astw22's Story - first adjustment pics July 8th

Message

#16 Post by **braces4astw22** » Thu May 22, 2008 8:33 pm

Thanks everyone!! My brace day was today and it went well... they decided to put on all of the lower braces rather than just the back ones.. im not in alot of pain but I will say this expanders are not my friends right now. I have one on the upper and lower.

My tongue doesnt know what to do with itself. Feels trapped around all this metal. Im gagging myself alot on the upper one and eating has become a real chore today. My teeth arent sore but im having a hard time moving food around in my mouth to swallow because it get caught on it

Its like I have to teach myself to eat again.

They had to put these extra spring coils all over where the archwire goes too so my braces are really noticeable even though they are clear. I was told because of the crowding and overlapping they were really need to push the teeth away from each other.

The ortho hopes to be able to remove some of this metal out my mouth at my 1st adjustment.

I will post to post some pics soon... Im going away tomorrow for the long weekend so I will check back in on Tuesday.

#17 Post by **callmeswtmisery** » Fri May 23, 2008 8:24 am

braces4astw22,

I am so happy that your brace day wasn't to bad. You and me both are trying to get used to these new objects in my mouths! How is your speaking coming along?

I hope that you have a great weekend with your family!

#18 Post by ***melissa*** » Fri May 23, 2008 10:43 am

congrats on getting braced, braces4astw22

!!!

#19 Post by ***melissa*** » Fri May 23, 2008 10:44 am

Oops! Double post

#20 Post by **insinu8** » Fri May 23, 2008 6:41 pm

Have a great weekend!

Yeah, the eating olympics...it's quite something. Are you having problems with gleeking, etc? I have already started practicing my apologies for drooling or accidentally spitting on folks...

#21 Post by **braces4astw22** » Sun May 25, 2008 6:23 am

Thanks everyone for the kind words... I have really been struggling the last few days, sensitive achy teeth and there is a part of the bottom expander that everytime I try to swallow it pinches and digs in my tongue. Its very painful. I am going to have to call the ortho after this weekend when I get back in town and see if they can do anything.

#22 Post by **callmeswtmisery** » Tue May 27, 2008 8:16 am

Shannon,

How was your weekend with your family? I was thinking about you this weekend, and was hoping that everything was going well for you, but I come into work today to send you something, and I'm reading your story and I seen that you had a really rough time. I'm so sorry that your teeth was hurting you. Let me know what they say when you call them!!!

#23 Post by **braces4astw22** » Sat May 31, 2008 9:55 am

Hey Everyone! Just wanted to check in.. I went to the ortho twice this week to deal with that lower expander that was causing me so much pain.

On Wednesday I went in and he tried adjusting it with the pliers, he could see why it was causing me discomfort. When he adjusted it, it felt slightly better in my mouth. It wasnt until I got home and tried to eat that I had the stabbing pain again.

He told me if it didnt help any to come back and they would remove it let my tongue and mouth heal up and then refit me for a new one..

That brings me to Thursday, I just decided to go back in and have it taken off and then eventually refitted. It was causing too much pain when I tried to eat. I have to go back on June 10th and have it refitted, one of my brackets on a back molar also fell off when he cut the wire and was pulling off the metal bands, so that will have to be fixed then as well.

I am feeling much better now though, my tongue feels free. I can finally eat and swallow without stabbing pain. I just hope that when I go back in two weeks that they properly fit me this time as the last one clearly didnt fit my mouth right.

Here is a pic of me all braced up.. I have been trying to take pics of my upper and lower arches for comparison too but they keep coming out blurry. Any tips or advice on this?

#24 Post by **jenny101101** » Sat May 31, 2008 10:12 am

Hi Shannon,

Great pic! Wow, you seem to have lots of gadgets in there!

Glad to hear you got the expander removed...hope you have no troubles with the new one.

