The Beginning...
When I was a little girl my parents used to beg me to go to the Orthodontist to get braces on my teeth. I never liked the idea of having metal mouth... I used to get made fun of enough in school without braces, I could only imagine how it would be if I had metallic brackets stretched across my face like some garbage disposal freak show! My parents would tell me they had made an appointment for the dentist and I would hide under my bed and cry out of fear of being picked on in school... I never had high self-esteem, I don't have good self-esteem now either but I learned over the years that my lack of self-esteem is almost directly related to my fear of smiling. Every time I smile i try to hide my teeth with my lips, just revealing a awkward gum smile... very UN-attractive. People say my teeth give me character and they love my beautiful smile, others say they never noticed my crooked front teeth, but I notice it every day and it has had such an impact on my life that I'm afraid to cut loose and be myself 24/7. I smile in the mirror and I don't see the person I am on the inside. I see a self conscious girl who is hiding in embarrassment, and at that point I cry...
Well I'm tired of hiding behind this fake smile and tired of feeling ugly, worrying about what other people would say if I had "metal mouth". I need to be concerned about myself and whats best for me and that is why I have finally decided, 10 years later at age 23, to get braces. I know its going to be a life changing obstacle but I'm willing to do my best to over come the hardships and criticism. This will be the best investment of my life and I can't wait to see that self conscious girl on the other side of the mirror finally smiling back at me...
I hope you all enjoy the story of my braces as it unfolds!
Plan I or Plan II
I went to Dr. Taylor in the beginning of May to see if the Damon Braces were right for me. He took the pictures of my teeth at the bottom of this blog, and as you can see they are fairly in need of some construction! So Dr. Taylor analyzed my teeth and brought the gum recession on my #24 central incisor to my attention. I never paid any mind to it because I can never see my bottom teeth when I smile.
So he told me that I have two plans: Plan I - remove tooth #24 or Plan II - Don't remove tooth #24. Before I make my decision I need to go see a Periodontist named Dr. William Claiborne to give me a better understanding of what my choice should be. I got to see him Thursday May 29 2008 at 10:30AM and I hope he tells me that I don't need to remove the tooth! He might want to do a gum graft but I'm so scared to see how much that might cost and how long that might take. Dr. Taylor said that even if I get a gum graft I might still lose that front tooth!!!
If worse come to worse, and I have to lose that front tooth, he said that I will only have a slight overbite that will go unnoticed. So losing a tooth might not be so bad, or so expensive!!!
Also my teeth next to my two front teeth... one is considerably smaller then the other and I will need it build up after my teeth are straightened! Dr. Taylor is going to leave a space there big enough to build it up to size... I'm afraid that might look ridiculous with that space there but anythings better then what i got now right! So I got to keep my chin up!
I decided to get Damon Braces instead of the normal braces with the rubber bands around each bracket! They take less time to work and Dr. Taylor said it will take about 16 to 20 months when with regular braces it would take me over 2yrs! crazyness huh? If you want more info on Damon Braces or Damon3 Braces (half clear half metal) check out http://www.damonbraces.com/.
Dr Taylor priced my entire treatment at about $4700 and my insurance will pay 50% of each of my monthly payments up to 1400 bucks! so that's good at least!! It may be expensive but its gonna be soooo worth it!! I can't wait!
I'm so nervous about this appointment with the Periodontist, but I'm very anxious as well! I can't wait to get the freaking ball rolling!
So here are the pictures of my teeth before any braces!!
Front:
Left:
Right:
Top:
Bottom:
Appointments!
I have never had to go to so many appointments in my life! I have so many I almost forgot about my appointment for my cleaning tomorrow at 10:00am! I go to Dr. Weis in Hendersonville, He is very nice and quite funny... But Dr. Taylor is hilarious and I'm so glad I chose to go to him for my braces. So the count down truely begins after tomorrow!! All I need is my cleaning and to make a decision with my periodontist and all should be a go at that point... I can't help but ponder constantly about how long it will be after Thursday until I can actually go in to get braces put on.
I couldn't sleep for crap last night because all I could think about was braces... I'm so anxious and excited I feel like I'm going to pop! I hope I don't have to remove my tooth... It would be so much better... and cheaper!... I'm sitting here hoping to hear my doctor say "Oh yeah that gum recession is mild and its seems as though the tooth is set in stone! It will be fine with braces no doubt!" But I know that it will most likely be needing to be removed, thus prolonging my braces :*(
Like I said before I got to keep my chin up and just wait till Thursday... even though its killing me and I'm losing sleep over it!! My head is spinning cause I'm so damn nervous! On a lighter note here is some pictures and info on the braces I'm so excited about getting!!!! Oooo I can't wait!
