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.

The Final Push!

Today it has been exactly a year since my braces were put on! In some ways, it feels like forever. I am so used to them, even quite attached to them and knowing that they will be taken off in just 25 days feels very surreal. In other ways, it is no time at all and I recall this time last year as if it were yesterday. Things have come a long way!
 

L-R: Before Braces, 3 Weeks, 12 Months
 

Yesterday I went for my 6th adjustment and my ortho told me that my teeth are ready and the braces can come off during my Easter holidays. Monday 7th April is the big day! I am booked in for my braces to be removed. My teeth will then be cleaned and impressions taken for my Essix retainers. My ortho said that my bonded retainers, upper and lower, could be fitted in the same appointment. All in all, it should take about 40 minutes.

L-R: 13th March 2013 and 13th March 2014

The rest of the adjustment went well. My upper wire was replaced and my ortho bent the lower wire slightly to reposition one tooth. My ligatures were changed. The only major change he made was to my elastics. So far, I have escaped most of the torture elastics can inflict. I got my braces on 13th March 2013. Elastic ligatures were not applied until my second adjustment on 9th July and I started wearing an elastic band as well, just one, in a diagonal configuration on my left side after my third adjustment on 17th September.



1 Elastic: 17th September 2013-12th March 2014

As of yesterday until 7th April, I am wearing not one elastic but two. To finalise some adjustments to my bite, my ortho has asked me to wear an elastic at each side, in a square pattern, which I find a lot more restrictive than the diagonal pattern of before. Instead of two brackets connected, top front to bottom back, I have four at each side. An extra hook was added to the front, bottom left bracket for the elastic to connect to. I hate them and am counting the days until they are gone, although getting rid of the braces will be very odd.




2 Elastics: L+R 12th March 2014

They are fiddly to apply as with my brackets being clear, I tend to hook the elastic around the bracket itself, rather than the hooks as I am supposed to. I can't eat with these in as can barely open my mouth and I can only reapply them after eating using a mirror. I had grown accustomed to going without. It also hurts. After two to three hours wear, I get quite bad toothache and need a break. It is particularly bad on the right side, as I have not worn an elastic there before. I also had an extraction pre-braces on the left lower side, where the elastic would normally have attached, so the stretch is not quite so far.



Upper Teeth Comparison

My teeth are looking great but it is really hard to know what they truly look like with the wires still in place and I keep worrying that they won't be ready. My upper teeth are awesome but I am still a bit unhappy with the lowers, even though nobody else seems to think there is a problem. The three front lower teeth still annoy me because one is turned a little to the side, not quite the angle I want and one sticks up just a little higher than the other two. I hope this will be corrected.



Lower Teeth Comparison

After my impressions are taken on 7th April, I go back a week later on Monday 14th April to collect my Essix retainers and learn how to use them. I am unsure how easy I will find it to apply them since they go all the way round my teeth or how comfortable they will be. I have a really strong gag reflex and am incredibly uneasy about anything touching my palate, so impressions worry me a lot and I worry about gagging when I put the retainers on. I expect I will need to wear them full-time for a while before I transition to nights only but am not sure.

The countdown has started....

6 Month Update: Elastic Woes!

Today I went for my third adjustment. It has now been 6 months! I can hardly believe it. The first month or so went so slowly and I had a couple of issues with broken brackets. Since then, it seems to have flown! I am so happy with how the upper teeth, previously very uneven are looking. They're much straighter! The good news is that this appointment was the least painful so far. My upper wire has been changed but I have not felt any difference at all, no pressure, no tenderness.

The bad news is I have my elastic band. It is only one but I am finding it quite a struggle. The elastic ligatures that I've had for a while, which don't need changing at home, have been reapplied but this time, I was asked to wear an elastic band as well. I understand it is to ensure my lower teeth move in the right direction to close the gap from where I had my extraction and stop any new gap forming in the process. My orthodontist fitted the elastic, told me to remove it for eating and that I'd be fine at reapplying it by hand. I got two bags full.

