Lots of Crowding and a Crossbite: Danielle Has Braces!

[Danielle]

Note for the reader: I know it's kinda late in my treatment to start a blog, but I know there a are a lot of readers who are in the "considering & researching stage" and if you're anything like me, you want to hear real stories and see some pictures of severe cases--proof that braces just might be an option for you... I'd also like to point out that I never showed my teeth and it took a while to be comfortable enought to actually post a picture of them... but I know everyone here has been through that and now it's time to open up and share...

The journey started back in August 2006... well actually if we want to get technical it started when I was a little kid...

I was born with a cleft pallet... I got lucky and it was contained to just the roof of my mouth and correct after only one surgery when I was 18 months old... fast forward to my baby and later my adult teeth coming in... I don't know for sure what kind of effect the cleft pallet had on my teeth and their eventual eruption--most of the articles I've read say the cleft pallet plays a big role in eventual orthodontia. To make a long story short, I have a really small mouth and had to have all four front baby teeth removed in the hopes of helping the adult teeth come in better... no such luck.

Like a lot of you, I grew up with a huge fear of the dentist and having a lot of dental problems always meant less than cavitiy-free, carefree visits. Throughout my childhood I met with a lot of dentists and orthodontists... my parents tried their best to get me to correct the problem as a child, and I did my best to get my dental appointments canceled... not the greatest idea, but at the time I thought I had won the battle by not getting braces.

So, eventually my parents quit trying to get me to take care of this problem, and I was content not to take care of it, but it was like a constant dark cloud hanging over my head... by last spring I couldn't live under the cloud anymore. Nothing major made me take action, I'd just had enough of knowing that this had to get taken care of eventually, and I was tired of living under the cloud.

So, I met with several dental and orthodontic offices (I knew I'd need a boat load of dental work before getting my braces). I finally settled on one that I felt the most comfortable with ... unfortunately, it was also the most expensive... but comfort won out.

Anyway, after a lot of consult appointments, both dental and financial... I had my "big day" that consisted of oral sedation--where I was able to take care of a deep cleaning, getting new fillings and having my old filings replaced, and getting a few bands for my braces. I highly recommend the oral sedation to anyone considering it... good stuff. One week after getting the majority of the dental work out of the way, I got my braces (see picture below of day one in braces). Like most people on here have commented, the initial getting braces appointment is fairly smooth... and mine was no different. Because I'm basically backtracking the last couple of months I'm focusing this initial entry on the big picture... therefore a lot of the little details are not present right now.

About three weeks after getting the braces on I had two premolars (one upper, one lower) removed on the right side and then had the left side taken care of two weeks after that... again all routine and way less traumatic than I had pictured them for years.

At my October adjustment (my first actual adjustment--as September was spent taking care of extraction's) I had a new wire put in on the bottom... okay, I'm gonna say it--PAINFUL! But I got through it... ditto for the new wire that I got in December on the top... also, by that time the major crossbite on top was all gone... a great early Christmas gift!

Present day... last week was my monthly adjustment and I had an impression taken for a new "appliance" that will go on the bottom (to straighten out a stubborn molar)... I also got a new stronger wire on the bottom... still a little sore from that, but not too bad.

I'm gonna close here... 'cause this is a lot of information all at once... I'm also going to update/clarify this blog as I go along... including my March update pics (just as soon as I unload them from my camera and get a better handle on this whole "cropping and uploading pictures thing").

[chillin-in-grilz]

wow that pic is very unique

[Danielle]

Karen & Ken--thanks for the warm welcome again.

wow that pic is very unique

There's a lot more where that came from... which leads me to my March adjustment pic...


Also, at my March adjustment, I had impressions taken for a new "appliance" to help my bottom molars get in line... does anyone know what this appliance might be called? I'm trying to do some research before April's adjustment and I didn't think to ask for the name of the appliance... and to be honest I don't want to call the Ortho's office and ask.

[BillN]

Hey Danielle. Big KUDOs to you for finally getting started. You'll be on the down-hill stretch before you know it.

-Bill
http://semper-braces.blogspot.com/

[Danielle]

Update time!

To celebrate my 8th month in braces, I thought I'd detail yesterday's adjustment appointment. Up until now my prior entries have been basic overviews of my treatment... get ready for the small stuff!

Okay, I went into work early to leave a little early (my job has been extremely accommodating with all of my dental appointments--I'm very lucky). The day at work was fairly normal and very slow... nothing new there. I raced home (very light traffic) and ate what I thought would be a "last meal" of sorts--which would be the nice way of saying I ate 17 Pizza Rolls and a Light Lemonade (it sounds like more than it actually was, but I'll be honest I was eating them almost as fast as I was microwaving them). Following my Pizza Rolls, I brushed really well... and headed for the Dental/Orthodontic Office.

