Jenn's Braces Saga: THEY'RE OFF! Cavity issues. :(

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#226 Post by **jennandtonic** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:58 pm

I had an adjustment 8 days ago, and took pictures but haven't had the time to post about it!

I'm somewhat encouraged, because she said she's got 'a few more things to do,' but that we're nearing the end.

I don't know when it's going to be, but am hoping it's going to be within six months.

In the mean time, a gap has formed in between my bottom lateral and central incisors and because I'm only using a partial archwire (because of the swelling on my left side), my bottom teeth started to move from their somewhat straight positions. So she put a powerchain on seven of my bottom teeth. In the week since my appointment, the gap between the incisors has already started to close, which is quite encouraging.

My two central incisors on the top are noticeably out of alignment. She's noticed that one tooth is slightly bigger than the other AND is positioned differently inside the gum than the other. I'm not completely sure what she plans to do with it, but she says in the end it will be straight.

I've noticed that my bite is different; I've had the same elastic configuration for two months now, and my bite comes together more easily; however my overbite and overjet measurments remain the same (3 mm/ 1 mm), and my midline is also remaining the same (1 mm off).

For next time, they are putting a bracket (rather than a band) on that left molar because they need to level it with the other teeth. I hope, hope, hope I see some more noticeable progress soon, because honestly it's hard to come here lately when I see some people having so much progress and I still feel like I'm in the holding pattern.

So for what it's worth, here are some pics. The left ones are from my 26 month anniversary, and the right ones were taken on May 28th.

#227 Post by **jennandtonic** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 9:03 am

I realize I have made a lot of progress, but I have been thinking about what I have left to go.

My main concentration has been on my top two teeth--the right is slightly behind the left and it bothers me a lot! I keep wondering how they're going to fix it, since both teeth sit differently inside the gums. Then my overbite and overjet that haven't changed AT ALL in 6 months really bothers me too.

Maybe I ought to read over my story again just to see the progress I've made rather than what has to be done. Thank you Linda for reminding me!

#228 Post by **jennandtonic** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:58 am

Wow it has been a LONG time since I've posted.

Actually, though, my treatment has been pretty much the same. My bite goal is 2-0-0 (overbite/overjet, midline) and for the last three months it has stayed at 3-0-1.

She's also been working on my top central incisors, which lay differently in the gum, and are also slightly different sizes--you might notice if you look back in pictures that one looks a LITTLE bigger than the other, and it also lays sliiiightly in front of the other. I need to get around to taking pictures after three months, because it looks a lot better now.

I had an appointment on Aug. 25th, and she had me go to elastics just 12 hours a day, but two class twos on each side and two verticals in front of my canines. So HOPEFULLY this will fix my midline and overbite. She also put a powerchain on my left lateral incisor and canine, because they're wanting to rotate it a bit.

And she hinted exciting things for the next appointment if all goes well...I'm trying to keep that on the downlow though and I'm trying not to think about it so I don't set myself up for disappointment.

Anyway, my next appointment is September 15th.

#229 Post by **jennandtonic** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 7:49 am

Okay, so now that I'm getting closer and closer to my DEBRACING date--(which ISN'T set in stone yet, so I can't say how soon it will be), I keep thinking about the retainer situation. She hasn't talked to me about what her plans are as far as retainers for me, I believe I will ask about it at the next appointment.

After looking around about bonded retainers, I'm not sure I want one, because there is a real risk of the teeth moving drastically, and while it does NOT happen in the majority of cases, I want to be on the safe side. And while those chunkier retainers might be annoying at first, I want straight teeth and if it takes getting used to, that's okay with me.

Another niggling worry of mine is that she tends to do the fittings for the retainer the day she takes the braces off...in other words, I will be without a retainer for, I presume, at least three days. This also worries me; I want to have my retainer the DAY I get my braces off.

I might ask about it in the NAKED TOOTH forum just to see what other people's experiences were regarding that.

I'm laying as low as possible as far as excitement goes...I've told ONE person that the next appointment COULD be The Day, and I only told her because she's not going to see me for a looong time, so she was 'safe.' I've not even told my family one word about it, because I don't want to have any kind of let down if they don't come off, so I'm not saying ANYTHING until they are already off...then I might go surprise my mom at work or something; take her out to lunch and see how long it takes her to notice.

There are some things I am concerned about still, namely those top front teeth. If they don't even out soon, I'm going to talk to my ortho about how we can make the teeth look a little more even. So I don't really hold THAT much hope that the 15th will be my debanding date just because of that problem.

See how the two teeth STILL look uneven? It's better, but not much. And the pic of the top teeth shows that as well.

As you can see, the lateral incisor is coming along nicely, but it still seems to sit slightly behind the front two teeth. Plus the canine isn't quite in line yet, either.

The right side has come into line quite nicely!

