47 and getting rebraced

[Kipepeo]

So, as you can see from my ticker (if you're reading this today!) I have 3 weeks until my next appointment. But I went in today because my upper incisor had rotated when it shouldn't have and was hitting my lower teeth. So at this visit, where I thought he would address the incisor, he also asked me about everything else. And so I listed off what was bothering me at the moment. He then rattled off all the bends he wanted in the upper wire (lower is fine).

While removing the wire, the assistant popped off the molar bracket. That had to go back on. So, in the interest of time and scheduling, while my assistant was beginning to prep the tooth (it's a crown, and explains why the bracket popped off so easily), another assistant was fetching materials for her, while the ortho was making the bends in the wire.
The new bracket was on in 10 minutes.

I also got another teeny powerchain (clear, no color choice offered) across my 2 top incisors to close a gap that had formed, wire lacing on all the rest. In addition, I'm to wear the right side class 2 elastics at night, or every other night only, while the left stays 24/7. My bite feels better already. The bends consisted of rotating the bad incisor, tipping out the 2 upper canines, tipping in the farthest molar that interferes with my bite.

Still on track for roughly 5 more months of this.

[Kipepeo]

[iBorg]

Someone's getting close. (note not closer)

[Kipepeo]

Yes, this is the best my bite has felt in a long time! It's not quite there, but I can tell I'm on the home stretch.

(Wish I could get better photos!)

[jem]

Your photo is fine and your teeth look fabulous.

Jem

[Kipepeo]

Had a visit a few days ago. He said everything was looking good! Lower arch was left as is. Upper arch received a bend at the left canine to lower or rotate it, and the central mini power chain was replaced with a wire lacing tie.

I'm instructed to stay in class 2 elastics full time left and night on the right, unless I feel the front incisors getting crowded when I bite. Well they are hitting, and so I wear the elastics at night only and end up taking them off early morning.

He said he was making changes one at time now because each one can cause other areas to change. My apps are every 4 weeks now and the ortho makes the bends himself. I'm getting closer! Right side feels pretty good after the recent tweak.

I almost forgot the most important part. When I told the ortho how quickly my teeth settled every time I removed the elastics he asked the assistant about my retention plan. It was to be upper Hawley and lower bonded only. Ortho does not like this as it will not hold my very mobile teeth very well. So I'm getting a new type called Vivera made by Invisalign. They're a set of 4 retainers shipped over time, and they're apparently more durable that regular tray retainers, even from Invisalign. I'm so happy I will not have any metal in my mouth when I'm done!

[flips712]

Hi Kipepeo,

Thanks for your response on my post regarding the box configuration of elastics. Since this is also your second time wearing braces do you plan on getting upper and lower permanent bonded retainers?

[Tobilei]

Looking amazing!!! You must be excited when you look at your teeth!

[Kipepeo]

Tobilei, I do like the way they are looking, but they are feeling better than when I started all this. I've never been able to touch my front incisors very well, even after my original braces, so this is really exciting. Also, my bite used to first touch on the right molars and my jaw would rock and then my left side would hit. My jaw pops like crazy, but usually doesn't hurt. I don't think aligning my bite will fix the jaw issue, but it may lessen the symptoms.

I know there are a couple minor issues left to fix (like slightly rotating and aligning my top incisors and maybe tipping out the upper right bicuspids), but other than that, I should be done......soon!

I have not been able to wear the elastics, and I even went down to zebras from moose. They make my incisors very tight when I bite, and pull the lower anchor molars up and make my bite hurt.

[Funsizee]

Hi Kip,

I will be getting my braces next week and had a few questions re: your Damons. I've read many reviews about the Damons but some vary when it comes to how comfortable they are.

This will be my first time getting braces (at 26) and I'm scared that it will be too uncomfortable or painful to eat

Did you experience any pain during installation and after? How long did the pain last?

Thank you so much

[Kipepeo]

Hi Funsize. No pain during installation. They prop your mouth wide open with this contraption, and keep all your teeth bone dry for a while, but it's not painful, just uncomfortable.

My teeth were not that crooked, so there wasn't a lot of torque on them right away. They were tender, yeah, so you just eat softer foods for a few days.

Mine have been more sore than normal lately, but I have some tender teeth anyway. The tooth soreness is not that bad. It doesn't last very long after each adjustment, and it only hurts when you chew or bite down. You'll be fine!

[Kipepeo]

Not much to report after today's appt. Ortho took a look-see around and formed his own opinions, then promptly asked me what I didn't like or what did not yet feel right to me. I rattled off a couple things...he dictated some wire bending notes to the assistant, and began making the bends (he does them all for me now).

One thing that was really bothering me was my top incisors. One had rotated out from the middle, and the other had tilted sideways, and they were slightly overlapped. Luckily, he didn't like that either. It's been just 8 hours since my appointment, and they are improved already. Oh yeah, back to wearing rabbit elastics 24/7 in a 3U-4L pattern on the left only to close a bit of an open bite. I return in 4 weeks.

I can already tell that my right canines are hitting hard, so I'll most likely need a tip there, but other than that....I'm oh so very close! I'll get some pics up soon.

[Kipepeo]

Pictures for you!
Pretreatment (before the spring retainer, before 13 months with bottom braces only!)


Last July when I got the uppers on. Notice I don't have much of an overbite, and could just barely meet my incisors together if I tried. That was my normal bite on my molars!


Today, after my last appointment. I had a slightly angled incisor and the other was rotated a tad and they overlapped a bit. In just a day since the appt they are perfect. Overbite is much better, better than ever in my life. Midline is perfect. Right canines are still too close and hit when I bite, so I need that addressed next time.

[Tobilei]

They're looking lovely though I'm sure the canines will behave soon and settle in where they're supposed to go.

Can I ask what colour powerchain you have on there in the 2nd photo from the bottom? I'm going to need one and have been looking for something that doesn't stand out too much but will allow me not to worry about staining and that one looks great.

[Kipepeo]

Thank you, Tobilei.

It's not a power chain. It's wire lacing. It's used to hold teeth from separating, forming gaps. I have it everywhere, except between just 2 lower bicuspids, because there's a mini power chain in between them. It's not needed anymore, but my doc doesn't want to remove the wire just to change out the chain for more lacing. My lowers haven't been touched in 2months, except for anchoring elastics.