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Eleven months
I've missed a month or two of updates, things have been busy! Right now I'm laying in bed, a bit afraid to get up because this is morning #1 after my gum graft (I started a separate review about that).
My braces are in a holding pattern right now because of the gum graft-- don't want the teeth moving while the new gum is trying to attach! My last adjustment was the end of June and I won't have another adjustment until the end of August :(. I should be having one right now since I always have them once a month. Hopefully I won't be in braces too much longer because of this hold up.
I got my finishing wires in May and then in June they started making some bends in them (boy did that hurt, and they were just the tiniest of bends!). I have tiebacks on top and bottom all the way from the back molar to the front on each side. I was back in elastics again for a bit but the finishing wire changed something so that now I have an overjet and haven't worn my elastics in several weeks. My top teeth are probably flared, I suspect. Once my graft is healed the ortho is going to work on pulling them in.
I'm trying not to freak out about not being able to clean my teeth properly because of the graft. It's pretty much my worst nightmare-- not being able to brush and floss while in braces. Technically I can brush the top but I'm not supposed to spit (!) and can't open my mouth much so I don't see how that's going to happen soon.
Fingers crossed my teeth don't get messed up waiting for this graft to heal. Hope this antibiotic rinse works!
My braces are in a holding pattern right now because of the gum graft-- don't want the teeth moving while the new gum is trying to attach! My last adjustment was the end of June and I won't have another adjustment until the end of August :(. I should be having one right now since I always have them once a month. Hopefully I won't be in braces too much longer because of this hold up.
I got my finishing wires in May and then in June they started making some bends in them (boy did that hurt, and they were just the tiniest of bends!). I have tiebacks on top and bottom all the way from the back molar to the front on each side. I was back in elastics again for a bit but the finishing wire changed something so that now I have an overjet and haven't worn my elastics in several weeks. My top teeth are probably flared, I suspect. Once my graft is healed the ortho is going to work on pulling them in.
I'm trying not to freak out about not being able to clean my teeth properly because of the graft. It's pretty much my worst nightmare-- not being able to brush and floss while in braces. Technically I can brush the top but I'm not supposed to spit (!) and can't open my mouth much so I don't see how that's going to happen soon.
Fingers crossed my teeth don't get messed up waiting for this graft to heal. Hope this antibiotic rinse works!
Almost 9 months!
I haven't updated on here in a long time! I've been really busy with school and my braces have kind of faded into the background. I've had IPR, powerchains, tiebacks, stronger elastics (and now NO elastics! woohoo!), and my teeth are getting really straight (except for one stubborn tooth, isn't that always how it is?). I'm on the last rectangular wires and will likely go into finishing wires at my appointment this month.
Tomorrow I'm going to get a second periodontal opinion. The first guy I saw said I needed gum grafts on all 6 bottom front teeth (no surprise) but I didn't like how he didn't do any measurements or give an actual exam besides simply looking in my mouth. So, I'm getting a second opinion. If I'm paying $100 for an exam I want measurements! I want to have a baseline, since so many of my other teeth have recession and may need grafts in the future. Annoying.
My bite seems to be pretty stable even without elastics, even though I notice I'm pushing my jaw forwards sometimes (and have to stop myself). I've been off them since April 20. They had bumped me up to Impala elastics two adjustments ago and they were TERRIBLE. They pulled my jaw so far back my bite didn't fit at all. I ended up only wearing them during the day, and then at my last adjustment they told me not to wear any at all.
If it weren't for my impending gum surgery I would think I was in the home stretch! If I do get the gum grafts this summer (which is my plan) I wonder if it will delay my debanding. The ortho tech said I could get my braces off probably between September and December, but that's if the surgery doesn't mess with my schedule.
If you have the option to use Acceledent, I would definitely recommend it. I don't think my teeth would be where they are now without it (I am where a lot of people are at almost 2 years, not 9 months!). More than worth the $500, in my opinion.
Tomorrow I'm going to get a second periodontal opinion. The first guy I saw said I needed gum grafts on all 6 bottom front teeth (no surprise) but I didn't like how he didn't do any measurements or give an actual exam besides simply looking in my mouth. So, I'm getting a second opinion. If I'm paying $100 for an exam I want measurements! I want to have a baseline, since so many of my other teeth have recession and may need grafts in the future. Annoying.
My bite seems to be pretty stable even without elastics, even though I notice I'm pushing my jaw forwards sometimes (and have to stop myself). I've been off them since April 20. They had bumped me up to Impala elastics two adjustments ago and they were TERRIBLE. They pulled my jaw so far back my bite didn't fit at all. I ended up only wearing them during the day, and then at my last adjustment they told me not to wear any at all.
If it weren't for my impending gum surgery I would think I was in the home stretch! If I do get the gum grafts this summer (which is my plan) I wonder if it will delay my debanding. The ortho tech said I could get my braces off probably between September and December, but that's if the surgery doesn't mess with my schedule.
