Overdue update - Isle of Man Mike's story with new pics

[mikecl]

As promised the first ortho I saw, Katharine, has sent a letter outlining her diagnosis and suggested treatment plan.

Although I have always thought that I could do with getting it was still a shock to see the ortho agree and confirm it in writing.

The ortho has confirmed that there is crowding of the upper and lower front teeth and that I have something called "Bolton Discrepancy". I have looked it up on the Internet but if someone could explain it to me using small words it would be much appreciated.

For the top teeth it's a case of a "slight separation of the upper front teeth" and for the bottom ones she has suggested the extraction of one lower front tooth to disperse the crowding. To be honest this has not come as a surprise but since it was over 20 years ago that I had a tooth removed (the smell of the gas is coming back to me !) I have no idea of what this would entail.

Following the extraction it would be braces for approx 18 months or so to create a "right sagittal and vertical overbite"; I hope this is ortho speak for a normal bite.

The proposed costs of up to £2,800 (incl the extraction) appear reasonable especially as over £4k was quoted to me for Invisalign treatment. (see previous posts for what I think of that consult)

My next appointment with this ortho is on 11 May so I have plenty of time to gather my thoughts and to add to the list of questions I already have.

My gut feel is what she is suggesting seems reasonable but I will fire off a quick email tomorrow to clarify a couple of things. For instance, the letter states that braces for the lower jaw are available in ceramic or metal but it doesn't mention whether this applies to the top ones or not.

As always your views and especially your words of encouragement will be very welcome and I will keep you all posted

Regards

Mike

[mikecl]

Following lunch time's visit to my normal dentist when he answered my questions about the Bolton discrepancy and after reading a couple of posts on the metal mouth forum under braces and self-image (viewtopic.php?t=18413) this morning,
I phoned the ortho to tell them I want to start treatment asap. This means that the extraction of one of my lower front teeth will be done on 4 May and the braces (ceramic upper and lower) will go on a week later, on 11 May.

I have to say that I feel so much better for having committed to the 11 May as the start date and while I am nervous I also know that I am doing the right thing.

Regards

Mike

[Clairey Fairey]

Good Luck with the extraction and braces Mike.

Sounds like our treatment is similar, ceramics, lower tooth extraction, even the same price!!

Hope all goes well, look forward to reading how it goes

[mikecl]

Had a phone call from the ortho to say that the extraction (of one tooth on the lower jaw) planned for 4 May has now been cancelled but that everything will start on 11 May as planned.

No extraction is good news but I understood this was required to create extra space. The ortho stated that I have something called a "Bolton discrepancy" which has led to crowding on the lower jaw.

Should I now expect something other than just braces to correct this ?

I have two appointments on 11 May, one at 9am to discuss the treatment plan and one at 3.30pm when it will start. I have absolutely no problem in doing what is required to fix my bite and smile and I am not really bothered whether it requires any additional appliances.

However, if anyone has any suggestions for what the ortho may have planned, I would be happy to hear them.

Cheers

[mikecl]

B - Day May 11th at 3.30pm

[mikecl]

Just a very quick message to say that my upper brace has been in place for about 45 minutes !

I will post something more comprehensive (incl pics) when I've had the time to sit back and reflect and what has just happened.

Initial thoughts are that it doesn't half feel a little strange but I am also very glad that I have done it. Hopefully I will still feel like that in the morning but the dull throb around the molar bands suggests maybe I won't be.

Cheers

Mike

[kirjax]

good job mike. Mine have been in place since around 9:30 this morning. Not that bad yet. A bit of tingling feeling in the front teeth actually. And I was able to eat fine. I know tomorrow may be a different story. Just keep popping the pain reliever and we'll be fine

[mikecl]

Thanks for the replies Meryaten and JT.

In order to treat the Bolton Discrepancy there will be a bit of IPR on the upper arch. I will also be losing one of my front lower teeth in the next month or so and then the lower brace will be fitted to close the gap and fix the over-crowding.

The first day in braces has gone pretty well - the molars have felt a little tender due to the bands and the front teeth feel over-sensitive but overall I am not in any real pain or discomfort - I was expecting a lot worse !

