December Appointment

Earlier this month I had my appointment with some very great news.

I brought up to my orthodontist that when I went to my dentist appointment I had two small gaps on my upper teeth (between left canine and left lateral incisor/ between right canine and second premolar) and she found them and attached an elastic going back to the molar bands. Not sure how that was going to work out what with my front six teeth being tied up with the steel ligatures but it got super sore so I'm assuming things are moving again. I was told to only wear those triangular elastics on my left side, which I've been neglecting due to this newfound soreness.

At the very end of the appointment my ortho broke the news to me. The big news. The news I've been waiting for for two and a half years. She told me that depending on how fast these last few gaps close I may have one or two more months in braces, 2014 is my year.

At first I was super stoked about this, had all these plans and just couldn't wait to get to that point but then the very next day I received some unrelated yet unhappy news that kinda clashed with some of my plans I had made when I was feeling good.

So now I'm feeling more along the lines of just trying to be happy but not really in the mood. Yes this is a big thing. But still super bummed about how other things turned out.

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It's (Almost)The Final Countdown!

One of the best things about nearing the end of your treatment is the length of the appointments. Particularly how it decreases significantly. My last adjustment took a grand total of maybe five minutes! All that was really left to do was add a ligature to my upper left 2nd premolar. My lower teeth are fixed in place with steel ligatures, and so are my upper teeth. I'm still wearing the elastics in that triangular fashion to bring down both of my upper second premolars but the one of the left now has a ligature to bring it out as well as down. (Out meaning towards my cheek.)

Super fast appointment, absolutely painless, in and out before you could blink. Hopefully by next month, and this is just me thinking to myself, not based on anything my orthodontist has said, I can at least consider putting on my lower retainers!
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October Adjustment

My appointment this time was a few weeks ago but I hadn't written about it until now because it was just horrific!

My power chain was removed from my upper teeth and canine to canine were secured with steel ligatures. My orthodontist was pleased with them and didn't want them to move anymore. However now that my overjet had been reduced my small back teeth were not touching so I'm  back to wearing elastics in a strange triangular pattern. My upper second premolars are the top points and the bottom points are the low molar bands and lower canines. This is supposed to help bring my upper bicuspids down a little. Then we did some finishing touches on reshaping of the front teeth.

On the way home though, that bracket on the left upper side in the triangular configuration popped right off. I called them and explained the setup and how that can no longer be implemented and they told me to come right back. So back on the bus I went for an hours ride BACK to my ortho's office. When I go there she scraped off the remaining glue and put on a new bracket. Which popped off before I even got out of the chair. Again came that scraping tool and this time she replaced it with a metal bracket. It's now been about two weeks and that metal bracket is still going strong! But that week after the appointment was just terrible. With the exception of my extractions and the recovery period this was the most painful my braces journey had ever been.

Oh, on another note, my orthodontist confirmed that my lower wisdoms are growing in really crooked and I may have to have them removed. Holding onto them for now until I get confirmation that my health coverage has been renewed. Just in case.

Also I miss snacking throughout the day. This triangular elastics set up is severely limiting the frequency of food going into my mouth. >:[
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Kinda kicking myself

I wish I could either brought up reshaping earlier in my treatment or just decided to be happy with my rabbit teeth. The fact that I am this close to retainers is killing me. But the day both retainers go on, I am having a steak dinner, no ifs ands or buts.

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August Update

Hello readers (or more likely, Future Me Looking To Stay On Track With My Retainer)!

I've had another adjustment just two days ago. Got a whole new powerchain for my uppers and we did a little bit of reshaping! My right upper lateral incisor had a bit of a funky point and my orthodontist filed it just just a tad and now that is looking a little more normal. Also did some filing on the two upper central incisors. Not as much as I would like my teeth are still a bit rabbity. I asked my ortho to show me a mold of what "ideal" teeth would look like and I asked her if she could make my front teeth have those dimensions instead of being so significantly larger and longer than my laterals and the answer was YES!

Sadly though she told me had I not mentioned anything the next step WOULD have been retainers. Now I need to keep my tinsel teeth a little while longer as we file down my front teeth little by little every month. Hopefully it goes quickly and I can still get them off this year.

Moral of the story DON'T BE SCARED. Ask for the things you want when you want it, otherwise putting it off may delay your freedom. :(

Still though, I'm almost there....

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Small Triumphs

For the most part I've always had that gap between my canines and molar on the upper right because of my extractions. I've always been able to slip my tongue in the gap and feel the gum there. Today, after one month of power chains I find that I am no longer able to do that!!

My extraction gaps are almost closed!