Then I came home and needed to eat something so I took it off and it was such a struggle to get back on. To start with, I'm not 100% sure I have put it on the right teeth. According to the diagram my orthodontist drew a circle on, I believe I am right with my lower backmost tooth which is braced (my very back tooth has no bracket on it at all). It has a hook for an elastic, while as far as I can see the tooth next to it does not, but it is this tooth which is beside the gap.

It also appears that I need to use the upper tooth second away from my front teeth, not the tooth right beside my front tooth, although in my many attempts I have managed to hook it on both. On all the pictures of silver braces I have seen, there is a clearly defined hook on the upper tooth but I can't see that on mine, which is a ceramic bracket so harder to see against the tooth. Looking at the photo I took of the tooth, it seems to be over a hook but it doesn't look like the hooks I've seen on silver braces. Are ceramics different?

I am on approximately my fourth elastic just today because the others 'pinged' out of my hand while I was fumbling in the mirror and they're unfortunately the exact whitish cream colour of my bedroom carpet. One has turned up. The others have not. I called the clinic in desperation and didn't even get to speak to my ortho, just the receptionist, who did not really help except to say there is no tool I can use (actually some articles I have read looking for tips online have mentioned a plastic sort of hook which some orthos can provide) and that I just need to practise it.

I have finally managed to get one on in what I believe to be the correct position but more by luck than by design. I managed it by hooking the upper tooth, which is relatively easy although it still takes me more than one try usually and then holding my finger on that end, while reaching for the hook on the bottom with the other. Getting over the bottom hook though, is very hit and miss. I have since eaten with the elastic in. It is apparently not essential to take it out. I was hungry but had only just managed to get it in so wasn't going to remove it.

On the whole, progress is good but there must be an easier way to put on this elastic. I am not now due back until 12th November. I am going away to uni this Saturday (about an hour and a half away by train) and moving into halls so had to select a late evening appointment during the reading week of the semester, when hopefully I will not have lectures. I hope I can manage. I am certainly not going to try and put them in on the go yet. I'm put out that the appointment was so short and I left with no real idea of what to do. I didn't even get to try and do it myself while I was there.

I have never been able to connect the knee bone to the ankle bone in Operation and that is what this feels like, trying to hook the elastic over the peg at each end. On the plus side, these are my latest pictures which I really like. Not only are my teeth looking so much better, but I have my new camera and the pictures are so much clearer. Before pictures are below.

Front

Uppers from below

Lowers

Elastic

Top Hook

This is where I was six months ago. Despite the breakages, the ulcer and now the elastic, it is so worth it!

The Night Before Braces...

I am finally getting my braces tomorrow! I am feeling excited and quite nervous too. I wanted to post some final 'before' photos but very annoyingly my best camera seems to have vanished off the face of the Earth so the new photos I have taken are not very good. My old camera takes AA batteries and has a screen barely larger than a postage stamp. Old but faithful! Anyway, here they are. The rest are old photos I dug up on my computer.

 

 

In those pictures, I am wearing the very stylish and comfortable cheek retractor which I bought, not that I am taking this too seriously or anything. Since I can barely floss my teeth without braces, I figured I might need it so I can have both hands free. I'm not sure yet how useful it will be for flossing but it does give you a great view of your whole mouth. There weren't any pictures or instructions included but it only took 20 minutes of gagging and spluttering in front of the mirror while turning it round and round (one side is bigger than the other) to get it right! To confirm my tendency to overthink and overprepare for everything, I have actually got myself a little dental kit together.

 

In here there are orthodontic toothbrushes, space invaders and an interdental brush with extra heads, although they appear to be the same thing, the space invaders in mini sizes, a single use toothbrush treated with powder that turns into toothpaste when wet in case I get stranded somewhere, a little case of wax, a mirror, the cheek retractor and orthodontic floss with a hard wire on the end for threading that I will hopefully manage better than regular floss.