I'm VERY pleased with my bottom arch:

#230 Post by **jennandtonic** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 12:12 pm

THEY'RE OFF! As of this morning! I'll update in more words later. All I have to say is:

TWO YEARS, NINE MONTHS, AND SEVENTEEN DAYS!

#231 Post by **RobK** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 4:47 pm

I am so happy for you. You had a longer road than expected to get to this point, but now I'm sure you're GORGEOUS.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

(Did you get your retainer on the same day, or did you have to wait?)

#232 Post by **jennandtonic** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 8:10 pm

RobK said:

I am so happy for you. You had a longer road than expected to get to this point, but now I'm sure you're GORGEOUS.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

(Did you get your retainer on the same day, or did you have to wait?)

I have to wait one week for them!

And thank you so much! I'm stoked!

#233 Post by **jennandtonic** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 8:27 pm

Okay, so I'm going to give the 411 on what happened today:

We've been waiting for my two front teeth to even out, as you can see from the pics and post earlier on this page. It's been a bit slow going, and last appointment was no different. Dr. Greer thought she could get the two teeth to even out more, and my OB/OJ/Midline was not 2-0-0, it was 2-0-1, so she wanted to wait three weeks.

After that, I didn't even update here because I didn't want to jinx A THING before November 19th. I didn't even tell anyone my hope that it would be today, because I didn't want to get disappointed.

So anyway, today Anne, her assistant, looks at them when I walk in and she goes "I think they look pretty good!"

Dr. Greer looks at them, and says "okay, lets get these things off!"

I had to wait about 15 minutes while they worked on someone else, but then Dr. Greer sat down and said "Okay, this is going to make some noise." Boy did it! It took all of maybe two, three minutes and it did hurt a bit--especially when she took the bands off. However, I expected that because the bands hurt when they went on. Anyway, it was a lot quicker than I had expected, basically a 'pop, yank, pop, pop, pop' and the top ones were off. Then another 'pop, pop, yank, pop' and they were all off!

I had read that some orthos let you look at the teeth before they worked on getting the glue off and all that jazz, but not Dr. Greer. She worked on the glue for a bit, then she flossed my teeth with this sand paper floss stuff, worked on polishing--smoothing out rough edges, evening out my teeth. That, I think, was the worst part. The polisher feels strange.

Then Anne took over, scraping more glue off. She said to pay attention and if I find any more glue let her know next week. She warned me that my gums will swell--that's normal, and to massage them, and they'd be normal after a few days. Next she used the cleaner that the dentist usually uses on your teeth, then finally she used a buffer. Then she said "Okay, get up and take a look."

I walked over to the mirror, and my first reaction was "THEY'RE SO BIG!" I think she thought that was a negative reaction, because she said "but they're smaller than mine!" They are smooth and GORGEOUS!

Next I took impressions for my retainer. I go back for that in a week from today. IN THE MEANTIME...I'M so excited and happy! I'll take more pictures and post them later.

#234 Post by **Kerensa** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:14 am

How come your brackets look so different from mine?

Do different orthodontists use different brackets?

#235 Post by **jennandtonic** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 12:55 pm

Kerensa said:

How come your brackets look so different from mine? Do different orthodontists use different brackets?

Yes, they do. Some use similar types, but each ortho has his or her own preference.

#236 Post by **overseasmel** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 8:44 pm

Your smile looks fabulous! Congratulations!!

#237 Post by **Miss Smiley** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 3:13 am

Oooh so exciting! Congratulations on your deband! Hopefully, mine is coming up soon!

#238 Post by **jennandtonic** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 6:36 pm

I went to the dentist today and I have TWO cavities, one in each of my bottom back molars. They're on the chewing surface of the teeth, too, so it's not like I can blame my molar bands.

I'm really upset! I have really good hygiene habits, yet I STILL got two cavities! I've never had cavities before.

I also really don't trust my dentist. I mean, I know that cavities are going to happen, but I just have that "feeling" every time I go in that I just don't trust him. I feel like he's the type who likes to drum up business, and even though I am going to go ahead and get these fillings, I'm still very wary of him. I want to get another dentist.

I'm just really upset. I've never had cavities, ever, and I now have two at the same time.

#239 Post by **switchblades** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:47 pm

I just read through your story, congrats on finally getting the braces off! Your teeth look beautiful! It's actually made me all the more pumped about my own braces - even though I have two years left myself.

I know what you mean about dentists though. Mine retired, and they didn't tell me, put me in with another dentist in the same office, and I've had nothing but problems. He left me for an hour with dental dam and clamp in during a filling on my bottom teeth, knowing full well that I have problems with my jaw. I was sore for a week. I ended up having a full-blown panic attack and being unable to breathe last time I went in to get a filling from him.

My dentist who does my braces (he's not actually an ortho, but has lots of braces experience and I trust him fully) makes me totally comfortable, so i may see if I can switch to him for cleanings too now.