Starfish's braces

[starfish88]

I agree...I was prescribed some for the start of my dental work - including getting my wisdom teeth out before braces. I don't need it for ortho appointments anymore - only for dentist visits. But despite that I would love to manage without it. I just don't know why this fear is getting worse again.

[Dee17]

If you have a therapist, ask him. You might also want to ask him about prescribing an SSRI. Like I told you, being on this medication has made the world of difference for me with my anxiety. I didn't sleep for 4 months, that's how bad it was! Good luck!

[starfish88]

Check-up and clean all done - all good! And now I feel a fool again for freaking out! I guess the Valium doesn't help because of the slight amnesia affect which makes me forget how great all the staff are at my dentists! So this can serve as a little memo to me...THEY ARE AMAZING! My challenge for next time is to need no anti-anxiety meds! It's just a cleaning after all and I even had the guts to rebook after this appointment! Progress!

[Tobilei]

I take valium on occasion (also have xanax). Particularly before major dental work! I think it's okay as long as you're not taking it on a regular basis. Glad you made it through! I'm okay with the ortho, but send me to the dentist and I'm a gibbering mess :s

[starfish88]

Would it be lame to make a ticker counting down to the night before my next adjustment when I can have a curry? I have an adjustment Wednesday 3rd April and I don't know if I'll need another powerchain or get wireties etc but I can cope for 12 hours with a yellow powerchain just incase I have another 6 to 8 weeks of no curry! So Tuesday 2nd is Curry night! 8 days to go!

[starfish88]

So I had my adjustment today. Not much happened just a new powerchain but afterards I had to go to the x-ray place and get my x-rays done again. I guess that means I'm half way since at the beginning he said I would do x-rays at the half way point to check up on everything. For some reason I'm a bit nervous of what these x-rays will show...like it will all be wrong and loads of problems - even though thats probably silly! I'm still really scared I'll need extractions even though looking at my bite its getting a bit too close together now!

A bit dissapointed I couldn't get a coloured powerchain...apparently even the kids want clears so they don't order colours anymore! So no curry for another 6 weeks...cry! I did get curry last night though and it as amazing although I'm incredibly glad my adjustment was first thing this morning as my powerchain looked so gross after!

I really am impressed ith my teeth now! I can't believe how bad they looked at the beginning! Apparently I'll get a detailing wire at my next appointment - I can't remember if that as for upper or lower and I'm not sure if thats the same thing as a finishing wire? But there are signs of light at the end of the tunnel after all!

[Tobilei]

They're looking SO good!!! And lol, I went in this time and requested wire ties instead of ligs so I could eat all the curry I want (winter is on it's way). Instead I walked out with a powerchain (he gave me silver but I still don't trust it with curry, I think I'll do what you did and eat it the night before i get it changed). So not lame to have a ticker countdown to curry

[Dee17]

Hi starfish88,
Your teeth are really starting to look spectacular! You must be very happy. Too bad about the curry, though. I got a clear powerchain in February -- go back for my next adjustment next Monday. I don't eat a lot of curry so it's not a big deal to me. I do drink coffee (two cups each morning). He said it would probably stain from the coffee but so far I haven't noticed any staining.
Anyway, your pictures look terrific!!

[starfish88]

Hi! Sorry I didn't reply to you Dee - I have had so many computer nightmares since I last posted. My interenet got shut off for 3 weeks because the internet company couldn't get any engineers to fix it. Then when I finally got my internet back on my keyboard stuffed up and I had no I, K, L,J,M keys! So annoying. I kept writing messages and giving up half way through when they were all garbled nonesense! Its all fixed now but today me steam mop broke. I'm starting to think I'm in the Bermuda Triangle (despite being on the other side of the world!)

