Beckyboo in Braces

[NeilH]

Glad to hear you are making progress. I know what you mean about cleaning teeth in airports, I had that experience a couple of hours ago trying to find somewhere semi private and with running cold water. I ended up in a crowded washroom with automatic taps randomly dispensing trickles of pipping hot water - not the best way to maintain excellent oral hygiene.

[beckyboo0205]

I just had my first teeth cleaning since being braced. Thank God I didn't have any sore teeth. Why does all teeth related appointments (teeth cleaning or wire changes or whatever) feel so aggressive!? I think maybe she was scraping away glue in alot of spots but she had to scrape REALLY hard a few times and it was so aggressive feeling. It could bring you to tears if you had a sore tooth. Nothing really hurt, except she was really doing something to one spot and I had a semi-sharp sensitive feeling. I must have flinched because she asked if I was ok.

But all in all, it went well. I had this brown staining on some teeth (I think because I was using that blue Crest Pro Health mouthwash that has been rumored to leave brown stains.) Anyhow, she seemed to have polished those off mostly so YAY! I also had my first real chat with another adult with braces since being braced. The lady that works the front desk has them so we talked braces for a few minutes. It was cool.

So I'll probably try to post a picture next week. I'm 1 week shy of 4 months already! It's gone pretty fast! I don't really think I've posted a picture in a long time. Maybe since the first month? I'm not sure. Anyhow, not really any changes have happened this month... more like a month and a half maybe since my canine made it's migration inline with the rest of his friends. Besides the first few days of "HOLY COW THIS HURTS" wire change pain, I haven't really had any pain this month at all. It's been boring.

[NeilH]

I'm looking forward to my first cleaning too. I spend ages cleaning my teeth with all manner of brushes but still find little dark stains appearing so feel encouraged to hear they can be polished off. Please post some photos when you get a moment, it would be good to see how you are getting on.

[beckyboo0205]

Well 4 months down! That means I could be a quarter of the way thru! That's on the lower side of the 16-18 month treatment time!

I haven't put an updated picture since the first month for some reason. So here is a 4 month comparison... Doesn't look like anything has happened from month 3 to 4... I sorta felt like my gap got a little smaller but looking back at some pictures, I think maybe those two teeth maybe straightened up and down a tiny bit? Who knows.

I'm in the boring stage where I don't think I'll really see much going on. I should get new wires in 2 weeks but it doesn't seem like much will happen at that point until I get elastics. Which maybe will be next time? I don't really know. He said maybe 6 months... but maybe he said 1 more wire up from last time? I don't know really... I guess it's just a waiting game. I just have no idea how much the elastics are going to move things... I know he needs to push out the top teeth to close the gap but I feel like it's sticking out alot already!

Haven't really had any problems except that my top wire, which is bent on the end, was digging into my cheek a little so I wore some wax for the first time since week 1-1/2. It's weird that a bent wire can bug you.... I have a little piece, maybe 1mm sticking out of my back bracket on the bottom but haven't had any probs with it poking me yet.

[Tobilei]

I think they're looking much neater And I've given up trying to figure out why a gigantic wire out the back on say...the bottom doesn't bother me at all, but the tiniest bit of wire at the top can make my cheek feel like it has a crater dug out of it. Very weird!

Seems there's a lot of us stuck in the boring stage right now.

Glad the staining came off. I had some slight brown marks that appeared above my 2 bottom brackets too but it came right off.

[beckyboo0205]

I'M POWERCHAINED!!!!!!!!!!

Well only my front 4 teeth. I'm excited but also very scared for what tomorrow has for me! It's gonna hurt!

He asked me if I wanted a color and I thought "heck no, not if it's only the front 4!" That would look odd. So I'm in silver. Blends in pretty well.

Bigger wires for top and bottom... nervous for the pain.... and I think I might have to run back over there cause my top back wire might feel a little pokey.... it does when you touch it atleast and I don't want to risk it. I'll see if they can cut it down more.