If you have the option to use Acceledent, I would definitely recommend it. I don't think my teeth would be where they are now without it (I am where a lot of people are at almost 2 years, not 9 months!). More than worth the $500, in my opinion.
6.5 months in braces!
I had my 6th adjustment two weeks ago and I've had braces for 6.5 months! My teeth hurt for a few days but nothing like when they put a rectangular wire on the top teeth.
They gave me bigger wires on the top and the bottom. They also gave me elastic tiebacks on the bottom to try to pull my bottom front teeth backwards and close a gap on my right side. The gap was more than half closed in less than 2 days and is only noticeable now when I floss (since the floss feels loose in there unlike in the space btw my other teeth).
They said I'd be wearing the tiebacks probably for the rest of my time in braces, urgh. Better than a powerchain though since they seem like they'll be easier to keep clean since they're not flush against my teeth.
The tiebacks go from a back molar to new hooks attached directly to the wire. I've also increased the pull of my class 3 elastics by using the new tieback hooks instead of the old drop in hooks. Doing that made a huge difference-- my bite changed immediately and my teeth didn't fit together for awhile but they're starting to again and the spaces on the right side look better. My entire right side on the bottom needs to move back and it looks like it's on its way.
They said that once my bottom teeth are pulled back they can pull back my top teeth since right now they're flared out a bit.
They repositioned the bracket on my lateral incisor since the tooth is sticking out. The bracket popped right off, I didn't feel a thing! Grinding off the glue was pretty gross and disturbing. Fortunately that tooth isn't sensitive but a lot of the other ones are. Not looking forward to that part of debanding (lots of cold air!). The tooth looked great without the bracket! No staining or damage. Yay
The ortho also did a bit of IPR on the bottom edges of my front teeth to try to make them less triangular. He did a really good job, he didn't take too much off and they look so much better. They still don't look good, though, and my gum recession makes it all look worse, but I'm sure it will all get sorted eventually.
My crossbite was bothering me-- it's kind of edge-to-edge now and my teeth were grinding together at night. Now my very last molar hurts when I touch it and it looks a little funny (like it's broken/worn down on top) but the pain is probably just from it moving and it probably always looked funny I just never noticed before. I'm just surprised a molar hurts. I can't chew back there at all. I have a dentist appt in two weeks so they can tell me, at least, if I cracked the tooth. It feels like normal tooth moving braces pain, just weird it's so far back.
I'm ready to get these off. All the big movement is over and it's just a slog to the finish now!
They gave me bigger wires on the top and the bottom. They also gave me elastic tiebacks on the bottom to try to pull my bottom front teeth backwards and close a gap on my right side. The gap was more than half closed in less than 2 days and is only noticeable now when I floss (since the floss feels loose in there unlike in the space btw my other teeth).
They said I'd be wearing the tiebacks probably for the rest of my time in braces, urgh. Better than a powerchain though since they seem like they'll be easier to keep clean since they're not flush against my teeth.
The tiebacks go from a back molar to new hooks attached directly to the wire. I've also increased the pull of my class 3 elastics by using the new tieback hooks instead of the old drop in hooks. Doing that made a huge difference-- my bite changed immediately and my teeth didn't fit together for awhile but they're starting to again and the spaces on the right side look better. My entire right side on the bottom needs to move back and it looks like it's on its way.
They said that once my bottom teeth are pulled back they can pull back my top teeth since right now they're flared out a bit.
They repositioned the bracket on my lateral incisor since the tooth is sticking out. The bracket popped right off, I didn't feel a thing! Grinding off the glue was pretty gross and disturbing. Fortunately that tooth isn't sensitive but a lot of the other ones are. Not looking forward to that part of debanding (lots of cold air!). The tooth looked great without the bracket! No staining or damage. Yay
The ortho also did a bit of IPR on the bottom edges of my front teeth to try to make them less triangular. He did a really good job, he didn't take too much off and they look so much better. They still don't look good, though, and my gum recession makes it all look worse, but I'm sure it will all get sorted eventually.
My crossbite was bothering me-- it's kind of edge-to-edge now and my teeth were grinding together at night. Now my very last molar hurts when I touch it and it looks a little funny (like it's broken/worn down on top) but the pain is probably just from it moving and it probably always looked funny I just never noticed before. I'm just surprised a molar hurts. I can't chew back there at all. I have a dentist appt in two weeks so they can tell me, at least, if I cracked the tooth. It feels like normal tooth moving braces pain, just weird it's so far back.
I'm ready to get these off. All the big movement is over and it's just a slog to the finish now!
Provider Review
Dr. David J. Henderson
Eleven months in with Damon braces and it's going great! I am so happy with Dr. Henderson's office, I couldn't ask for a better team. So far a great experience.