As far as getting a better, close up pic does your camera have a macro setting? It usually has a little flower to show the setting. If it does, use that...it should work:)

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

#25 Post by **braces4astw22** » Sat May 31, 2008 1:23 pm

YAY jenny thanks LOL I was able to take a better pic of my arches... and yes your right I do have alot of gadgets in my mouth. I was a bit disappointed since it doesnt look like just a typical set of braces, but if my teeth cooperate those metal coils will be coming off soon enough.. here are my other pics...

#26 Post by **insinu8** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 3:57 am

Shannon,

I'm glad you had them take that expander out. I remember being so furious about my lower one and the damage it was doing to my tongue.

When they put the next one in, be prepared to go back and have them bend it around a bit to save your tongue. It's a custom fit kind of thing and you shouldn't have to put up with that kind of distress.

I should tell you that I'm secretly happy to see someone else with an upper expander like mine

It means we're not alone

Oh, and a bit of picture taking advice...if your camera has a macro or super-macro setting, use that (it usually looks like a little flower icon). It will allow the lens to focus when it's a lot closer to your teeth.

#27 Post by **braces4astw22** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 6:47 am

Hey Chris and Ken

Thanks for checking in on me...im pretty used to the braces and the top expander now. I am eating alot better and my speech is getting better. I have developed a HUGE canker sore on the inside of my lip which is my newest complaint.

Seems if its not one thing its the next. I find about once a day I get some achy teeth and they bother me but nothing some pain meds cant fix. Im getting faster with the brushing not so much with the flossing but I am sure it will come.

Im not really looking forward to Tuesday I guess my tongue is going back to jail lol.. but it needs to happen so I can eventually have these things taken out. Chris, how long did your ortho say you needed to wear yours? I think you have already had them a few months now already? My ortho said 3 or 4 months so hopefully it wont be any longer than that.

Ken - ugh I hear ya! I dont know why they throw it all in your mouth at once but it takes alot of getting used to.. Good luck with that tongue appliance doesnt sound fun but your right lol.. "git er done"

I will let everyone know how tuesday goes they have to put that expander back on and fix a bracket that came off as they were removing it so they have to get my back teeth all attached and sorted again. Fun stuff!!

#28 Post by **braces4astw22** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:04 am

Hi Everyone

Well I went back this morning and had my new bottom expander put on.. I have to say I didnt really enjoy this appointment too much especially when she pulled out the wire....it was being replaced with another to fit my molar brands and very last set of molars ( i dont know what they are called ).. it was very uncomfortable and painful.. my teeth seem to be really sensitive especially my front ones where all of the pressure is now to start moving those crowded teeth..

The ortho spent alot of time making adjustments to the bottom expander to make sure it was good this time. I have to say I came home and ate and drank without any stabbing tongue pain so im happy about that. Now that all of my bottom teeth are all wired up again its very tight and sore on my bottom jaw.. I forgot how tight the molar bands.. I guess it will take me a few days to get used to all this again...

Another bit of good news.. the ortho looked at my mouth and said when I come back for my adjustment he thinks that some of the top spring coils can come off! YAY I am so happy about that

.. they make the braces far more noticable so I will be happy when they are all gone.. the good thing about that too is that it means my teeth are really on the move and making enough space to get them all lined up and into a straight position!!

#29 Post by ***melissa*** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 12:03 pm

Hi Shannon!
Sorry to hear your appointment today was painful...booo to sensitive teeth!!
But YAY to the good news!!

Thanks for stopping by my blog - Yes, smoothies are the only thing I can "eat" at work without feeling self-conscious ... the days I do eat regular food in public, I feel very, very awkward....I really do hope that feeling passes...going to jamba gets pretty expensive

Happy moving to you!!!

#30 Post by **insinu8** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 5:46 pm

Shannon, don't forget your Advil!

Yep, my chicklets are also feeling the strain of new motion. As Ken says, it's a noob thing

I'm really happy to hear that the replacement expander fits well and causes you no distress. That's a HUGE relief!

But feel the movement...