Life before and during braces.... Pictures 4th adjustment

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#16 Post by **spacey** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:16 pm

hey leager2000,
thanks for posting to my story! Congrats on your progress too!! I have no idea what size my gap was before. Don't think it was measured. HUGE! was the size it was before! It is closing fast huh? But it seemed to move fastest within the last month or so. Maybe yours will just start moving faster all of a sudden. I'll keep checking in on you!

Hey,

Awesome results so far. My space was 5mm and I am 3mm now. How big was yours before braces. Your space is closing faster than mine. Your ortho is doing a great job. Visit my blog;it is "Life before and during braces!"

#17 Post by **leager2000** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 4:22 pm

Hey Spacey,

Did you orthodontist recommend a frenectomy?

Ericab1033,

Thanks for the encouraging words! Well I was the only one in my family with a gap, and members of my family questioned my reason for getting braces. Supposedly my gap was character building. I guess being the object of their jokes was also character building. I wonder how I will adjust to my new smile when this is over. I cannot wait to see your pictures. Please do not forget to post them.

Lilypad,

Thanks for visiting my blog and posting the picture. That does not look bad at all. I do not know anyone who has had a frenectomy, and I do not feel as anxious about it anymore. Did you have to alter your diet after the procedure?

#18 Post by **spacey** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 7:30 pm

I will also need a frenectomy. I'm not sure of the exact point during my progress it will need to happen. I only remember my ortho stating I'd have the frenectomy once the space closed some. I'll ask at my next adjustment.

I too got those comments about the gap being my signature, it makes me unique blah, blah, blah. All from people without a huge space in the center of their teeth. I prefer to be plain 'ol normal when it comes to teeth. I can't wait till it's done. I'm already smiling more. I've even been told the classic one... "in some cultures a gap in the teeth is seen as the most beautiful...a unique gift from God". Yeah right. I'm returning that gift.

#19 Post by **Lilypad** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 7:39 pm

I only changed my diet the first day. I was using Invisalign so I rushed home, ate some soup, brushed and got that aligner in before the numbness wore off! I actually had more pain trying to avoid the frenectomy than I had having it done. LOL Huge amount of swelling when my teeth were squeezing that extra tissue. And yea, don't those comments, (oh, that gap is so cute) just drive ya crazy?????

#20 Post by **leager2000** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 12:37 pm

This site is so awesome. Lilypad and Spacey, it is as if we share the same circle of friends and family. I am so glad I have this site to help me with my journey. I will keep an eye on both of your progress. My next adjustment is 9/18, and I do not think I am having anymore movement at this time.

#21 Post by **leager2000** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 12:37 pm

Duplicate post

#22 Post by **leager2000** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 7:12 pm

Okay I have had my third adjustment and my orthodontist office is now about to get on my nerves. The office is big and has a number of techs who work there. Needless to say, I get someone new everytime. I was getting powerchains for the second time during this adjustment. The pain was very bad while the powerchain was being applied to my upper teeth. The silly tech asked me "have you been to see your dentist to see why these teeth are so tender?" I just looked at her. I was thinking "YOU IDIOT, THE REASON MY TEETH ARE HURTING IS BECAUSE OF BEING IN BRACES FOR THE LAST 5 MONTHS AND YOU DO'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING!" Anyway, the images below reflect myteeth before the 3rd adjustment (picture #1) and my teeth 1 week after the 3rd adjustment.

I am now down to 2mm.

#23 Post by **Lilypad** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 8:12 pm

WOW! Lots of progress, you must be thrilled! Yea, it hurts moving those front teeth but......sooooo worth it.

#24 Post by **Devushka** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 6:09 pm

leager2000, wow, such progress! It is amazing to see isn't it?
Fellow (big) gapper here!(well, it is gone now)
It is so nice to see some people who shared some of the same life experiences as me because of the gap. Cliche thing to say, but it does make me feel less alone.
My closest friends and family never ever commented on my teeth unless I brought it up and my parents never suggested braces because they, like most parents I guess, thought it was just part of me and made me special (like that is the thing I want to be special for!). It wasn't until my mother, who wears a partial plate, lost a tooth in the front of her's and had to walk around like that for a week until she could get into see her denturist. She was so embarrassed and I said "Mom. How do you think I feel? I have been walking around like that for 19 years?" and she said "if you want to fix it, we'll make an appointment"

Well nothing really happened until I realized life was passing me, and I pin pointed one of the fixable things I could do to boost my self esteem. I saw an orthodontist and bam! Best decision I have ever made, despite the problems I am having now. I simply feel happier to be able to laugh with my mouth open and not be afraid of talking to new people who, as it was said here, were not looking me in the eyes but at my mouth.