The drive was a quick 4 minuets and parking was surprisingly good considering half the lot was being repaved. I signed in, and just as I went to sit down the patient "concierge" walked by and said "Hi, I'm on my way to Wal-Mart, can I get you anything? Look on my face said "huh?" she continued "Water, Juice, Coffee... anything before I go?" I thought about some water, but she already had her purse and was practically halfway out the door so I declined. I sat for a few minuets, the office was very empty (abnormal for 4:00 in the afternoon) and I was called back pretty quickly.

I took my seat in the Orthodontic room and was greeted with "Hi, Danielle" by a couple of the assistants. I decided that on this visit I was gonna try and count the number of adult orthodontic patients on the wall (there's a giant frame with a picture of everyone who has braces). My age guessing criteria asked one question: How many of these people remember a time when the new Michael Jackson video was an event broadcast simultaneously on FOX and MTV? I had gotten up to a count of about 10--with some people on the bubble when my favorite assistant walked in and greeted me. We exchanged chatter about our jobs (deciding that my job was boring and low on stress and her job, well, not so much). I then asked if today's adjustment would include anything other than an "appliance" I was supposed to have installed. She said no, but reminded me that it was difficult to get my molar bands to come off last time and that had to be done again before I could get the appliance. I knew this all too well already, but I was glad that nothing else was scheduled for the appointment. She pulled out my mold and new appliance, which thankfully didn't look as intimidating as I thought. I asked a few questions about it and then she left the room... but not before handing me my goggles for the afternoon--bright orange with lots of glitter (normally I wear the plain "sunglasses" looking goggles). My response "ohh, glittery". She left and I continued staring at the pictures.

I didn't find anymore adults within the frame, so I moved on to staring at the posters above my head... one for Lumineers, one homemade poster saying "Ask how you can win movie tickets" (the answer can be found by entering your name on the official entry form and dropping it off in a fish bowl inside the waiting room... No, I've yet to enter) and my personal favorite poster "Can you tell she's straightening her teeth?" which is an ad for Invisalign... my thought was "No, probably because her teeth are perfect to begin with". But I noticed something new about my favorite Invisalign ad, after all the months of staring at this same poster, I always thought that the girl in the ad was in some sort of convertible car (her hair is "blowing in the wind") but as it turns out it now looks like more of a couch or chair (but why is her hair moving?). If anyone has seen this ad--what do you think car or couch? I'm starting to lean more towards couch.

Anyway, the assistant comes back in, the chair gets lower, the light gets brighter, and I close my eyes (looking at all the instruments headed for my mouth freak me out). She manages to rip off two of my bands (the bands have to come off to be replaced by the bands attached to the new appliance). At my March adjustment this hurt a lot, was very time consuming, and they never actually did come off all the way. Yesterday, I was very lucky because they came off right away with minimal pain. She then scraped along my gum line to remove excess glue (she offered to numb me and my stomach sank with that offer--I thought if I need to be numb how much worse is it going to hurt? No pain at all!). Then my wire was pulled out and let me just say I always feared that my wire could just come right off... nope, much like my bands this wire was stuck in there and wasn't coming loose. Finally, it had to be cut off... wires out, bands off, it's appliance time... not so quick. The appliance didn't fit... so I hear words of doom "I'll get the Doctor to come and prepare that tooth, because the appliance isn't fitting". No, no, no... I like my Ortho but she's a lot rougher than her assistants. Quick, but rough... and then I started thinking "what does 'prepare' mean? are they gonna shave the tooth, what, what ,what?" Another assistant walks into the room and she fires up the laser (which does good work, but I wasn't prepared to be lasered), changes the hand pieces around and starts opening up bags (you know the sound of new/sterile instruments being opened). I couldn't ask any questions because I was told to keep my mouth closed over the suction hose.

My Ortho took what seemed to be a long time to get back there... I tried focusing on the relaxing music that was playing and the Lumineers poster on the ceiling. After a few minuets of that I decided that the relaxing music was more annoying than relaxing, I didn't care about Lumineers, and I was starting to think I didn't care about straight teeth. Finally, she walked in, taped me on the arm, and asked how I was doing. Before I could ask any questions she yanked off another band with one loud "crunch" (painful but very, very, quick). And figured out the reason the appliance didn't fit was because it was made with the wrong sized bands.

