My Journey thus far...
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Re: My Journey thus far...
Good luck in your Journey!
Re: My Journey thus far...
Man, I haven't been on here in a while! Thanks for the comments Navygrrl and Jeffhere! Hoping and praying ^_^
Anyway, here's an update:
2-18-19
Had my adjustment. Got Maroon chains this time. Bottom gaps are 99% closed and I can't be happier for that. Next appointment I'm getting my back molars bracketed. Slowly closing upper gaps, but we can't do too much with my front teeth until the infection is cleared. I called the endo office today to find out the status on that and they were waiting on the pre-treatment approval from my insurance to go through, which is why I haven't had my surgery yet. I also checked online and I think it's gone through now. The good news, I have 100% dental coverage now, so the surgery will cost me nothing out of pocket! The bad news, I'll only have $57 dollars left for the year. Nothing new with me, I'm used to exhausting my dental benefits early in the year because something major comes up...-_-
Well, at least I do have a date in mind for my surgery. If I can get it, it'll be perfect since I won't have anything else planned. Then I can move on with my life.
Next adjustment is April 15th.
Anyway, here's an update:
2-18-19
Had my adjustment. Got Maroon chains this time. Bottom gaps are 99% closed and I can't be happier for that. Next appointment I'm getting my back molars bracketed. Slowly closing upper gaps, but we can't do too much with my front teeth until the infection is cleared. I called the endo office today to find out the status on that and they were waiting on the pre-treatment approval from my insurance to go through, which is why I haven't had my surgery yet. I also checked online and I think it's gone through now. The good news, I have 100% dental coverage now, so the surgery will cost me nothing out of pocket! The bad news, I'll only have $57 dollars left for the year. Nothing new with me, I'm used to exhausting my dental benefits early in the year because something major comes up...-_-
Well, at least I do have a date in mind for my surgery. If I can get it, it'll be perfect since I won't have anything else planned. Then I can move on with my life.
Next adjustment is April 15th.
Brackets Bonded: 3-15-18||Extractions: 3-16-18||Arch wires: 3-22-18||Adjustments: 5-16-18; 7-9-18; 9-5-18; 10-31-18; 12-5-18; 1-7-19; 2-18-19; 4-15-19; 6-10-19; 7-24-19; 9-18-19; 10-23-19; 12-5-19; 1-9-20; 2-20-20; 3-12-20||Braces Removed: 6-3-20
Re: My Journey thus far...
I have a date for my apicoectomy retreat surgery: March 20th @ 9am. This will be the day after my 1-year post extraction surgery. I didn't do that on purpose, it just worked out that way. At least I will be on spring break, so I will have a few days to recover before I go back to work.
Now we can finally get this moving along. All the waiting has left me very impatient since I'm so close to the end of my braces treatment.
Now we can finally get this moving along. All the waiting has left me very impatient since I'm so close to the end of my braces treatment.
Brackets Bonded: 3-15-18||Extractions: 3-16-18||Arch wires: 3-22-18||Adjustments: 5-16-18; 7-9-18; 9-5-18; 10-31-18; 12-5-18; 1-7-19; 2-18-19; 4-15-19; 6-10-19; 7-24-19; 9-18-19; 10-23-19; 12-5-19; 1-9-20; 2-20-20; 3-12-20||Braces Removed: 6-3-20
Re: My Journey thus far...
UPDATE!
3-20-19
Had my Apicoectomy w/ Dr. S. Now that that's out of the way, I have no more benefits for the year (XP). Hopefully I won't have to go through that a third time. Two is one too many, but whatever. It's done now. The recovery this time around was much smoother and I was not dying in pain like the first time, so that's a big plus for me! Maybe I've just built up an immunity to dental work, or since I prepare for the pain I'm already psyched up for it, so it's not as disappointing when I'm not in serious pain. Just got my stitches out yesterday (3-27-19) and I've been admiring my gnarly scar. Dr. S is pleased with the healing progress, and I go back April 4th for another followup.
3-26-19
Went to the oral surgeon for my one year post-op. My appointment was originally scheduled for the week before, but it was rescheduled because Dr. D was out of the office. Ironically enough, my sister had a consultation on the same day for her wisdom teeth, and she was waiting to go over financing when I arrived, so we talked for a while (I see her every day at home anyway, but it was just amusing ^_^). My extraction sites have healed up nicely, he said, but he did see something he thought he needed to watch on one of my back teeth. It might be nothing, but you know how these doctors get...Next appointment here is September 25th, and hopefully the braces will be off by then if things keep moving now that we're over the hurdles.
