My Braces Story!

[oldguy]

Oldguy here.........

Thank you..........I will try natural light


Oldguy

[oimysizex]

hey Lewis, your teeth already look GREAT, nice and white too!

good luck with your journey

[LewisS]

Hey thanks for the comments guys. I just use my iPhone for pictures, it's a pretty good camera. In regards to the whiteness of my teeth, I admit a little photoshopping was used in the process they're not yellow, but they're also not that white. I think my next picture needs to be more natural. I'm almost at month five and haven't posted since 2 weeks!

My teeth don't look anything like they did!

[concorde]

In few days your teeth moved more then mine in 3 months!
Very lucky!

[LewisS]

Okay, here's a little update.

I now have power-chains on to close the gaps from extractions and I'm pretty much quarter-way through my treatment, all is well!

I need to upload a new picture (because my teeth are much improved since the original images), but I'm having trouble getting one that looks right.

I'll try again later...

[LewisS]

Hello!

Thought I'd provide an update since I've pretty much neglected this log for about half a year. I really wanted to be able to look back on my journey and have lots of pictures, but oh well.

I'm almost a year into having braces (crazy!) and everything is straightening up nicely. I'm currently wearing elastics to close the extraction gaps and I'm so surprised at how fast and effective they work - although the original gaps are closing, I'm now getting new ones! I think over the coming months I'm going to see dramatic changes to my teeth...

I'm soooooooo excited to get them off and have them whitened. I will be smiling 24/7! I have somewhat delayed my braces process a lot, because I missed a few adjustments, so I may have to wait a little longer.

So, that's all there is to say really. I'm sorry I haven't put up any new pictures, I really find it hard to take nice ones with my camera and the leftover cement on my teeth has turned a bit yellow/brown which looks pretty gross!

Thanks for reading,
Lewis

[Funtobeme]

I can see your movement! How exciting!!

[LewisS]

Apologies for neglecting this thread - I guess I kinda forgot all about it until now!

I promise that the day I get my braces off I will make a huuuuuuuuuuge post with some after pictures. Shouldn't be too long into the New Year before I do!

Truly is crazy how time flies.

[LewisS]

Had an adjustment today and have been given a deband date! It's approximately two adjustments away, so around 12 weeks to go. Kinda worried since my extractions gaps are still not closed (he assures me they will be) and my '7s' (what he describes one of my molars) is in a weird position that doesn't match the otherside, but it wouldn't be possible to fix it.

Obviously I can't expect a Hollywood perfect smile and I somewhat like that they are still quite natural looking, so I'll accept that there are some small flaws. When I get them off, I'll be sure to upload some pictures since I haven't throughout the whole process. It'll be interesting to see the contrast in photographs.

Let me know if you think I should be worried knowing that my gaps are not closed, or whether I should take his word for it! Other than that, I'm pretty excited.

[LewisS]

UGH!

Because it's almost time to get my braces removed, I like to ensure that I always have elastics. 3 weeks ago I got 2 packs of bands and I still have about half a bag left. I called up today to ask for an extra pack, just because I'd hate to run out and have to have a day without wearing them and now I'm being accused of using too many of them and I've been called in for an appointment on Monday. Such a rude lady on the phone too.

I'm either going to be accused of doubling up - which I haven't done AND if I had I'm sure I wouldn't still have huge gaps which my ortho expects to miraculously close before my next appointment. Truth is, I like to change them more often than prescribed because after a few hours they become pretty useless. PLUS half the bag is full of duds that are as thin as a piece of string which wouldn't put any pressure on my teeth at all.

Fed up and can't wait to get them off. I'm sure if I was a privately paying patient they'd send me a whole box of elastics if I asked.

[kribbo]

UGH!

Because it's almost time to get my braces removed, I like to ensure that I always have elastics. 3 weeks ago I got 2 packs of bands and I still have about half a bag left. I called up today to ask for an extra pack, just because I'd hate to run out and have to have a day without wearing them and now I'm being accused of using too many of them and I've been called in for an appointment on Monday. Such a rude lady on the phone too.

I'm either going to be accused of doubling up - which I haven't done AND if I had I'm sure I wouldn't still have huge gaps which my ortho expects to miraculously close before my next appointment. Truth is, I like to change them more often than prescribed because after a few hours they become pretty useless. PLUS half the bag is full of duds that are as thin as a piece of string which wouldn't put any pressure on my teeth at all.

Fed up and can't wait to get them off. I'm sure if I was a privately paying patient they'd send me a whole box of elastics if I asked.

Hi Lewis, good to read your story on here - hope you feel happy with your teeth before the braces are off! Make sure you do in fact, it's your right to get a result you're happy with.

I was just curious - are you an adult and if so how did you manage to get your braces on the NHS? I thought they only paid for massively serious adult cases and I read in one of your posts that your dentist didn't feel it was essential you got braces. If you are under 18(?) then that makes more sense! Thanks for any response

[LewisS]

UGH!

Because it's almost time to get my braces removed, I like to ensure that I always have elastics. 3 weeks ago I got 2 packs of bands and I still have about half a bag left. I called up today to ask for an extra pack, just because I'd hate to run out and have to have a day without wearing them and now I'm being accused of using too many of them and I've been called in for an appointment on Monday. Such a rude lady on the phone too.

I'm either going to be accused of doubling up - which I haven't done AND if I had I'm sure I wouldn't still have huge gaps which my ortho expects to miraculously close before my next appointment. Truth is, I like to change them more often than prescribed because after a few hours they become pretty useless. PLUS half the bag is full of duds that are as thin as a piece of string which wouldn't put any pressure on my teeth at all.

Fed up and can't wait to get them off. I'm sure if I was a privately paying patient they'd send me a whole box of elastics if I asked.

Hi Lewis, good to read your story on here - hope you feel happy with your teeth before the braces are off! Make sure you do in fact, it's your right to get a result you're happy with.

I was just curious - are you an adult and if so how did you manage to get your braces on the NHS? I thought they only paid for massively serious adult cases and I read in one of your posts that your dentist didn't feel it was essential you got braces. If you are under 18(?) then that makes more sense! Thanks for any response

Hey! I am an adult now (21), but at the time of referral I was 17 and then took about a year to finally receive treatment. I was very lucky in terms of timing. Sorry I didn't respond sooner!

A quick update whilst I'm here. I finally get them off on Monday!! I will be back with pics. Again, I apologise for not posting regularly. I kinda just forgot I had braces for 2 years haha.

[LewisS]

Today is the day! They are finally coming off after 2 years (and 1 week).

I haven't updated very much, or at all really, which I apologise for, BUT I will post pics later on today if I like how they look.

Feels crazy thinking I posted 2 years ago with no end in sight, thinking it would feel like forever, but it really hasn't. It's passed SO quickly. So newly braced people, don't worry like I did!

3:00 PM is my time, kinda nervous, but excited too. Not sure how to feel!

Lewis

[AlexO890]

Congrats!!!

[SpottedPickle]

Weeeelllll?