"The Damon System is not just a new product, it's a whole new way of treating patients. Conventional treatment often requires removal of healthy teeth and/or the use of palatal expanders to make space. This approach is often uncomfortable, takes longer, and can leave a narrower arch and a flat profile. Damon smiles are full, natural 10-tooth smiles achieved with light biologically-sensible forces, and are specifically designed to improve the overall facial result of each patient.Braces are the beginning, but the system makes the smile.Certified Damon System doctors combine three key components, which when used together, deliver faster treatment, fewer appointments, greater comfort, and consistent high-quality results:1. Damon passive self-ligating braces that eliminate the need for elastic or metal "ties". With Damon tie-less braces you can experience treatment without tightening.2. Light high-technology shape-memory wires that move teeth faster and require fewer adjustments.3. A new clinically proven treatment approachthat aligns your teeth and enhances your facial aesthetics - usually without extractions or rapid palatal expanders.
Conventional braces on the left are tied in with elastics, which cause friction and pressure, making treatment slower and less comfortable. Damon braces use a slide mechanism to hold the wire, which allows teeth to move more freely, quickly and comfortably.
Damon braces are designed to be discreet, comfortable and easy to keep clean. Without the elastic ties which attract and collect plaque, Damon braces make dental hygiene easy during treatment."
Cleaning
I just got back from my cleaning about a half hour ago and it feels so weird! All the plaque is gone from the back of my lower teeth and I can really feel how crooked they really are. Its like my #24 isn't even attached to the rest of my teeth. The woman who cleaned my teeth was really nice and we were talking about my braces and she wished me luck and told me that its a great decision! I told her about the #24 and how I'm getting sick over the though of losing it, but she assured me it will be fine either way...
I can just imagine a big hole when I smile but then again I don't show my bottom teeth when I smile so it should be too bad .. i hope!!!!
I just love being re-assured of my choices, it makes me feel like I'm really on track. I guess that comes from having low self-esteem?? Who knows.. All I know is that its one day till I find out and I can't wait!!!
I'm going to write out my action plan from my Orthodntist in my next blog just for the fun of it
Results Of My Orthodontist Visit In The Beginning Of May
Back teeth are fitting normally
Upper and lower front teeth overlap mildly
The lower front teeth are moderately crowded
The Upper teeth are moderately crowded
Lower jaw front teeth are off center to the right 3mm
The upper right back teeth bite inside the lower right back teeth. #2,3,4 and #5 with #31,30,29 and #28
The upper dental arch becomes narrow at the front teeth
The lower dental arch is narrow at the front teeth
Partially blocked teeth present #5
Inwardly tipped front teeth: lower
Abnormally narrow teeth present #10
Tooth #32 has tissue covering 60% of the occlusal surface which could create a future oral hygiene problem
Gum tissue recession present: #24 - moderate
****Treatment Plan I****
No teeth need to be removed at this time
Treatment time is estimated to be 16-20 months
Metal braces on all upper and lower teeth
Rubber bands will be to be worn 24 hour daily with variable force and direction
We will widen the upper jaw to correct the posterior right cross bites with Damon braces
Long term removal or permanently attached (behind teeth) retention will be needed to keep the teeth straight
A through bone and gum tissue evaluation is suggested prior to the initiation of orthodontic treatment
We must insure that #24 is in healthy enough bone and gingival tissue to be successfully aligned. A tissue graft may be required. There is always the possibility that even with the most gentle orthodontic forces (Damon braces), that with slightly forward movement of #24 this tooth may have a worsening of the facial gingival health and need removal. If this is necessary we can either leave the space and align all teeth ideally and have future bridge/implant placed to maintain a "perfect" appearance and fit all teeth or we can change to plan II which involves closure of #24 space and a slightly compromise overbite and over jet with a normal bite of all side and back teeth.
NEEDED NOW:
THE FOLLOWING SPECIALIST EVALUATIONS ARE RECOMMENDED BEFORE INITIATING FUTURE ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT:
Please contact the following doctor for his evaluation of periodontal (gum tissue)
Be sure all teeth are free of decay
All teeth should be cleaned, if not done recently
Consider future removal of occlusal tissue covering 60% of #32
Treatment plan II
Removed teeth will create space for dental alignment
#24 - Lower left central incisor
Metal braces on all upper and lower teeth
Rubber bands will need to be worn 24 hour daily with variable force and direction
We will widen the upper jaw to correct the posterior right cross bites with Damon braces
Long term removable or permanently attached (behind teeth) retention will be needed to keep the teeth straight.
NEEDED NOW:
Be sure all teeth are free of decay
All teeth should be cleaned, if not done recently
Consider future removal of the occlusal tissue covering 60% of #32
Please have the following teeth removed:
#24 - lower left central incisor
Well that's about it in a nut shell!... now which plan will it be.... I'll find out tomorrow morning!!!! ahh!! so nervous!!!!
