Jenn's Braces Saga: THEY'RE OFF! Cavity issues. :(

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#76 Post by **jennandtonic** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 6:39 pm

Thank you Sweet L, KK, bracedagain, and Linda21! I will get to commenting on all your braces stories as soon as I finish this entry. It's been really, really hard because school just gets busier and busier! However, I found the time to do all this right now, we'll see how this goes.

Anyhow. Today was my 12th adjustment! It was not so eventful, but I hear talk like elastics MIGHT just be coming soon. The ortho assistant asked if I was at the elastics point yet, and Dr. Greer said 'not quite yet'...which means they have to be coming kind of soon, no?

Anyhow. They tightened the top wire, and I can definitely feel that. They also put two retractor hooks in, one on the top right, on the inside of my arch, and another on the bottom left on the inside of my arch. And there were some definite wire ties somewhere in there, because they're poking my cheeks as I type. Not so it hurts, just so I notice. And it looks like I'm back on the soft food diet for a little while, so hopefully this time I'll see the results of my pain!

I had them put on pink ligs because the purple kind of faded after awhile and I am more confident when I have the pink in, I just love how it looks on me, even if I'm the only one that notices that sort of thing, hahaha.

For next time, DECEMBER FOURTH, they are going to change my bottom archwire (yay!) and tighten the top wire again (not so yay, lol!).

Okay, here are the pics.

Here's the top teeth. If you look on the left, on the last bicuspid and the molar, that's the retractor hook they put in. It feels a bit like the spacers feel, though on the inside of my arch rather than between my teeth:

Right side:

Left side, and the GAP that I want to be closed ASAP!:

And my bottom teeth. This isn't a great picture, but my flash is too bright so this is the best you're gonna get. If you squint, to your right you can kind of see the retractor hook on the inside.

I cannot thank you all enough for the encouragement everyone has given me, I am feeling SO much more optimistic now.

#77 Post by **newmetal** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 6:45 pm

You have made really good progress mate. Its great that elastics look as though they are around the corner for you. Good luck for your next appointment.

Newmetal

#78 Post by **jennandtonic** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 7:07 pm

Linda21 Said:

Great adjustment jennandtonnic !

Be thankful you've been given a reprieve from elastics for just a little while longer! They're annoying little suckers. Sometimes I forget they're there, and so food I pop into my mouth meet with resistance, and I'll think "darn, damn elastics". They continue to do great work on my bite though, but that's the only good thing about them .

The pink ligs look great. Here's to getting onto the gap in the not too distant future! I know all about wanting to close gaps ASAP!

Gotta ask, but what are the retractors for? I haven't come across this term before nor the particular loop it creates.

Hope the soreness subsides soon enough for you, and here's too continued progress, especially hitting the elastic stage by your next appt.

I looked online for that term, and didn't find it either, so I'll just explain to you how it was explained to me.

Well, the retractor hooks have sort of the same function as powerchains, except with a little more force. Like when I had my powerchains in, the pain and the movement with them was nothing compared to when I have these hooks in. When I asked what these were supposed to do, the ortho assistant told me that they are moving those premolars back to help shorten my arch.

Now, as for the loops in my archwire, those are purely to push back my front teeth and close that darn top gap. She said as they tighten it I should start noticing a shorter arch and my gaps should start closing soon too.

Also, I don't think I'll have my elastics by next appointment--though that's always a dream! I'm hoping to have them by my 13 month anniversary in March.

#79 Post by **jennandtonic** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 5:19 pm

Hi all! I've been loaded with school work once again. Semester ends the week after this upcoming and I must say I CAN'T WAIT. I love school don't get me wrong, but I'll be so relieved to have my speech class over with.

Anyhow. Karen, you're right, as long as these retractor hooks do their job, it doesn't matter what they're called, haha. Which reminds me. The bottom left side of my archwire is poking out slightly, meaning two things. One, the retractor hook there has obviously worked because the wire needs to be shortened now, and TWO, it has been poking my cheek for the past four days! Ouch! I've tried pushing it back with an eraser, that hasn't worked, and wax won't stick on the end of it. Good thing my appointment is on Monday or else I'd go crazy!

Today is my TEN MONTH anniversary. As the estimate was 20-26 months, I could potentially be on my halfway point as of now. Very exciting! So, happy ten months to me!

As for other movement since my last appointment, I think I've noticed some movement on my left upper lateral incisor...scroll up, see the big gap I've been annoyed at? Yeah, I've seen a teeeeensy bit of movement back. Any movement is PROGRESS!

I'll post pictures after my adjustment on Monday.

As for tonight, I'm going to celebrate my 'anniversary' by watching my favorite American football team on TV. Boomer Sooner!

#80 Post by **Granola** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 11:55 pm

Happy 10-month anniversary, jennandtonic!

Can't wait to hear how your adjustment on Monday goes. Good luck!

#81 Post by **jennandtonic** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 4:12 pm

Granola, thank you! Ten months isn't so bad, at least, looking back. Hehe.