Off to the ortho tomorrow for my next adjustment. He said something about finishing/detailing wires that looked a bit different but only on one arch - can't remember which one though - both look pretty good so I don't know which one is closer to finished! I was meant to go get curry tonight with the fiance incase I get more powerchains. But he had to work late so I haven't had my curry. I warned him, woe betide him if I get more powerchains on the tops! I have already decided if I need them on the bottoms (metal) I'll just get the grey and gorge myself on curry.

My ortho also said something about moving some of the brackets to do the last bits of alignment and stuff. I knew I would need it on 1 tooth as it was a bit sunk in so they just stuck a bracket on where they could, now the tooth is up the bracket needs repositioning - but it sounds like I'll need it on more than 1 tooth. A bit scared it will hurt although my teeth don't feel sensitive at all and I'm wondering if thats why I got very little stuff done at my last appointment. I also get to hear what my ortho thought of my x-ray - getting really nervous now although I have no idea why.

[Dee17]

Hi Starfish,
I was also having lots of computer problems. Nearly drove me around the bend. After spending $300.00, I now have a new computer that is up and running beautifully. Thank goodness! I really hate when things like that go wrong. I'm so bad. I don't care how things work or why they work but when I turn the "on" button on, I just want it to work!!
I am also going for an adjustment tomorrow. I'm pretty sure they are going to put the rest of the brackets on my back molars. I haven't had any brackets there since the beginning. I've thought they were going to do it for a long time but they haven't so far. So, we'll see. Truthfully, I'm not looking forward to getting those back brackets because it's just going to make flossing more difficult.
I hope you will eventually get your curry and that when you do, you enjoy it!
Dee

[starfish88]

Good luck with your back brackets Dee. I haven't found mine as annoying as I expected - were pro flossers now! I do remember I had to go back down to a thinner wire when I got mine which was my main annoyance - I thought it was slowing down progress. My ortho soon reassured me I was't though! I went back down to that same thin wire on the bottom AGAIN today as I got some brackets re-positioned but I can reassure myself that we're not slowing down treatement. I also didn't get my detailing wire because of the moving of the brackets...have to wait till next time.

On the plus side the ortho assistant is pretty sure we'll be done by Christmas! Yay - only one Christmas and birthday in braces! Which means I'll hit my upper estimate of 18 months pretty much dead on!

Getting brackets repositioned wasn't as bad as I thought. I had 3 moved - the rest he said he could detail with wire bends instead. Removing the brackets was painful for about 1 second the rest was just fear they would pull my teeth out. Plus they said I won't have as much movement from now on so when it comes to debanding then they won't be as sensitive as they are now. They are killing now where they moved the brackets, feels almost as bad as the first day of braces again (but just in those 3 teeth)! Plus that means the last few teeth to fall in line should be doing so soon!

Unluckily for my boyfriend I got powerchains AGAIN. So 8 weeks of no curry. But I don't have to wear my elastics even at night now - yay! I officially don't have an overjet! There have been some people on the main forum saying that without surgery will they get a corrected overjet so I hope that this gives them some hope. I started out with 12mm of overjet and now I my teeth are a bit too close together!

So as always the progress of my teeth:

[Dee17]

Judging by your photos, Starfish, I would say that I think your teeth are going to look amazing when you're all finished. Can't wait for the final unveiling!
I am really hoping they will put those brackets on my back molars despite my worries about flossing woes. I am anxious for things to really start moving, you know? I've been in these braces now for more than six months without many noticeable results yet. So, I'm anxious to get going already!!

[Angel269]

Looking great Starfish

[starfish88]

Don't worry Dee - I never believed it either but time in braces just flys by after the 6 month mark because it all becomes so normal you aren't even thinking about it. I was told I was looking at 6 months left and I couldn't believe it! You get up to the thicker wires around that point it seems and everything just 'happens' really quickly!

Thanks Angel. I was so inspired by your end result - It was amazing. I can't wait to get there too!

[Dee17]

Yes, I know you're right. To be honest, I've really pretty much even stopped looking in the mirror to "check". I've pretty much resigned myself to being in these things for another 18 months and it will be what it will be.