Round Three
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Round Three
I will be starting braces in about four weeks. I had braces in high school in the mid1970s for crowding issues. Somehow I managed to avoid premolar extractions but the trade off was headgear 12 hours a day for a little over a year. Started treatment in 10th grade and finished in the middle of 12 grade. My orthodontist did a nice job on the upper teeth but left spaces between my lower front teeth which bothered me. I am a general dentist so I admit that I am picky about teeth. My guess is that he was concerned about not having enough time to close those spaces as this would have required additional backward movement of the top teeth with the headgear. A little over 10 years ago I had braces for the second time to close the spaces between the lower front teeth. Initially treatment time with metal brackets was about 12 months. Actual treatment time was more like 36 months. Even went to high pull headgear for about 7 months after a year of not being able to get my front teeth together, a problem which developed during treatment, and needing additional backwards movement of the top teeth. Spent the year in elastics which I wore as directed with no success. That is why I suspect my high school orthodontist may have been concerned about having time! After treatment I wore my retainers full time for a year then nightly after that. Now I wear a TAP appliance which fits the teeth like a heavy duty Essex retainer. Despite this I have somehow opened spaces between my lower molars which are annoying bringing me to round three. My current orthodontist said she could use Invisiline but that metal brackets would be more efficient so that is what I am going with since we are planning on having only a lower appliance this time around. Hoping the estimated six month treatment time is more accurate that the last estimate! NOT looking forward to flossing under brackets again.
Re: Round Three
Hey doc, Sounds like you have a great plan. As far as the flossing goes -- I cheated, as I was about ready to slit my wrists after trying traditional flossing. I found that interdental brushes dipped in Listerine did the trick (you can learn more about my sins in the thread "Confess Your Orthodontic Sins" via the search feature. If you can't find it I'll provide a link.) Long story short, my very thorough hygienist was very impressed with my "flossing." I had them stored everywhere -- at work, my cars, girl friend's house -- you name it. I bought tons of dental-related items from travel toothbrushes, travel-sized mouth wash,dental wax, and so forth. But that's another story. Best of luck to you.
Update: The link to the thread above is at viewtopic.php?f=13&t=46908
Update: The link to the thread above is at viewtopic.php?f=13&t=46908
Dan
Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. -- Buddist saying
Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. -- Buddist saying
Re: Round Three
Thanks. I carried around an orthodontic survival kit with floss, threaders, proxibrush in addition to the toothbrush and paste while I was in brackets last time. Most if not all of us adults do that. Teens maybe not so much. Traditional flossing is a real pain under an archwire but is probably the most effective. Difficult to get past the brushem / flossem routine. Proxibrushes are pretty good too as you noted. Had scan and impression today. Go back for B-day (bonding day) on the 8th then the fun begins!