In theory, my braces are coming off tomorrow! One year, one month after they were put on. I'm a little bemused as to where the last year has gone - a symptom of getting older I guess.
I'm excited but hesitant. I'm worried that I'll turn up tomorrow morning and be told that, for whatever reason, I have to wait a few more weeks.
We'll see...
Monday, 1 March 2010
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
THREE MORE WEEKS!
Three more weeks and these babies are coming off! Woo hoo. That stubborn tooth finally moved after some seriously painful help from my dentist. I'm soooooo excited, although dreading the hour long removal and then application of a permanent retainer.
I'm going for the permanent retainer after a bit of web searching. It would seem to be the most recommended option because too many people don't keep up with the nightly wearing of the temp ones, and then the teeth move a little, and then the temp ones become painful, so then they stop wearing them and in loads of cases their teeth drift back.
Well, after paying what I've paid, I'm not letting these teeth move anywhere. So permanent retainer it is.
Yipee!
I'm going for the permanent retainer after a bit of web searching. It would seem to be the most recommended option because too many people don't keep up with the nightly wearing of the temp ones, and then the teeth move a little, and then the temp ones become painful, so then they stop wearing them and in loads of cases their teeth drift back.
Well, after paying what I've paid, I'm not letting these teeth move anywhere. So permanent retainer it is.
Yipee!
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
Back to where we were
I have the old wire back on, the stubborn canine has moved a bit so hopefully we're homeward bound. The dentist is confident that in four weeks, the lower arch can get the final steel wire on, and then in February the whole lot can come off.
Thank god!
I'm sick of looking like the cookie monster when I try to eat.
Thank god!
I'm sick of looking like the cookie monster when I try to eat.
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
1 step forward, 2 steps back
Feeling frustrated - I've been set back a few weeks.
That stubborn tooth has got a new brace in a sharper angle to try to encourage it to move. But, the wire I was wearing wouldn't fit so I've had to go back to the wire I finished wearing about nine weeks ago.
But, instead of the naughty tooth moving, all the teeth around it are. So, I've ended up losing the perfect alignment of my bottom four front teeth as two of them have moved off into a straight line.
Difficult to explain, but basically I'm going backwards in my treatment. And it was all going so well.
Ho hum, they definitely won't be off in time for Christmas as we thought - my new goalpost is for them to be off in Feb, exactly one year after getting them on.
Meanwhile, the experience of having a brace removed was... enlightening. These ones are made of porcelain so the crrrrackkk sound it made when my orthodontist broke it off sounded like a tooth being shattered. It wasn't particularly fun, and I'm sort of dreading the experience of getting all of them removed, but the end will be worth it.
I read somewhere that when Tom Cruise had braces on, he had them all removed each time he was doing a movie, and then reattached when he wasn't. I'm impressed!
That stubborn tooth has got a new brace in a sharper angle to try to encourage it to move. But, the wire I was wearing wouldn't fit so I've had to go back to the wire I finished wearing about nine weeks ago.
But, instead of the naughty tooth moving, all the teeth around it are. So, I've ended up losing the perfect alignment of my bottom four front teeth as two of them have moved off into a straight line.
Difficult to explain, but basically I'm going backwards in my treatment. And it was all going so well.
Ho hum, they definitely won't be off in time for Christmas as we thought - my new goalpost is for them to be off in Feb, exactly one year after getting them on.
Meanwhile, the experience of having a brace removed was... enlightening. These ones are made of porcelain so the crrrrackkk sound it made when my orthodontist broke it off sounded like a tooth being shattered. It wasn't particularly fun, and I'm sort of dreading the experience of getting all of them removed, but the end will be worth it.
I read somewhere that when Tom Cruise had braces on, he had them all removed each time he was doing a movie, and then reattached when he wasn't. I'm impressed!
Monday, 23 November 2009
Almost nine months now
I've been a bit rubbish at this blog thing, but just to say they have moved so quickly that I'm a little shocked and in awe of modern orthodontics! My top arch is completely straight and can have the wire off. In fact, they've been straight for about 8 weeks now whilst I wait for the bottom row to sort itself out, and then I'll have all the braces removed at the same time.
Frustratingly, there is only one tooth that is holding the whole thing up - it is stubborn beyond belief and will not turn in like it should. One tooth, that's all I'm waiting on.
