Hi rooroo and anyone else who was waiting for an update
Well I apoligize for not posting right away. I had to put my 14 yr old dog, Driscoll, down yesterday morning (not planned for obviously) so I've been kind-of off track. I did get my braces but it was one wild and crazy experience!!!!
To start the story since I was an absolute mess one hour before the app. time (just gotten home from the vet) , I called the office explained the situation and asked when I could get in if I rescheduled. Well turns out it would be a whole week (I was hoping maybe the next day or just later that day) so they said I should see how I was doing in an hour and let them know what I decide. After thinking about it I decided that I had been so looking forward to this day and that Driscoll would of not wanted me to miss it grieving him (if he could have that sort of thought
) So after calling my best friend to tell her what happened, I pulled myself together the best I could, inhaled a banana, and drove like a maniac to the office.
Well when I got there the receptionist was really nice and understanding and mentioned that it hadn't been a good day at there office either and she'd been crying already that day also. She mentioned that they were short 2 assistants (they only have 3) and that the ortho was currently missing. So it just so happened that the 3rd assistant was in the middle of doing molds so the receptionist seats me and starts to prep the teeth. I was kind-of freaking out because : 1) I was really questioning if I wanted to do this and 2) At the old ortho office the roles were well defined, receptionists answered phones, assistants worked on patients and the two never switched! Well the ortho shows up once the "assistant" finished and when I got back to the chair from rinsing I noticed there were only 4 braces on the little braces sheet. I questioned the "assistant" and she didn't know so she asked the ortho, and the ortho said that it was incorrect (they had set up as if I was only doing the upper arch and not the whole sheybang like I had agreed to in writing). So this just racked up my anxiety since they didn't know what they were even going to do to me (o.k. well the ortho knew). I was really questioning my decision at this point and was wondering if I'd chosen the wrong office to complete treatment! Once the ortho stepped up she took control of the situation, filed off the Invisalign speedbump (awful smell) and started to prep all the teeth. They got the molar bands on (it became obvious to me at this time that they train the staff to fill multiple roles cause the "assistant" knew exactly what to do) and I was surprised to learn I was only getting 4 and not 8. Given were they put the spacers I was expecting more but they ended up banding the 1st molars and left the 2nds natural (YEAH!!!)
The actual installation was really quick and I could tell the ortho was taking her job seriously which allowed me to relax. She was really nice and put ligs on the cleats so they wouldn't bother me as much and bent the hooks on the brackets in so it would cause less discomfort. During this time the ortho kept asking questions of the others regarding a particular assistant (did so-and-so teach you how to do x, so-and-so told me where we keep y but I'm not finding it). So I started to thinking that so-and-so quit (she'd been with the practice for 26 years and my ortho had only been there 2) which caused the upheavel and maybe the 2nd assistant was so distraught she had to leave also? Or maybe it was like a workers strike! Once they got the braces on, the 3rd assistant took over so I asked her if someone quit and she said yes. Anyway as for the important techie stuff I got bubblegum colored ligs with a dark pink powerchain (they didn't have powerchains in the bubblegum color
) from my 1st bicuspid to my 2nd molar on both sides with a 16 weight/inch/?? wire. When I was checking out the receptionist asked me what I thought (they hadn't handed me a mirror in the back so I had no idea what it looked like with ligs,wire, and powerchain) and I mentioned that I was scared that people were all of the sudden quiting. She reassured me all was well and it was just a bad day for them also and not normal.
My first impression of my new mouth situation once I got a look in the car was "o.k. its not bad" although I was a little disappointed that my powerchain and ligs didn't match. Next time I will make sure to get a matching set. It felt weird but I wasn't experincing any pressure or anything so that was good. I went home and did my thing and later that afternoon I got a call from the ortho. She asked how I was and how the pain was and when I told her I had none and had more using Invisalign she was floored! She kept saying that most people really start to feel it 4-6 hours after installation and I was past that mark. The funny thing was she exclamed "Gee I even used powerchains and people always really feel that!!!" She also said she wanted to reassure me that I was going to get the best of care in her office since the receptionist told her what I had said. She told me more about the situation (turns out assitant #2 was out for other reasons and might have to leave because of it) and was really sorry I had to experience it on top of what I was already dealing with. We talked about Driscoll a little (she started crying) and when I told her I was really happy with the office and that she didn't need to call, she told me that she always calls patients the day she installs braces, which I thought was a nice thing to do.
Fast forward 24 hours, and I'm still in almost no discomfort. Brushing last night was a major pain and I stabbed myself doing so but otherwise no big to do. My front teeth have already moved up a little and my right lateral incisor has come down a little. Those teeth are a little sensitive but nothing bad. This afternoon once my right cheek got attacked for the 10th time today I took a look to see what had done it and low-and-behold I had wire sticking out through the buccal band. I checked the left side and it was the same situation although it wasn't bothering me. I knew it had been flush with the buccal tube before so I called the office and they told me to come right in. I couldn't believe I already had to get the wire cut!! When I came in, the assistant who put on the wire mentioned to the other assistant that she had probably cut the wire to short yesterday so she didn't crank (???) the wire. The ortho came over to see what was happening and checked that the midline hadn't changed. Right before I left the ortho gave me a sticky note and said that it was her home number and to call anytime I had a problem or anything. She mentioned that in the fall her ortho study group would start rotating being on call for each other but should I have a problem when my old ortho is covering for her I should just call her. What service!!!! Any doubts I had about this office has disappeared.
All in all, braces really haven't been bad. I keep waiting for the pain since I'm sure I won't go without but it is funny that the powerchains aren't bothering me at all. Eating is a major hassle cause when I eat my tongue does get attacked by the cleats but with everything going on I haven't been too hungry. Food, of course, hides when I'm brushing so it takes so long to finish the job since particles will keep popping up. I've had times already that I've forgotten the braces are on, so although I haven't used wax yet I think I will tonight since my right cheek is sore from being attacked by the wire. At least now I know what I stabbed my finger on!! I do have pictures which I'll try to load soon and probably by then I'll finally be feeling more pain. Guess we'll all find out!!
Anyway thanks for letting me share
!
I just got them an hour ago so its not really bad. I've forgotten about the ones on my upper arch but the lower ones are harder to forget. I was told that I'll really feel them in 4-6 hours so I should get myself prepared. 
Thankfully my other dog Cameron has helped me a great deal and we're healing together.