Eating has been strange and I have been running off to clean my teeth and the brace after every meal - keeping everything as clean as possible is my main concern with the whole process.

I've tried to keep to my normal diet - crunchy nut cornflakes went down okay at breakfast (with alot of milk) and I even managed a bacon sandwich at lunch and a curry tonight ! (I lost 7 pounds last week due to a mouth, throat and chest infection so I have a bit of leeway in trying to stay healthy!). I am also drinking a lot of water to wash everything down with and to keep as hydrated as possible.

I think this post will read back to front as I have still not really said anything about yesterday and how my B-day went .

Well to start with I was really nervous and it just got worse as the appointment got closer. As I was walking towards the ortho's office, I stopped a couple of times to think about things and I am not really sure how close I got to not actually turning up but turn up I did.

I only had to wait about 5 minutes before being greeted by Katharina and she was as friendly as ever. I knew I would be posting an update on this site so I wanted to make as many mental notes as possible about the whole process. However, there are really only (?) four things that stood out:

1. The two molar bands - This was the hardest part of the whole process - having to bite down several times on what looked like a little rubber hammer so allow the band to fit over the tooth was weird and caused a very heavy and uncomfortable sensation. I thought that having to do it once for each band was bad enough but then Katharina removed the Bands and I had to repeat the whole process as they were fixed in place.

2. Falling asleep - you may not believe this but after the bands were in place and the heavy uncomfortable feeling had subsided I just simply relaxed and spent the next 20 minutes or so dozing off as the brackets went on - I wasn't going anywhere and not having a lot of sleep the previous night due to nerves and a screaming three year old, making the most of a comfy seat and some relative peace and quiet seeemd the right thing to do.

3. First impressions don't count - during the time I was awake when the brackets went on, I remember thinking that I cannot feel a thing inside my mouth. Every drop of moisture had been sucked out and with the lip spreader on I just felt a little divorced from the whole process. However that soon changed when Katharina re-introduced some water into my mouth and removed the lip spreaders. My lips fell back to their natural place and then it was a case of "Oh my God - those brackets feel huge and those Bands are even worse - what the **** have I done ?"

4. The first look - Now that my mind was trying to come to terms with what I felt was an upper lip which must have been sticking out by at least a mile, looking in the mirror was the last thing I wanted to do. However, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. The brackets are ceramic and being relatively clear and with a thin archwire they don't look that obvious and stranger still I took comfort from the fact that with the brackets and wire not being in a nice straight line my teeth do look like they need braces !

So that was B-day and I have to say that I am so very happy that I went through with it and I feel very positive about the whole experience

But this wouldn't be a post on Archwired.com without a few questions so here goes.

1. Katharina said that the ligatures would be attached next time out (15 June). The wire appears to be firmly attached to the brackets but is this normal ?

2. She also said that this first archwire is relatively soft and is just being used to prepare the teeth for treatment - from this can I am expecting a little more discomfort following the first adjustment – would this be correct ?

Hopefully you can see the following pic of the upper brace and as ever, I would welcome everyone's thoughts and comments.





Cheers

Mike

[kirjax]

Mike Good job!

you sound like you experienced some of the same things I did.

I hated the lip spreaders, I hated looking at myself after they were on, and I thought the same thing, dang what have I done!! I even told my ortho that I was backing out (joking of course) and he started laughing and said "already?....that was quick!"

I also hated the process of them putting on and off the molar caps. However my process was a bit worse bc I had a really sensitive tooth. And one molar she couldn't find the right size so she took it on and off literally 3-4 times before getting the right size!! Then it was putting them all in with that NASTY sour tasting glue! *yuck*

but all in all it wasn't too bad. I too have to wait for my bottoms. That should be fun....NOT!

[Clairey Fairey]

Yey congrats on getting braced Mike. And yey its good that your illness cleared up in time for the braces.

I felt exactly the same when I felt the brackets with my lip after the mouth opener thing was removed, and then the sense of relief when looking in the mirror and realising that they aren't that bad!! It just feels like it sticks out so much further than it looks!!

