Wonky to Wonderful: My Smile Renovation

If you want to share the detailed saga of your braces story, this is the place to do it. You can use this forum as a braces journal, editing and updating your posts as your treatment goes on. Remember to also visit the main ArchWired.com site for additional stories from other readers!

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cdmoses6
Posts: 151
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2015 8:52 am
Location: Kansas

Wonky to Wonderful: My Smile Renovation

#1 Post by cdmoses6 »

"You're teeth aren't really crooked, they're just not in the right place."

My loving husband said this to me the other day. As you can imagine, it wasn't exactly the most comforting notion. I have been embarrased about my teeth since I was about 13 and really started noticing myself. However, I knew that we were poor and braces were expensive, so I never even asked my parents for them. I was lucky if my parents were able to afford taking me to a regular dentist! But I just knew that some day I would be able to get braces.

And here we are! I am 3 months shy of 24, and will be getting braces on March 6th. I am so thrilled but at the same time, very anxious. My husband and I are purchasing our first home together, closing February 26th, and I am praying that no crazy expenses pop up that would wipe out the down payment I have been saving so that I can afford the monthly payments. My braces will be very close to $6,000 so with $1,500 paid by insurance, and $1,000 down, the remainder ($3,500) spread over 20 months would be $175/month. Manageable.

So how did we get here?

I graduated college in May of 2013. Moved back home with my husband (then boyfriend of 4 years) and began our job searches. I landed a job with the county at the end of July. AMAZING benefits!! Woo woo! So, now I know my dental ins. will cover $1,500. Great. But, I still have my wisdom teeth, and know they will need to come out first. So I meet with my dentist, have him refer me, and I get my wisdom teeth out on January 17th, 2014. Now, we are getting married on April 12th, 2014. I DO NOT want braces in my wedding pictures. So they are post-poned until after that. April comes and goes, and around May I set up my first ortho consultation. My dentist referred me to two places, and I pick the one that is only 5 minutes from my work. I go in, get the consultation, I'm happy with the treatment plan and cost, and agree to set up my next appointment to get started. I have one month to save $700 for a down payment. A few weeks later... my husband loses his job :( :ThumbsDown:

So... that definitely put things on hold.

Fast forward to August 2014. My husband has a new job, things are looking up. I set up some new appointments to see what my options are. I have 2 more consultations. One I really liked the treatment plan, but they were rigid with their financial plan, and would cost me $240/month! Yikes! The last place I go is by far the nicest facility. The staff were great, and the technology was most up-to-date. They were also the most expensive, but not by much. They will let me put down as much or as little as I want, then we can split the rest across 20 months. Love it. Now I still have to come up with $1,000.

Well, it wasn't as easy as I thought... I decided it would be best to wait until we got our tax returns. Fast forward to now! I filed them 1/30/15, and received them 2/06/15. Definitely a great bonus! So I set up my appointment ASAP! I knew that it wouldn't look good to go spending $1,000 while in the process of closing on this house. So, I had to schedule for a week and a day after we are supposed to close. March 6th. Whew! That only took forever and a day... Hopefully no more fiascos between now and then so I don't have to postpone any longer!

I haven't quite figured out how to add pictures, but I will post my "before's" as soon as I can!
Can't wait to go from wonky to wonderful! :D

cdmoses6
Posts: 151
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2015 8:52 am
Location: Kansas

Re: Wonky to Wonderful: My Smile Renovation

#2 Post by cdmoses6 »

Hoping this works! The pics aren't showing up in the "preview" option, but I don't know what else to do?

My Smile
[URL=https://imageshack.com/i/idHIOfvTj][IMG]http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/320x240q90/661/HIOfvT.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Open
[URL=https://imageshack.com/i/p9LCmSOej][IMG]http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/320x240q90/909/LCmSOe.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Closed Bite
[URL=https://imageshack.com/i/idNhrRFEj][IMG]http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/320x240q90/661/NhrRFE.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Bottom View of Bite
[URL=https://imageshack.com/i/ipekPLkoj][IMG]http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/320x240q90/673/ekPLko.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Side One
[URL=https://imageshack.com/i/f0qTmF2lj][IMG]http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/320x240q90/540/qTmF2l.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Side Two
[URL=https://imageshack.com/i/pacOHy8pj][IMG]http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/320x240q90/910/cOHy8p.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