Monetary Update

Yesterday before I went to class I stopped by my orthodontist's office. I decided to pay the remainder of my bill while I still had some money in my account before something sucked it all away, school, textbooks, whatever. As of now my braces are completely paid off. All $5500!

Just need to save for my retainers now.

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August Adjustment update

It is sooo good to eat again, this last weekend was a bit rough. I had a trip to the Poconos planned with my friends with my adjustment falling the day before. I was only able to to chew solid foods again around this past Monday

Got a brand new (stronger and thicker) arch wire for my upper teeth, and no more elastics or ligatures. Instead we say hello to the POWER CHAIN. Holy shitake mushrooms these things hurt. When my orthodontist attached it to my braces I just thought, "MOTHER DUCK!!" (No, that is not a typo.)

So this is great news. We're trying to have me finished by the end of this year or maybe my birthday and it's looking good so far.

Hollywood smile, here I come!!

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Reviewing the pictures I had taken so far

Holy crap. I always knew my teeth were bad but seeing it in pictures, what I started with to what I have now. Good lord why didn't anyone push me to braces earlier?? The more progress I see the angrier I am that this has gone on for so long. And the more embarrassed I am for past-me. I think I will most definitely be in my orthodontists Before and After album.

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Picture update

July 19, 2013

Two years, four weeks into treatment.

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July adjustment

Just minutes after my most recent adjustment I am thrilled. Apparently it's only the two small extraction gaps in my upper teeth left to close and just a little more in terms of alignment. Other than that I'm just about finished!

I have decided that I'm definitely leaning to having my teeth reshaped. And it is part of my treatment if I want it done so there will be no additional cost for that. And it can be done at any time during m treatment.

On another happy note I only owe them $250 left for my braces! Not counting the retainers of course but those can be paid for in advance if I wanted. They'll be the Hawley's I think. The one with the metal line which is what I preferred anyway. I don't want my retainers to be dos colored because of my fillings and I like the idea that I can tweak my teeth in the future with the Hawley's. So all in all not a bad visit! I'm nearing the end. WOOHOO!!

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June adjustment

Another month has come and gone, another adjustment endured and I have reached my two year mark with my braces this past June 21st. And what a difference two years has made!

There's been some changes from my June adjustment. First of all the very first thing she said to me when she looked at my teeth was how well they were coming along and if I have anything to comment on. I did bring up that my extraction gap on the upper right side is taking what seems like forever to close. So she slapped on a powerchain going from my upper right canine to my upper right molar band. Henceforth I am to be wearing the elastics only on the left side so as not to interfere with the powerchain on the right.

Secondly there was this second premolar on my upper left side that just refused to hold a bracket so for the past few months the orthodontist let it go naked since it wasn't really a problem, but I suppose we are seeing the finish line in the distance (waaaaay in the distance) that she glued on another one to make sure that everything is lining up all right. 

Finally she decided to replace the chipped bracket on my upper left central incisor. Felt a little strange to have a full bracket there again but that's A-OK.

I did bring up the fact that most of my teeth are irregular in both size and shape. My upper front set are a bit larger than say my lower front set with my back teeth being cute in how tiny they are. She did mention that if I wanted she could reshape my teeth but that I need to consider that carefully because once she decreases the size it cannot be undone. Still, strongly considering it...
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List of Post-Braces Foods

There are some things that I am just DYING for. Well obviously not dying for, but you get the idea. There are these constant cravings that refuse to leave for the entire time I've been braced. I've been thinking of what I'd like to eat once I lose my mouth jewelry and just off the top of my head I'd like

• a steak
• crab/lobster/things I can crack with my teeth
• corn dogs
• Lamb chops/ pork chops
• BBQ ribs
• corn on the cob
• gummy bears
• an entire bushel of Gala apples

TO GO!

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May Adjustment Update and Cost Happiness!

Armed with a new pack of 3/16 inch "Pete" rubber bands I embark to a another month on my orthodontic journey. One of the first things my doctor said to me is that my midline is looking great. My midline was not part of the original problem but it shifted slightly during treatment. Regardless my orthodontist sure knows how to flatter a girl!

After some minor and routine discomfort I was quickly released back into the world. Although I was sure to verify my remaining balance after relinquishing this month's payment. Turns out after my payment for this month I have a total of $550. At my current rate that will be paid out by September, which I'm really hoping to get my braces off around then. Once that final $550 is done I only have to worry about the cost of retainers. The office told me that they run at $250  per retainer, and I need both an upper and a lower one. Unless of course I want my teeth to shift back to the shark smile I had previously. That is clearly NOT an option.

Still though. I am in sight of the finish line. It's still a ways off but I'm getting there.

I can't wait.
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Maybe I need some thicker skin...

