Wow thanks! I don't really like the size/shape of my teeth so that's nice of you to say!
I think my laterals are smaller than they should be and shaped kinda oddly, and my canines and bicuspids are soooo pointy and and the canines are long haha! I always wished I had nice square teeth like a lot of other people I know... but I'm going to be really curious to see what they look like when the braces come off since I've never seen anyone with teeth shaped like mine. They definitely won't be all level along the edges like people with more square-ish teeth...
Andromeda's Braces Story
Moderator: bbsadmin
Ok I had my adjustment today and here are the latest pics.
Front view:
Same picture but I drew some lines on it to describe the "slant" I was trying to describe last time.
So there they are. I tried to draw lines to show how my teeth are slanted right now on the second pic like I was trying to say after my last adjustment; hope it helps show what I was talking about. The middle blue line is supposed to be straight across, while the other two are drawn directly over my archwire. They both slant in towards the center on my left side (right side in picture).
I'm down to wearing just 1 elastic now, on my right side. I also got a clear powerchain on my top front 4 teeth. New bends in top wire. New bottom archwire with the same type of loops as in the top archwire. New spring on lower right area.
The space between top 2 front teeth is already closed due to that nice powerchain. Although it's pretty painful...
My ortho decided not to do the IPR on the lowers since I apparently had a small space already that he's gonna use instead of trying to create more with IPR.
The assistant slipped while trying to get my lower wire in and poked me pretty hard. I jerked and let out a yell but she just said "oops, sorry" and nothing more. When she was done, she gave me a mirror to show me how to wear my elastic, and my mouth was all bloody. She sliced my gum open when she slipped! It woulda been nice if she had told me she cut me so badly... then she was like, oh yea, that's no big deal. I was like... um it really hurts. Whatever, it stopped bleeding so I'm not too worried.
And on to the BIG NEWS. I got a DEBRACE DATE!! Yayyyy
Hehe, it's June 11. I'm supposed to go back on May 11 for my last adjustment. My debrace date is set for the week I'm supposed to go on vacation with my husband (but we are staying local so I can still go in to the ortho). I did ask if there was any way I might be able to get them off the week before that so I could have them off for my whole vacation and he said that if I think they look good then I can come in and he'll look and if he agrees that the bite is good and everything, then they will set me up to get them off that week before my vacation instead! He said if that did happen, they would even make time to come in early or stay late if they need to to make sure they come off that week, as long as my teeth are ready! But yea it is tentatively set for Thursday June 11.
On debrace day, they shedule 2 appointments. One in the morning to get them off and take molds, and one in the afternoon to pick up my retainers. I assume they make them in-office instead of sending away, so that's probably why I can get them the same day. I still don't know what kind I'll get - I did ask the assistant what they use last time, but she said the Dr. chooses retainer type based on individual patient's needs so I don't know yet.
In pain now but I took lots of meds so it's not toooo bad. I also only have 1 elastic now instead of 3 or 4 so its soooo much more comfortable. The gum the assistant cut open still hurts but I'm sure it will heal up soon.
I also did ask about what if my upper teeth hit my lower brackets because they are sorta close, but he said it won't do any damage. He said some of my top front teeth are a bit uneven from wear on the biting edges anyway so he is probably gonna file and smooth them a bit at the end anyway.
That's all for now folks!
Front view:
Same picture but I drew some lines on it to describe the "slant" I was trying to describe last time.
So there they are. I tried to draw lines to show how my teeth are slanted right now on the second pic like I was trying to say after my last adjustment; hope it helps show what I was talking about. The middle blue line is supposed to be straight across, while the other two are drawn directly over my archwire. They both slant in towards the center on my left side (right side in picture).
I'm down to wearing just 1 elastic now, on my right side. I also got a clear powerchain on my top front 4 teeth. New bends in top wire. New bottom archwire with the same type of loops as in the top archwire. New spring on lower right area.
The space between top 2 front teeth is already closed due to that nice powerchain. Although it's pretty painful...
My ortho decided not to do the IPR on the lowers since I apparently had a small space already that he's gonna use instead of trying to create more with IPR.
