I got a brand new assistant. I'm all for letting people have the opportunity to learn, but she didn't even try to be gentle. When she finally finished, she had only one stopper on the wire.... she had lost the other.... and that was why I was there in the first place and there were 2 on the wire when it came out. She tried to argue with me that I didn't need it because I had one stopper on. If she had read the notes when she opened my computer file, she would have realized I'd been in 4 times already trying to get the issues fixed. She didn't even talk to me at all except to keep telling me how "spacey" she was, no asking about my needs or apologizing or even explaining that she was new and talking about what she was doing. She didn't even introduce herself until after the treatment ended. If this assistant had tried to take any care, I wouldn't have minded the extra time my treatment took. Maybe she was a bit nervous, I would have understood that, but her actions didn't reflect that. Both you and I know how easy the Damon's are too. (BTW, my orthodontist did a check when I first got there then went into and emergency dental surgery so he wasn't available.)

Anyway, the reason I was thinking of you is because I think it is great how you are so conscientious of trying to take care with your patients as you are learning. You've practiced and you are aware of what your patients are experiencing. The world needs more people like you. Thanks for sharing your experiences, both with your orthodontic challenges and your work!! :D :thumbsup:
Image

Braces as Phase II treatment for TMJD.
Lower mandibular repositioning splint 26 months.
Lower braces on 10.75 months into Phase II treatment.
Duration in braces: 2 years, 2 weeks, 5 days
Removal of Braces: September 18, 2013

TMJD treatment now complete!

EbonyQ
Posts: 425
Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2011 1:20 pm
Location: Europe

Re: Can I do it?

#315 Post by EbonyQ »

Thanks guys! I will write to you later, I just wanted to post pictures :).

Before braces:
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upper 7 months, lower 3 days:
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