Jen's Braces Journal--Braces OFF (PICS)!!!

Message

#1 Post by **jenfire** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 5:17 pm

MY ORTHODONTICS JOURNEY began on March 21, 2006

Just a bit about me first: I am 25 years old and am currently working on a Ph.D. in Political Science. I have about a year left before I defend my dissertation and start my career.

Here is a pic:

I got my RPE (expander for the top) on March 21, 2006 and still have it in. I only turned it once every three days and stopped turning it April 12, 2006 (total 8 turns). I am not having surgery. My upper expander is still in place.

I got my lower braces on June 13, 2006. I have opted for ceramic braces on both the upper and lowers. I will get braces placed on the top August 1st. My total estimated treatment time is 18 months. The orthodontist seems to think that I will not need any extractions, although shaving/contouring is likely.

Another pic of my lowers (July 2, 2006)

Jenfire

#2 Post by **jenfire** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 5:43 am

Thanks for the words of encouragement! Unfortunately, I have not seen a lot of movement on the lowers since getting braced (it has been over 2 weeks). There really is not a lot of room down there though. The brackets on the front two bottom teeth are so close together that they touch and I cannot floss there.

The orthodontist told me that the expander would be in from 3-6 months. So far, it has been in over 3 months. I am used to it at this point, but I do hope it can come out once I get the top teeth braced on August 1st...I'm not sure at this point though.

Cheers!

Jen

#3 Post by **Joanna20** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 5:59 pm

Good luck,
Joe

#4 Post by **jenfire** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 2:26 pm

Ugh, my mouth is sore today...not because of the braces though. My wisdom tooth on the lower left side is very sore . I was told several months ago that I should have my wisdom teeth removed, but the orthodontist seemed to think I should wait a bit on that (and the dentist was not really adament about getting it done right away). I think that I will have to call my dentist tomorrow to set up an appointment to have this checked out though.

I'm a bit concerned about having these removed. I wonder if there will be a long recovery time. Should I get just the one bothering me right now taken out at this point, or should I get both lower wisdom teeth removed? I suppose the dentist will have suggestions.

jenfire

#5 Post by **jenfire** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 11:17 am

I got my wisdom tooth on the lower left side removed today. It did not take very long; they just numbed by mouth and pulled it. I ended up going to an emergency dentistry facility because my regular dentist and many others are closed today and tomorrow due to Independence Day.

This should free up room for my lower teeth to straighten too (I hope).

jenfire

#6 Post by **Jeneva** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 12:14 pm

ooh -remember to keep a few bags of frozen peas available for swelling relief - good luck!

#7 Post by **antsika** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 1:53 pm

Hi jenfire,

this happened very quickly, I hope you didn't have time to be afraid of it

The main things are:
- do not drink with a strow
- keep away everything from the site for a few days in order not to disturb the blood clot, wash your teeth very carefully,
- frozen pees as Jeneva said is important too!
- and also careful salt water rinses after 24 hours (do not rinse before!)

When I had mine extracted I googled "wisdom teeth extraction" and I found very good advices, it is told what to do for the first 24 and 48 hours and afterwards.

I hope you will be better soon!

#8 Post by **jenfire** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 5:04 pm

Thanks for the encouragement and advice, Jeneva and antsika. The actual extraction itself wasn't bad but the aftermath is really giving me problems. They gave me pain medication (Vicodin) in addition to penicillin. The Vicodin is awful...a couple hours after taking it, I started experiencing extreme heat, weakness and I passed out...I called the pharmacist and she told me that it was probably too much for me (I'm 5'2" and 100lbs) so I am now taking just 1/2 a pill at a time. Even half makes me feel woozy though. I am hoping that after tomorrow I will no longer need the Vicodin.

I'll be sure to do the salt water rinses after 24hrs.

jenfire

#9 Post by **antsika** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 8:21 am

Jenfire, sorry to hear that this medicine is making a hard time for you.
As KK said there must be another kind of medicine as well, maybe you should try something else.

#10 Post by **sjsarre** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 8:24 am

Hi jenfire

Congrats on getting braced.. I know what you mean about no room on your lower row!! I've had two extracted to make room though!!

Sorry to hear your extraction of your wisdom tooth is giving you grief...

I really need to have two wisdom teeth extracted, but they are only partially erupted and the only way the dentist could get to them properly is under general anaesthetic. Unfortunately I can't have that, so that is another reason I have had my brace done. So it can make room for them to come down...

hopefully in a few days the worst will be over...

#11 Post by **jenfire** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 12:46 pm

Well, I am doing much better the day after my wisdom tooth was pulled. I am still taking the medicine of course, but I am more energetic and have been able to get some work done.

jenfire

#12 Post by **jenfire** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 4:04 pm

So, my tongue is all cut up...it hurts so much. I suppose it is the RPE but it's odd that I've had it in months and suddenly it starts hurting so much. The wax just seems to clump up there and generally falls off. I'm not sure what can be done to ease this pain.

#13 Post by **jenfire** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 4:34 pm

I'm hanging in there with the expander and braces. Sometimes I get discouraged because I really do not see much improvement with my lowers yet and it has been a month. There is a lot of crowding though so it may take time. I have a cleaning coming up on Monday and hopefully that is uneventful.

I'm preparing myself mentally for Aug. 1st when I get the uppers...I fear that the RPE will stay in. I will just have to deal with it though; I don't want to ruin anything the RPE might have accomplished.

#14 Post by **jenfire** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 12:38 pm

Most recent pic of lowers (they are still quite crowded):

#15 Post by **Joanna20** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 3:54 pm

Hey, I have very crooked lowers as well! And I also got a wisdom tooth pulled 2 days ago, so I feel yah pain! Wisdom teeth (when pulled) give a lot of space so ur teeth will start straightening pretty soon I guess.

Good luck,

Joe