KayKay
Posts: 148
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2015 9:53 pm
Location: Texas

Re: Wonky to Wonderful: My Smile Renovation

#3 Post by KayKay »

I think your pics will show up once you've been a member a bit longer. Browse around and participate in discussions. You will learn a bunch while you make new braces friends.
Looking forward to the new smile,
KayKay


Image

Image

cdmoses6
Posts: 151
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2015 8:52 am
Location: Kansas

Re: Wonky to Wonderful: My Smile Renovation

#4 Post by cdmoses6 »

I sure hope so!! Thanks! :)

cdmoses6
Posts: 151
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2015 8:52 am
Location: Kansas

Re: Wonky to Wonderful: My Smile Renovation

#5 Post by cdmoses6 »

Yay!! My pictures are finally working!
These are all of my befores. Class II Division II overbite and crowding. It's hard to imagine that I will get to have straight teeth. It just seems too good to be true!

My Smile
Image

Open

Image

Closed Bite

Image

Bottom View of Bite

Image

Side One

Image

Side Two

Image
Braces on March 6th, 2015
Metal Empower self-ligating brackets, upper and lower
Class II, Division II overbite with crowding
Upper 2nd premolars extracted May 1st, 2015
First Powerchain and Class II Manatee Elastics June 15th, 2015
TADs placed July 27th, 2015
Box Manatee Elastics April 1st, 2016
Teeth shaping May 4th, 2016


My Progress: http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... =9&t=48229

cdmoses6
Posts: 151
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2015 8:52 am
Location: Kansas

Re: Wonky to Wonderful: My Smile Renovation

#6 Post by cdmoses6 »

I just realized I will be getting my braces on the same day as Winter Jam :shock: I am a little worried, as I know it will probably be loud! Especially the last band, Skillet; they are pretty rocky. I'm sure it would just be lovely to feel some bass reverberating through my sore teeth! I really look forward to Winter Jam every year, and would hate to miss out.

I get my braces on around 11am that day, and the concert starts at 7pm.

Has anyone ever gone to a concert the same day you got your braces?
Braces on March 6th, 2015
Metal Empower self-ligating brackets, upper and lower
Class II, Division II overbite with crowding
Upper 2nd premolars extracted May 1st, 2015
First Powerchain and Class II Manatee Elastics June 15th, 2015
TADs placed July 27th, 2015
Box Manatee Elastics April 1st, 2016
Teeth shaping May 4th, 2016


My Progress: http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... =9&t=48229

crocodile
Posts: 43
Joined: Mon Nov 18, 2013 2:12 pm

Re: Wonky to Wonderful: My Smile Renovation

#7 Post by crocodile »

Hi - I stumbled across your pics and they are very similar to my before pics! I'm just over a year in braces, have about six more months to go.

Your teeth are nicely shaped, I think your smile will be perfect in the end!

If you are curious, here is a link to my pics
http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... 1&start=30

Have a nice day!

cdmoses6
Posts: 151
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2015 8:52 am
Location: Kansas

Re: Wonky to Wonderful: My Smile Renovation

#8 Post by cdmoses6 »

crocodile wrote:Hi - I stumbled across your pics and they are very similar to my before pics! I'm just over a year in braces, have about six more months to go.

Your teeth are nicely shaped, I think your smile will be perfect in the end!

If you are curious, here is a link to my pics
http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... 1&start=30

Have a nice day!
Wow! :o Just read through your thread and your teeth are looking awesome!! :D Our "before's" are definitely similar! I just hope our progress will be similar as well! Such a tremendous change in the first 4 months. Looks like you got off a little easier than I will though. I am having 2 extractions on the top (premolars) and TAD's to hold my molars in place while my front teeth are pulled back to help with the resulting overbite after flaring my front teeth back out. Although, I would probably much rather have TAD's than a Nance appliance thing. I'm guessing they'll be much easier to clean ;)

I am now exactly 2 weeks away from getting started! Getting anxious! :)
Braces on March 6th, 2015
Metal Empower self-ligating brackets, upper and lower
Class II, Division II overbite with crowding
Upper 2nd premolars extracted May 1st, 2015
First Powerchain and Class II Manatee Elastics June 15th, 2015
TADs placed July 27th, 2015
Box Manatee Elastics April 1st, 2016
Teeth shaping May 4th, 2016


