I'm going to get braces this year!

[NeilH]

And a photo of the elastics. You can't see the two at the back but I can assure you they are there!

[EWUgal15]

Sounds like you have more elastics then people that have surgery Hopefully it does the job quickly for you

You should check out the thread about oldfart's treatment and see his current elastic configuration. It is way more complicated!

I have a poking wire at the back of one of my molar brackets that I think was caused by the ortho therapist not replacing the arch wire centrally (it wasn't poking out much before the appointment and was immediately after). I have another appointment in only three weeks time so do I leave it till then or go back for it to be looked at. Decisions, decisions...

I would totally go in to have that looked at. The first time I got power chains, the tech told me that as they started really moving my teeth, there would be extra wire coming out of the back brackets and to call ASAP if it was poking me too badly. In less than a week after that adjustment, I was back in the chair having things trimmed and filed again. It's slowed down since then (3 powerchain changes later) but I still get my wires trimmed at every appointment.

Your teeth are looking really good Neil! You'll be done in no time.

[NeilH]

Thank you, I'm really pleased with my progress and can't wait to see the finished result.

[NeilH]

Another fantastic dental experience today. I went to the hygienist this morning and was happy that she had very little to do (it didn't cost me any less!) and I'm happy that she gave me a clean bill of health. We had a chat about my progress and she said that my teeth are looking great and she couldn't see anything else that needed doing which was nice to hear especially as I asked her to be really critical now that I'm at the latter part of the refinement stage.

I then had an ortho appointment this evening and had another long, relaxed appointment during which my ortho carefully checked everything. He acknowledged that many of his patients at this stage just want to get finished and have their braces removed but agreed that we both wanted to get the very best result possible so set about making some more bends in both arch-wires to move a couple of teeth into a very slightly different position so that when he does a tiny amount of IPR next time, they will all line up into the perfect position. This does mean that I won't be finished in October and maybe not this year but we are so close to the end, it would just be wrong not to see it through and get the result I have always thought impossible. My mid-line isn't fully lined up yet so I'm continuing with the box seating elastics and the cross-bite elastic at the front. Both arch-wires feel nice and tight tonight so let's hope they work their magic over the next month.

Looking back since I started almost two and a half years ago, I have been so lucky that my ortho and all his team have taken the time and care to give me the great experience I have had and now that he is going the extra mile to get everything as perfect as it can be, I'm just so delighted. I'm really looking forward to seeing the finished results but with the care I have received, consider myself very fortunate.

[NeilH]

Here we are the day after the adjustment and no discomfort whatsoever. It still feels like there is quite a lot of movement going on but no soreness at all which has surprised me.

[metalliKa]

I'm so glad to see you are optimistic about everything. It's refreshing. Wish I have the same attitude about my experience.

Looks like the elastics are doing their job! My ortho didn't mention elastics in the initial consult though he said I have a little of an overbite...but shouldn't cause me too much problem. So I'm wondering if I will at least get elastics somehow to fix that or that maybe the braces alone will do the job? Something to ask about in the future.

[NeilH]

I'm so glad to see you are optimistic about everything. It's refreshing. Wish I have the same attitude about my experience.

Ah thank you... Every time I look in the mirror I remind myself I'm doing something for me for a change. We all spend so much time caring for others in our many roles in life that it's easy to forget to do something for ourselves once in a while. For that reason I can't be anything other than positive about the experience. And maybe this is the reason why I don't mind how long it takes.

[NeilH]

I had a bit of a funny elastics disaster this morning. I usually take the elastics off in the reverse order I place them as several share the same hook but somehow managed to get two of them knotted together during the night around one of the hooks and this morning just couldn't get them out. I tried for ages and started to get worried I would pull a bracket off with all the tugging but eventually managed to free myself from these most devious annoyances.

[NeilH]

After over two years, I finally plucked up the courage to post a photo of me that I really like on FB with a huge wide smile, braces and all. I got only two likes!

[TheProfessor]

After over two years, I finally plucked up the courage to post a photo of me that I really like on FB with a huge wide smile, braces and all. I got only two likes!

I'm sure more likes are on the way!!!! I posted some pics of myself with other people on Facebook recently after avoiding it for almost 18 months. I realized that my clear brackets barely show, my teeth just look bigger and whiter than normal. The pictures got lots of likes, but no comments on my teeth

[rhibee83]

Hi Neil

your teeth are looking amazing as always! must not be to long for you now

I am seeing my Ortho on friday for a quick check up regarding my retainer. I have a bbq to go to on saturday with a bit of drinking and eating , and you can't drink alcohol with the retainer in, so i wanted to know if it was okay if i didn't wear it, but it would be for like maybe 8 hours or so... its a bit of a party haha.

anyway - just letting you know RETAINERS SUCK! lol. they are alot more work than braces, and although i love the stabilization feel, i hate having to take them in and out to eat and drink and then rinse them and then put them back in, ugh, its frustrating!

your elastics look like fun coming along nicely though and nice to hear you had a good trip to the dentist too! i am going to go to the dentist once my teeth settle down a bit from the braces coming off. I have a few black triangles i want to talk to the dentist about as well.

your going great Neil!

[NeilH]

After over two years, I finally plucked up the courage to post a photo of me that I really like on FB with a huge wide smile, braces and all. I got only two likes!

I'm sure more likes are on the way!!!! I posted some pics of myself with other people on Facebook recently after avoiding it for almost 18 months. I realized that my clear brackets barely show, my teeth just look bigger and whiter than normal. The pictures got lots of likes, but no comments on my teeth

Thanks Professor. It's been two weeks now and still only two likes. My immediate thought was to replace my photo with another one then I thought 'to hell with that, I like the photo so it's staying!' It's strange how we seek others' approval and somehow feel we have done something wrong by expressing ourselves in the way we see fit.

[NeilH]

Coming home from work late the other night I didn't feel great and just couldn't face wearing my elastics. I spent most of the night awake worrying about it and tonight have been rewarded by them feeling both tight and awkward along with aching teeth as a reminder that I strayed away from the path of compliance. I won't be making that mistake again.

[NeilH]

You can't help but admire the refreshing innocence and honesty of children. Going through airport security today with my young daughter, the scanner buzzed and I was stopped for a search. She turned to the security guy and said, "don't worry, my dads got braces and that's what's set it off". There really was no response to that!

[rhibee83]

You can't help but admire the refreshing innocence and honesty of children. Going through airport security today with my young daughter, the scanner buzzed and I was stopped for a search. She turned to the security guy and said, "don't worry, my dads got braces and that's what's set it off". There really was no response to that!

Lol! Aw that is cute! Haha.