Granola's braces journey-- retainer check 2/13/08

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#196 Post by **Granola** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 3:22 pm

Hi KK and bracedagain: Thank you for the encouragement that I look close to the end.

Well, you know how it can be, things look relatively straight from the front after all of the initial leveling and alignment, etc.. However, there is a lot of work to be done yet: to my bite, as there are now gaps between all of the upper premolars and molars, and they are still moving those; plus leveling of my rear upper molars; my midline needs to be corrected; I still have a tooth out of alignment (rotated) in the front (the right lower lateral); and my bite needs to be closed. Given that I have only three or four adjustments between now and the the 18 month mark, I don't think I'm getting them off by then. I would certainly be happy if it happened, but I would guess that once all of the above changes take place, there would final tweaking and then a stabilization period prior to de-bracing.

My lower right lateral does not seem to be rotating into the arch just yet either, after this last adjustment. That tooth has been stuck in that position for quite some time.

#197 Post by **Granola** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 3:27 pm

Hi Linda21! It's always nice to see a reply from you.

I'm very lucky when it comes to insurance. We are insured through the state due to working for the state, which means we have excellent coverage (can go to any doctor we choose, and they cover alternative medicine, massage therapy, acupuncture, etc) without huge premiums because the state subsidizes the cost. The premiums go up some years, but down others, so the cost is relatively stable for us, at least in the last eight years since we've been state employees.

I'm so sorry that you got one of those letters last week.

I am feeling really great about my treatment, and the time it has taken so far (other than when I had the lowers all tied together those few months when the teeth were loose). I guess I'm really not expecting to be done by the 18 month mark, so that I'm not disappointed if it doesn't happen. For me, it is much better mentally to expect my braces will be on longer, and then I'll be very happy if I get them off sooner. A few months won't make a difference to me, as long as the final result is *stable*.

That's not to say I can't wait until "D day!"

I know another patient who goes to my ortho, and her teeth have looked very straight and perfect since I met her more than a year ago, and she is still braced. I think it is great that my orthos are perfectionists. I know they won't de-bond until they have accomplished the best for me.

#198 Post by **Patricia S.** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 12:48 pm

Wow! I wish my insurance coved my braces, I would be happy if I had any assistance. I have a friend with braces, she works for the state, but unfortunatly she does not have coverage, you are very lucky.

My Ortho seems like a perfectionist, I don't think that braces should be rushed. They should make your teeth as perfect as they can be, but yours look really great. Your ortho is doing a wonderful job.

Patricia

#199 Post by **Granola** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 10:25 pm

Hi Patricia S!

I am very lucky that our dental insurance has an orthodontic benefit. It covered nearly a quarter of the cost for me, and I'm grateful for it. I wish everybody could have this kind of help with the cost.

Thanks so much for your wonderful compliment.

I am wishing you all the best in your braces treatment. I'll have to find your story and read up.

---

All is well with me. My bite still seems to be changing by the day as my upper premolar and molars rearrange themselves. I've also noticed, in the last few days, that my bite seems deeper (I can feel a new part of the lower central brackets on the back of my upper teeth). I'm curious to ask about this next time. I'm wearing my elastics constantly (still hate having them out at mealtimes and after until I can replace them). My powerchains seem dingy on close inspection, and I can't wait to have them replaced. Two weeks to go.....

Edited to add: I just realized why my bite is deeper shortly after the above post. The IPR created enough space for my lower arch to move back slightly (something I remember was desired by my ortho long ago, one of the reason that I had bite turbos, if I recall), so it makes sense that my bite is deeper. I wonder what the next step is.

#200 Post by **Granola** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 8:08 pm

Hi KK and Linda21!

KK, the IPR definitely has made space! I'll be interested to hear what your ortho thinks about that possibility for you. My ortho really waited a long time to see if other measures would work before doing it, so maybe it's one of those end measures, who knows...

Linda21, I'm so jealous and happy for you at the same time about no powerchains, for myself only from a vanity standpoint. Although mine hardly show, when I look at photos of my teeth with just the white wire ties on ceramics, it looks so nice. I wonder if I'll be in powerchains right until the end like some people seem to be.

I am bored with the waiting, so thought I would take some photos of my recently-added upper molar brackets to see what, if any leveling has occured. There definitely has been some nice leveling, though maybe it is subtle. That wire is straightening out (more on the left than right at this point).

Hopefully you can all see what I am seeing.

Right six weeks ago:

Now:

Left six weeks ago:

Now:

Front view six weeks ago:

Now:

I have no idea what they have in store for me on Monday.

I'm always excited to go in.

#201 Post by **Granola** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 8:10 pm

My teeth look yellower in those "now" photos. Must be that awful shade of greyish yellow that my powerchain currently is.

#202 Post by **Granola** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 2:31 pm

Hi bracedagain and KK!

Ken, I love the photo you provided of the backhoe (?) on the beach!