The assistant slipped while trying to get my lower wire in and poked me pretty hard. I jerked and let out a yell but she just said "oops, sorry" and nothing more. When she was done, she gave me a mirror to show me how to wear my elastic, and my mouth was all bloody. She sliced my gum open when she slipped! It woulda been nice if she had told me she cut me so badly... then she was like, oh yea, that's no big deal. I was like... um it really hurts. Whatever, it stopped bleeding so I'm not too worried.
And on to the BIG NEWS. I got a DEBRACE DATE!! Yayyyy
Hehe, it's June 11. I'm supposed to go back on May 11 for my last adjustment. My debrace date is set for the week I'm supposed to go on vacation with my husband (but we are staying local so I can still go in to the ortho). I did ask if there was any way I might be able to get them off the week before that so I could have them off for my whole vacation and he said that if I think they look good then I can come in and he'll look and if he agrees that the bite is good and everything, then they will set me up to get them off that week before my vacation instead! He said if that did happen, they would even make time to come in early or stay late if they need to to make sure they come off that week, as long as my teeth are ready! But yea it is tentatively set for Thursday June 11.
On debrace day, they shedule 2 appointments. One in the morning to get them off and take molds, and one in the afternoon to pick up my retainers. I assume they make them in-office instead of sending away, so that's probably why I can get them the same day. I still don't know what kind I'll get - I did ask the assistant what they use last time, but she said the Dr. chooses retainer type based on individual patient's needs so I don't know yet.
In pain now but I took lots of meds so it's not toooo bad. I also only have 1 elastic now instead of 3 or 4 so its soooo much more comfortable. The gum the assistant cut open still hurts but I'm sure it will heal up soon.
I also did ask about what if my upper teeth hit my lower brackets because they are sorta close, but he said it won't do any damage. He said some of my top front teeth are a bit uneven from wear on the biting edges anyway so he is probably gonna file and smooth them a bit at the end anyway.
That's all for now folks!
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kayleighkelley
- Posts: 85
- Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2009 10:26 pm
- Location: Illinois
Way to go, Andromeda!! 
Those teeth look ready for debracing anyway. 
I wouldn't worry about the slant if bite and everything else is ok. Personally, I find looking at 110 % perfectly straight teeth from orthodontics a bit scary. Doesn't look natural. I know that my teeth will not be picture perfect optically when finished.
It's going to be interesting to follow your debracing. I'm going to die of envy!! Haha
Danish
Those teeth look ready for debracing anyway. I wouldn't worry about the slant if bite and everything else is ok. Personally, I find looking at 110 % perfectly straight teeth from orthodontics a bit scary. Doesn't look natural. I know that my teeth will not be picture perfect optically when finished.
It's going to be interesting to follow your debracing. I'm going to die of envy!! Haha
Danish
metal braces on: 4 Oct 2007
Tx for: crowding
debonded on: 24 Jun 2009
total treatment time: 629 days
my journey ==> http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... highlight=
Tx for: crowding
debonded on: 24 Jun 2009
total treatment time: 629 days
my journey ==> http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... highlight=
Thanks all!
Danish - there are def. some things I'm willing to live with in terms of my teeth not being "perfect" but the slant has GOT to go, haha. But it's only like that because my left side is a lot further along and my right needs to play catch up. And as you said, the bite is very important and my bite is still way off. That's the reason why my teeth are slanted actually. So fixing the bite will also fix the slant.
I'm definitely looking forward to June but wow my teeth still hurt a lot. I was told I could stop wearing elastics on my left side as the bite was good now, but since yesterday the teeth already seem to be relapsing without the elastic. Has this happened to anyone else?
Danish - there are def. some things I'm willing to live with in terms of my teeth not being "perfect" but the slant has GOT to go, haha. But it's only like that because my left side is a lot further along and my right needs to play catch up. And as you said, the bite is very important and my bite is still way off. That's the reason why my teeth are slanted actually. So fixing the bite will also fix the slant.
I'm definitely looking forward to June but wow my teeth still hurt a lot. I was told I could stop wearing elastics on my left side as the bite was good now, but since yesterday the teeth already seem to be relapsing without the elastic. Has this happened to anyone else?
Andromeda,
A vacation with your hubby and a debanding date!!! Sounds like you will have an awesome vacation!!!!
