O the pain! Elastics! Dreadful headaches! Excruciating pain!

[cwatt1]

Looks like your bite is improving on the right side, Chillin! More great progress

You GO girl!!

[chillin-in-grilz]

cwatt1: Thanks, yeah I noticed it seems to be getting smaller, and I find that I am chewing more on that side.

[chillin-in-grilz]

Here is what happened so far of my entire journey. You will be amazed!!! I know I only have up to 10 weeks pics, when I get the chance to gather up all my pics I will add it. I done this so since my story is 26 pages long, I will save some reading! Unless you love reading and want to start at the beginning. What ever floats your boat:)

With out further ado... not quite sure what it means...anyways



Hey, I like to introduce myself. My name is Stephanie, Im an 18 year old female who is on the way to having braces soon. I been waiting 2 whole years. My trips to the dentist started at age 14, thats when my teeth were gettingreally bad. I had so many fillings, I had 2 root canals. Then fast forward 2 years, the adventure begins with ortho surgery for 6 extractions.

Here is my history so far:

April 20th: Ortho Surgery
I been waiting for ages for my ortho surgery. Not sure what it was called but I got 6 teeth removed including 3/4 wisdom teeth.
The surgery went very well. All I remember was that I arrived at 1:00. Checked in, and waited 30 mins. Then I went in to talk to the ortho surgery dude. He told me what he was going to do. Then I went into a mini operating room. Put all these sticky pads on m for monitering. Then I got a needle. Did not hurt. Then I counted back to 10 with a gas mask on. I can't remember how far I counted to. Then I woke up, with a roll of gauze in one side of my mouth. and another roll on the other side. I was so sleepy. I fell asleep again for 30 mins. Then I woke up waited for the dizzyness to go away. Then I went home. I had no bruising so far I just was a little sore because of the stiches. Plus I was on heavy medication. 3 days later I had slight brusing. And a bit of puffyness. I lived on pudding. Lol. A week later my face turned a bit greenish yellowish around my mouth and along my jaw line. 2 weeks time I was slowly eating food. But it was weird. Felt like my teeth were all frozen and I was like chewing gum.
A week later I was back to normal.


July 31st: Ortho Pics (Molds, X Rays and stuff)
I got my impressions today. It was really weird. I was over a little of 45 mins total. 2 head X Rays, when the machine goes around your head.
Digi pics of my smile and a profile. Then lip spreaders lol for top, left, right, and bottom pics of my teeth. Then Molds, said it taste like cinnimon, but I did not taste a thing, just very putty like. Really cool!

September 5th: Consult
My pics were so ugly lol. The profile is totally wrong. But guess what? I have 2 have some more teeth pulled. But I can get it done with my regular dentist. Then braces would be put on for 18 months. Plus my hard molds looked really funny lol.

Here is a list of what is to be done:
Treatment Recommendations:
Extract of teeth 14 and 25 upper bicuspids for crowding and closing my open bite down.
Repair broken fillings in upper right second bicuspid tooth.

Treatment Plan:
Braces
Full time use of elastics to reduce the chances of developing a large anterior open bite.
Then a permanent retainer on the bottom teeth behind and a normal hawly container for the top.

Treatment Risks:
If open bite worsens if unable to repair with elastics jaw surgery may be required.
Tooth decay and gum disease to to improper hygene. (note: Only becuas e it was really hard to brush, my teeth are so messed up)

Estimated Treatment Time: 18 months

Here are my pics


November 7th: Extraction of 14 and 25
Ok I got my extractions done it took over 2 hours plus I had a filling.
It was so cool but weird, feeling all the pressure of the teeth coming out.
The 1st one I was like thats it? I mean I asked them if it was out yet and they laughed. But the second one was a bit tougher. But what was weird I have no bleeding at all on the tough one and no pain. But the easier one, is bleeding non stop and is in a lot of pain. Now I found out I need another appointment for one more cavity. 6 days later I was sore for a few days had to take extra strength tyenol alot. But now I find that my jaw is still sore. And its uncomfortable to eat on one side. Now I find when I eat, food gets stuck in the gaps, it wasn't as bad as the bottom gaps because its easier to pick out the food. Now its really hard for the top 2 gaps. And Im afraid food will be stuck and as the gums heal the food will stay there.
Here are some pics of my extractions


December 21th: Filling
I got my filling on December 21st. I wont explain cuz everyone knows what a filling is like. Im just a bit sore, Thats all. But good news. NO MORE CAVITIES. I am ready for braces.

