25 with Damon Braces

I got a new retainer on Monday. It's the Hawley retainer, the kind with the wire across the front. They said they gave me this type of retainer because I will have bonding on my lateral incisors. I have to be honest and say I'm afraid that the Hawley won't do as well keeping my teeth as straight as the Essix. At least I knew with the Essix that my teeth couldn't move. My teeth feel like they can move with the Hawley. Maybe I'm just being paranoid, though. I just really don't want to have paid all this time & money just for my teeth to go back! I didn't get to pick a color, either- it's just light pink. I'll post a picture later, I forgot to take a pic before! I still wear them only at night & I go back in 3 months for a retainer check.

I have been meaning to update but keep forgetting! I got my braces off on February 29. It was the best day ever! It is such a strange feeling to look in the mirror and see straight teeth! I'm going on a week with them off tomorrow, and it's still weird... But in a good way! :) I have clear plastic retainers right now that were given to me on the day I got them off. I also got bleaching retainers made, which are basically the same as the plastic ones, just more rubbery. They gave Opalescence 35% whitening gel to use until I get the whitest I like. Then, I will have my lateral incisors bonded. You cannot see the gaps like I thought you would. I'm very happy. I go back on March 21 to get an upper wire retainer. I will continue the plastic one on bottom. Also, I received a permanent retainer on upper & lower!

I excitedly went to the ortho today expecting to get my removal date, as stated during my last appt. However when I got there, I was told that I would be seeing the other ortho in the office who I have never seen before. After examining my teeth, he stated that my left canine still needs to rotate more. They added an extra loop on top of that tooth to change the torque and adjusted the wires again. He told me I would be in "a little extra pain" tonight and trust me, he was right. After all that, I didn't get a removal date and they said maybe next time I come they can set that. I don't go back until Jan 11, though. Also, in the short amount of time that I've had this adjustment I have developed a gap in my front teeth! It's weird to see and also strange that it is now appearing at the end of my treatment. Oh well!