Linda21, thank you as well! They seem to be working pretty well, though as you know I was pretty mad there for awhile. I think once I asked my ortho what retractor hooks do and how they're supposed to start working I felt a little better. It's amazing how much asking questions really helps!

bracedagain, you had the closing loops too? I haven't yet seen them on anyone's braces pics in the forum, I wasn't sure if they were all that common, so that's why I ended up asking my ortho what they did. And you got that right about the ouchies! The two times they've tightened these, it hurt worse than when I first got braces! As an aside, I love your creative use of smilies in all your posts! Keep doing that!

Okay guys, today was my appointment. It was very eventful, let me tell you!

I chose black ligs because I hadn't tried them before. Anne, the ortho assistant, said it might make my teeth look really white, and since I play piano I thought it might have a piano key effect. I'm liking it so far!

First, here is a picture of my smile after the appointment.

Anyone notice anything about that smile? Look to the left on your screen......see the little purple thing? THAT'S RIGHT! I have my very first ELASTIC!

When the ortho was looking at my teeth she asked Anne, her assistant 'We haven't gotten her started on elastics yet?' Anne said 'not yet!' and Dr. Greer said 'Today's the day!' I just about jumped out of my chair with excitement. It's a class II elastic, on my right side from the canine to my only premolar (if you remember, I got the other one pulled before getting my braces on) on that side. She explained that my midline is a lot better, but still off, so the elastic is to help with that and to pull the top teeth back and the front teeth forward. She said I'm to to wear it 24/7, even while eating if possible, changing them each time I brush. And I plan to stick to that faithfully!

Here's a picture of my "configuration"

On the bottom teeth, there are increasing gaps between my left and right lateral incisors and the central incisors. So...to help with that, I got a powerchain across SEVEN of my bottom teeth. They also retied the bottom archwire and fixed the stickie-outie at the end that was hurting me. Here's a picture.

Also see, the teensy movement in my top left lat incisor. See the gap on BOTH sides of it? I don't think it was as prominent as it is now. Like I said, teensy bit of movement, but still a bit:

Okay, here's the obligatory top and bottom teeth pics.

Next time I get to do those FUN progress X-Ray pics (by fun I mean NOT fun. I hate those!), and another top archwire. Yippee!

Anyway, I'm in a bit of pain, but that's okay, I don't even mind. I've got an ELASTIC now, guys! I thought I would get them in January or February!

#82 Post by **jennandtonic** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 4:38 pm

I love that graphic, Linda21! I suppose I am a little excited to get the elastics. However, I'm a results girl. I'm not that patient, I have to know what I'm doing is getting results, so the elastics mean I'm progressing! They were one of the things on my mental checklist that would mean I'm getting somewhere with my teeth.

My first official day with my elastic was pretty good. I'm adjusting okay, in fact, so well that it doesn't feel right when I take the band out to do my morning and nightly cleaning regimens. I'm used to the pulling feeling now. However, I felt kinda queasy all day today. I'm wondering if it has to do with how uncomfortable my mouth feels, or what? I know I'm not getting sick though.

And eating has been an adventure. I'm mainly eating soft foods, but going to baby step up just to see how far I can go with these things on. I'm definitely going to try and keep them in when eating though.

And really, the pain hasn't been all that bad, though my powerchain is giving me some grief.

The worst thing about it so far is when I clean my teeth after I eat, because I want to keep that band clean but it's kind of hard to brush around it.

#83 Post by **belmikry** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 9:34 am

great appointment honey!

glad to hear you are adjusting to life with elastics well- lucky on the colour selection! they didn't even ask me if I wanted a different colour

...

[I'd pick purple too- lol and Kiwi would be jealous too i bet! >_<]

looking great, I was just peeking at your initials and now- wow what a difference!

congrats on your progress

you are getting special xrays? how do they do those? o_o... i want some- lol

#84 Post by **jennandtonic** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 2:47 pm

Alright ya'll, I have not been on much because I took a much-needed break from the internet. School is centered more and more around computer work, and I get really tired of it! So I quit checking even my e-mail, just turned the computer off for about two weeks. However, I'm going to update about this appointment, and drop in and get caught up on a few braces sagas so I'm not completely ignoring you all!

Today's adjustment was far more eventful--and painful-- than I would have liked! Oh well, all in the name of straight teeth.

First, she took some progress x-rays that will be ready for next time.
I was highly complimented on my elastics use--I'm wearing them 24/7, just take them out to brush-- and on my dental hygiene, though Dr. G said I need to pay attention to my gum behind my left molars a little more because it looks a bit swollen. She thinks it's because of what she's doing with the back molar, but still said I should give it some extra TLC when I brush.

I got a new powerchain on the bottom that covers the exact same teeth as last time but is tighter, though I don't feel that yet. What I REALLY feel is the new archwire at the top. It's not any tighter, but the wire ties are! Not to mention that Dr. G was having some trouble getting one of the wires into a bracket, and because my teeth are so small, the wire tying gadget slipped and I bled a bit. Ouch! She apologized though, and they eventually got it in there, though it took a good five to ten minutes. This particular archwire has the loops like the other did, but one of them is in a different place, at least, I think so.

