Jennielee81 got my LLBR...it's GOLD! Pic on 16

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jennielee81
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Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2005 2:31 pm
Location: The Old Line State

#61 Post by jennielee81 »

I got ELASTICS! I feel so "normal" now. (LOL)

They are just from my top second molars down to my lower second molars. Trying to open my bite a bit. Seems to be working; after just wearing them for 3 nights, (I have night only instructions for now) I can feel a definite difference since my upper incisors aren't hitting my lower brackets any more.

OH!! I also got my final wires!!!!! After a year of 11-12 week adjustments, I now will be going in every 4 weeks for "minor tweaking". MINOR TWEAKING!!!!! :banana:

I didn't have the guts to ask for a done date. Maybe I will next month.
"Life is an occasion; RISE TO IT!" --Mr. Magorium
I wore Damon 3's and Opals for 20 months at age 42. Braces off January 2007
http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=3535 a little more about me here: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/co ... 961130.htm
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jennandtonic
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#62 Post by jennandtonic »

jennielee81 wrote:I got ELASTICS! I feel so "normal" now. (LOL)

They are just from my top second molars down to my lower second molars. Trying to open my bite a bit. Seems to be working; after just wearing them for 3 nights, (I have night only instructions for now) I can feel a definite difference since my upper incisors aren't hitting my lower brackets any more.

OH!! I also got my final wires!!!!! After a year of 11-12 week adjustments, I now will be going in every 4 weeks for "minor tweaking". MINOR TWEAKING!!!!! :banana:

I didn't have the guts to ask for a done date. Maybe I will next month.
Yay!! I can't imagine how excited you are! How does it feel to be in the 'last leg' of your journey?
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alexa
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#63 Post by alexa »

Congrats on your elastics and final wire. That's exciting news! :D
Spacers: 1/26/05; 2/6/06; 3/15/06; 4/24/06
4 First Bicuspids removed: 2/2005
Metal Braces, top and bottom: 3/1/05; Debanded 7/26/07
Hawley retainers top and bottom
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jennielee81
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#64 Post by jennielee81 »

Thanks everyone! I am excited about getting the final wires installed, but I'm not doing cartwheels yet...I realize that I still have a few months to go so I can't see that finish line.

I keep thinking to my self that if I had known that my teeth could have been fixed so quickly, I would have done this years ago. BUT, I would have had to do it alone...without all of you.

It was my fear of what other people would think/say and that I couldn't stand the idea of having braces in my mouth. Well...I pushed past those silly (yet valid) fears and here I am...

What a great place this forum is! I think without it and all of you here, this would feel like a much longer time.
"Life is an occasion; RISE TO IT!" --Mr. Magorium
I wore Damon 3's and Opals for 20 months at age 42. Braces off January 2007
http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=3535 a little more about me here: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/co ... 961130.htm
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jennielee81
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#65 Post by jennielee81 »

I had my second "details" appointment last week. My ortho seemed surprised at how quickly I came to the detail phaze!!!

I got Class II elastics and will continue with the #7 to #7 elastics. Also some bends in the wire to make everything line up perfectly...the few teeth that were slightly off are now exactly where they need to be :D

I can already see a difference in my over bite with these class II's. I think it's moved about 1 mm already. That leaves only 2 mm more.

My ortho looked very carefully at my teeth and said, "You are doing VERY well!", I smiled and said, "thanks!". Then he looked at me again and said, "Really, VERY WELL!". I took this as a hint. :HugeGrin:

Once he had finished with me I got the courage to ask the assistant how much longer and she said it was hard to tell.... :? I think I'll ask the Doc next time, he could surly tell something! I understand why she's not going to make any promises.

The one thing I don't like about these Class II elastics is now people notice my braces. I've had them for a year and NOW people are asking me when I got braces put on. Why can't they (the elastics) be clear or dark pink or something?
"Life is an occasion; RISE TO IT!" --Mr. Magorium
I wore Damon 3's and Opals for 20 months at age 42. Braces off January 2007
http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=3535 a little more about me here: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/co ... 961130.htm
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Vonster
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#66 Post by Vonster »

Oh Jennielee...I'm so jealous! :wink: We started off together but you have a huge lead on me now...guess I just chewed off too many brackets. :lol: Congratulations!

Vonster
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Damon 3's, top and bottom
April 5, 2005
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jennielee81
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#67 Post by jennielee81 »

Thanks ladies!

Linda, you are always SO supportive and positive...you make me feel great! You're such an asset to this board!

Vonster, I was so happy to see your reply. I was wondering how things were going for you. I know we were braces almost the same day and AI disagree, your progress has been every bit as obvious as mine!!

I just looked at your pix, your teeth are SO STRAIGHT! I have the same class II elastic config on top. I also have those stupid spikes on my upper wire. One of them sticks out a bit and when I smile while I'm talking, it grabs my OUTER lip and cuts it! :cry:

Beauty is pain, beauty is pain, beauty is pain....
"Life is an occasion; RISE TO IT!" --Mr. Magorium
I wore Damon 3's and Opals for 20 months at age 42. Braces off January 2007
http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=3535 a little more about me here: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/co ... 961130.htm
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Vonster
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#68 Post by Vonster »

Hi Jennielee!

