My story, initial situation, with pics.

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#31 Post by **Lingualita** » Tue May 19, 2009 9:59 am

Just thought I'd post some pictures from the sides as well:

After about one month and now:

You can see that he cut off a bit of the fake tooth, as my extraction gap is starting to close up. Not looking to good at the moment, but I keep reminding myself it's only temporary

The other side:

#32 Post by **Lingualita** » Tue May 26, 2009 12:34 pm

Just thought I'd update again:)

#33 Post by **milliondollar** » Thu May 28, 2009 12:00 am

Your progress is awesome! Looks like its coming together quickly!

#34 Post by **Takako** » Thu May 28, 2009 7:26 pm

The flare you had is really improving!!

#35 Post by **Lingualita** » Fri May 29, 2009 4:07 pm

Thanks Milliondollar Againbrace and Takato. I'm glad you're seeing the same as I am. Takato, my english is not perfect, and I was just curious, what does flare means?

#36 Post by **Takako** » Fri May 29, 2009 9:10 pm

Lingualita wrote:Thanks Milliondollar Againbrace and Takato. I'm glad you're seeing the same as I am. Takato, my english is not perfect, and I was just curious, what does flare means?

Sorry! I mean, the way your teeth had been sticking out before has gotten a lot better, now they are straight up and down the way they should be!

#37 Post by **xJx** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:20 am

Your teeth are looking amazing already!

#38 Post by **Lingualita** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 3:14 pm

Today it's been 4 months since I had my upper braces on and almost 3 since I had my lowers fitted. Gosh, how time has flied. If my ortho's not too optimistic with the 18 months estimate, that means that I'm more than 1/6 through. Will post more pics soon! Thanks for the replies folks. Means loads to me!

#39 Post by **Lingualita** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 4:31 pm

So, I'm off to the dentist tomorrow, for my wecond adjustment, and I am so anxious and thrilled at the same time. I know that we have some stuff to get done. Cause he said that we would spend some more time this time.

I have to admit that I hope it's note time for those dreadful elastics just yet. I've really just recently gotten sincerely used to the braces, not thinking about them all the time and stuff. And I feel I just need a bit more time to adjust to them before I start with the elastics. On the other hand, the sooner I start with the elastics, the sooner I can expect drastic results. As a master of procastination, I would prefer some more time in "pure" braces

#40 Post by **Lingualita** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 6:29 am

So, I had an adjustment yesterday. He changed the wires on both jaws, but it wasn't painful.

He had to take off and re-glue one of the brackets. My God, did that hurt! And the was only one tooth. Now I know what to expect at the debanding date.

I asked him about the elastics, which he has mentioned I'll have to start wearing at some point. He said that my teeth had to be properly aligned before I started with the elastics. I have to admit I was happy with that. But what made me SUPERhappy was that he said that I wouldn't have to wear the elastics 24/7, meaning I could go to work/school without.

That made me SOOOOO happy, as discretion is the primary reason I opted for linguals. I have to admit that I'm a bit surprised though, reading at AW all the ortho's stressing the need to wear the elastics as much as possible.

Will post pic's tomorrow. As for pain, there is none, and I just ate pizza. Still no weight loss from the braces.lol

He said that my speech was perfect, and that some of his lingual patients are struggeling with linguals throughout the entire treatment. I'm thinking it might be "easier" for me since I have such a high palate. My tounge has plenty of room to play around. A perk of being a "long-face"

#41 Post by **Lingualita** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 2:42 am

Just thought I'd post some pics. I feel like I'm now in the stage of things getting worse before they get better. But it's just because my crowding on the top is more severe on my left than on my right, and he has to fix that before we can proceed. Which means that my fake tooth is almost entirely shaved down on my left side, but still intact on my right side, leaving my smile looking quite eneven at the moment.

My right side, fake tooth intact:

My left side, fake tooth almost entirely shaved down:

My bottom teeth, looking far better now than initially:

Now I have my next adjustment in 8 weeks. I suspect that's partly due to summer holiday, but I don't really mind. I'm quite used to the braces now, sometimes I don't even think of them

#42 Post by **Lingualita** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 4:25 am

I'm a bit concerned with my top arch. My ortho's trying to work on my crowding between the my left front tooth and the next. It doesn't seem to get better. My ortho says he'll have to straighten my teeth out before he'll start closing the gaps with elastics. I'm afraid that this stubborn tooth will elonge my treatment process significantly.

Not too much change in my lower arch. Still 6 weeks until my next adjustment, can't wait!

#43 Post by **Lingualita** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 6:19 am

Just thought I'd post a couple of photos. Now it's the getting worse before it gets better stage cause the ortho is working on my stubborn front tooth.

A couple of weeks ago:

Now:

As you can see it looks worse now, due to the gap between my teeth. But the gap is a sign that things are happening, and that my left front tooth is on its way back in line with the other teeth. 3 weeks until my next adjustment, cant wait!

#44 Post by **Lingualita** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 5:38 am

I've now been braced for 6 months.

Can't believe it's gone by so fast. So far I'm so glad I made the decision to go through with it. My ortho gave me an 18 months estimate, and if that's correct, I'm 1/3rd of the way. Really can't believe that. Even though there are days I want to rip out the braces, I have already seen dramatic changes. Lately the changes has been for the worse, currently having a gap on the left side of my left front tooth.

My next adjustment is in 9 days, can't wait really. Curious of what he's gotten planned. And I'm still really curious/excited/anxious/scared about when I'll be called in to meet with the OS. From what I've read here (and that's quite a bit!), I'll need a lefort 1 to correct a "long face", gummy smile, lip incompetence, and perhaps a BSSO or Genio to correct a receeded chin.

I feel like I will be so more informed once I speak with an OS. Then he/she can explain what will be done, what I can expect to look like, when I can expect the surgery to take place etc. I'm expecting to get called in by mail in the coming 1-3 months. Will definately shake quite a bit once I get that letter... Will keep you informed though!

Next step: Next adjustment in 9 days, cannot wait. Maybe he'll put do something to fix my gap next to my left front tooth, would really appreciate if that happened!!

#45 Post by **Lingualita** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 5:42 am

Hi there,

I thought I'd make a summary of my treatment plan and progress so far. My ortho is not the most talkative, but I'll try to remember and try to analyze my invoices the best way possible. Here it goes:

11.12.2008:

I finally took the plunge and saw an ortho. He took x-rays and made a moel of my teeth, and roughly described my treatment plan and gave me a treatment estimate of 18 months.

09.02.2009:

I had brackets and arcwire (lingual) "installed" in my upper jaw.

04.03.2009:

Extractions of four teeth, number 14, 24, 35 and 45.

06.03.2009:

"fake" teeth glued on in my upper jaw.

20.03.2009:

Installation of linguals in lower jaw.He also took digital pictures of my profile and front.

18.05.2009:

Adjustment, repositioning of one of thelower brackets.

20.06.2009:

Adjustment, working on aligning the teeth.

20.08.2009:

Changing the archwire in my upper jaw, did not work on lower jaw.

23.09.2009:

Next appointment.

In general:

Seeing progress, not day by day but by comparing pic's over time. Has not started working on closing the extraction-gaps yet. He will start doing this once my teeth are aligned.

I am still waiting to see an OS to discuss the possibilities for a surgery, shortening the hight of my maxilla (upper jaw).