I have taken the plunge at 34: 2nd Adjustment, pics soon

[joynhrt]

I have finally taken the plunge into the brace world. I am 34 and have wanted to have braces since I was about 11. Like many of you there was noway my parents could afford it. My teeth had always been pretty straight, but I have several gaps. It is hereditary I suppose. My grandmother has a gap and therefore all of my sisters (4) have gaps. My parents had perfect teeth.

I am a school teacher and it is amazing how the students have reacted. They are so excited. I even had a parent call to discuss one students suspension and her comment to me was, "She, didn't tell me she was being sent home for several days, her cousin told me, but she made a point as soon as I picked her up to tell me, Ms. H. had braces."

The kids have been excited and very surprised. Especially the 7th graders because they didn't believe I would get them. Earlier this school year, a couple made a comment saying they didn't believe me because I have been saying I was going to get them for the last 3 years.

Anyway, my mouth is very chewed and scraped, but never-the-less, I am excited about taking this journey.

I will be posting more soon on the "Tell your brace story board" and I will include some pics.

Loving this and blessed.

[mary.]

You must be so proud of yourself! I think it's so cool that you are setting a great example for your students. Way to go! And all the best with your journey, I look forward to hearing more about it.

I got my braces about two months ago, and am really glad that I did too.

[mary.]

You must be so proud of yourself! I think it's so cool that you are setting a great example for your students. Way to go! And all the best with your journey, I look forward to hearing more about it.

I got my braces about two months ago, and am really glad that I did too.

[mary.]

You must be so proud of yourself! I think it's so cool that you are setting a great example for your students. Way to go! And all the best with your journey, I look forward to hearing more about it.

I got my braces about two months ago, and am really glad that I did too.

[METALMOUTHPOOH]

Welcome

Keep us posted and take lots of pictures

[MissDiana]

Welcome to this wonderful community, and CONGRATULATIONS on taking this step!

I can't wait to see pictures.

[joynhrt]

Thanks for all of your support. My mouth has adjusted quite nicely and I am still excited. It was three weeks on Monday. Hopefully, I can post these pics correctly so you all can see the progress. I would really be interested in hearing or reading more stories of others who are also closing multiple spaces or a large gap in between their teeth.

11/12/2007
11/12/2007
12/03/2007

Hopefully this will work.

Alwayz blessed,
Joynhrt

[joynhrt]

Thanks. I have noticed in several pictures that some people have spaces that kind of close and open as time progresses I suppose depending upon what their ortho is trying to accomplish. I will post more pics after the adjustment.

[joynhrt]

I am in Oklahoma and we have had a major ice storm that has left over half a million people with out lights and heat. Needless, to say my dentist office was closed and I did not get to see them today. On top of that, one of the areas on the back of my powerchain has broken. The DA told me not to worry to much about something on the back breaking, but that was if it happened early on. I hope nothing shifts much because of it and I hope that I am able to get in for the adjustment soon. I will keep you posted.

First day
4 weeks, no adjustment yet
My backyard after ice storm
My frontyard after ice storm

[joynhrt]

Thanks. The finally announced today that school is out for the rest of the week. I am a teacher and I like the fact that we get a break, I just don't like the fact that we will see the time at the end of the year. We have about 89 sites and around 70 of those sites are without electricity. They believe it will be approx. 7-10 days until all electricity will be restored for everyone. Even the news is reporting with the use of generators. It has been declared a national disaster by the President. It is amazing what mother nature can do.

Of course, there have been many calls because of people trying to SPAM. True criminals never rest even in times such as these.

Keep everyone who has been touched by this storm in your prayers.

Alwayz blessed

[joynhrt]

I finally got my adjustment. I also decided to go for a subtle color on bottom and the same silver on top. My dentist doesn't have many colors to choose from and told me the best ones where the blues, silver and the pink (which stretches a lot easier they said). So powerchains on both top and bottom and I haven't taken anything for the pressure yet. I am trying to ride it out to see if it gets any worse. I think I will be okay. I kind of like the pressure because it lets me know something is going on. Is that weird?

My dental office opened on Friday to try and compensate for the missed days due to power outages. They are normally only opened from Mon - Thurs. I decided to run in early this morning while the kids where still sleep. Its just around the corner from house which is really convenient.

As for the power outages, the electric company is slowly but surely get people back into the lighted world. I would like to say thanks to all of the guys who have traveled from other states, such as Virginia, Ohio, Arkansas, etc. to help good ole Oklahoma get back on track by assisting with the power outages and cutting and trimming all of the damaged trees. Thank you so much for your help and God Bless You!!

Here is a pic of my new powerchains. I will have to try and get a medium sized pic soon so that you all can see them better.

[joynhrt]

Oh, I forgot to add, I told the DA about archwired and she was excited. She had not heard of it before and plans to spread the word.

[joynhrt]

Well, I finally gave in and took some pain meds. I forgot over the last four weeks how painful the pressure can actually get. I feel it all in the roots of my top front teeth and it actually seems to be giving me a headache. I have also felt the need to chew on some sugarless gum to see if it will speed up the healing process and get the movement going.

Thanks for the suggestion for purchasing the powerchains. I would love purple. I thought about green and black since those are my two little ones favorite colors. I may think about it since I will be in powerchains for sometime to close my gaps.

Well, hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.

[joynhrt]

Oh, my gosh!!! All I can say is what in the world was that. I went in on Tuesday morning to find that my normal DA was not going to be able to assist me. She is pregnant and near her due date so was now assigned to help at the front desk. Therefore, I had a new DA. I literally thought she had pulled my front tooth out when she was trying to attach a powerchain between on the two front ones. She caused me so much pain I ended up grabbing her hand at one point and even letting a little water run from my eyes. I can't really say she made me cry, but it certainly made my eyes water and overflow. She said she hated causing people pain (could have fooled me) and she knew I probably would ask for someone else next time. Also, normally, the other DA doesn't skip any loops on the powerchain and still is able to cause very little pain. this one skipped some loops and still caused me grief.

I didn't like the fact that she skipped loops because the whole purpose of the powerchain is to close the gaps. I am sure that they will still work, just not as fast. She skipped the loops and then stated well you don't really need them to work that fast anyway. I just thought to myself, "You are not the dentist.

Well, my teeth are sore, my molars are not aligned any longer, making it difficult to close my teeth properly and my midline is off. Transition is something I did not think about before. So, everyone who is new be aware that there is a point where the teeth are not quite what you desire.

Keeping the end in mind, I still don't regret my decision and everyday I am glad that I went through with it. Especially now that I am experimenting with color. I have royal blue powerchains on bottom and silver ligs and powerchain on top. I will post a pic later.

[Erikab1033]

I read your story and was wondering how your teeth are coming along since we both have a "gap" issue. I'm curious to know what methods your ortho is using to close your gap.