So congratulations for deciding to do something about it rather than sit by passivly. You have beautiful looking teeth and I am sure they are going to be bonkers amazing in the end

About the frenectomy. I am an invisalign patient and after reading Lily's story I was expecting swelling and pain around aligner 7-9 and never got any permanent pain. Though, at this aligner, number 18 there is quite a bump of tissue above my two front teeth from the frenum being pushed up- though there is no pain really. I also notice that(I am being so bad this set!) if I leave them out for longer than an hour I can notice the gap opening up slightly so I will have to get that taken care of. I am making an appointment this week at my dentist's to get it done. After, I will let you know how my experience was.

A bit off topic, sorry!

Lilypad wrote:WOW! Lots of progress, you must be thrilled! Yea, it hurts moving those front teeth but......sooooo worth it.

Surprisingly, with the size of my gap, my front teeth never really hurt. I remember only a handful of times that they were a bit sore to eat hard food. I must have just been lucky, though can't say the sames about the bottoms which had more severe pain and no gap. Go figure!

#25 Post by **leager2000** » Sun Oct 05, 2008 3:56 pm

Lilypad,

Thanks for visiting and making such positive comments!

Devushka,

Thanks for leaving an awesome message. I went to your blog and you are making great progress. Your teeth look really good. Have you had your frenectomy? How was it?

#26 Post by **Devushka** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:55 am

Thanks!

No, I haven't had one yet(nor do I know if I am going to anymore). I actually booked an appointment with an actual periodontist and he asked me flat out if I had any pain. I told him no. He asked me what stage of treatment I am in(aparently it is best to do it- if there isn't a major reason to do it(ie. pain, swelling)- after you have been out of braces for awhile so you can see how your gums will all settle. I told him that I am almost done THIS full set of aligners(19 total) but that I would likely have refinements for who knows how long.
I told him my main problem was that I was worried about it opening my gap up after I am done. He asked me if I would be going straight to retainers after I was done and I told him "yes, absolutely" and he said "then there is no rush". I should wait until after I have had a retainer for awhile and see if, after that, I want to still go ahead. He made it sound as if it was a waste of my money though, so who knows. I will take his advice and see. I may even ask my regular dentist when I go home at Christmas as I have had him my whole life and I really trust his opinion.

#27 Post by bb » Tue Oct 21, 2008 11:52 am

What a difference! It must be great to actually be able to notice your teeth shifting.

I'm still in the early days of braces...too uncomfortable with showing them. And to make matters worse, tomorrow I'm getting the white filling removed from between my front teeth that was covering my gap.

It's good to know that this self-conciousness will pass.

#28 Post by **leager2000** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 9:15 pm

Hey Devushka,

The watch and wait approach is interesting. I wonder if I will receive similar recommendations. I will be referred after my space between my central incisors closes. I hope that my space will be closed by Christmas. I have two adjustments between now and then. I guess I better make sure I am on Santa's nice list.

I will keep you updated on the frenectomy.

bb,

Welcome to AW!! Try not to feel too self conscious. Even if youdo, it will pass. Think about how satisfied you will be with your smile after treatment. I am now to the point where I can flash a smile without thinking about it.

My space between my central incisors is now a little less than 2mm.

The space is now shifting!

I do not know how this link was added under these pictures!

#29 Post by **shinyRiver** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 7:13 pm

don't worry, that DOES happen, but everything has to shift around and adjust so that every one of your teeth can end up in the right place. I had four teeth pulled (2nd pre-molars) cuz I have a LOT of crowding with my front teeth and canines, and there was NEVER ANY SPACE- not even room enough to floss between my front teeth. Now it's like they're meandering... wandering... testing their new freedom. I can whistle through the spaces between them now!

But no worries- it WILL even out! Your gap is closing up quite nicely, I think.

(btw- did you know that in 16th century England, girls with gaps between their two front teeth were considered SUPER sexy? I just learned that in my British literature class!)

#30 Post by **leager2000** » Mon Nov 03, 2008 5:21 pm

I hate the new spaces. Instead of having one big space, I now have several small spaces all over. As far as the sexy business, the gap has no appeal to it in the U.S.