Underbite & crossbite correct w/Damon, IPR, Acceledent etc

[newbite]

I had my fourth adjustment today, it's been almost exactly 4 months since I got my braces on. Today was THE day! They did almost everything they could possibly do in one visit!

1) they hooked up all of my molars!!
2) they gave me a rectangular wire on top (16/22 I think they said?)
3) they gave me the largest diameter round wire on bottom
4) they increased my elastic strength to rabbit (the rabbit on the package is not as cute as the fox, bit disappointed about that haha)

In preparation for some pain I'm eating a good lunch at Panera and will be using my Acceledent for little 9 min sessions in addition to the daily 20 min. I'm not expecting too much pain since I've had basically no pain except for when the braces first went on. Only the tiniest bits of pain sometimes after adjustments and when I first got elastics.

IM SO EXCITED!!! The ortho said he's really pleased with my progress and that I'm very far along for only 4 months.

The only thing I'm NOT excited about is figuring out how to floss in the back. I hope I can figure out a trick for reaching back there because there's no way I'm not flossing there! The waterpik is helpful but no substitute for flossing, in my opinion. At least, I can only use the waterpik on level 5 since my gums are sensitive. Maybe level 10 would actually blast off plaque like floss. Anyway , I don't think I'll ever be using level 10 so it's floss for me.

They said my front teeth are going to take a long time to straighten but that it's going to be way faster than if I had Invisalign. I'm SO glad I have braces and not Invisalign . I actually really love the braces. I would have had so many buttons and weird things on my teeth that Invisalign would have been ridiculous and my teeth would have looked ghastly. I also don't know how the elastics would have been attached. Anyway, I'm very happy with the damon braces, metal bottom, clear front six, and highly recommend them!

[TheProfessor]

Sounds like you are making great progress! I'm interested to hear how the first rectangular wire feels the next day. After 9 months, I will finally get a rectangular wire on top and probably also on bottom on Dec 22. I'm wondering if I'll be able to eat at my family's big Christmas Eve dinner...

[newbite]

Urgh hopefully it hurts less when I wake up! I'll let you know, Professor!

This is the first time I ever had significant pain while using the electric toothbrush (and even flossing). My bottom front teeth felt like I was shocking them and other teeth hurt, too. One good thing is that I was able to floss the newly hooked up molars all right-- I can pass the floss through at the gum line on all my teeth so that helps a lot.

I ate normally today with pretty much no pain. I'm a little concerned about tomorrow, since my mouth hurts so much now after cleaning my teeth, but if I'd just go to sleep I would find out soon enough what I'm going to feel like!

[newbite]

Yep, it still hurts. All of my teeth hurt, even my front teeth which have never hurt before. Eating was not easy or enjoyable, but was possible (I had pancakes, canned fruit, and a slice of cheese). It took a long time to eat, just like when I first got braces! I'm using the Acceledent frequently and it really does help. I'm sad when I have to turn it off! The pain sucks but is bearable and didn't keep me awake (and I haven't taken any pain meds).

It feels like the pain is going to take awhile to go away, maybe even a few days (although I hope not). Maybe I'm going to see some great movement in my front teeth from all of this. They certainly feel like they're being pulled out of my jaw so you'd think they'll actually move!

[TheProfessor]

Eeks, that doesn't sound good, but at least you know something is happening. I hope my new wires don't hurt so much-- but if they do I'll have a good excuse to drink a lot of spiked eggnog at Christmas

[newbite]

Spiked eggnog sounds like a good idea! It's been over 24 hours and chewing still hurts (even noodles!) but my teeth hurt less in between meals than they did even this morning. Maybe it won't last very long. Hopefully you'll have an easier time of it!

[newbite]

My front teeth are killing me. My bottom teeth don't hurt anymore really but the front are really sore. They are moving though!!! Guess it took a rectangular wire to really get them to move . As they straighten it's becoming really apparent that they're really worn down in the middle where they used to hit my bottom teeth, so there's an upside down 'V' between my two front teeth. Shoot . It looks bad. I can't tell yet if they'll have to bond them or if they will just be able to file them straight. That might make them too short but it's hard to tell since they're not straight yet and my bite is still adjusting.

I'll post a picture when I have a good one!