My Progress: http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... =9&t=48229

cdmoses6
Posts: 151
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2015 8:52 am
Location: Kansas

Re: Wonky to Wonderful: My Smile Renovation

#9 Post by cdmoses6 »

So today marks one last week until I officially join the club. It seems strange... getting braces is something I have seriously wanted for SO long, and I am finally going to reach that goal. I have literally been dreaming of braces lately. Most of the time, they are stress dreams about them falling out. Once, I was being kidnapped, and I told the person we couldn't leave yet until I put in my elastics, but I could only find one elastic. Then the kidnapper helped me find a second one, but when I tried to put them on, they were too big and wouldn't have done anything. That same dream I also had diamond brackets... I wish that was an option because they were actually pretty sweet. :o
Braces on March 6th, 2015
Metal Empower self-ligating brackets, upper and lower
Class II, Division II overbite with crowding
Upper 2nd premolars extracted May 1st, 2015
First Powerchain and Class II Manatee Elastics June 15th, 2015
TADs placed July 27th, 2015
Box Manatee Elastics April 1st, 2016
Teeth shaping May 4th, 2016


My Progress: http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... =9&t=48229

Loopyman76
Posts: 41
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2014 3:25 pm

Re: Wonky to Wonderful: My Smile Renovation

#10 Post by Loopyman76 »

LOL! Your dreams are pretty hilarious! :lol:

I kinda like the idea of diamond brackets. That would be neat. Also I think platinum would be cool. LOL. Best wishes to you as you join the "brace face" club! I'll be getting braced either April 30th or May 1st. I love this board because it reminds me that I'm not the only one who obesses and dreams about braces now that I've decided to take the plunge! I look forward to seeing your great progress! :)

Bracesat57
Posts: 187
Joined: Mon Oct 20, 2014 11:48 am

Re: Wonky to Wonderful: My Smile Renovation

#11 Post by Bracesat57 »

Good luck! You will not regret your decision. Just think of how great your teeth will look in just a few short months! It is an exciting process!
Image

Braces installed October 2, 2014
Braces removed May 17, 2016

cdmoses6
Posts: 151
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2015 8:52 am
Location: Kansas

Re: Wonky to Wonderful: My Smile Renovation

#12 Post by cdmoses6 »

Loopyman76 wrote:LOL! Your dreams are pretty hilarious! :lol:

I kinda like the idea of diamond brackets. That would be neat. Also I think platinum would be cool. LOL. Best wishes to you as you join the "brace face" club! I'll be getting braced either April 30th or May 1st. I love this board because it reminds me that I'm not the only one who obesses and dreams about braces now that I've decided to take the plunge! I look forward to seeing your great progress! :)
Haha, yeah I usually have pretty ridiculous dreams :) at least they are very entertaining! lol

Sometimes I feel like I should be forced to stand at a podium, and announce... "Hello, my name is Courtney and I am obsessed with braces." :oops:

I think it's just such an exciting thing to know that there is a big part of you (Um, ya know RIGHT in the MIDDLE of your face!!) that you don't like that you can take control of to change. It's self improvement. And it's pretty much a guarantee that the end result is going to be way better! So yeah, it's probably totally normal to become slightly obsessed with ;) at least that's what I tell myself...
Bracesat57 wrote:Good luck! You will not regret your decision. Just think of how great your teeth will look in just a few short months! It is an exciting process!
Thanks! I am super excited and cannot wait to finally get some progress going! Only 3 more days!!!! AHHH!!! :dance:
Braces on March 6th, 2015
Metal Empower self-ligating brackets, upper and lower
Class II, Division II overbite with crowding
Upper 2nd premolars extracted May 1st, 2015
First Powerchain and Class II Manatee Elastics June 15th, 2015
TADs placed July 27th, 2015
Box Manatee Elastics April 1st, 2016
Teeth shaping May 4th, 2016


My Progress: http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... =9&t=48229

cdmoses6
Posts: 151
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2015 8:52 am
Location: Kansas

Re: Wonky to Wonderful: My Smile Renovation

#13 Post by cdmoses6 »

Less than 24 hours to go!! Ahhhh!!!! :dance: :jump:

Can you tell I'm excited? Cause I am... very excited :crazy:

Hoping everything goes smoothly tomorrow. I am a little worried as to my treatment plan. It has been about 7 months since my consultation with my ortho, and I still have some questions. I know a lot more about braces (thanks to this site and Youtube) and therefor have a lot more questions. Mainly revolving around my extractions and TADs. I really hope the TADs will be on my outer gums and not on my palate :? Also, I don't want my lips to get sunken in as I already have a good profile and I like my lips the way they are! I really hope I will have an opportunity to discuss all of this tomorrow with my ortho.

