cwatt1's story -- New pics 11-16-2007 -- I see symmetry!

Message

#46 Post by **AmybettyB** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 2:22 am

Hey Cwatt!

Great progress pics, maybe i should invest in a better camera!

your front lower teeth are very similar to mine, so i'll be watching your progress, I got my braces on yesterday and hope that in a few weeks I see as much movement as you have!!

Good luck and keep us posted!!

Amy

#47 Post by **Livi35** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 2:46 am

Cwatt,

I can see heaps of movement on your photos, AWESOME!! Only after 3 weeks too. I think seeing results makes all the discomfort worth while.

Heres to more movement soon

#48 Post by **cwatt1** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 8:57 pm

Thanks for the support, everyone

I am indeed pleased and excited with progress thus far, even if it's been only 3 weeks!

Karen and TI: I'll try and remember your comments if I feel self conscious about the staining of the silicone bumpers! Actually now that I look at the pics and compare them to my reflection in the mirror, I think they stand out more in the pics and are not that noticable -- at least to me -- in "real life"! By the way, for those who have overbites like I do and who've had both upper and lower arches braced, the silicone bumpers are pretty nice -- they're quite comfortable, and do a good job of lessening the likelihood of chipping an upper incisor on a lower bracket.

JT: Thanks for the kudos re the brackets. I'm pleased myself with their aesthetic appeal -- not that I consider them a fashion statement, mind you, but for metal braces they look pretty good!

Cinnamon: I'm going to have to remember the "roller coaster" metaphor! I think that's very appropriate, and I'm glad the hills and valleys are smoothing out some

And thanks for the comment regarding the springs -- I hadn't noticed that before, but you're right -- I think they're starting to do their work. That bicuspid that extends inward at a 45 degree angle wasn't bracketed on my b-day, but I see that my other bicuspid and first molar are starting to cooperate in making some room for him to line up! Hopefully at my first adjustment he'll get his prison garb too! Maybe I'll call him "Weird Willie" -- after all he's been the oddball of my lower arch for years and years

Amybetty: I looked at your own blog and I agree that our teeth, especially our lower arches, look very similar. We'll have to be sure and compare notes as we progress in our respective treatments.

Levi, I absolutely agree that this is all going to be worthwhile in the end! I'm so glad I took this step, and seeing the movement in this short a time is a real motivator!

I'm still feeling good -- certain foods seem to cause me to bite my cheeks more than others, but the further along in treatment I progress the more I'm able to deal with that.

Interesting phenomemon happened to me yesterday -- brushed my teeth after lunch as I always do, and when I brushed under the archwire my upper incisors felt a lot of increased pressure. For a moment I thought maybe I'd bent the wire, but it doesn't appear that's the case. The feeling subsided rather quickly afterwards. I've noticed that my uppers are loosening up, and I think it's related to that, but has anyone else experienced a weird sensation like that during brushing?

I've got to say that all of you are tremendous motivators! I don't know that I've ever found a website that is frequented by a nicer bunch of people.

Till later...

#49 Post by **Laurie** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 9:06 pm

Is it not just fantastic how fast those teeth can move sometimes?

I'm a coffee drinker too and I've noticed my silver ligs have changed colors a bit. BAH!

I feel my wire tension changing sometimes when I drink something really cold. I think it's the type of wire I have in right now.

#50 Post by **Livi35** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 7:41 pm

Interesting phenomemon happened to me yesterday -- brushed my teeth after lunch as I always do, and when I brushed under the archwire my upper incisors felt a lot of increased pressure. For a moment I thought maybe I'd bent the wire, but it doesn't appear that's the case. The feeling subsided rather quickly afterwards. I've noticed that my uppers are loosening up, and I think it's related to that, but has anyone else experienced a weird sensation like that during brushing?

Absolutely, and I thought that maybe I had also bent the wire or loosened a bracket or something, but like you, I had a look and a bit of a feel and everything seemed okay. So, I agree that it must be related to the loosening of the teeth. I still get some pressure on both the upper and lower incisors when I brush now, and everthing feels a little loose. But I'm sure that it is all normal and can only mean one thing, MOVEMENT!!!!!

#51 Post by **cwatt1** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:02 pm

Thanks for checking in, Ken and Levi!

Yeah, Ken, the molar buildups did take a few days to get used to -- when I first got them they felt like granite boulders!

But they honestly aren't so bad -- beats chipping an upper on a lower bracket, or maybe shearing off a bracket! I do find, though, that it takes longer to chew my food with them, especially stuff like lettuce that you have to do a lot of grinding up.

Thanks for the input, Levi, on the varying tension. That's kind of what I thought, but it's a relief to know that somebody else has experienced it too!

Take care, everybody -- more later

#52 Post by **Lisa65** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 5:32 am

Cwatt, those pics really show some progress. Isn't it rewarding when those ups and downs start to straighten out? I enjoy my coffee too, and pay with stained ligs as a result, but it's worth it

Your attitude is great. Hope you continue to have great progress.

#53 Post by **cwatt1** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 5:26 am

Thanks for stopping by, Linda and Lisa! I'm really very pleased with how things are going.

Linda, thanks for the assurance about the sporadic changes in pressure/tenderness. Great to know.

Lisa, nobody's ever going to get me to give up coffee! Actually the silicone bumpers look worse in the pics anyway -- when I look at myself in the mirror they aren't that noticeable.

#54 Post by **Milk n Cereal** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 9:49 am

Thanks for the pics, the progress is amazing! Your rollercoaster is almost just a kiddie ride now.

Glad those bumpers aren't stopping you from getting your delicious coffee!

#55 Post by **kerft** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 10:47 am

Hi cwatt1

Your progress is really amazing, I hope I have as much progress as you by my first adjustment.

#56 Post by **Miss Smiley** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 12:46 pm

GIVE UP COFFEE!!!!!!!! Hahahaha just kidding, stain away that lip bumper, who is really going to see that?

#57 Post by **cwatt1** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 12:53 pm

Ha Ha Smiley -- I'll give up COFFEE when YOU give up curry and crawfish!!!

Thanks for stopping by, M&C and Kerft! You can't believe how great it is to have the support of so many folks

#58 Post by **cwatt1** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 8:15 pm

Thanks for the reminder aout the pics, Jeni! Actually I don't think there's been a lot of movement since I last took pics, but I was pleased to see that there has been some! My archwires are looking straighter all the time, and I think the spring is continuing to do its work in making space for Weird Willie to be brought forward. It's hard to say whether he'll be ready for his bracket by my first adjustment (Sept. 25), but whether he is or isn't, I'm really pleased at how the progress is going. Dare I say I think my upper arch is starting to shape up a little???

I'm feeling great these days -- at least my mouth is

Work is kinda stressful; trying to shuttle between 2 offices, working on a special database installation together with all of my regular stuff keeps me hopping. At least it keeps me out of trouble

Anyway, no question in my mind that I made the best decision possible to get myself braced. I've received nothing but positive feedback from friends and family. As far as comfort, the only thing that's still a bit annoying is the lips. I got some Carmex (almost said CarMax

) lip balm today and like it much better than the Chapstick I was using before.

I really appreciate everybody's positive comments -- I can't tell you how motivating they are!

Anyway, hope you enjoy the pics. Later...

#59 Post by **smallbutmighty** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 8:45 pm

cwatt, just seeing your inspiring pictures for the first time. Isn't it a tremendous boost to see those changes in the mirror! Looking forward to more progress pix.

#60 Post by **markybwoy** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 12:03 pm

No question, your wires are getting straighter. How satisfying!