3-20-19
Had my Apicoectomy w/ Dr. S. Now that that's out of the way, I have no more benefits for the year (XP). Hopefully I won't have to go through that a third time. Two is one too many, but whatever. It's done now. The recovery this time around was much smoother and I was not dying in pain like the first time, so that's a big plus for me! Maybe I've just built up an immunity to dental work, or since I prepare for the pain I'm already psyched up for it, so it's not as disappointing when I'm not in serious pain. Just got my stitches out yesterday (3-27-19) and I've been admiring my gnarly scar. Dr. S is pleased with the healing progress, and I go back April 4th for another followup.
3-26-19
Went to the oral surgeon for my one year post-op. My appointment was originally scheduled for the week before, but it was rescheduled because Dr. D was out of the office. Ironically enough, my sister had a consultation on the same day for her wisdom teeth, and she was waiting to go over financing when I arrived, so we talked for a while (I see her every day at home anyway, but it was just amusing ^_^). My extraction sites have healed up nicely, he said, but he did see something he thought he needed to watch on one of my back teeth. It might be nothing, but you know how these doctors get...Next appointment here is September 25th, and hopefully the braces will be off by then if things keep moving now that we're over the hurdles.
Brackets Bonded: 3-15-18||Extractions: 3-16-18||Arch wires: 3-22-18||Adjustments: 5-16-18; 7-9-18; 9-5-18; 10-31-18; 12-5-18; 1-7-19; 2-18-19; 4-15-19; 6-10-19; 7-24-19; 9-18-19; 10-23-19; 12-5-19; 1-9-20; 2-20-20; 3-12-20||Braces Removed: 6-3-20
Re: My Journey thus far...
4-15-19
Went to my races appointment and we did a lot of things! I knew I was getting my lower back molars bracketed (up to this point my four 2nd molars have been free from braces prison), but since my apico is 4 weeks in the past and has healed nicely, my ortho decided to go on and do everything! So, got all 4 molars bracketed, got some other brackets repositioned on the top and bottom, new chains (3 on top, no chains on the bottom), started repositioning a stubborn tooth (which I thought the one next to it was the stubborn one, guess I was wrong...), AND I got new wires (finally!)!! Now everything hurts. It hurts to talk, it hurts to move my jaw, I can't chew, can't close my teeth, it even hurts to swallow. But you know what? We're so close to the end now, all this pain is worth it. The appointment after my next is when I go into my finishing wire ^_^ Looks like I'll be finishing right on time after all.
Back to the endo on Thursday (4-18-19) and my next braces appointment is 6-10-19
Went to my races appointment and we did a lot of things! I knew I was getting my lower back molars bracketed (up to this point my four 2nd molars have been free from braces prison), but since my apico is 4 weeks in the past and has healed nicely, my ortho decided to go on and do everything! So, got all 4 molars bracketed, got some other brackets repositioned on the top and bottom, new chains (3 on top, no chains on the bottom), started repositioning a stubborn tooth (which I thought the one next to it was the stubborn one, guess I was wrong...), AND I got new wires (finally!)!! Now everything hurts. It hurts to talk, it hurts to move my jaw, I can't chew, can't close my teeth, it even hurts to swallow. But you know what? We're so close to the end now, all this pain is worth it. The appointment after my next is when I go into my finishing wire ^_^ Looks like I'll be finishing right on time after all.
Back to the endo on Thursday (4-18-19) and my next braces appointment is 6-10-19
Brackets Bonded: 3-15-18||Extractions: 3-16-18||Arch wires: 3-22-18||Adjustments: 5-16-18; 7-9-18; 9-5-18; 10-31-18; 12-5-18; 1-7-19; 2-18-19; 4-15-19; 6-10-19; 7-24-19; 9-18-19; 10-23-19; 12-5-19; 1-9-20; 2-20-20; 3-12-20||Braces Removed: 6-3-20
Re: My Journey thus far...
6-10-19
Had an adjustment this morning. Got a new stronger wire and a full chain on the top. No changes to the bottom quite yet, as I still have a stubborn tooth that doens't want to engage. They put a thicker metal tie on that tooth to try to get it to move.
I'm visiting the general dentist on Thursday for my cleaning.
Next adjustment is July 24th. We're almost done
Had an adjustment this morning. Got a new stronger wire and a full chain on the top. No changes to the bottom quite yet, as I still have a stubborn tooth that doens't want to engage. They put a thicker metal tie on that tooth to try to get it to move.
I'm visiting the general dentist on Thursday for my cleaning.