Then, they put some sort of cleat in the top left lingual (that means INSIDE, as I found out!) side, to rotate a tooth. I've not gotten in there and had a good look at it yet, but it sure felt strange when they were bonding it in. I'm going to have to do some researching to find out how often it's used. It feels strange, but I think only because I haven't had something on that inside part of my mouth since I had those darned spacers in.

I'll definitely post pictures to help explain, but for now I've got to go, we're taking the holiday decorations down.

#85 Post by **jennandtonic** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 6:58 pm

Meryaten Said:

Sorry it wasn't a comfy adjustment, but hey - you've got stacks of stuff going on, so that's all good!

Wire ties really are impressive little beasties - when I had them it was nly to hold things stable, so I can only imagine how they feel when they're working more "actively" to engage a new archwire to the brackets. Hopefully the lingual attachment you just got won't give you too much trouble, and will do its work fast

She's always used wire ties on me...I think she does it just to torture me!

The lingual attachment feels funny. picture having metal spacers that go from tooth to tooth rather than being in between teeth. Doesn't hurt, just feels weird against the tongue.

As for the pain report, it really hasn't been that bad. I've had worse pain, it's no big deal. Like I said, the adjustment was much worse than the afterward part!

Okay, here are some pictures.

My smile today:

On a strange note, my front teeth always seem a bit tilted when I take pictures of them. It doesn't look like that in person, but in pictures I always think 'Oh god, are my teeth always like that?' Maybe I unconsciously angle my face. Or, maybe they're really tilted!

Here's my right side, where the elastic is doing its magic:

I notice that the elastics packages always have more green and orange than any other color, which is weird, so I try and wear all of those first because those colors are the ones I like the least.

The powerchain really helped the bottom teeth! On the left is a picture of my teeth on December 4th, the right is a picture of today. Notice less gappage?

Left side. Forgive the fingers in the pic, I have a lot of trouble keeping my mouth wide open to do these pictures. I see a very slight movement backward in that left incisor. Also, if you look slightly behind that tooth you can see a bit of that cleat that they bonded to it.

Bottom teeth:

Top. Here, you can see that 'cleat' or 'button' (it was called both names). As far as I can tell, it goes from that canine and connects to the bands on my molars.

#86 Post by **antsika** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 4:20 pm

Hi jennandtonic, it is great that so many things are happening, is always means movement! Great pics, and nice elastics colours!

I wish you a Very Happy New Year with lots of movement!

See you later! Antsika

#87 Post by **turrrtlelove22** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 10:07 am

Good progress Jenn!!! Nice pics... I like the colored elastics...**^^**

#88 Post by **jennandtonic** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 6:43 pm

I have not even been online since the last time I posted here. I'm gearing up to school and I also picked up an extra shift at work, so I've been busy, ya'll, sorry about my late replies here!

KK yes, powerchains are wonderful! I have seen great progress on my teeth through those powerchains. Does your ortho have colored elastics at all? I was offered the regular plain colors but asked if they had colored ones because I wanted to spice it up a little.

Antsika, thank you very much. I love it when I get movement...the problem is when I DON'T see progress and get a little impatient.

Meryaten yes, they are closing loops. And, as you will see in my next picture post, they have done a great job thus far...even though they have not been the most comfy of things, I am grateful for them!

bracedagain you should definitely ask for colors if your ortho has them! I think you will enjoy mixing and matching the colors with your ligs, it's so fun! The button on that canine is supposed to rotate that tooth, or so I'm told...I'm not sure how rotated they want it, but that's what I was told, so I'm going with it and just looking for how it looks later!

turrrtlelove22 thank you! And thank you for commenting in my saga.

linda21 colored elastics have been quite fun, I like deciding what color mood I'm in that day, even if I'm the only one who notices the elastic, it's really fun.

My next post is going to be my 11 month progress (even though I'm three days late!) pictures. I've seen some nice movement!

#89 Post by **jennandtonic** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 6:49 pm

Three days ago was my ELEVEN MONTH anniversary, and as usual, because I like to post pics on or near anniversaries, I'm posting the two that I was able to snap before my digital camera batteries died.

Here's my 11 month smile:

I have seen some great gappage closing on the left, in the top teeth, where they put the button in. As a comparison, the picture on the left is from early last month, the picture on the right is this month:

Just eyeballing it, I'd say I see about a 2 mm difference! Not bad in a month! In fact, I'm very excited about it!

For my one year anniversary on February 2nd, I want to do a timeline type collage, but I don't have any programs that would let me do that---other than Paint, but it tends to blur the pictures. So I'll figure out something, do a search online for a program I can use. But if anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate it!

#90 Post by **Tin Indian** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 6:55 pm

Very nice progress Jenn, you should be proud. Nice pics too.