Whew ... no new appliance for me! At least not yet, I got to take another impression--which was actually very refreshing. I used to hate the impressions as a kid (and it's one of the big reasons I delayed treatment). Last night the impression material tasted so good--like a cool spearmint gum... mmmm. After the impression, it was time to put the molar bands back on (two of the four, anyway) along with my wire and some spacers to keep the space open where the bands go. It ran rather smoothly, though time consuming... and I think I swallowed a spacer around 4:47 this moring when I woke up and felt "food" stuck in my mouth and figured "The alarm's gonna go off in a few minuets anyway, I'll brush it out then".

So there you have it... the highlights of my April adjustment. Stay tuned for my May adjustment... it's gonna be all kinds of fun, I get the new appliance, new wire, new molar bands, and a deep cleaning--all of this sans Novocain or whatever "Cain" product they actually use these days!

I'll try to get an update pic posted later this week... though there haven't been any major changes to my smile.

Edit:Here's my April adjustment pic...

[Danielle]

Danielle's got a new appliance--and this one didn't come from Sears!

Time for yet another update! Yesterday was my 9 month braces anniversary and my May adjustment. I have to say I was much more nervous about this adjustment than I have been in recent memory... luckily it all went fairly smooth!

I arrived at my appointment the usual five minunets early... sat down across from two kids who had juice boxes and balloons (seriously). I was called in not too long after that to be greeted by my second favorite assistant and a UPS box from Universal Dental Laboratory that said "Daniel [my last name]." At this point I just have to laugh as to how many times people mispronounce or misspell my name... I've answered to "Daniel" so many times! Anyway, I took a look at the appliance and my molds and prepared myself... I asked a few questions... and, yes, I'm stuck wearing this thing until my treatment is over. On the plus side I don't get a deep cleaning until July. The assistant cut my wire off (they never just pop off like they're supposed to) and placed the appliance in. After a whole lot of "bite down" the appliance was in and not too uncomfortable. Then my Dentist/Orthodontist walked in and greeted me--I normally dread seeing her because she usually adds to whatever needs to be done. This time she added wearing elastics.

The assistant took the appliance off in preparation of the cement. I brushed for the first time without wire and it felt really, really weird. I hoped back into the chair and had the appliance cemented in and the new wire put on... a few "ouches" later it was time to work on the elastics and by that I mean work. It took the assistant a while to get the elastic in and she had to build some sort of wire thing that goes around one of my molar bands... it took me almost as long to get the hang of putting the wire in myself. My mistake was in trying to only use the little tool they handed me... I didn't want to put my finger in my mouth without washing my hands... but finally I just thought forget it and used my finger and the tool and I got the elastic in.

Last night and early this moring I had the usual pain/soreness accompanied by a new wire but nothing too major. I was able to eat lunch (though it was fairly soft) without too many problems... brushing out my lunch was another story. Just when I had gotten this whole brushing and flossing thing to a managable time--they go and reset me back to how I was the first few weeks in terms of eating and brushing. Oh, well. As of right now I haven't had too many issues. Talking is a little more difficult--I have my "first couple of weeks in braces lisp" back. So, so far so good!

I just hope I'm not singing a different tune tomorrow! I'll try to get an update pic--maybe even including the new expander--sometime this weekend.

Okay, I'd like to point out that this post would be a lot better if I didn't loose all the bolds and italics during spell check in another program. Also, edited to say here I am whining about spell check and upon re-reading this post it doesn't even look like I spell checked it!

Edited to include my expander picture:

And my usual monthly photo:



Ah, I'm just gonna say it--MY PROGRESS SO FAR ROCKS!!! Yes, I know my midline is still way off--and might always be--and there's still a long way to go... but I'm just thrilled so far!

[Miss Smiley]

How exciting for you! Many new toys to have fun with.

[Danielle]

Kerin : If I was talking to you, your name would end up sounding like that! I have to admit, I'm a little lost--how do you pronounce it? Like Car-in? Anyway, thanks for the little passage. I've been talking to myself a little more than usual and I'm almost back to normal.

As far as being positive goes... I can't help but be postive. I was talking to my mom right before my appointment and I was saying how much I didn't want to go, but then the very next thought in my mind was how much I've progressed (so far) and how it's not actually bad at all.

Miss Smiley: My new "toy" is great at catching food and making my flossing more challanging. As long as it gets the job done it can catch all the food it wants!

Ken: I was staring at it again on Friday... While I think it looks more like a couch... I noticed that it looks like there could be a blured plant or tree behind it... Hmm... the mystery continues! It could become one of those "Where's Waldo" kinda pictures for us and every month we could look for more clues to help solve our mystery.

[Danielle]

Just got back from a two and a half hour visit at the Ortho!


Luckly, it wasn't all bad. The "highlights" include three new molar bands and spending a great deal of time trying to figure out how to get my rubber band under my lower expander and hooked on two hooks I can't see on the bottom band and two I can't see on the top band. Yeah, good times.

