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I saw the photos taken at my records visit (shown on orthos Mac in super dooper giant size just to really rub it in hmm ) and he also had the plaster moulds but I didn't see the x-rays. Actually I was quite reassured as I always imagined my teeth to be so bad (very crooked) but ortho said mine was a case he really likes, the alignment looks bad but he says these are the easiest cases to fix and the difference will be so dramatic. I hadn't even realised that I have an overjet too (9mm) as I have always been so fixated on the alignment (or lack thereof )
I didn't really get a shock until I took my own photographs at home a few weeks later before my extractions. The ortho hadn't shown me any side profile photos, but when I saw the side profile photos I took myself....... oh my God, awful. I hadn't (obviously) been looking forward to the extractions, but that totally convinced me I was doing the right thing.
Last edited by KK Cat on Mon Jun 18, 2007 5:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
2 upper 1st bicuspids extracted
Uppers braced (metal), molar bands upper & lower 25 May 07
Lowers braced 22 Oct 07
Next adjustment 21 Apr 2008
Estimated brace time 2.5 years
I had an idea of how bad they are, as you could tell by my smile that my top teeth were angled away from each other and I knew about my problems that I had with chewing and other such issues, but it didn't help to see the really close up pictures for the first time.
So the answer is, I wasn't shocked, just...enlightened. Hahaha.
I had a consult about 3 years ago and put off having braces. I suspected that my lower incisiors weres continuing to displace and rotate and went back to revisit the idea. When I walked in and saw my old xrays I just asked 'Where do i sign?'. I could not believe that my overjet looked that bad from the side.(They do say the xrays exaggerate it a bit as you see straight to the root) Al i could think is that if they look like that then , i don't even want to think what it looks like now.
I ended up at another ortho who did my moulds. I also thought that they brought the wrong ones. In 3D its even more glaring.That was when I realised my top teeth had started rotating as well and a molar was almost rotated 90 degrees. Even though visaully they did not look that bad, technically they were in a mess.
Glad you took the plunge. I guess we learn to live with what we have and don't really know how bad it is until we start to fix the problem. I got a big boost when I noticed that I no longer have an overjet. Unfortunately, although the overbite is improved, I have a long, long, long way to go.
I just got done reading your story. I really want to see before pic's, so that I can see the process. I feel the way you felt in the beginning. I don't see any changes in my teeth right now, and I'm reading all of these stories online and people have change within a month. To be honest with you both of our stories sound the same. So I will be looking forward to see a change in my teeth 3 years from now. How long did the dentist say that you have to wear them for?
My Ortho originally estimated 24-30 months. I am up to 36 months now
I wish I could say those teeth are mine I need to change my pic back to the viola. I actually have clear brackets on the top. To my credit my teeth are straight I still have an overbite but you would never know by looking at my real pics. I have learned to adjust .
Callmes: My extraction gaps seem to like staying where they are so it seems like they are going to need more time to become convinced that they need to close.
I am ashamed to say it now, but I have not been taking pics of my progress. I lost my camera on a cruise 2 months before I was braced. By the time I got another camera, I had pretty much forgotten about pics. I guess that should be my new goal.
my ortho doctor put up my pictures on a huge board thinger and on his computer. well having very limited site, it was hard to see but my mom came with me and was able to see my pics, she commented how bad they actually were, worse then what we actually thought they were. Like we knew i had a bit of an overbite, but we didn't really realize it was actually that bad. When i went and met my dental surgeon he did something really awesome for me as it was really hard to see my x rays. He had a model of a human jaw bone and he was able to set up the jaws around so that it looked pretty much the same as my jaws were. This made things a lot easier cuz if i wasn't able to see it i could definety feel it. I was actually amazed and in shock as to how bad my mouth was. Now that I have braces and have already got my first adjustment i have noticed good change already! I'm very very happy and excited about this! I can't wait till the end result and debonding brace day! It will be great to have a nice smile!! I have a long road and difficult treatment ahead of me in the next year and 4 months but i ultimately know it will all be worth it in the end!! I think that is the major thing that is really keeping me going!!! Plust I have all of you on here to talk to when i need support or if i have any questions!! So it will all work out in the end!!
Braced: March 19th 2008
Impacted wisdom teeth extraction surgery: June 20th 2008 1pm (13 hours of fasting)
Jaw surgery (upper and lower)Lefort 1 with Madable Advancement: June 2nd 2009 @8am!!!! 1 surgery down 2 surgeries to go!!
debrace day: jan 18th 2010!!!! *has 2 fixed retainers and an essix retainer for night time now!
I didn't see the records pics thank God lol
That def was a traumtic experience...having to smile BIG for the camera...ugh. And having those mirrors shoved in there...I hate cameras as it is! I hope my ortho doesn't have mine up on the pc when I go in...my ex rays sure look funny though
Can't wait to get these things on!
Unfortunately my pics (6) views of everything, including profile shots are attached to my file. The file is put in the holder at the station. I have the added "blessing" of seeing those pics each and everytime I visit my Ortho.
When I went in for my records appt., I knew I had an overjet and some crowding, but, seeing the close-up photos of my teeth, the molds of my teeth and x-rays was a bit surprising. I didn't think my teeth looked that bad until this appt. I had a 5 mm overjet and that was my main reason for looking into getting braces. The photos, x-rays and molds really showed me that I had a major overjet. I didn't realize I also had a cross bite. I was just glad that I took the first step and went in for the consultation. I do have to admit, it took me a few months to finally decide to proceed with orthodontic treatment and there hasn't been a day that has gone by that I have ever regretted this decision.
hmm 
) and he also had the plaster moulds but I didn't see the x-rays. Actually I was quite reassured as I always imagined my teeth to be so bad (very crooked) but ortho said mine was a case he really likes, the alignment looks bad but he says these are the easiest cases to fix and the difference will be so dramatic. I hadn't even realised that I have an overjet too (9mm) as I have always been so fixated on the alignment (or lack thereof 
)
oh my God, awful. I hadn't (obviously) been looking forward to the extractions, but that totally convinced me I was doing the right thing.
I need to change my pic back to the viola. I actually have clear brackets on the top. To my credit my teeth are straight 
I still have an overbite but you would never know by looking at my real pics. I have learned to adjust 
.
to say it now, but I have not been taking pics of my progress. I lost my camera on a cruise 2 months before I was braced. By the time I got another camera, I had pretty much forgotten about pics. I guess that should be my new goal.