Sorry I can't help on your question. But your teeth are looking amazing. If you are feeling the left side is relapsing, you might want to call your ortho and ask if you could wear the elastics just to make sure it doesn't move.
I would agree with you that the slant would have to go if it were me. And the knowledge that fixing the bite on the right side will fix it I am sure brings great relief.
Thanks for posting on my journey. I do have a question for you. How do the closing loops work. Curiosity is killing the cat!!!
I am so happy you have a debanding date! I cant wait until that day comes for me. Best of luck with it.
SD
A vacation with your hubby and a debanding date!!! Sounds like you will have an awesome vacation!!!!
Sorry I can't help on your question. But your teeth are looking amazing. If you are feeling the left side is relapsing, you might want to call your ortho and ask if you could wear the elastics just to make sure it doesn't move.
I would agree with you that the slant would have to go if it were me. And the knowledge that fixing the bite on the right side will fix it I am sure brings great relief.
Thanks for posting on my journey. I do have a question for you. How do the closing loops work. Curiosity is killing the cat!!!
I am so happy you have a debanding date! I cant wait until that day comes for me. Best of luck with it.
SD
Hey sdawdy! Thanks for posting To answer your question about the loops - it's kinda hard to describe but I'll try.
Basically they open each loop, meaning they sort of pull it apart wider and they can be used to move teeth in different directions. For me, we want my teeth to move forward so they pulled the loops apart a bit and then took the section of the wire between the loops, like the part that goes over my front 4 teeth, and they pushed it back towards my teeth. So since the wire wants to return to its original shape, it will want to pull my front 4 teeth forward towards its original position. The rest of my teeth sort of just stay where they are I think.
I know that probably didn't make much sense but its very hard to describe and I wish I could take a good vertical picture of the archwire because then you might be able to see what I mean.
Here's a bad illustration, especially since its not rounded like the arch, but pretend this is my top archwire from VERTICAL VIEW (if you could look DOWN from the top of my head at the braces):
Imagine My Lips Are Here
--------0________0----------
Imagine My Teeth Are Here
The ---- represent the section of wire on my molars and such, then the 0 are the loops and the _____ is the section of wire on my front 4 teeth, between the loops. Ok, so see how the ____ section is closer to my teeth than the ----- sections? So the loops allow the middle section to be moved however it needs to to move the teeth in the right direction. So the middle section here is going to want to revert back to get in line with the ----- part of the wire and pull my front 4 teeth forward toward my lips along with it. Voila!!
Sorry if I just totally confused you haha. But I tried...
To answer your question about the loops - it's kinda hard to describe but I'll try.Basically they open each loop, meaning they sort of pull it apart wider and they can be used to move teeth in different directions. For me, we want my teeth to move forward so they pulled the loops apart a bit and then took the section of the wire between the loops, like the part that goes over my front 4 teeth, and they pushed it back towards my teeth. So since the wire wants to return to its original shape, it will want to pull my front 4 teeth forward towards its original position. The rest of my teeth sort of just stay where they are I think.
I know that probably didn't make much sense but its very hard to describe and I wish I could take a good vertical picture of the archwire because then you might be able to see what I mean.
Here's a bad illustration, especially since its not rounded like the arch, but pretend this is my top archwire from VERTICAL VIEW (if you could look DOWN from the top of my head at the braces):
Imagine My Lips Are Here
--------0________0----------
Imagine My Teeth Are Here
The ---- represent the section of wire on my molars and such, then the 0 are the loops and the _____ is the section of wire on my front 4 teeth, between the loops. Ok, so see how the ____ section is closer to my teeth than the ----- sections? So the loops allow the middle section to be moved however it needs to to move the teeth in the right direction. So the middle section here is going to want to revert back to get in line with the ----- part of the wire and pull my front 4 teeth forward toward my lips along with it. Voila!!
Sorry if I just totally confused you haha. But I tried...
Oh my goodness! Our teeth are so alike! It's reassuring knowing there is a case so similar to mine out there. I really hope you and I do get the results we wish for.
You're right about living with one or two little things which are a bit off, but when there are several, I don't think we should settle for anything less. Sometimes I like something not quite perfect as it gives a bit of 'character', but when that 'character' interferes with function, then it's a definate NO!
