Summary: Still have braces on after 2.3 years
I went to my ortho appointment after 3/4 weeks from my previous visit. I already knew my braces were not ready to be taken off as I could feel that my upper right front tooth was hitting my lower ones a little too soon.
As I approached the patient's seat my orthodontist approached me and asked me to smile to check out my teeth. He said it looked pretty good and that it was crunch time. But, what does that mean? How much time does he have before crunch time is over?
My wires were taken off and teeth were inspected a few more times while I was laying on my chair. I pointed out to him some of my observations and he agreed. He said that the teeth are aligned well upper and lower but they are not 100% with respect to each other - that we are working with millimeters in difference.
There were some adjustments to my wires which I can feel on my lower back molars and my front upper teeth.
The interesting part of the appointment was that I got what they called Koby hooks. I got two of these on my lower teeth attached to the brackets on the incisors. Not sure how they were attached but I am afraid of moving them and have them knocked off. Why hooks? Because I was asked to wear rubber bands again!!!!! This time they are called the rabbit bands - much thinner and lighter than the impala bands from before. The bands are going from the upper molars to the lower incisors and they are supposed to bring my upper teeth up slightly and my lower back slightly.
Next appointment is in 4 weeks :(. Sounds so far away!
Showing posts with label ortho appointment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ortho appointment. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Week 110 with the Damon Braces
Summary: Went to the ortho on Monday and still have my braces on
And so the journey continues...
I went to my regular ortho appointment on Monday and was hoping for good news. However, I already knew my braces weren't ready to come off as there are still small unevenness in my teeth. I feel like my ortho knows I am soooo ready to take them off as he keeps saying we will fix this and that ASAP. lol.
A few things were done. As usual, new powerchains but I also got a few adjustments to my upper wire. He did some twisting and bending to bring a couple of teeth on my upper left side lower to close a gap that was very visible. I should post some pictures soon. I was looking at some older pictures and my teeth and I have come a long way since then. Really excited to seeing the end result.
At the end of the visit he said to come back in 4 weeks. That is when I asked, "Is that going to be my second to last visit?" I was thinking that visits are every 4 weeks and if we were planning to be on target to have them off by the end of the year, that would mean 1 more appointment in November and 1 more in December. Mostly because I would be out of town during Thanksgiving and the last 2 weeks of December. So then, my orthodontist said, well, let's try to see you in 3 weeks and see how it is going but normally it takes about 4 weeks for teeth to move...
Pictures coming soon. I think there are very noticeable differences since my last photo shoot.
And so the journey continues...
I went to my regular ortho appointment on Monday and was hoping for good news. However, I already knew my braces weren't ready to come off as there are still small unevenness in my teeth. I feel like my ortho knows I am soooo ready to take them off as he keeps saying we will fix this and that ASAP. lol.
A few things were done. As usual, new powerchains but I also got a few adjustments to my upper wire. He did some twisting and bending to bring a couple of teeth on my upper left side lower to close a gap that was very visible. I should post some pictures soon. I was looking at some older pictures and my teeth and I have come a long way since then. Really excited to seeing the end result.
At the end of the visit he said to come back in 4 weeks. That is when I asked, "Is that going to be my second to last visit?" I was thinking that visits are every 4 weeks and if we were planning to be on target to have them off by the end of the year, that would mean 1 more appointment in November and 1 more in December. Mostly because I would be out of town during Thanksgiving and the last 2 weeks of December. So then, my orthodontist said, well, let's try to see you in 3 weeks and see how it is going but normally it takes about 4 weeks for teeth to move...
Pictures coming soon. I think there are very noticeable differences since my last photo shoot.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Week 105 with the Damon Braces
Summary: Just done with another ortho appointment, unfortunately, not my last.
I went to see my orthodontist on Monday. It was overall a good appointment with many changes.
1. Minor wire adjustments
2. Power chains on upper and lower teeth
The orthodontist also told me that we want to get my braces off ASAP. He knows that by now I should have already had my braces off. I know! It feels like forever now, especially on these last few months. He said that we are trying to have them off by the end of the year.
