My Journey in Pictures

These are the photos my ortho gave me. All I can say is wow! The braces experience on the whole was not as painful or as uncomfortable as I expected it to be and so worth it! The photos remind me why I will never stop wearing my retainers, even though they are way more unpleasant than braces ever were and I hate them! I have invested too much time and effort (not to mention money!) to let my teeth revert and they look awesome! I also have to say it is the best money I have ever spent. All things considered, the treatment has been great value for money.



My Smile

Upper Teeth

Lower Teeth

Left Profile

Right Profile

Front Profile

 Despite my difficulties with the retainers, retention seems to be going very well, though it is early days. I felt some movement during my week of freedom and my ortho said the teeth could have shifted minutely, however, the retainers fit snugly so this would not seem to be an issue. I will be reducing my wear to evenings and weekends after 14th May. I am scheduled to return to the ortho in around 3 months time, 9th July, for a check up and the follow-up appointments will continue for a year. Thereafter, I will be able to make any further appointments needed myself, should my teeth move or I have a problem with my retainers.

Life In Plastic, Not Fantastic!

The retainers are on and they feel pretty awful at the moment. Having the bite surface of my teeth in plastic feels weird and my whole mouth feels full, like wearing fake vampire teeth so I am talking a bit thickly and exaggerating the pronunciation of my words. I am much more aware of my saliva and having to handle it a lot more (gross!) too. Since they don't cover my palate, the gagging is not as immediate or as severe but my tongue catches the edges and I gag often. My ortho trimmed them but my gums are protesting at the edges too.

I have to wear the retainers full-time except when eating or brushing my teeth for a month, followed by evening and nights wear for a year! It should be nights-only wear but a night means 12 hours and since I don't sleep for 12 hours at a time, I will have to put them on in the evenings, 12 hours before I expect to get up or make up the extra time at weekends. Eventually, I should be able to wear them at nights only for my typical sleeping time of 7-8 hours, plus anytime I feel like it, for as many years as I can until they wear out.

The orthodontist gave me a goody bag for completing my treatment! It included a mug with some chocolates in it! I also got some lip balm and a compact mirror in a little drawstring bag, another sparkly purple retainer case to go with the one I got last time plus an extra plain purple case to keep as a spare and another month's supply of Retainer Brite.

It should last as I have been told to use it weekly and just clean them with a soft toothbrush and mild soap in between times. I was given a folder with my retainer instructions and my before and after photos. I have been instructed to alternate between both sets of my retainers so that they both fit, so have added stickers to colour-code the cases. I am due to return for my 3-month check up in July.

A Week of Freedom!

The braces are off! Today was the big day and I am thrilled with the result! My appointment took about 50 minutes. My ortho cleaned my teeth with the braces in place then removed the wires just to check it was definitely time for the braces to come off and it was. He reattached the wires, then used a pair of pliers to snip the ends of the wires and break the brackets off my teeth, which didn't hurt at all. I just felt the pressure. The brackets were removed as a whole, still attached to the wires.

Next, my bonded retainer wires were glued on along the back of my upper and lower teeth and all the glue residue, front and back, was removed. This was the most unpleasant part due to the vibrations. I had taken painkillers beforehand which helped lessen the sensitivity of my teeth but it was so loud, as if someone was using a chainsaw inside my head, so really hard on my ears! I had to get my ortho to do just three teeth at a time and pause. Then my teeth were cleaned and polished until they shined!

 

There was some last minute reshaping of two teeth to do and then my new moulds were taken. This is the part I dread most due to my sensitive palate and gag reflex but it was not as bad as the noise of the scaler. Two moulds were taken of the upper and the lower teeth to create my two sets of retainers. My ortho helped me to wash out the residue from taking the moulds, which was like sinking my teeth into yellow Play-Doh and then I got to see my new smile! Wow!

We went into the imaging room for photos. I didn't have X-rays this time but I had a full face and a profile shot and a close up of my teeth. Then I returned to the chair for some more close ups of my teeth with the mirrors and cheek retractors in place. I will get a copy of those pictures as well as the originals when I return to collect my retainers on Monday. Before I left, I was also given a sparkly purple box to keep my retainers in and a month's supply of Retainer Brite tablets.

I know I will have to wear my retainers full-time for a month so I am enjoying this week of freedom. My teeth look awesome! I can't help staring at them each time I pass a mirror and so smooth! I run my tongue over them all the time. I have nearly choked a few times though because food slips down so easily without the brackets to catch on. I am looking forward to the retainers though. My teeth feel quite loose and achy already, as if they are moving.