I nearly fell asleep aswell, I think it was part of the sudden relaxation after the initial nerves about getting the braces!!

Anyway, your brace looks great and I'm liking the clear brackets.

[mikecl]

Kirjax, Karen and Claire

Thank you for all of your comments and messages of support.

The teeth were a little more tender today but all in all the level of discomfort is not as bad as I expected. I have used a little more wax to keep on top of what discomfort there is as I am conscious that the inside of my lips are still getting used to the new arrivals.

I am still a little self conscious about smiling in them but that also has to do with the fact that my lips move over the brackets more when I do.

All in all I am really pleased with a) how they look and b) myself for going through with this. For anybody out there who has thought about getting braces then my advice is that you should just do it - you will feel so much better.

Thanks again

Mike

[breda206]

Hey Mike, looks like i found someone else with a bolton discrepancy. The shape of our teeth seems very different but same type of approach in treatment though, Good luck!

[breda206]

My bad, I forgot your orthodontist doesn't want to go ahead with the front lower tooth extraction. Hopefully my orthodontist will be of the same opinion when he examines my moulds and x-rays carefully.
Here's hoping

[mikecl]

Breda

Welcome to the exclusive Bolton discrepancy club.

When I spoke to the ortho just before my upper brace was fitted, she said that the front lower tooth extraction will still go ahead. This is now likely to happen in July with the lower brace fitted soon after.

The extraction will only take about 15 minutes or so and I am not that bothered about it to be honest. I am little wary of what it's going to be like to have both arches fully braced but I am sure it won't be that bad.

Hope everything with your treatment goes well and look forward to hearing how your ortho wants to progress matters

Cheers

Mike

[mikecl]

I should have posted an update earlier but this is the first time in the last few days I have had a chance to sit down in front of a PC and merrily type away with an update on my orthodontic adventures.

This may sound strange but I have really enjoyed my first month and I think my self-confidence has improved as a direct result of having the confidence to go through with the decision to get braces. I was self-conscious for a few days after the upper brace was fitted but I have found the following:

a) Few people in the UK when they notice anything about a person actually ask that person about what they have seen (They would rather discuss it with someone else !!) Only two people at work have actually said "Are you wearing Braces ?" when I know that more people have seen them.

b) When people do say anything it's never as bad as you think it's going to be - what is big deal for you is not as important for someone else. I actually wish more people would ask me about them as I would like to talk about them more but how do you work braces into a conversation ?

I have also noticed quite a lot of movement over the first few weeks which is a confidence booster in itself as you can see an immediate dividend on your investment and this re-assures you that the braces are doing what they are supposed to do.

So it was my first adjustment on Friday and as the ortho didn't make any negative noises on the state of my teeth I can only assume she was happy with the level of oral hygiene she found. I do think that braces are a great way of keeping your teeth clean as I have been cleaning and flossing them more thoroughly than ever before and I like to think I have been taking good care of them.

The adjustment didn't take long at all but as the ortho fiddled with the archwire the change in tension was immediately noticeable. I actually noticed the tension more after this adjustment than after they first went on.

I have also had more discomfort after the adjustment than after they first went on and it's only today, Tuesday, that chewing on my left side has been possible without too much pain.

My next appointment is scheduled for Friday 13 July when not only do I lose a lower front tooth but the lower brace gets fitted as well. The ortho seemed to think it was possible to do both in one appointment and worrying about what it will be like to be fully braced will keep my mind off the extraction !

In a strange way I am looking forward to getting the lower brace as it means that another step of the journey has been taken. However, I am also wary of what it's going to feel like being fully braced but from an eating, drinking, looking after them point of view rather than what's it is going to look like point of view.

I must also be a glutton for punishment as the day after I lose a tooth and gain a lower brace, I will be off to Eurodisney for 5 days with my wife and three year old son so they will be plenty going on to take my mind off things.

I will try and post some pics when I get back to the Isle of Man but I am in London until Friday. I do want to keep a picture record of my progress so watch this space.

As always, your comments and support are always welcomed and look forward to providing more regular updates.

Cheers

Mike