Weekly Progress & First visible progress

September 13, 2011
12 weeks into treatment

So I've finally had my "AHA!" moment. When I first started my braces my left lateral incisor was one of three teeth located too far back to be attached to the archwire so those three just hung out in my mouth with the brackets on but not linked up to anything. Just chilling and being crooked and bleh.

Yesterday I went for my monthly visit to my orthodontist. She did the usual, change my ligatures, changed my elastic chains, clip the extra archwire behind my molar bands. And there was the usual level of discomfort regardless of the fact that I took an Advil beforehand. Then she did something new. My second premolars on top were bracketed and attached to the wire... AS WELL AS THAT FAR AWAY LEFT LATERAL INCISOR! This is the day that I truly realize that YES my teeth ARE moving! I look at myself everyday in the mirror and I see no change but looking at my past pictures, particularly the extraction pictures and I'm seeing a very noticeable difference! And now that I see it I wonder how I could possibly miss it all this time!

I mean I am SO excited about this revelation that I had to immediately tell someone. I can't wait for the other two faraway teeth to be attached to the wire. I was just wondering if I was wasting my time because there was no sign of progress but I'm one step closer to straight teeth and this is just the bit of good news I'd been waiting for.

It's slow going but progress is progress.

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Progress With Foods

So there seems to be some good news regarding the foods I am allowed to eat. The big rule is that I am to avoid anything hard sticky or tacky. However today I've discovered that I can eat potato chips (one at a time and carefully), cookies (if soft baked) and milk chocolate (if I let it melt in my mouth and then just swallow it). This is WONDERFUL news because I can not tell you how much I've missed junk food.

Only on Sunday I had McDonald's for the first time. It was a fish fillet but still progress is progress. I am so happy that I can have normal foods again. I'm two months one week and four days into my treatment and the pain comes and goes at odd intervals. Sometimes one tooth aches, another time a different tooth aches. Sometimes nothing aches and I can deal with it all. The days that everything hurts and I can't eat I survive on Ensure drinks. The vanilla and chocolate flavors are the best!

I'm told that the first three months are the most terrible and after that it's easy sailing. I really hope that it is the case with me as well.

I haven't posted a pic in a while because I've been a bit busy with work and getting ready for school but I will soon. My next adjustment is on September 13th, so it'll definitely be up by then.

Have a happy Thursday, readers! The weekend is almost here! Hooray!

Weekly Progress (August)

August 16, 2011
Eight weeks into treatment
Replaced ligatures, elastic chains and clipped archwires today!
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Weekly Progress (August)

August 11, 2011
Seven weeks, two day into treatment

Weekly Progress (August)

August 3, 2011
Six weeks, one day into treatment

Weekly Progress (July)

July 27, 2011
Five weeks one day into treatment
Got rubber bands to pull my canines back! (Hate them. Hate them passionately.)
Also please ignore the shiny sweat. It was a VERY hot day.

Weekly Progress (July)

July 8, 2011
Two weeks three days into treatment
Pre-extractions

Weekly Progress (July)

July 5, 2011
Two weeks into treatment

Weekly Progress (June)

June 28, 2011
One week into treatment

Extractions

:On July 5, 2011 I went to my dentist for my first pair of extractions. I've never had a tooth extracted before so I was really very nervous. Everyone I spoke to told me that once the anesthetic kicked in I wouldn't feel a thing. I was removing my first premolars. It was so strange because I could hear the sounds of the teeth cracking and coming out and I could sorta feel it as it left my gums (but no pain thank goodness!) My dentist even let me keep my teeth. I never knew the roots would be so long! As he was tugging I felt it moving around by my nose!


The extraction sites were so red and angry looking for days afterwards that I was afraid to really eat. I was on a liquid diet of soup and Ensure and slowly moved towards the soft stuff like mac and cheese and the Chef Boyardee stuff. I was mostly afraid that food would get stuck in the holes and that it would be so painful. By the time I was able to eat real food again, two weeks had passed and I was scheduled to go for my second set of extractions. These were for my lower first premolars.



I just want to say this once and get it out of my system: I MISS MY TEETH. PUT THEM BACK!


EDIT: During this time I was unable to use my normal mouthwash. Instead I used Colgate Peroxyl Oral Cleanser. It did burn a little and it was VERY bubbly in my mouth but I'd say it did the job. My orthodontist seemed to think so when I went back to her one week after the final extractions to get my long archwire. she told me that I was healing very well. (YAY!)