The Verdict...
I finally went to go see the periodontist yesterday and I was so nervous about what he was going to say! I had to wait, what seemed to be a life time, for him to come into the room. He looked at my teeth and told me to wait in his office.... yay more waiting!! So when he finally came in to his office I was sweating bullets. He told me not to remove the tooth because its very healthy and I have very healthy gums!! I was so relieved that he said that I felt all the stress melt away!
He said that the reason that my tooth is doing that is because it is so crooked and being pushed by the other teeth in the front of my mouth and braces would save the tooth. He recommends that I go ahead and get a "free gum graft" and not free as in price... He said that things are easier to prevent then correct so he said just in case I should cover it up. My insurance will cover a good deal of it so I'm not worried about price, but what I am worried about is how long it will take!!
Dr Claiborne wants me to wait until they contact me before we move forward with any type of treatment. I would rather go ahead and get the braces on and maybe a week or so later get the graft... I guess I'm just so anxious. He needs to talk to Dr. Taylor first before any thing and that means longer wait time! It always takes doctors FOREVER to call each other! I'm going to help push it along as much as possible... I want these braces!
Here is a general idea of what I'm hoping my teeth look like after a graft. Gotta love paint!
Still Waiting....
So I still haven't heard from either dentist... So I called Dr Taylor's office and they haven't heard from Dr Claiborne... I asked if I could get the braces on and they go ahead and get the graft maybe a week or so later and they said they would call me back... So now more waiting... I'll be writing again once I find out!!
OK Dr Taylor JUST called me and he said that we got to do a gum graft first but its going to take 4 weeks for it to heal!!!! OMG all this waiting is killing me!!! so i scheduled the remainder of my appointments... June 13Th at 9:00am I go to Dr Claiborne's office for the gum graft. July 10Th 7:30 am I go in for the spacers on my molars at Dr Taylor's office then finally I get my braces on July 21st 9:30 am (Can't forget my paperwork!)... it will be a 2hour appointment... And now I got to get that loan for $4760... Alright I'll be posting the outcome of the loan... I'm sooooo gonna beg my mom for help!
The Count-Down Begins!!
ALRIGHT! so here's the news... I have all my appointments scheduled!!!!! I was upset at first but at least now I KNOW!! June 13Th for graft July 10Th for spacers and the big to do.. July 21st!!
I had gotten approved for a loan but I decided not to get one because I can pay Dr Taylor directly and my mom agreed to loan me $800!! I'm going to go ahead and add to that $800 when I can so that way I can lower my monthly payments. My monthly payments are going to be approx 247.50 - 198 a month with the $800 deposit. My goal is to go ahead and add as much to my moms $800 by July 10Th so its easier for me to pay off.
Slow Days...
So the past couple of days since my last post have been DRAGGING!!!! I can't stand it! It feels like my braces are never going to happen! Its less then a week now before my gum graft... Which I'm not too thrilled about going... Here are some things I read on the internet about the whole procedure...
"I am now in recovery day 3 after a gum graft. My perio uses nitrous oxide so I was pretty relaxed thru the whole thing. Never felt any pain at all.
The perio made me a plastic stint to cover the roof of my mouth that protects the donor site and also is used to hold some numbing medicine (benzocaine I think) on the donor site.
About an hour or two after the procedure feeling returned to my mouth. Pain wasn't terrible and I only had to take a couple of Tylenol.
Biggest annoyance was bleeding. Roof of mouth bled a bit and there was some fairly heavy bleeding at the graft site but by day 2 most of that was gone.
Today both gums and roof of mouth are still a little sore and I'm getting totally bored with soft food but mouth seems to be getting better.
I go back in four days to get the sutures out. If I'm lucky the graft will have take.
Bottom line--it's not as bad as it sounds. No one likes to hear the phrase "donor area" but it's definitely bearable."
"I had 5 teeth grafted almost three weeks ago and my mouth is still hurting. I am still only eating soft foods. I don't want to disturb the grafts. I have two grafts -- one for one tooth on the bottom and another graft cover 4 teeth. Now the bandage is off and it feels like something is jabbing my gums. When will this go away.
This recession is genetic so I am just hoping that I am done with grafts for a while and my dentist does not find more recession when I go for a cleaning. I was in a great deal of pain for a week and a half.
The surgery is not that bad and it will be worth it in the long run. I did it to preserve my teeth. I went to the dentist on my own when I saw recession going too far. I'd do it again, but not right now. And as a result of all of this pain from surgery I am learning to brush my teeth much lighter. It is a genetic issue but my brushing my teeth 5 times a day did not help matters any."
Read more at http://www.experienceproject.com/group_stories.php?g=95
I hear a lot of different stories but I guess I wont know until I'm in the hot seat! [/img]
this hurts bad!
