It's been just about 2 weeks since my last adjustment, but I'm finally posting an update here. My progress has slowed a bit, so I'm a little less motivated and have been lazy.
I am still very excited and thrilled with the progress that I've had so far, and I can still see/feel things still definitely moving, but it hasn't been as fast or noticeable as the first few months. Still have gaps to close up so at least I still have something to look forward to!
I am back on elastics on the right side. They added a hook to the bracket on my bottom lateral incisor to create more tension on them. Of course, this was painful the first 3 days or so, but not nearly as much as those first few days the first time in rubber bands. They gave me the option of just wearing it to the canine during the day, and wearing them in the new position only at night, but for the sake of progress, I toughed it out.
New wires on both top and bottom - I can't remember what they were now that it's been 2 weeks (I think it was maybe .016 square on bottom and .018 on top?), still in powerchains to close spaces (with the ones on the bottom going all the way across to the wisdom teeth, instead of just to the first molars as before).
Am having a super annoying problem in which the bristles from my toothbrush keep snagging on the wires/bands on my bottom left molars, and am thinking maybe I need to get the wire trimmed. They're starting to get slightly poky, but as I HAAAAATE calling, I haven't reached my breaking point yet.
I am just coming up on my 6 month brace-versary next week. These past 6 months have definitely flown by, but then I think that I still have 2 years to go, and that just seems like an eternity, so I try not to think about it. I know that that time will fly by - thinking about what I was doing 2 years ago make it seem like a lifetime ago and that time has flown by. My hygienist told me right before getting braced that that time is going to pass by anyway - I come back to those words all the time. It has been quite a journey though. Of course, there have been some adjustments and things to get used to and all that is sometimes annoying, but for the most part, life has regained normalcy, which seemed impossible those first few weeks after being braced. And I am definitely thrilled and excited about all the progress that has been made. It really is the best thing I could have done for myself.
Anyway, photo time. Excuse the staining on the powerchains - ALREADY. Apparently, I ate something I shouldn't have, and I have no idea what the culprit is!
GRRRRR. I try to avoid the major stain causing stuff until right before my adjustment appointments (mainly just curry/turmeric/mustard - still drink coffee and red wine, because even though it causes staining over time, it's not that bad). But just shows you that it still happens. Oh well.
The gap closure progress. SOOOOO close, but sooooooo far. I think it's at about 2mm now. So probably in the next month or two. Since the rubber bands HURT when I started wearing them again, I thought maybe it would move fast, but I haven't noticed that much movement. grumble, grumble.
Next adjustment in about 2 weeks (4 weeks between appointments).
The second was today. This is probably the first adjustment after which the discomfort isn't too bad. In fact, I'm sitting here going "this should hurt more, are my teeth even moving?!" There is a lot of tightness, but not so much pain - I can eat solid foods for once! This is welcome, because I ran a half marathon yesterday, and the rest of my body is definitely in pain (I even told my ortho to take it easy on me - maybe he listened to me, HA!). I think maybe it's because I've had a ton of movement in the beginning, and maybe he's being less aggressive now? (Shrug)
I am getting excited! LOL
