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

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#136 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!

#137 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!

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

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

#139 Post by **jennandtonic** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 8:22 pm

First of all, thank you, Tin Indian!

Meryaten Said:

I'd say that not only is the canine moving to close the gap, but it also seems to have rotated a tiny bit, into a better alignment?

I didn't really notice until you said anything, and upon studying it, you are right, thank you, Meryaten! So that button is doing its job! This makes up for all the wax I've had to use to keep it from slicing up my tongue.

I forgot to mention this in my post, I'm slightly annoyed this time around. Not because I can't chew or my teeth hurt, but, because something on my top right side has been slicing up my cheek ever since the appointment. I've really tried to go in there and get a good look at what the culprit is, but when I look I can't see anything that sticks out. I've just been putting loads of wax on there so eating isn't so painful, but wax is definitely not my favorite way to go.

I would call my ortho, but after this weekend I'm not going to have any free time to be able to go in...at least, not until my next appointment, on January 18th. So, wax is now my best friend.

#140 Post by **jennandtonic** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:06 pm

Nope, Ken, it's the darndest thing, even the ortho took a look at it and couldn't see what was slicing up my cheek!

In Oklahoma over the weekend, we've had a huge winter storm, we have 4 inches of sleet on the ground, it's quite a sight to see! . Since my car cannot make it through slick streets I've just stayed at home with the parents all weekend. Needless to say, I've got cabin fever like crazy!

I went in for an unexpected adjustment today, though. My original appointment was this Thursday, however, my 9 year old sister had an appointment with Dr. Greer today. (No, my sister doesn't have braces, but the dentist was very concerned about the way Abigail's teeth are growing in and how small her mouth is, so he referred her to Dr. Greer, so she's just watching how Abigail progresses, then will put her in braces further down the line.)

I went along with them because I needed the outing, and we were going to go shopping as well anyway. While I was there they asked if I'd like to go ahead and have my adjustment, and I said, sure! So, they just retied some wires, which had been the plan all along, and changed my ligs. Dr. Greer didn't like how my overbite/overjet measurement looked this time, so she wants to try a go without elastics and see what happens. Also, no more powerchain on my bottom teeth. Since we were pressed for time I didn't ask what they were doing next time.

All in all, not eventful, but that's good because it wasn't uncomfortable this time.

I'll post pictures on my ONE YEAR anniversary on February 2nd.

#141 Post by **jennandtonic** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 8:34 pm

Karen, I actually wore elastics for about two months and had gotten quite used to them, but Dr. G was concerned about the measurements and decided to have a go without them. But you're right, they do make changes and I liked wearing them! In fact, I feel naked without them.

You're close, Karen! You'll get to a Class I in no time!

Linda21: Heat wave? Oh, what i wouldn't give for that! I'm a hot weather person, I like nothing better than to walk outside and immediately start sweating.

Yes, Mom is very thankful that Dr. G is watching over Abigail's development. The poor kid will have to have two teeth taken out by an OS in a month, but at least she won't have the same problems I had! And she will have braces, but will have them a lot earlier in life than me, and I'm glad because even though I'm not 'old,' it does feel as if I'm more alone in the braces arena at my age. When she gets them, a lot of her peers will have them too so she won't be as alone. Not to mention, like you said, she'll have me for advice.

Dr. Greer was concerned because my measurements on my overbite/overjet last time had progressed from a 6mm/ -3mm to a 5mm/ -1mm mm, which is great progress and what she wanted from the elastics. This adjustment period, however, my measurements showed 5mm/ -2mm, which is a step backward. I wore them faithfully, but it didn't work. I'm not too worried about it, I just hope that my measurements don't go back to the originals, which were, I believe, 6mm/ -3 mm.

Also, she showed a bit of concern over my gums. They are nice and clean, but on the upper right side they keep swelling, and she wondered if the elastic might have taken part in that. She was doing something else with the teeth there with a lingual retractor, and with the elastic and the teeth being moved all at once she thinks it's making my gums a bit angry.