I think I may just get them taken off, see what they're like, use retainers etc. Then if they are still uncomfortable and I can't live with them, I will get braces again. Mum doesn't think that I should get charged again, so hopefully that's the case. That's something I'll bring up at my next appointment (scheduled debanding).
Thanks so much for sharing your advice and story, it really means a lot to hear from other fellow brace faces!
Good luck with everything to come.
pearls.
You're right about living with one or two little things which are a bit off, but when there are several, I don't think we should settle for anything less. Sometimes I like something not quite perfect as it gives a bit of 'character', but when that 'character' interferes with function, then it's a definate NO!
I think I may just get them taken off, see what they're like, use retainers etc. Then if they are still uncomfortable and I can't live with them, I will get braces again. Mum doesn't think that I should get charged again, so hopefully that's the case. That's something I'll bring up at my next appointment (scheduled debanding).
Thanks so much for sharing your advice and story, it really means a lot to hear from other fellow brace faces!
Good luck with everything to come.
pearls.
Spacers in: 9/4/2008
Braces on:16/4/2008
Sentanced for: 18 months
Metal upper and lowers
Braces on:16/4/2008
Sentanced for: 18 months
Metal upper and lowers
Woo hoo, congrats on the debracing date!! I really hope you're able to get them off before the vacation...how awesome would it be to be "free" for your trip?? 
Your smile is looking wonderful! I see those slight slants you're talking about, but I'm sure those are exaggerated by the wires and won't be noticable at all once they come off. I can't wait to see your final result...it will be amazing!
Good luck during your final month!
Your smile is looking wonderful! I see those slight slants you're talking about, but I'm sure those are exaggerated by the wires and won't be noticable at all once they come off. I can't wait to see your final result...it will be amazing!
Good luck during your final month!
YAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!
I just had my final adjustment today! They removed the spring I had gotten 2 weeks ago from my lower right, as the space has now closed. They told me I wouldn't need to wear rubber bands anymore either, but I said I still didn't feel like my top bicuspids were hitting my lower teeth when I bite down, so my ortho gave me a configuration to wear on each side to pull the top bicuspids down a bit more to "sock in the bite" as they like to say. He said I only have to wear it at night.
Then he said I would definitely be getting my braces off at my next appointment. I already scheduled that appointment last time (2 weeks ago) for debanding on June 11. He said he's very confident they will be done by then! I brought up the fact that my top right lateral keeps hitting my lower front teeth when I bite down, and he said he can't bring it forward anymore... he said when I get the braces off, they can polish off a bit of the back of that tooth and a bit of the front of the lower one it hits and hopefully it will be enough. He's also going to file the edges of some of my teeth that are a bit uneven to make them look better.
So I asked if I might be able to come in the week before my scheduled date of June 11 bc that is my vacation off work, and the assistant reminded the ortho that the week before is HIS vacation from work
He's taking a few days off for his daughters wedding. They said they usually only do debanding on Thursdays, but she searched for a date earlier in the week. She found something on Tuesday, June 2 that was open and went to ask the doctor if it was ok. I was just praying the whole time! After a minute, I heard him say that it was fine!!!!
So I am now set to get the braces off on June 2 at about 10am !!!!!!
He said I won't need to wear bonded retainers because he usually only puts those on patients who might not be compliant with wearing the retainers and told me he wasn't worried because I have been so super conpliant with my elastics and everything else he's asked! He said I will probably get the plastic Essex retainers and I will only have to wear them at night or for about 10 hours per day! I thought this was sort of on the low side but I won't argue with that! If my teeth start to shift or anything, I will just wear them more. And he has been in practice for over 30 years so I'm sure if there had been problems with relapse that he would have found out from some unhappy customers! I had heard that the Essex retainers might not allow the teeth/bite to settle as much as the Hawley, but they said that really isn't true. I was worried that my open bite would come back since the Essex doesn't allow your teeth to touch when you bite. They said the Essex are so tight on your teeth that they shouldn't be able to go anywhere. I also asked if there was a way I could get both Hawley and Essex and they said probably not because since they are made slightly differently, there might be some small differences in how they fit and then if I switched between them, my teeth would be forced one way and then forced a slightly different way so they would always be moving back and forth.