Or maybe I really don't like people talking about my dental shortcomings.

I went to my dentist appointment this past Thursday. I have to go to a new dentist because my previous (nice!) one is not contracted with my new insurance.

This guy is really close to my mom's neighborhood so I figured it would be vaguely convenient but his videos that he put up on YouTube are not very pleasing in regards to his manner. He seemed like a very stiff person, unsmiling and comfortable. At first I tried to make an appointment with a dentist who is literally across the street from my job but apparently they were "closed out" to new patients with my insurance. So I went to the stiff dentist.

Granted he was a competent dentist, he and his staff did all that they were supposed to but I was used to be old dentist, who was very well aware that most people (myself included) HATE going to the dentist. He and his wife/receptionist used to go out of his way to speak to a patient conversationally and ensured that a patient felt calm and comfortable.

This new guy felt no need to and just went to work. And the first thing he started talking about what how much trouble my teeth are/hypothetically were. He commented on how I had four extractions, I have gaps left in my upper teeth that still  need to be closed and went on to tell me I have a long long way to go with my braces yet. That I am a difficult patient who requires a lot of work.

I hate when dentists do that. I know very well how difficult my teeth are, I've lived with them my entire life. Talking about them or just having them on display is enough to make me very self conscious about them. It's comments like that from previous dentists that ultimately caused me to not see a dentist for nine years. I hated being the subject of conversation when the conversation is basically, "Damn, you're all kinds of fucked up."

Happily I don't have to see another dentist for another six months or so, so hopefully by then I'll have found a different dentist, or even be able to return to my much nicer dentist.
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Great news at my adjustment today!

Just got out of an adjustment appointment. I told my orthodontist that I have two problems and one question that hopefully she can address.

The first problem is that a steel ligature on my lower right lateral incisor is sticking out and poking me uncomfortably. The offending ligature was trimmed and tucked under the arch wire a bit more nearly.

The second problem was that the difficulty in putting on my elastics on the upper right side due to the close proximity of the ligature to where the elastic should go instead. My orthodontist changed it so that half of the bracket is attached to the arch wife via ligature leaving the other half open to give me a little more room to work with.

Finally I posed a hypothetical situation to her. If this was my first visit, I came in for a consult with my teeth in this position… I didn't even get to the question when she said she would not even bother putting braces on me I'm that close to the end. I asked for a ballpark estimate of when they would be off and she said it would definitely be within the year!

CAN I GET A WOOHOO?!
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New Dentist

Well I finally have insurance but go figure it is not one that is accepted by my (awesome) dentist. I have to change.

I'm one of those folks that HATE going to the dentist, I fear it with every fiber of my being and I believe all dentists to be sadists. Yet my dentist is so kind and his receptionist/wife is so sweet. When I walk into their office, I can't help but be at ease. This is not something that has ever happened before. Finding a new dentist who also conjures the same amount of comfort is going to be difficult.

Looking through the directory, I found a man whose practice is literally across the street from my job and he appeared to be a cheerful fellow. However when I called to make an appointment I was told that they are "closed out" on new patients from my insurance. I wonder then, why they are listed in the directory issued this month as participating providers accepting new patients.

I ended up making an appointment with an office located close to my mom's area. This dentist does not seem at all friendly and in fact has a very stoic and vaguely grumpy facial expression. Not looking forward to this at all...
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How I feel right now

Damn you wisdom tooth. Damn you

 

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Self inflicted sabotage

I'm so close to the end. All of my teeth are connected to the arch wire. Just need to do some minor tweaking on the bottom and close two extractions gaps on top. Then tonight my final wisdom tooth decides to poke through the gum. And it's crooked.

Good god I really hope this doesn't screw up the rest of my teeth. The finish line is in sight I'm soo close. Why now?! *************************

I've been bad

I've been neglecting my duties once again. I don't remember the last time I actually picked up my threader floss. I gave it a shot and discovered my lower teeth to be extremely tight. They've always been the more crowded set so I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. Still kinda sucks.

I'm still not sure how I'm supposed to floss around my molar bands so I still haven't done it. If I have messed up teeth post-braces it will be no one's fault but my own...

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Minor Dissatisfactions

My braces are annoying me lately. I think I know what the problem is. There is a part of the steel ligature poking out between my lower right central and lateral incisors. If I'm not careful my lip can get caught on it and has been caught multiple times. I can feel where the skin on the inside of my lip is getting rougher to protect itself. Normally I would not complain about this but there is a delay in my treatment. My last adjustment should have been last Saturday however what with the huge snowy blizzard my appointment had to be rescheduled for two weeks later. So I'm kinda stuck in the meantime. Wax has been my best friend though. I don't know what I would do without it.
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