For the most part it was pain free... but this month is the fourth month in a row where I've had to have at least two molar bands removed--not exactly easy--and put back on. The most difficult and time consuming part was trying to figure out how to get a rubber band under my expander and between my expander and my molar band where it hooks on. My Ortho, her assistant, and myself were stumped. The assistant finally figured out that if we floss it under the expander and stretch it over the band it might just work--and it did... for her. It was a different story for me--it took a long, long, time but I finally got it to stretch and hook. I'm just dreading taking it off and having to put it back on again. Guess it's time to start budgeting even more time to my teeth. Oh, well. On the plus side, I was told that my treatment is moving along ahead of schedule.

And, they were "showing me off" to a prospective patient. She didn't think traditional braces could help her. I met her briefly while my doctor showed her my molds and asked me to bite down and open wide to show my progress. She appeared to be concerened about having a full metal mouth... the odd thing is her teeth looked fine to me... I guess we're always our own worst critics.

I see my camera sitting about two feet away from me but I'm being lazy... I'll try to get some update pics posted this week.


Edited to include my updated pics:

[Danielle]

That elastic does sound challenging. Hopefully with some practise it will become easier to get on and off!

At this point "challenging" is way too mild. It takes me a good twenty minuets to get it in and another ten minuets to take it off. Both procedures include scissors and the rubber band snapping back at me! It was so hard I didn't wear it to work on Wednesday (I ran out of time and had to leave). The good thing is I can see this taking away my wanting to snack or munch on something here and there... once the band is in it's only getting removed for major meals.

[Meloho]

You story is amazing, Danielle, and what progress you've made! I love how detailed you are in describing your ortho visits...very fun to read. Just wondering though, as I can't really tell from your post what the new elastic will do. Boy though, I thought 1-2 minutes fussing with my elastics was bad, nevermind 10-20 minutes for you. I'd quit snacking too if I were in yours...good luck and I look forward to reading more!

[Danielle]

I can't really tell from your post what the new elastic will do.

Meloho: First of all, thanks for the compliments! To answer your question I think the elastic is applying extra pressure to try to move a stubborn molar into position. Last month I wore the elastic on the opposite side and now it's been changed to the inside... I don't have a whole lot of information other than my Ortho always saying "I'll be happy when we get that molar to move!"

Karen:I was told that if I couldn't take it (in terms of wearing the elastic) it would just delay my treatment. My plan is to work on getting it down to a reasonable time and if that doesn't happen then I'll ask my Ortho at my July adjustment just how much it will slow my progress down if I can't wear it. At this point if I can keep working at it--I'd like to keep it in... I just really want my treatment to stay on track. Throughout my treatment I've always been told "if you can't handle it" or "if it's too much" come back and let us know. I heard that when I got molar build ups, when I got what I know now to be the strongest wire, etc. The first week of molar build ups and strong wire were difficult but I'm glad I didn't go back and say "I can't take it." Hopefully, I'll have the same kind of outcome with the elastics.

[Lil Sunshine]

I would like to say thank you for posting pics and giving such great detail to your treatment this far. My teeth are quite crowded and overlapped like yours where and it has given me the reassurance that my teeth can and will be fixed in hopefully a few months like yours.

Look forward to reading more updates.

[Danielle]

I would like to say thank you for posting pics and giving such great detail to your treatment this far. My teeth are quite crowded and overlapped like yours where and it has given me the reassurance that my teeth can and will be fixed in hopefully a few months like yours.

Thank you! I basically started my braces story blog for two reasons: To help someone out there reading who thought braces don't work in difficult cases and to have a little fun. I've always enjoyed sharing and reading about everyone else--exchanging experiences and support... and now someone is actually reassured by my case. I don't want to get all dramatic on you, but now I feel like "mission accomplished." I'll look forward to reading all about your journey as well!

[Danielle]

July Update!

Earlier this afternoon was my July adjustment and not since my February adjustment have I had an appointment go so smoothly! I was greeted with "Happy Birthday Danielle" from all of the assistants when I arrived (one even plucked a yellow flower from their vase for me). And the appointment stayed on a relaxing note. The only weird thing was the whole office broke into doing "the conga" a few minuets after I arrived... they came in my treatment room and put a purple feather boa and furry hat on me and invited me to join in (I kinda regret that I declined). Apparantly, they were celebrating someone getting her braces removed... I'm so looking forward to doing the conga when it's my turn!

Anyway, I had one bracket repositioned and a cleaning--then I was out the door!

As a side note to anyone reading the posts above this one... I've gotten getting my rubber band into place down to a science! It takes less than three minuets to go in and a few seconds to be cut off!

I'll get some progress pics posted later this week.