So that was just about everything that happened today! Not sure if I'm gonna go through the hassle of posting pictures since I don't think my teeth have changed too much in the 2 weeks since the last ones. I will definitely be posting when these come off tho!!!!
I just had my final adjustment today! They removed the spring I had gotten 2 weeks ago from my lower right, as the space has now closed. They told me I wouldn't need to wear rubber bands anymore either, but I said I still didn't feel like my top bicuspids were hitting my lower teeth when I bite down, so my ortho gave me a configuration to wear on each side to pull the top bicuspids down a bit more to "sock in the bite" as they like to say. He said I only have to wear it at night.
Then he said I would definitely be getting my braces off at my next appointment. I already scheduled that appointment last time (2 weeks ago) for debanding on June 11. He said he's very confident they will be done by then! I brought up the fact that my top right lateral keeps hitting my lower front teeth when I bite down, and he said he can't bring it forward anymore... he said when I get the braces off, they can polish off a bit of the back of that tooth and a bit of the front of the lower one it hits and hopefully it will be enough. He's also going to file the edges of some of my teeth that are a bit uneven to make them look better.
So I asked if I might be able to come in the week before my scheduled date of June 11 bc that is my vacation off work, and the assistant reminded the ortho that the week before is HIS vacation from work
He's taking a few days off for his daughters wedding. They said they usually only do debanding on Thursdays, but she searched for a date earlier in the week. She found something on Tuesday, June 2 that was open and went to ask the doctor if it was ok. I was just praying the whole time! After a minute, I heard him say that it was fine!!!! So I am now set to get the braces off on June 2 at about 10am
!!!!!!He said I won't need to wear bonded retainers because he usually only puts those on patients who might not be compliant with wearing the retainers and told me he wasn't worried because I have been so super conpliant with my elastics and everything else he's asked! He said I will probably get the plastic Essex retainers and I will only have to wear them at night or for about 10 hours per day! I thought this was sort of on the low side but I won't argue with that! If my teeth start to shift or anything, I will just wear them more. And he has been in practice for over 30 years so I'm sure if there had been problems with relapse that he would have found out from some unhappy customers! I had heard that the Essex retainers might not allow the teeth/bite to settle as much as the Hawley, but they said that really isn't true. I was worried that my open bite would come back since the Essex doesn't allow your teeth to touch when you bite. They said the Essex are so tight on your teeth that they shouldn't be able to go anywhere. I also asked if there was a way I could get both Hawley and Essex and they said probably not because since they are made slightly differently, there might be some small differences in how they fit and then if I switched between them, my teeth would be forced one way and then forced a slightly different way so they would always be moving back and forth.
So that was just about everything that happened today! Not sure if I'm gonna go through the hassle of posting pictures since I don't think my teeth have changed too much in the 2 weeks since the last ones. I will definitely be posting when these come off tho!!!!
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JenMarie286
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Wed Feb 25, 2009 8:00 pm
- Contact:
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kayleighkelley
- Posts: 85
- Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2009 10:26 pm
- Location: Illinois
Thanks everyone, I can't wait hehe! I am wearing more elastics that are basically optional since my ortho wasnt gonna have me wear any at all but I asked if I could to fine tune my bite so he said ok. I am definitely in pain from them but strangely, only on one side. Same configuration on both sides but doesn't hurt at all on left and KILLER on right... strange. But hopefully they move how I want them to!
Ken - I think you got me confused with someone else again... I am not the one who posted about going on holiday to the states. I believe that was the person with the username "pearls". I live in the states haha (California). Im taking time off work next month to spend with my husband before he deploys to Iraq and that's the vacation I was saying Im glad the braces will be off for. We are just staying local but have friends flying in - heck we LIVE in a vacation spot here in sunny SoCal haha so it will be a cheap vacation
Ken - I think you got me confused with someone else again... I am not the one who posted about going on holiday to the states. I believe that was the person with the username "pearls". I live in the states haha (California). Im taking time off work next month to spend with my husband before he deploys to Iraq and that's the vacation I was saying Im glad the braces will be off for. We are just staying local but have friends flying in - heck we LIVE in a vacation spot here in sunny SoCal haha so it will be a cheap vacation
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rubberbandshurt
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Thu Apr 03, 2008 3:26 pm