Marzipan goes for the braces at 48! (w/pix of nekkid teeth)

[Marzipan]

Here we go, first "adjustment."

They took out the wire and the clear plastic tube things (thank goodness, because they were yellowing and gross from coffee stains and food and liquid getting inside). Today I got a slightly heavier wire, an opaque grey tube for the bottom front teeth, a coil for the top, and a rubber band on the right side. Metal ties rather than ligs this time.



The rubber band will start to close the large side gap. The coils are being used to keep the unbracketed front teeth in place so they can provide a sturdy brace to allow the side upper gaps to close.

So far there has not been much pain at all. The worst part over the past month was one of the wires poking my cheek. I used up a lot of wax. For the future, they said I could feel free to call and come in and they would fix it for me.

The orthodontist also at first said she wasn't sure about using rubber bands because adults apparently take longer to adjust. I said I hadn't had much trouble at all, so she decided to use a rubber band.

So far, so good!

[hannah164]

Congratulations Marzipan on progressing further in your treatment! Your teeth are lookin' good!

Great to hear you got your clear plastic tube things changed to grey because of staining!

Looks like you've got a lot of new gear in your mouth now! Good luck on adjusting to that! That means your treatment is moving forward! YAY!

Wow! I wish I would get rubberbands and new wires soon! Hopefully at my next adjustment on Saturday!

Hope you don't have too much pain the next few days! Good luck and Congrats on your progress!

-Hannah




Top braces: 4/28/04
Bottom braces: 11/16/05
Next Adjustment was 1/11/06 but now is rescheduled to 1/21/06

[weird_wired]

I have to say the grey ligs and lack of brackets make things look very subtle!

I like the side pic - you can really see what they are trying to do. You are lucky, you already have such nice shiny white teeth! I cheat a bit with some of my pics, they always look so yellow (especially the way my camera seems to take them, regardless of which light setting I use).

[Marzipan]

Thanks for the well-wishing, everyone!

Weird_wired, I don't know that the metal coil and grey plastic tube are <i>subtle</i>, but I can say for sure that I far prefer the look to those clear tubes. If I'm going to have braces, I say let's have Full Metal Bracket. :)

My teeth are not particularly white (the flash covers a host of imperfections), but they are very even in color, and after braces come off I will almost certainly try some whitening procedure. One interesting thing, though, is that as the clear tubing got yellower, it made my TEETH look REALLY yellow! It was awful. The metal is far better. I should have taken a picture while the icky tubes were still on, but too late now.

[latina47]

Join the club, I just turned 49, and also took the plunge, on Jan. 9, just the top ones first, and in Feb. the bottom ones go on.

[Granola]

Great pics, marzipan! I think the appliances you have in look fine. I'm glad they put the grey in for you so you don't have to worry about staining. I'm glad you haven't had a lot of pain so far.

[Marzipan]

Just a little update. Yesterday a new rubber band was added! The most problematic gap in my mouth is closing up as a side tooth is being brought forward. Now a small gap is widening between that tooth and the premolar right behind it. So now I have the rubber band on the one tooth still pulling it forward, PLUS a rubber band on the tooth behind it to start its forward movement as well.

Both rubber bands are attached to the SAME lower canine and that poor baby is a little sore what with all the stress on it! I have to admit this is the first time in awhile I've felt much pain (and it's really not much at all) - but my attitude has become, If it makes the treatment move along better, DAMN THE TORPEDOES - FULL STEAM AHEAD.

[Marzipan]

On July 24, 2006, I got my front 2 upper brackets glued on. At last! That's because the right upper side teeth finally moved over enough to satisfy the ortho. Looking at the picture, I see that 6 months in an archwire has also caused the main front gap to diminish somewhat.

I love the brackets instead of that metal bar that used to be in there (for 6 months!). The brackets are actually less bulky.

Ortho told me I get a "vacation" from rubber bands for this month. But there will be more rubber bands. I just hope it won't involve rubber banding my mouth shut or something. ;)

[Marzipan]

Thanks, KK! Sure took a long time for this progress. ;)

But I'm being patient. I think my ortho wants to take it slowly because there will be a better and more lasting result. I don't mind the way the braces look one bit. (The way they feel is another issue.)

Slow and steady wins the race.

[Marzipan]

Updates... Over the past couple of months I've gotten the second molars (upper and lower) in brackets or bands, and all my front teeth have been bracketed - YAY for the front teeth.

Have to admit that flossing has become quite a bit more challenging.

Now all my teeth except the one lone never-pulled wisdom tooth are in jail!

About a month the tech asked me about lig colors. I've been holding off because they have a limited set here - no soft pink or soft lavendar, which look so nice on other people here at archwired. Finally, however, I said to go ahead and put on the pink. I loved the look! So now everything has pink on it. Matches my roses and cream complexion. ;)

Just yesterday they put a chain on the two front uppers. This morning - ouch! It's even pinching the gum in between a bit, because it's like the two teeth have smashed together at an angle. Ah well, all part of the journey. If you go back and check out my original pics, you can see how the front gap is nearly gone, after 10 months. Side gaps remain and come and go, but now we're going for those, too.

[psychic]

wow!

your teeth (and you, obviously!) look amazing!!!

Congratulations!!

Hopefully i will get there as well!!

Cheers!

[Meghan's braces Part Deux]

Your teeth look wonderful! We got braced at almost the same time - I was 12/5/05 - but your teeth look much further along than mine. I hope your de-brace date is soon!

[M1k3y]

Great progress marzipan. Isn't it amazing how fabulous braces can manipulate our teeth? I mean just 10 months ago you had a gap and now your gap is all but gone. You're smile is awesome.

[Caroline]

Your progress is amazing, Marzipan! You must be absolutely thrilled!

[Marzipan]

Baby blue ligs!



Meanwhile, from the side it's obvious that plenty of gaps remain and/or are opening up. But all in good time, all in good time.