Life Behind Brackets

[metalliKa]

I went in for my regular 6 month cleaning today and was told my regular hygienist no longer works at the practice. My heart became dispirited but was quickly replaced with elation when told she went on to bigger and better things. From our past conversations, she had expressed a desire to go and service in an underprivileged/rural area. This new opportunity fulfills that desire.

The new hygienist that prepped and cleaned my teeth was a spring chicken. I suspect she just got out of hygienist school. She didn't really talk much except instructing me to close, turn right or left, or relax my tongue. She also had a knack of getting water down my chin like I was drooling. Funny. She kept apologizing. However, after she was done prodding and probing me with all her instruments, she took a long deep breath and said, "Wow! Your teeth are really clean! When my brother had braces as a kid, he had 12 cavities after his braces came off. That was really gross!" I (jokingly) gave her a disbelief look and nodded while wiping my chin and neck down. She wasn't as thorough or proficient, but I'm sure with more practice she'll be a sprung chicken in no time.

Overall, my dental health got an A+! My dentist even made the comment that I have plenty of gaps and gaps are good!

[EWUgal15]

I normally get the same hygienist at every appointment as well...and she is super thorough. She always asks me to fell for any rough or sharp spots...and makes sure to tell me that my brackets don't count. When I got my braces, I started going to a dental practice recommended by my orthodontist. The first cleaning I had with them, I was surprised that I didn't have cavities or anything because I had never heard that from a dentist my entire life. But I had also stepped up my cleaning routine. Now I get excited to go to the dentist because it's not so painful any more.

It's good that the dentist is happy with your orthodontic treatment so far! And exciting that all the ramped up cleaning we have to do makes a difference.

[metalliKa]

EWUgal, I think we as adults tend to take good care of our health just because we know better. When I was in my mid 20s to mid 30s, I had a different dentist. Unfortunately, I moved out of state. She would always tell me at my cleaning, which was only once a year because she said I was keeping such good care of my teeth, that they'll last me a lifetime. I take great pride in having good oral hygiene. Other than the comtemplation of a possible implant to fill that gaping hole on the lower right 1st molar, which I'm strongly not considering because it's not fully visible when talking or smiling and the ortho said if I wear my retainers diligently, the tooth from on top won't shift down, I hope to never have more work done to my mouth other than just the regular 6 month cleaning.

[NeilH]

It's great hearing how you are getting on and I'm enjoying reading your detailed posts. Oral hygiene is so important and since getting braces have been seeing my dentist for checkups every three months as well as a hygienist two or three times a year. A bit of an overkill? Maybe but I want my teeth to look great once the braces come off and am not taking any chances.

[metalliKa]

It's great hearing how you are getting on and I'm enjoying reading your detailed posts. Oral hygiene is so important and since getting braces have been seeing my dentist for checkups every three months as well as a hygienist two or three times a year. A bit of an overkill? Maybe but I want my teeth to look great once the braces come off and am not taking any chances.

Hi Neil! Agree! Bracketed teeth are not as stable and as they are constantly moving, those little open pockets below the crown can trap food and harbor nasty bacteria. I intend to take all my teeth with me to my grave. Hahaha If it was feasible for me to have a cleaning every three months, I'd would not hesitate. For now, I'm doing a good job according to my dentist so twice a year will do.

[metalliKa]

Had my 7th adjustment this morning. A lot of drilling and water spritzing everywhere! Ortho did IPR to my uppers from canine to canine due to small black triangles that won't close nicely. He called those gaps food traps. Hahaha Prior to the drilling, I had expressed my dissatisfaction with my upper left canine being too sharp and coming down too long as well as the inverted V to my mid line. He assured me that after everything is all lined up and every tooth is in its proper place, that's when the artistry comes in. However, he did give me a preview by shaving a bit off from my canine and contouring the inverted V mid line ever so slightly. So now I have gaps that need to close all over again. No rectangular wires yet...new 0.18 SU on both upper and lower. New power chains, upper 1st molar to 1st molar and lower 1st premolar to 1st premolar. And new ligs on lower 2nd premolars and steel ties on 1st premolars. I chose pink ligs and power chains to support cancer awareness for the month of October and also in remembrance of my Auntie who lost her battle to cancer in June.

Ortho said I am right on track. Although he estimated my treatment plan to be between 12-15 months, he is shooting for 12, which would put my debracing sometime end of March or earliest of April 2016. Let's hope so or earlier is preferred!!!

When I got home after my appointment, I smiled really big and asked my bf, "Are my teeth straighter now?" He looked and went, "Yes, they are! Before your one tooth on the bottom (here he was using his pointing finger to go in the direction of how my one tooth stood) and the two top front teeth (again, using now his pointing and middle fingers to position how my two upper front teeth were)." I laughed at him trying to be animated then cornered him with, "Then why did you lie to me that my teeth were fine before?" He had a blank stare before stuttering, "Well, well, well, I, I, I just got so used to them and didn't think they were that bad before." (I promise you, my bf never ever stutters)

Anyways, here I am today


Where I was 7 adjustments ago (3/24/15)

[EWUgal15]

WOOOO!