I have what is hopefully my penultimate appointment tonight - my dentist is going to try moving the position of the bracket on the offending tooth to see if changing the angle will help. It better had. I'm sick of these things! I've had stacks of IDS (inter dontal shaving, I think) which is some strange little machine that takes away miniscule amounts of the enamal to provide space. It didn't hurt but made my ears feel funny.
I'm used to the braces now, but at the same time very much looking forward to not being conscious about my teeth for the first time in almost 20 years! Oh, and I really want a glass of red wine.
Frustratingly, there is only one tooth that is holding the whole thing up - it is stubborn beyond belief and will not turn in like it should. One tooth, that's all I'm waiting on.
I have what is hopefully my penultimate appointment tonight - my dentist is going to try moving the position of the bracket on the offending tooth to see if changing the angle will help. It better had. I'm sick of these things! I've had stacks of IDS (inter dontal shaving, I think) which is some strange little machine that takes away miniscule amounts of the enamal to provide space. It didn't hurt but made my ears feel funny.
I'm used to the braces now, but at the same time very much looking forward to not being conscious about my teeth for the first time in almost 20 years! Oh, and I really want a glass of red wine.
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
The molars have shifted
A strange thing happened when I got home last night - my back teeth no longer align properly so I'm back to talking a little strange. It's really hard to get my top front teeth to touch my bottom ones because the molars are getting in the way.
I think this is happening because of the way In-ovation C (or any frictionless brace) works. To make room in the mouth (which therefore avoids any extractions) the arch of the teeth becomes wider. Obviously, to make the arch wider the wire needs to pull the back teeth outwards. This is what creates the wider smile that the marketers refer to - i.e. you'll see more of my (back) teeth when I smile.
What seems to have happened is that the top and bottom arches are moving at different paces, so they don't align properly and they're not creating a normal bite. I'm sure that eventually the other arch will catch up, but in the meantime it feels really odd when I talk.
And yet again, I can't believe how quickly it happens - the "clicks" of the moving teeth have started again (when I push my tongue against my teeth, some of them make a little click as they move) but the overall head pain from yesterday has now gone, which is good.
I think this is happening because of the way In-ovation C (or any frictionless brace) works. To make room in the mouth (which therefore avoids any extractions) the arch of the teeth becomes wider. Obviously, to make the arch wider the wire needs to pull the back teeth outwards. This is what creates the wider smile that the marketers refer to - i.e. you'll see more of my (back) teeth when I smile.
What seems to have happened is that the top and bottom arches are moving at different paces, so they don't align properly and they're not creating a normal bite. I'm sure that eventually the other arch will catch up, but in the meantime it feels really odd when I talk.
And yet again, I can't believe how quickly it happens - the "clicks" of the moving teeth have started again (when I push my tongue against my teeth, some of them make a little click as they move) but the overall head pain from yesterday has now gone, which is good.
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
New wire
Yesterday I had my first replacement wire put in, and oh the pain! I know it will pass in a day or two, but in the meantime it's back to macaroni (which I can swallow whole) and chocolate cake (which requires no chewing!)
The painkillers aren't doing much good either.
On the other hand, I'm so happy to see how much movement there has been in only seven weeks. I'll load up new photos soon, but the top ones are re-aligning really smoothly which surprises me because I've hardly felt a thing.
Meanwhile, the bottom two front teeth are moving at an incredible pace (I've felt them too), leaving the two teeth that aren't linked up yet way behind. I now look like I have snake fangs lingering in my mouth! It's a little embarrassing.
I've had two spring coils put in to push some of the teeth apart to make room for the two fangs I now have. Photos will come shortly to make this easier to understand!
The painkillers aren't doing much good either.
On the other hand, I'm so happy to see how much movement there has been in only seven weeks. I'll load up new photos soon, but the top ones are re-aligning really smoothly which surprises me because I've hardly felt a thing.
Meanwhile, the bottom two front teeth are moving at an incredible pace (I've felt them too), leaving the two teeth that aren't linked up yet way behind. I now look like I have snake fangs lingering in my mouth! It's a little embarrassing.
I've had two spring coils put in to push some of the teeth apart to make room for the two fangs I now have. Photos will come shortly to make this easier to understand!
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