The clear tube thing on the right is a 'lip bumper' I can trim down and fit over the brackets. I got it because I get mouth ulcers often but might only wear it at night, depending on how much it affects my speech. And I don't think you can eat with it. I thought to start with I would get a bit of everything to try. I'm not sure what I will order again. And it all fits in a clear plastic case.

A couple more pictures I already had on my computer. It's slowly sinking in that this is happening and for some reason, I can't stop running my tongue over my teeth while there's still no brackets.

 

 

The Verdict: Got A Brace Date!

In December, when I paid a visit to my orthodontic practice for a free chat, I scheduled an initial consultation which at this practice takes the form of two appointments a week apart, the examination and the verdict. On 29th January, I went for my exam. There were four parts to it; the examination, the X-rays, the photos and the moulds, my dread. I have a horrible gag reflex and had them done once before. That time was so awful, I was thrashing and retching, that it was one reason I never got the braces.

The exam was good, no problems found and no prodding my gums unlike the dentist either, the part I hate most. The X-rays were cool. I'd had a full head x-ray taken before, where you stand and bite on a little lolly stick and the machine goes around you but this practice also had a different machine, to take x-rays from the side. For the photos, some were taken with me standing and the rest with me sitting in the exam chair, with a cheek retractor in and some of the top and bottom teeth only, with mirrors resting in my mouth.

I had told the treatment co-ordinator about my issues with the moulds so my orthodontist was forewarned and luckily very sympathetic. He was prepared to try another method if I could not tolerate the usual way but everything went far more smoothly than before. The trays were much smaller, probably the smallest that they had. Also instead of the very wet, grey sludge I remembered, which had to set in my mouth for 30 seconds, he used what looked like yellow Play-Doh and let it virtually set first, so the trays were only in 15 seconds. I had requested that the lower mould be done first and this might have helped.

Tonight I had my second appointment to receive the verdict and there was a pleasant surprise- I will not need any teeth out for now! I had assumed that my overcrowding was too great. But actually my teeth fit together fine at the sides already and I have already had one tooth out on the bottom, where the crowding was not so bad to begin with. The worst of the crowding is with my upper front teeth but since I have a slight overbite, my orthodontist believes it will be possible to make enough room by bringing my lower teeth forward a little, plus some micro-reduction to certain teeth as needed. Since I also don't need any fillings or other work, this means I can get my braces straight away!

Upper and lower braces- a metal wire but clear brackets- will be fitted on 13th March! I have been told I will need them for 15-18 months. I have seen them and although nervous, I was pleasantly surprised at how unobtrusive they are. Although I'm sure it will be shock to see them on, I expect they will not seem noticeable for very long. When the braces finally come off, I will have upper and lower bonded retainers, plus two sets of removable retainers- the Essix tray kind- to wear full-time for a month and then while I am sleeping.

In terms of outcome, my orthodontist was very positive. I have been warned that there will still be a small overbite and overjet because of the extraction I've already had but these are not major to begin with and I know the overbite will improve. Also that my upper and lower centrelines will stay to the left of my midfacial line. But the difference is literally a millimetre and this is not something I have ever even noticed before. The x-rays and photos turned out great but sadly, I don't have a copy so no pictures this time.

But the countdown is on to Brace Day- 13th March 2013!  

Update: Had 1st Consultation!

Where has the time gone? It seems like forever since I posted. I was shocked to realise my dentist had referred me to the orthodontist back in December 2010. A full two years later, I have finally just been today for an initial consultation about having treatment. To be honest, I had almost forgotten that a referral had been made.

I've been going to the dentist every 6 months for check ups but they couldn't say when I'd hear from the orthodontist. I just had to wait and see. The only change to my smile during all of this time was when the dentist agreed to remove an extra tooth, which had been irritating me for a long time.

It came through in my gum in my lower jaw, in front of another tooth. These were the only (bad) pictures I could find where you can see it. I wanted it out because the gum around it used to get very sore and often food would get trapped between it and the tooth behind, which I could never reach to clean properly.