Thanks for pointing out the light difference. I took some more photos today after my adjustment and they didn't look so yellow. I think I took those yellowish photos in the late afternoon, come to think of it.

9th adjustment

I was so excited to go in. It is a beautiful day, and it was nice to drive and listen to music on my way (I don't get much time alone, so ortho appointments are fun that way).

Wires: I got a new 17-x-25 TMA upper wire (it's always nice to get a new wire--feels like progress). After my ortho slid in my new wire, he did something he'd never done before. He applied a tremendous amount of pressure to my cuspids (it hurt!). He apologized as he did each side, and explained that he was making certain that the wire was deeply engaged into the slot on the bracket, then tied the tie wires extra tight on those two teeth. I'm sure I'll be sore for the next few days (I could immediately feel the pressure). No problem, I can handle it.

He put my same lower wire back on, but I noticed that he put a number of bends in specific locations on the wire.

Powerchains:

Upper: My gaps have closed between the front six teeth (may they stay that way!), so my new powerchain configuration is from the cuspids to the first molars. I was excited when I realized this, because I liked my ceramics when I had only the white tie wires in the beginning of my treatment. The powerchains don't show at all now.

Lowers: I have a new full powerchain on the lowers, same as last time.

Elastics: I'm using the same Impalas, but my configuration is now the upper 3 to lower 6s. That is my first non-triangular configuration. At first my ortho told me to do a 3-4 to 5-6 configuration, but after looking at my teeth for a while, changed his mind to the 3-6 config. Again, this config is more hidden in my mouth, which I love. There is less tension with this configuration, of course.

That was it--I go back in 5 weeks. I'll post some photos that I took.

#203 Post by **Granola** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 2:37 pm

This photo is a little dark but here it is:

#204 Post by **SimInsomniac** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 3:32 am

Looking beautiful as always Granola! The upper braces barely show without a powerchain. Sounds like a good adjustment, hope all goes well before the next.

Sim

#205 Post by **Beth85** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 5:53 am

Hey, i just wanted to say you have very beautiful teeth...
Good luck with the rest of your journey!
Beth x

#206 Post by **Beth85** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 5:54 am

Sorry double post! Said it didn't send...

#207 Post by **Beth85** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 5:54 am

Sorry again! Said it didn't send 'General Error' ???

#208 Post by **M1k3y** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 2:58 pm

Nice progress. So far your teeth look super.

#209 Post by **smallbutmighty** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 6:52 pm

Beautiful!! granola. IPR was mentioned as a possibility to me today for the future. Seeing how it helped you makes me want it.

#210 Post by **Granola** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 5:02 pm

Hi SimInsomniac, Beth85, KK, M1k3y, bracedagain, smallbutmighty, and linda21! Man, you all know how to make me feel good. I'm so glad to hear from each and every one of you.

Sim: Looking at your avatar, I think you gave up your turquoise powerchain and got something new. Now I have to go find your braces story--looking great! Thanks so much for the good wishes.

Beth85, thank you for reading my story, and for the nice compliment.

KK: Let's hope we both keep seeing some great progress. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for your Class I bite. I am in that "drumming my fingers" stage now, though grateful for each minor change that I see at the same time.

M1k3y--hope all is well with you! Thanks so much for your nice posts.

bracedagain: Thank you! I'm happy to have a break from that upper powerchain! I am very happy with how things are going with my braces.

Oh, and I figured out the yellowish tint problem that I mentioned. I had recently taken up drinking a couple of cups of tea a day, and didn't realize that it was staining my teeth badly until I noticed that the inside of our white mugs were staining.

Crap! Our coffee (or jet fuel, at the strength I make it) doesn't seem to stain my teeth at all, so vanity has ruled and I have given up tea. My teeth seem whiter, and amazingly, the stain in our favorite mugs has lifted after a week or so of regular washing. I tried drinking tea with a straw but it still felt like it was getting on all of my teeth, so...I'm done with tea for now.

smallbutmighty: Hi! IPR is really great. I had it once early in my treatment, and then again recently. It is really amazing what a difference just eliminating a tiny bit of enamel makes. I was nervous about it the first time, but it is not bad at all. I hope it works wonders for you.

linda21: It's funny, the teeth that my ortho tied in so tightly (that hurt when he applied so much pressure) haven't been any more sore than usual, so it was just a momentary thing.

What is your ortho attempting to achieve with the new elastic configuration? What I wouldn't give to have mine more invisible .... lucky you.

Now that my lower teeth have been pulled back, he is working on moving the uppers back. This will be accomplished by the elastics in combination with the powerchains only on the bicuspids and molars.

I said earlier that the elastics had less tension, but I was so wrong. They pull much harder with this new configuration, and I've snapped myself many times since the adjustment when I go to take them off (they are just that tight). I'm already used to the new configuration and can do it by feel, so all is well there.

I am loving being powerchain free in the front on the uppers.