TADS UPDATE!!!
Ok so it has now been 1 day since I got my TAD's placed and I wanted to give everyone a rundown of what happened at my appointment yesterday.
The ortho assistant came and got me and we went to a side room so I could have a little more privacy. She started by taking a panoramic X-Ray of my teeth. She then took off my old ligs and had me swish with a special mouthwash for 30 seconds. She then started the numbing process by placing big globs of green stuff up on my gums where the TADs would be placed. Once I was nice and numb, the ortho came in and gave me 2 shots - one each on the outer gum where the TADs would go. They weren't bad at all. We waited for that to set in then I had to swish again.
Once I was completely numb, the ortho came back, and took a good look at my xrays. He was deciding exactly how/where to place my TADs. When he was ready, he took the TAD (an 8mm long screw) and began twisting it into my jaw bone. I didn't feel anything but a slight pressure believe it or not! Once the TADs were in place it was time for X-Ray #2. He had to check to make sure he didn't puncture any of my roots with the TADs. He liked the way it turned out and set me loose to have my 1st molars anchored to the TADs.
This was the fun part lol It took 2 ortho assistants to tie down my teeth! They took a very thin steel wire and threaded it through a tiny hole in the TAD. They then twisted the wire all the way down to my molar, where it was threaded onto the bracket. It was quite the process! Since the TADs were placed so high up, it was difficult to get to. One had to hold my mouth open while the other twisted the wire. They collaborated very well and made sure it was done correctly. They did a great job!
Overall I was very comfortable with the whole procedure. Once the numbing agent wore off, however, I was very sore. I am still sore today but it's bearable. At it's worst I'd rate the pain a 6/10 when agitated, but mostly 4/10 the first day and today maybe a 2. I also got a 20 square wire on top and powerchains connecting the 6's (where the TAD is tied to) to my 4's (my 5's were extracted and is the gap we are closing).
Now for a few pictures! The first is showing the TAD I have on one side (the other side is identical). I also took a picture of the gap that was created in just one day!!
Crazy!!
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Haven't read too many stories of people getting TADs so I'm unsure of what to expect. I will make a very detailed update afterwards so that you can all know how TADs are done!