Before Extraction

The extraction was not painful, owing to the two injections I had, which went fine although some of the anaesthetic went on my tongue and it tasted very bitter. Never having had an extraction before though, I didn't know fully what to expect and the noise was very unpleasant, especially when the tooth proved stubborn to remove and had to be yanked out with some kind of pliers, breaking into two pieces.

I went to work after the extraction and the numbness wore off within hours. I had a bit of sensitivity in the socket for a day or two when I was eating and then it healed up fine. Now, apart from the slightly darker colour of my gum, like a small scar, you would never know the tooth had been there. It looks and feels so much better.  I may be imagining it but the tooth behind appears to have moved a little into the space. These are the very bad 'after' pictures.

After Extraction

Back to today, my initial consultation went very well. As this was just a chance to visit the practice and have a free chat with the treatment co-ordinator, I did not see one of the orthodontists and there was no exam. It went very well though and everyone seems very nice. I was able to see the different types of braces they use and the retainers- to my relief apparently mine will be the Essix kind, not the Hawley- as I can NOT tolerate anything on the roof of my mouth. Appointment times and costs were discussed as well and everything seems great.

The next step is a formal consultation to find out what my personal treatment plan would involve. This will mean two appointments, a week apart. At the first, I will have an exam, x-rays and the dreaded moulds. At the second, I will find out what I will need to have done beforehand, probably a couple of extractions as my teeth are very crowded, as well as my options in terms of types of braces, costs and the time my treatment will take. My first appointment is scheduled for the end of January....

Waiting

It's been a while. Despite my best efforts, the lines on my left central incisor are back. They're not brown, just grey and probably not even that visible but I'm conscious of them. It's annoying because I clean thoroughly after eating and give that tooth a good scrub. They're very engrained. This is what my teeth were like just after the clean on December 13th and a few weeks later in early January. The lines started returning  just recently and I've no idea why.


December 13th

Early January

This dark picture from yesterday vaguely shows where the lines have come back. The bottom of that left incisor is slightly grey. The tooth next to it, which is set back slightly, is also getting lined again. Except for those two, I'm quite pleased with how things are going. My teeth are naturally more ivory than white but they've stayed a nice colour and the filling has bedded right in. The hard part now is having to wait. I'm not due back at the dentist until some time in May and am still to hear from the orthodontist.



Lines

My understanding is that the dentist sent a referral after the last appointment so I will get a letter at some point. I know it could take months but it would be much easier to wait if I had a date to focus on. I priced up some orthdontic supplies too when I was researching living with a brace and they've all gone up since the VAT hike. Anyway, this picture was originally of my teeth. It's my two front teeth in close up. I was fiddling with the photo editor to make it clearer and accidentally pressed something. This was the rather psychedelic result. I think it looks like a person reaching out and I love the spooky 'lights' in the middle so I've kept it.

Spooky!

A Diamond and Sparkle

Today it was finally time to go back for my filling and deep clean and I couldn't be happier with what I've had done. Everything went smoothly so I now have a little filling on my lower left side and the whitest teeth I've had in ages. They sparkle! It's actually put me off eating as I don't want the old stains to return. The deeply engrained little lines on my front teeth are gone!



Before (Stained!)

I went into the appointment first and on my own, leaving Mum waiting outside. We agreed it wouldn't help either of us if she watched my turn before hers. The dentist started with the injection, then the clean to give it time to work and the filling last. The injection itself didn't bother me, though the needle was bigger than I expected. I shut my eyes so I wouldn't automatically close my mouth and to my surprise, it didn't really hurt. It also worked so I only needed that one.



After (Sparkling!)