So nice to see your good progress! Sorry about that pesky post...so far I have been incredibly lucky and I don't really notice the posts, just the pressure from the elastics. My last wires were also square so I'm sorta used to the pain they cause. I'll be glad when they fix my first incisor on the left because it's still so tilted...hopefully that will come after the panoramics at my next appointment.

We're getting close!!! :banana:

Vonster
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jennielee81
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#69 Post by jennielee81 »

Here's my Class II picture. Can't get a picture of the other elastics placement. They are tiney and run from my upper #7s to my lower #7s. They're pulling those 2nd molars down so that they touch. I had no idea they didn't touch!! NOW they do!

See how that one spike on my left (right in the picture) is sticking out farther from my gums?

Oh ya, and that bend in the wire at my upper left lateral is to pull that tooth down a smidge. I think it's done it's job now but I hate that my wire isn't straight any more...

Image

Image
"Life is an occasion; RISE TO IT!" --Mr. Magorium
I wore Damon 3's and Opals for 20 months at age 42. Braces off January 2007
http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=3535 a little more about me here: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/co ... 961130.htm
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Vonster
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#70 Post by Vonster »

Oh, man! I see what you mean about that one post....is there any hope of it turning in on its own? Your teeth look soooooo good! :-88

Vonster
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Damon 3's, top and bottom
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finallybraced
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Opals ??

#71 Post by finallybraced »

Hi Jennilee,

I just got Damon's put on a week & 1/2 ago. I was wondering about the Opals you have on top. :?: I've never heard of those before. Are they made by Damon? Do they cost more, do you know what the advantages or disadvantages are compared to the Damon's?

Just curious if U know, I'd like to find out about them. Thanks. :?:

Finally Braced
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jennielee81
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#72 Post by jennielee81 »

HI finallybraced!

Welcome to the "club"!! I got the Opals on top because I didn't want metal there and they are the only self-ligating "clear" bracket. My ortho uses them on adults and even some of his staff have them. I think they're a pain for the ortho to use though so I don't know how popular they will become in the US.

They are made by another company, Ultradent http://www.ultradent.com/products/produ ... 23&pid=186

There advantage is that they work in a very similar way to Damons and other self-ligating brackets...no ligatures and the whole passive force thing that they all share. Anyway, for me it means that I don't have to go in often to adjust just those brackets...there is the same time-between-adjustment schedule as the Damons. The biggest advantage to ME is that they are AMAZINGLY smooth. As smooth as your own tooth contour.

They cost me an additional $200.

Hope that answers your questions!

Jenn
"Life is an occasion; RISE TO IT!" --Mr. Magorium
I wore Damon 3's and Opals for 20 months at age 42. Braces off January 2007
http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=3535 a little more about me here: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/co ... 961130.htm
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finallybraced
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Thanks Jennilee

#73 Post by finallybraced »

:D Thanks Jennilee for your reply. I really Appreciate all the info. :!:

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jennielee81
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#74 Post by jennielee81 »

Had another adjustment last night. Here's the latest:

Torqued upper wire and bent it to advance upper arch. I no longer have a big over jet!!!!! BUT! My molars are still not aligned upper to lower so he's tilting my uppers a bit so that they can come back a tiny bit more. I also get to quit the upper #7 to lower #7 Impala elastics. Continuing the Class IIs.

:yikes: POSSIBLE PROBLEM AHEAD! They twisted my upper wire to add the torque but my assistant told me that the Opals don't really respond well to this. They tend to bend to allow the wire to move rather than move the tooth.

There is a strong possibility that I will have to have those brackets removed and regular Damon 3's applied to move those teeth to the exact place. They're going to give it a try for this month and may do the bracket change next month if it looks like they're not tweeking.

I don't think this bothers me....I will be finished with school by the time they have to do it. I won't be seeing a lot of people except for my closest friends and family. Maybe it would only be for 4 weeks or so. I will pray for my teeth (giggle). On the positive side, if I get the D3's I KNOW they will work and be done with it.

Another thing, they'll have to pop off these top 6 brackets and I can get a look at (probably pictures of also) my naked teeth. :mrgreen:

That's all for now. No visible difference.
Last edited by jennielee81 on Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
"Life is an occasion; RISE TO IT!" --Mr. Magorium
I wore Damon 3's and Opals for 20 months at age 42. Braces off January 2007
http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=3535 a little more about me here: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/co ... 961130.htm
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Flora2006
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#75 Post by Flora2006 »

Sounds like an overall pretty good adjustment.

Hopefully there won't be a need to change those brackets, but if there will be a need, it shouldn't take too long...so it's not too bad. ;)

Let us know how those teeth are behaving. :)
Image

~~~~~~

Ceramic top braces: January 9th, 2006
Metal bottom braces: May 1st, 2006
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