I might add that my gums don't hurt at all, but they are pretty swollen, I may have to take pictures and post if I can set aside the time.

Thank you for your concern Linda, I don't see it as a step backward at all because Dr. G said about my progress 'very nice!' So, while my bite isn't great and my gums are angry at me, she obviously sees something she likes about how my teeth are moving.

Oh, and I want to add that anyone who doesn't know why I got braces, feel free to look at the first page in the first post. I wrote in my back story just to have it when I get these things off.

#142 Post by **belmikry** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 11:13 am

great progress jenn! that gap is definately on its way to closing- you must be super excited!

I just went back and read your updated story- very inspiring! I bet it will help a ton of members in their journey with braces!

I myself had to pay for my own, being that it was not even an option or worth considering for financial purposes [not to mention my father as well doesn't believe in the 'perfect smile' he thinks its completely for vanity not actual health purposes] so it's nice to here we aren't alone! I'm used to hearing the : "why didnt you get them when you were younger?" speech almost daily now - its refreshing for me everyday to come here and read inspiring stories on this board, to know i'm not alone

thanks for all of the support and the updates!

#143 Post by **jennandtonic** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 6:13 pm

Belmikry, I can definitely sympathize, I get the 'why didn't you get them when you were younger' questions too! Oh well, better late than never.

This is an update to sorta vent. Now that I don't have my elastics, I can see and feel my bite getting worse, like it used to be. When I chew, I'm back to my old way of chewing [which kind of hurts, I must say], and when I look in the mirror I can see that my overbite is a little more prominent, like it used to be!

I've still got the elastics sitting on the counter, I know I'll have to wear them again at some point, and it's tempting just to put it on again, but my ortho had said to try this time without them, so I won't. I just keep thinking 'but it's getting WORSE!' Patience is a virtue though, and I have plenty of time to fix it. Still. It's worse and I hate looking at that in the mirror.

Otherwise, not much else going on. I'm trying to find a program that will let me make a progression of pictures to post on here on my one year anniversary, but I've been unsuccessful in finding one that's relatively cheap. So boo, I may just have to do it the old fashioned way.

#144 Post by **jennandtonic** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 7:01 pm

Karen, I know, rationally, that that's what my ortho wants and I'm not truly upset about it, (though I wouldn't mind not being in pain when I chew) and truly I'm not expecting to only take steps forward during my treatment. It's a dance, really, two steps forward, two steps back!

And if you get the time to find that program I will really appreciate that! Thank you so much!

bracedagain: thank you! Hope I pass as well. Now I'm off to comment on your braces story, as I haven't done that in awhile.

#145 Post by **Tin Indian** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 7:33 pm

Jenn, Sorry to here chewing of your difficulties. Once your teeth learn their new dance steps they'll be right in line![/code]

#146 Post by **jennandtonic** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 6:25 pm

TODAY is my ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY![/u]

I'm happy, can't you tell?!

Using the wonderful link Karen gave me, I made some progress collages of my top teeth, bottom teeth, smile, right side, and left side. And I'm going to post them all, but ya'll don't have to study them at length, haha, I just figured if I did 'em I may as well post them.

Here they are!

Smile:

Top Teeth:

Bottom Teeth:

Right Side:

Left Side:

And when I look at these, I can't BELIEVE how far I have come!

Everyone here has been so supportive, I am so glad I found this site.

#147 Post by **Tin Indian** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 6:47 pm

Happy BRACES anniversary Jenn. Your teeth look great.

#148 Post by **lionfish** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 10:13 pm

You look great. Well done.

#149 Post by **antsika** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 2:15 pm

HAPPY ONE YEAR ANNYVERSARY JENNANDTONIC!!

Great pics and wonderful progress in one year! Congrats!

Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:30 am

Thanks for the great documentation of your progress Jennandtonic.
We started with a similar bottom teeth configuraton, exept opposite sides. So I am really pleased to see how yours have changed in the year's time. A year is my expected time frame, but I am only at the beginning, with my first adjustment appointment coming up this week. Your total changes are inspiring.
Ruth