The clean, scale and polish was wet and noisy. I had a suction tube, a water jet and a couple of tools in my mouth but thanks to the injection and an afternoon slot, I didn't gag. I did want to swallow the water but once the suction tube was working and I got used to the feeling, it was actually quite pleasant- refreshing and cold. The scale was loud but I only felt some vibration. He spent ages on the front teeth then finished off with minty toothpaste, using the jet on each tooth in turn and I rinsed my mouth in the sink.

Front Teeth (No Stains!)

The filling is the little dark spot on the side of my tooth just near my finger below. It's not actually visible when I smile or even open my mouth, unless I pull my cheek back. By the time he started it, my mouth was numb so I didn't feel a thing. I could hear him drilling though and it was really loud. The squeaking made me wince like fingernails on a blackboard and I screwed my face up, so he asked if it hurt. There was some pressure once the filling was applied and that was it. Now it feels fragile, as if my toothbrush might flick it off but that's going.

Invisible (Diamond Tooth!)

The filling is much less noticeable than I was expecting and I like it already. In the light it reminds me of one of those teeth diamonds that cost a fortune. I've eaten normally and can brush over it from tomorrow. The numbness wore off totally after three hours, once I'd sorted some problem areas on my chin while I could (bonus!) My lips tingled like crazy as the injection wore off but I'd gone prepared with tons of lip balm on. The difference in my teeth is amazing and I'll definitely ask for another clean at some point. I quite liked that part.

New Pearlies (Smile!)

I don't know when I'll next update. I'll be having six month check-ups (the next is in May) and am being referred to an orthodontist. I don't know how long this will take but I'll get a letter, hopefully before May. I can't wait to get started now. I do wonder what will happen regarding my 'diamond tooth' as being on the side, it's right where a bracket would probably be glued on. I'm keeping my pretty purple ticker so I know how long ago the cleaning was because I'm determined to keep these pearlies white!

Starting Point

I've wanted my teeth sorted for ages. I stupidly turned down braces at 14 and now they're a bit of a mess. I was late losing my milk teeth and then my dentist went private. But enough is enough and having just found a new dentist, I went today for the first time. Luckily, the news wasn't too bad. To start with, I really can't praise the dentist enough. I'd already registered so it didn't take long when I arrived. There were just some short forms to fill in and I was in the chair.

I was prepared to apologise profusely but there was no need. The dentist listened while I explained how I came to be without a dentist and the problems I'm having. I mentioned how the alignment of some teeth is making them difficult to clean and the staining on my front teeth, which no amount of brushing seems to be able to remove. I also mentioned my wisdom teeth. They haven't come through yet but I get jaw pain that suggests they're not far away. I wasn't sure all of my milk teeth had come out properly either.

 After we talked, he examined my teeth in detail, making observations that meant nothing to me, which were entered on the computer by an assistant. I opened my mouth or clenched my teeth as instructed and then he did some poking around in my gums with some pointy instrument. One point he touched was a bit sensitive and it stung but it was otherwise ok. Then I got X-rays. I was very impressed that he had an x-ray machine in the office. I was given a plastic instrument to bite on to keep my teeth apart and photos were taken from each side. I almost gagged and there was some pressure underneath my tongue but it was fine. I wish I had seen the pictures!

                                                    

After the X-rays, I got the verdict and all things considered, I'm pretty pleased. There's just one filling needed and when I have that, I'll be having a thorough clean, scale and polish too. I was expecting much worse. He said my teeth are actually very clean and in good condition. All of my milk teeth have fallen out and there's no sign of my wisdom teeth yet but there doesn't look to be any problems. I asked about extractions and sorting out the alignment issues and he said I could be referred to an orthodontist after the filling. I said that would be great and will ask more next time.

I go back for the filling and clean on December 13th and it's an afternoon slot, so hopefully I won't have as many problems with my gag reflex. The injection doesn't worry me much but I don't want to make things difficult by gagging. I can't wait to see the back of these stains! I'm very happy with the dentist. He was easy to talk to and sympathetic.I don't know how long it will take on the NHS, but I hope to get braces eventually and chart my progress here. Until then, I'll only be posting occasionally.