I have pink power chains for October too! Started early in September because of how my appointments fall, but I will get fresh ones halfway through October then start something new on November 2nd.

The inversion you were talking about looks so much better. And those gaps will be gone in no time! You're really coming along.
You said the top chain goes 1st molar to 1st molar...do you have brackets or bands on your molars? I can't tell. I will say, having a power chain link on to a an elastic hook on a molar band is horrible. So much food gets caught it in, it's ridiculous.

[NeilH]

Hi, what an amazing amount of progress in such a short period of time, you can really see a difference. I had an appointment today too and it sounds like we both had similar things done with IPR and trying to close small gaps. Good on you for choosing pink ligs for cancer awareness, that's a nice thing to do.

[ItsFreyja]

Fantastic progress!!

[metalliKa]

WOOOO!

I have pink power chains for October too! Started early in September because of how my appointments fall, but I will get fresh ones halfway through October then start something new on November 2nd.

The inversion you were talking about looks so much better. And those gaps will be gone in no time! You're really coming along.
You said the top chain goes 1st molar to 1st molar...do you have brackets or bands on your molars? I can't tell. I will say, having a power chain link on to a an elastic hook on a molar band is horrible. So much food gets caught it in, it's ridiculous.

Yes! I believe it was your post in another thread that reminded me of October being cancer awareness month. I initially was going to do the Halloween theme but went with pink last minute.

I have brackets on my molars with small straight hooks. I did not realize this before or maybe I just don't pay much attention. So with the hooks in mind, maybe elastics possibly down the road.

Hi, what an amazing amount of progress in such a short period of time, you can really see a difference. I had an appointment today too and it sounds like we both had similar things done with IPR and trying to close small gaps. Good on you for choosing pink ligs for cancer awareness, that's a nice thing to do.

Thanks Neil! I have had so much complaints about no progress in the last few months but after having some IPR done today, I feel I've come a long way.

Fantastic progress!!

Thanks Freyja! I'm starting to see improvement again.

[metalliKa]

Well, open enrollment for 2016 health plans is coming up and I will be dropping my ortho insurance but planning on maximizing my flex spending. I found the ortho insurance not to be much of a saving and also I may get debraced in next late March or early April (knock on woods). The other day, I called up my ortho's office and proposed that my last two payments of 2015 be rolled over to January and I'll just pay off the balance from my 2016 flex spending. Today, they got back to me and said it was ok and worked out the remaining balance with me. So for January when I go for my monthly adjustment, I'll also be making my final ortho payment.

$1,733.24!!!

That's still a lot of money but it's way far less than what I began with. And knowing that I'm months away from paying it off gives me a new sense of hope that the moment I've been waiting for for so long is finally going to come true!

Straight teeth!

[metalliKa]

Just discovered yesterday that I have $1K ortho coverage through my primary dental plan. I was under the impression two years ago that my employer didn't cover ortho so I was advised by the benefits department to add on an ortho rider, which had a two year waiting period. Had I inquired directly from the insurance company instead of contacting the benefits department, I would not have signed on with the ortho rider and would already be in retainers. Oh well, it's free money in my pocket as I get free health plans.

So I was doing the math and I am financing about 84% out of my own pocket for my braces. That ortho rider I was advised to take out didn't save me money one bit.

[metalliKa]

I am mulling and beating myself over with the revelation that I have ortho coverage through my primary dental plan! Considering myself to be a practical person, I usually leave no stones unturned. I was pretty sure I did not have ortho coverage two years ago or else I would have gotten the treatment started after my one lower right first molar extraction then I would not be left with a gaping hole in the back of my lower arch that can't be closed due to bone loss! And to add salt to injury, the insurance company made money off of me with that ortho rider!

[metalliKa]

Had my 8th adjustment yesterday. Nothing new to report except lig and power chain change. My power chain on the bottom extends from 2nd premolar to 2nd premolar and 2nd molar to 2nd molar on the top. I'm still in my old wires (18 SU) because ortho said my teeth are still moving. He asked the assistant to note a 20 for next adjustment with a question mark. My bite is good, everything is aligning up nicely and my black triangles are less noticeable. Every adjustment since my 6th adjustment, the ortho keeps on mentioning March, that it's coming up soon and that before I know it, my braces will be off. I guess that's a way of hinting to me that we are aiming for March for debracing. Though I should keep an open mind and know that something unexpected may come up that could delay the debracing a month or two. Anyhoot! I'm just very grateful that my journey thus far has been relatively smooth and easy compared to some.

Here is a collage of my current progress. Nothing significantly new except I went back to silver ligs and chains. I may be bold and opt for green and red for December. Excuse my gaping hole on my lower right...wish I had the sense to start ortho treatment right after the extraction. Oh, well!

[ItsFreyja]

Wow metalliKa, your teeth are looking beautiful. Congrats!