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.

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.

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!