[newbite]

Pictures! Showing the wear on my front teeth and also my gum recession on them. So far my gum recession appears to be the same, no big changes there, fortunately. ALSO showing how much the front have moved. Maybe it won't take so long for them to be in alignment!

Oh, and still lots of pain. Joy!

[Uptown Girl]

Good photos newbite. I have the same problem as my lower front teeth have lined up with very uneven tops owing to wear. One tooth in particular is annoying because part of it is higher than all the other teeth but it is fantastic to feel how smooth they are along the back. The new wires don't seem to be exerting much pressure but I did find with the last ones it took a couple of weeks before I could feel anything happening.

[newbite]

It took a week but my teeth finally stopped hurting from that last wire change! Too bad they didn't put a rectangular wire on the bottom, too, since I'm going to have to go through this again next month :/ . Maybe it won't be as bad.

[TheProfessor]

Wow, a week is a long time, I'm glad they finally stopped hurting! Now I'm not looking forward to my adjustment on Monday- hopefully my new wires won't be so painful! I also have a 9 hour drive to do on Tuesday--usually I like to snack a lot when I drive and stop for good meals. It might end up being a multiple milkshake day

[newbite]

If I'm remembering right your teeth are very straight, so perhaps a rectangular wire won't hurt you as much. My top teeth have a lot of moving to do so perhaps that's why they hurt so much. Hopefully yours won't be so bad!

Tonight is the first time since the wire change that flossing my front teeth wasn't excruciating (a crazy pain way out of proportion to the tiny piece of floss!), and the electric toothbrush doesn't hurt anymore. My front teeth are still *tender* but I'm glad about that because I'm hoping it's a sign they're going to keep moving.

I'm getting worried that I won't have my braces off before I move out of the state. I graduate spring 2016 (a year and a half, so 2 years in braces) and will then be 2 hr from the ortho, which isn't too bad but we are planning to move as soon as we can after, so... It will suck to not be able to go back to them for follow up care (retainer adjustments or whatever), but who knows maybe I'll get my braces off early! Prooobably to soon to worry about

I forgot to add that my molars haven't hurt at all. They probably don't even know they're hooked up, yet , they're such big teeth. I was so worried about them hurting but nothing so far.

Also, flossing way back between the back molars is turning out fine. The bottom is no problem at all since there's a lot of room. The top is harder because they're so high up and far back , but I still manage all right. It doesn't add a lot of extra time, maybe a minute.

[newbite]

Waaaaah I was brushing my teeth and one of my drop in hooks for my elastics fell out into the sink!! Arghh!! It was acting weird, suddenly started tearing up my cheek when I was eating lunch, but it looked fine-- that is, until it fell out . Thankfully the ortho can see me tomorrow at 10, but I can't wear my elastics until then. I feel naked without them!! Ahhhh!!! My underbite has been making so much progress, the past few days are the first time my top front teeth haven't crushed my bottom front teeth when I close my jaw. I hope I don't grind my teeth tonight, I think the elastics have kept me from doing that. I wonder if I can hook the elastic around the bracket, instead... I don't want the bracket to fall off, though... Oh I miss you rabbit elastics!

[NeilH]

I know what you mean about feeling undressed without them, it's surprising how much you miss them when they aren't in. I'm sure one day without them won't set you back much and great that your ortho can fit you in so quickly for a replacement.

[newbite]

Yep, I don't think I could make it without my elastics more than a day-- so glad they could fit me in tomorrow. Just brushed my teeth for the night and went to put in my elastics and... d'oh!

To distract myself I took some pictures of my progress. My next appt isn't until the 21st (I have a lot more time between appts this time) so we'll see how much more happens before then.

I *WAS* super excited that the elastics seem to be pulling back the lower teeth on my right side (which really need to be pulled back!) since I have lots of new space around my right canine (which will allow my bottom teeth to straighten AND align my midline I think!). Oh well, NeilH is right, one night without my elastics isn't going to be the end of the world. Still love you bunny elastics hehe

Wow... these pictures are crazy! I really didn't have time to do this tonight (procrastinating on a project I *should* be doing) but now I'm so glad I did!! I can't believe how much my teeth have changed! What a wonderful thing I'm doing for myself, woohoo!!!!!