Next adjustment is July 24th. We're almost done
Brackets Bonded: 3-15-18||Extractions: 3-16-18||Arch wires: 3-22-18||Adjustments: 5-16-18; 7-9-18; 9-5-18; 10-31-18; 12-5-18; 1-7-19; 2-18-19; 4-15-19; 6-10-19; 7-24-19; 9-18-19; 10-23-19; 12-5-19; 1-9-20; 2-20-20; 3-12-20||Braces Removed: 6-3-20
Re: My Journey thus far...
Bad news: I'm not getting my braces off in September. I have a lower tooth that still refuses to engage my wire, so we're working on it. I feel like this particular tooth hasn't done much of anything since the start of this process, but maybe I'm just not paying attention...? In the meantime, just closing gaps up top (almost done there). When this lower tooth finally decides it wants to play ball, I can get my strong wire on the bottom and wrap this thing up. At this point, I'm gonna shoot for having them off by Christmas.
Here's hoping!
Next adjustment is September 18th...
Here's hoping!
Next adjustment is September 18th...
Brackets Bonded: 3-15-18||Extractions: 3-16-18||Arch wires: 3-22-18||Adjustments: 5-16-18; 7-9-18; 9-5-18; 10-31-18; 12-5-18; 1-7-19; 2-18-19; 4-15-19; 6-10-19; 7-24-19; 9-18-19; 10-23-19; 12-5-19; 1-9-20; 2-20-20; 3-12-20||Braces Removed: 6-3-20
Getting near the end...
So, we've reached 18 months! Unfortunately, the braces didn't come off this month...teeth weren't ready. Anyway, I did have my adjustment the other day on the 18th. Finally got my (I think) final wire on the bottom, and uppers and lowers are in full chains. First chain on the bottom teeth ^_^ Still very sore, but we're getting down to the end of my time in braces. Next adjustment, October 23rd, we're doing shaping!
Brackets Bonded: 3-15-18||Extractions: 3-16-18||Arch wires: 3-22-18||Adjustments: 5-16-18; 7-9-18; 9-5-18; 10-31-18; 12-5-18; 1-7-19; 2-18-19; 4-15-19; 6-10-19; 7-24-19; 9-18-19; 10-23-19; 12-5-19; 1-9-20; 2-20-20; 3-12-20||Braces Removed: 6-3-20
Re: My Journey thus far...
Braces appointment yesterday. We didn't do shaping -_- I was looking forward to it.
Anyway, I saw the lady doctor, Dr. P. She's the newest partner at the office with Dr. G (my ortho) and Dr. E (the other partner). She said to hold off on the shaping (I think it's called enoplasty?) until de-bonding. I now have 2 chains on my uppers (one under the wire, one over the wire), and I'm BACK IN ELASTICS!!! Haven't worn them in literally almost a year when I was taken off them in January. Luckily I'm only wearing 2 this time. I've had as many as 6 in my mouth at one point.
Next appointment is November 5th. Praying to have them off by Christmas!
Anyway, I saw the lady doctor, Dr. P. She's the newest partner at the office with Dr. G (my ortho) and Dr. E (the other partner). She said to hold off on the shaping (I think it's called enoplasty?) until de-bonding. I now have 2 chains on my uppers (one under the wire, one over the wire), and I'm BACK IN ELASTICS!!! Haven't worn them in literally almost a year when I was taken off them in January. Luckily I'm only wearing 2 this time. I've had as many as 6 in my mouth at one point.
Next appointment is November 5th. Praying to have them off by Christmas!
Brackets Bonded: 3-15-18||Extractions: 3-16-18||Arch wires: 3-22-18||Adjustments: 5-16-18; 7-9-18; 9-5-18; 10-31-18; 12-5-18; 1-7-19; 2-18-19; 4-15-19; 6-10-19; 7-24-19; 9-18-19; 10-23-19; 12-5-19; 1-9-20; 2-20-20; 3-12-20||Braces Removed: 6-3-20
Re: My Journey thus far...
I put the wrong date on my previous post and it's too late to correct it. I fixed it here ^_~Aro wrote: ↑Thu Oct 24, 2019 8:57 am Braces appointment yesterday. We didn't do shaping -_- I was looking forward to it.
Anyway, I saw the lady doctor, Dr. P. She's the newest partner at the office with Dr. G (my ortho) and Dr. E (the other partner). She said to hold off on the shaping (I think it's called enoplasty?) until de-bonding. I now have 2 chains on my uppers (one under the wire, one over the wire), and I'm BACK IN ELASTICS!!! Haven't worn them in literally almost a year when I was taken off them in January. Luckily I'm only wearing 2 this time. I've had as many as 6 in my mouth at one point.
Next appointment is December 5th. Praying to have them off by Christmas!