January 29th, 2007: Braces!
I arrived exactly at 1:30. And as I was signing in, my name was called.
I walked in, they cleaned my teeth, did all the usual for uppers and lowers. It was really irrating with the lip spreaders. Then as they were putting on the brackets. I was watching with the mirror. 45 mins, the brackets were on. They removed the lip spreaders, my lips were so dry. I then felt the brackets on my lips. And my lips were puckered out lol. Then I kepted having the metal taste swallowed lol. I looked at myself in the mirror. I said "O My", my mother is gonna laugh her head off. I had no pain. Then the assistant put on the arch wire. It got tighter as she clipped the wire in. On my lower right side the clip there really hurt. But went away in a few mins. Then when the wires were on, I said O My again lol. I actually looked pretty decent. Then I went home. Had 2 puddings lol. My teeth did not hurt at this point. Then after as I was watching tv, I started to feel the pressure (pain, but my lowers were more sensitive then my uppers) Then I had supper with out a hitch. Had salmon and potatoe. Went really well, but teeth sensitive. Then I felt I had a chunk of fish in my bracket. Went to the bathroom, I was right so I removed it then brushed my teeth. Now as of right now, mild pain because I took 2 extra strength tyenol before supper. And that was my day lol HORRAY.

2 MONTHS IN!!!

DAY 1 REGULAR---->LEFT---->RIGHT


6 WKS REGULAR---->LEFT---->RIGHT 6 WKS UPPER---->LOWER


8 WKS REGULAR---->LEFT---->RIGHT 8 WKS UPPER---->LOWER


10 WKS REGULAR---->LEFT---->RIGHT 10 WKS UPPER---->LOWER


Noted Changes

[chillin-in-grilz]

Denise: Thanks! The cameraphone pics are on the page before. I wasnt sure i you thought it was these pics on this page you were refering to or not 32 weeks have passed by sooooo fast!

[victor36]

that's some fantastic progress, Chillin! The extraction gaps are closing so fast! Here's to more great progress

~Victor

[chillin-in-grilz]

victor36: Thanks!!! Yup so happy, I look back at old pics, so amazed at the changes in my gaps, they are almost closed, even before the braces were put on:)

[cwatt1]

Great collage, Chillin!

The difference between your much earlier pics and the latest ones is striking -- both alignment and gaps

[chillin-in-grilz]

cwatt1: Yep, much difference:)

My next ortho appointment is next Weds Sept 26th. I have 3 cuts in the same spots for the past week, and its been killing me! No wax!!!!! I hope something gets done, nothing has been changedi n 4 months.

[chillin-in-grilz]

Progress Pics 34 Weeks

Top one is 32 WKS Regular-Left-Right-Upper-Lower


I definitly see a change in my uppers on the left side, the gap gottened smaller! Thats pretty much the chnages I see so far.

I finally went to the ortho for some wax. They must be stunn. I asked for a couple of the jell like wax and they given me the hard wax kind! O WELL, My secret is to put it under hot water which makes the wax nice and soft.

Until next time...

[chillin-in-grilz]

Cuts in my mouth are still bothering me, when will it end? I love how my teeth are changing but don't like the cuts.

[chillin-in-grilz]

I am closing in on my 5th adjustment, it is tomorrow morning at 7:30 for 15 minutes. i will tell all of you all about it tomorrows

[chillin-in-grilz]

5th Adjustment

I arrived at my 5th adjustment around 7:25 for 7:30. Then I waited a few minutes. Went in and "laid down". Assistant had a looksee, then I laid down for like 10 minutes listening to the ortho talk about retention in the next chair to me.

When it was my turn, they did the usual checks, like my bite and stuff. Then he said how they were coming along great. Gave some comments to the assistant about changing the lower wire on my next appointment, meanwhile...

I think he put on a powerchain! It was extremly painful because of the force to put the stupid thing on. At first I thought it was a spring to close my gap but it was a powerchain I think if I remember correctly from all lthe pics I seen.

Here is a picture:



If its a powerchain then I got this thing in for 2 months, and if memory serves me correctly its to close the gap?

[chillin-in-grilz]

Denise: Thanks for visiting, I never heard from a couple of my regulars lol. But Im sure our life is not just on this site lol.

[chillin-in-grilz]

Thanks Denise for the reasurrance lol. Come back in a bit to se ehow this powerchain is doing its wonders, I see the gap smaller already.

[chillin-in-grilz]

KK: Thanks! Yeah it is a grey color I believe, I thought at first it was a spring lol. I am not as sore now, just a little tender, but its tolerable.