[TMJJill]

Congrats on the powerchains. You should really see some quick movement in closing the gaps.

Be cautious in biting for a while. I've had the upper front 6 in the chains periodically throughout my treatment and always have trouble with the biting down when they are on. Even when my teeth have 'adjusted' to the chains, they are still sensitive.

I got a new powerchain on my upper and lower 6's last week. I'm at 22 months and haven't had the uppers in a while. You'd think I'd be used to it, but they are still sensitive. It does get better after a week or so though. I just go soft or cut things up well and shove the bite back towards my molars.

As for the colors, I had clear most of the time. The clear weren't bad. I really liked the navy. It gives color, but blends with the brackets too. I had my dental assistant choose this time. She gave me hot pink. I like the color on the bottoms, but on top it seems to blend with my pink gums. Not loving the look with those.

I have to say, your arch is developing beautifully.

[beckyboo0205]

I just touched my top wire between my gap and felt something and was like "What the heck is that!?" oh duh, powerchain.

I am probably going to get a color if I get the whole arch powerchained. Heck it's my only chance to get colors since I'm in SL brackets. But I thought it would look too weird with just 4 teeth colored. Like it'll accentuate my gaps!

[beckyboo0205]

Alright, I was expecting much worse with this powerchain. I think it hurt more last time I got a wire change.

So last night, I went to a friend's house... they had another set of friends over and their 12 year old son just got his top braces on yesterday (same ortho). He didn't seem to have any problems eating the hamburger that was served. Jerk... ha My first meal with braces was definately not a hamburger! He also didn't seem to have any problems eating the chips, where as my teeth from my adjustment were already getting sore (his appt was like an hour after mine)

Also, the waiting room of yesterday's appt was interesting. A 35 year old lady was sitting there and ended up going in for a consult, though I thought she was waiting for her kid. Another lady WAS waiting for her kid... he came out and he was so little! PRobably like 10 years old and so short...

I think that if your mom asks you if you want a toy from the box after your appointment, you are too young to get braces! He said no and she said "Oh you are a big boy now." Like, what the heck? Does this kid still have baby teeth or what!? It just seemed weird to me... I can't imagine being a kid that young with braces and having to deal with brushing my teeth with braces and flossing. What kid flosses!? I guess that's one good thing I can think of for being an adult with braces. I actually understand the point of flossing now.

[Timetoshine]

Just out of interest - how long will you have the powerchain on for?

Nice progress

[beckyboo0205]

I honestly have no idea how long I'll have the powerchain for. Right now it's only the first 4 teeth. I predict that I'll have it for a while.

[beckyboo0205]

Holy Smokes!!!!!

I knew my gap was closing some because it looks and feels like it, but I didn't realize how much until I looked back at some "younger" pictures again! Maybe a millimeter? Hard to tell because it looks like my tooth was rotated out in the beginning and now it almost looks rotated into the gap. I still don't like how that one side of my front tooth hangs lower...

This is the comparison of 3 weeks in compared to now... 5 months in.

This sounds so vain but does anyone smile at themselves in the mirror pretty much everytime you are in front of one? It's mostly just to look at them to make sure everything's ok but I guess it's just to see if anything has changed! I mean, not much is going to change in like an hour but I can't help it!

[Chicken]

Hi Beckyboo

I think your gap will be closed completely very soon. They started on mine on day one with a metal tie then I had the power chain on the 2nd adjustment and I complained as it was getting stained so they put on the metal tie and I have had that ever since and its great, no staining. I drink a lot of tea.

[NeilH]

Holy Smokes!!!!!

This sounds so vain but does anyone smile at themselves in the mirror pretty much everytime you are in front of one? It's mostly just to look at them to make sure everything's ok but I guess it's just to see if anything has changed! I mean, not much is going to change in like an hour but I can't help it!

Yep, me too! Can't resist a quick peek to see how it's going.

[JeniK]

Count me in too!!