Brackets Bonded: 3-15-18||Extractions: 3-16-18||Arch wires: 3-22-18||Adjustments: 5-16-18; 7-9-18; 9-5-18; 10-31-18; 12-5-18; 1-7-19; 2-18-19; 4-15-19; 6-10-19; 7-24-19; 9-18-19; 10-23-19; 12-5-19; 1-9-20; 2-20-20; 3-12-20||Braces Removed: 6-3-20
Re: My Journey thus far...
It's been quite some time since I posted an update here. Sorry, not much has been going on. Teeth are not moving anymore.
For the last 5 months, my new ortho Dr. P (Dr. G is not my ortho anymore, but Dr. P is pretty good--she's a new partner in the practice, I've mentioned her before) has been trying to adjust my lower left incisor to get it to line up just snug with my lower arch, but it's not going anymore. Hasn't moved in over a year if I'm being at all honest (though to be fair, it is not a huge adjustment to be made, so I could technically get away with it I think). Anyway, my last appointment was on March 12th. That's when Dr. P suggested to remove the braces and finish up treatment with clear aligners. Of course, I jumped on that suggestion. Quite frankly, I was looking forward to it. My treatment wouldn't be completely done since I would be doing aligners now for a while, and I still need to get my upper front crowns replaced by my general dentist Dr. R (which has been the plan following orthodontic treatment, and those crowns are over 10 years old at this point--still holding up, but I've been told by Dr. R that they don't look "natural"), but phase 1 would have been completed.
I am officially past the 2-year mark (not to mention 7 months past the original 18 month estimate, in which case I would not have this problem), and now we wait...
Final adjustment/removal: TBD
For the last 5 months, my new ortho Dr. P (Dr. G is not my ortho anymore, but Dr. P is pretty good--she's a new partner in the practice, I've mentioned her before) has been trying to adjust my lower left incisor to get it to line up just snug with my lower arch, but it's not going anymore. Hasn't moved in over a year if I'm being at all honest (though to be fair, it is not a huge adjustment to be made, so I could technically get away with it I think). Anyway, my last appointment was on March 12th. That's when Dr. P suggested to remove the braces and finish up treatment with clear aligners. Of course, I jumped on that suggestion. Quite frankly, I was looking forward to it. My treatment wouldn't be completely done since I would be doing aligners now for a while, and I still need to get my upper front crowns replaced by my general dentist Dr. R (which has been the plan following orthodontic treatment, and those crowns are over 10 years old at this point--still holding up, but I've been told by Dr. R that they don't look "natural"), but phase 1 would have been completed.
I am officially past the 2-year mark (not to mention 7 months past the original 18 month estimate, in which case I would not have this problem), and now we wait...
Final adjustment/removal: TBD
Brackets Bonded: 3-15-18||Extractions: 3-16-18||Arch wires: 3-22-18||Adjustments: 5-16-18; 7-9-18; 9-5-18; 10-31-18; 12-5-18; 1-7-19; 2-18-19; 4-15-19; 6-10-19; 7-24-19; 9-18-19; 10-23-19; 12-5-19; 1-9-20; 2-20-20; 3-12-20||Braces Removed: 6-3-20
Re: My Journey thus far...
BRACERS FREEDOM DAY!
Today, I got my braces officially removed. I had prepared myself for some discomfort, but overall the process of removal wasn't that bad. I also didn't get the slimy teeth feeling everyone seems to talk about...
Anyway, I got to see Dr. G today, which was nice because I started this journey with him and I now I have come full circle. I'm getting temporary retainers tomorrow, and I am having clear aligners made to clean up some loose ends that the braces couldn't quite fix. I'll be picking those up in a month.
As far as I know, I still have an appointment with my dentist, Dr. R, for my cleaning on the 22nd. I can't wait to see her face when I walk in there ^_^
Today, I got my braces officially removed. I had prepared myself for some discomfort, but overall the process of removal wasn't that bad. I also didn't get the slimy teeth feeling everyone seems to talk about...
Anyway, I got to see Dr. G today, which was nice because I started this journey with him and I now I have come full circle. I'm getting temporary retainers tomorrow, and I am having clear aligners made to clean up some loose ends that the braces couldn't quite fix. I'll be picking those up in a month.
As far as I know, I still have an appointment with my dentist, Dr. R, for my cleaning on the 22nd. I can't wait to see her face when I walk in there ^_^
Brackets Bonded: 3-15-18||Extractions: 3-16-18||Arch wires: 3-22-18||Adjustments: 5-16-18; 7-9-18; 9-5-18; 10-31-18; 12-5-18; 1-7-19; 2-18-19; 4-15-19; 6-10-19; 7-24-19; 9-18-19; 10-23-19; 12-5-19; 1-9-20; 2-20-20; 3-12-20||Braces Removed: 6-3-20