OH! I just realized something that maybe is not so great... The clinic I am going to has 2 locations and 3 orthodontists who work together. I had my consultation with one guy, but I am getting my braces put on by a different guy. Depending on availability, there is a chance I could see a different ortho every time I have an adjustment! Of course, I will do whatever I can to make sure I see the same one every time once I get started (whoever that may be). But I don't know if I will be able to or not. I am very worried how all 3 of them are going to stay on the same page with everything. Has anyone else had an experience like this???
Braces on March 6th, 2015
Metal Empower self-ligating brackets, upper and lower
Class II, Division II overbite with crowding
Upper 2nd premolars extracted May 1st, 2015
First Powerchain and Class II Manatee Elastics June 15th, 2015
TADs placed July 27th, 2015
Box Manatee Elastics April 1st, 2016
Teeth shaping May 4th, 2016


My Progress: http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... =9&t=48229

TheProfessor
Posts: 441
Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2014 9:03 pm

Re: Wonky to Wonderful: My Smile Renovation

#14 Post by TheProfessor »

There are two orthos at the place I go to. I didn't ask to meet the second when I did my consultation since i assumed that I would always have "my" ortho (the older, more experienced one). I've had 6 adjustments, 4 have been with my ortho and two with the other. He is also nice and seems to know what he's doing, but I prefer my ortho. I think they should have told me from the beginning that two different people would be treating me, but I trust that they are both on the same page with regard to my treatment plan. You can probably request that your appointments are always with the same ortho, but you will probably sometimes have a sub due to vacation schedules, etc.

Good luck tomorrow! I hope you are eating all the forbidden hard, sticky foods this evening :tingrin:
Braces installed on March 25, 2014: Damon clears on top and metal on bottom.
I had braces for 25 months!

Image
Image

cdmoses6
Posts: 151
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2015 8:52 am
Location: Kansas

Re: Wonky to Wonderful: My Smile Renovation

#15 Post by cdmoses6 »

TheProfessor wrote:There are two orthos at the place I go to. I didn't ask to meet the second when I did my consultation since i assumed that I would always have "my" ortho (the older, more experienced one). I've had 6 adjustments, 4 have been with my ortho and two with the other. He is also nice and seems to know what he's doing, but I prefer my ortho. I think they should have told me from the beginning that two different people would be treating me, but I trust that they are both on the same page with regard to my treatment plan. You can probably request that your appointments are always with the same ortho, but you will probably sometimes have a sub due to vacation schedules, etc.

Good luck tomorrow! I hope you are eating all the forbidden hard, sticky foods this evening :tingrin:
Thanks! I am kind of bummed because my favorite thing of all time (chips and queso) will be on sale for $00.08 today at Carlos O'Kellys, but my braces go on at 10:45am, so I will definitely not get to eat any :cry: BUT they are also having $1.08 margaritas!! I think I can definitely have one (or two... or three?) of those :P

I am going to try and start eating healthier, with much less snacking, once I get my braces on. So as much as I may regret it a few months from now, I have not indulged on any of my favorite soon-to-be-forbidden foods (gummy worms, caramel, pecans, popcorn, etc.) However, I did hear that some people eat whatever they want right before an adjustment because they know they will be in to have their ortho fix whatever damage they do right away. Seems a little Machiavellian to me, but not such a bad idea :wink:
Braces on March 6th, 2015
Metal Empower self-ligating brackets, upper and lower
Class II, Division II overbite with crowding
Upper 2nd premolars extracted May 1st, 2015
First Powerchain and Class II Manatee Elastics June 15th, 2015
TADs placed July 27th, 2015
Box Manatee Elastics April 1st, 2016
Teeth shaping May 4th, 2016


My Progress: http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... =9&t=48229

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