My next appointment isn't until 5 weeks out. That would be the first week of October. I am assuming I would have another appointment the first week of November and maybe a last appointment the first week of December. This would mean I have about 3 months left.
I went to see my orthodontist on Monday. It was overall a good appointment with many changes.
1. Minor wire adjustments
2. Power chains on upper and lower teeth
The orthodontist also told me that we want to get my braces off ASAP. He knows that by now I should have already had my braces off. I know! It feels like forever now, especially on these last few months. He said that we are trying to have them off by the end of the year.
My next appointment isn't until 5 weeks out. That would be the first week of October. I am assuming I would have another appointment the first week of November and maybe a last appointment the first week of December. This would mean I have about 3 months left.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Week 101 with the Damon Braces
Summary: Still not done with the Braces
I just got back from my ortho appointment and I was disappointed as I was technically supposed to be done by now. I think it has been almost a year since I got my braces.
A few things happened today. The orthodontist asked me to stand up and smile. I think he was looking at how my teeth actually looked standing up and not lying down. Later he got my wires out to make adjustments:
- Adjustment 1: Twisted inner lower wire to correct the molar as it was too far out.
- Adjustment 2: Made a little stop on the front wire to correct one of the front tooth as it seemed to be a little longer (didn't really notice but you can totally tell from previous pictures).
That was all that was done today. Also, I was told I only need to wear my rubber bands at night.
When I asked him how much longer? He said we wanted to be done by now but that I should hang on and we are looking to be done by the end of the year - hopefully before that. However, I am going to keep my expectations low and think it will be done in December. Hopefully it will be done by November.
I just got back from my ortho appointment and I was disappointed as I was technically supposed to be done by now. I think it has been almost a year since I got my braces.
A few things happened today. The orthodontist asked me to stand up and smile. I think he was looking at how my teeth actually looked standing up and not lying down. Later he got my wires out to make adjustments:
- Adjustment 1: Twisted inner lower wire to correct the molar as it was too far out.
- Adjustment 2: Made a little stop on the front wire to correct one of the front tooth as it seemed to be a little longer (didn't really notice but you can totally tell from previous pictures).
That was all that was done today. Also, I was told I only need to wear my rubber bands at night.
When I asked him how much longer? He said we wanted to be done by now but that I should hang on and we are looking to be done by the end of the year - hopefully before that. However, I am going to keep my expectations low and think it will be done in December. Hopefully it will be done by November.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Week 96 with the Damon Braces
Summary: Feeling some "good" pain :D
I had my ortho appointment on Monday and I must say it was great. I am not sure why, but this time around I was there for 45 minutes instead of my usual 20 minutes. This is what happened...
As usual, I arrived and checked in. Before I could take a seat in the waiting area the nurse calls me over and I am seated in one of the doctor's patient chairs. Before taking my seat I saw one of my orthodontist looking at the computer and instructing the nurse to do something. So, shortly after I sat down, the nurse went ahead and removed my upper wires. Later, I had to wait for a few minutes for the orthodontist to come and check my progress.
The orthodontist took a look and asked me to open and close my mouth a few times to see how the teeth were aligning. He said the gap looked good - it looked like it was closing well but that we still needed to work on opening up the upper left side. He also decided to have the lower wires removed because he thought that the way I was wearing my rubber bands were preventing my teeth from opening up so here comes another experiment!!!!!
My lower wires were taken off and he worked on new wires (without the hooks). He said the new wire is stronger. He shaped the wire and did some twisting to it and also made it a little narrower, I guess to narrow my teeth on the bottom. With regards to the upper wires, I am not sure he did much adjusting to it. Afterward, it took forever for the nurse to place the lower wires. She had trouble aligning it and kept putting it in and out....
Once both my wires were in I was told we would be putting a "button" on my molar. I wasn't sure where but the nurse explained it would be in the inner part (I'll post the pictures later). So now I have a "button" on my 1st molar on the upper left side and I wear a new rubberband that goes from the button to the 2nd molar on the lower left side. This is supposed to help push out the upper teeth. So far, it is working but hasn't moved far out enough.
Overall, it is great!
I had my ortho appointment on Monday and I must say it was great. I am not sure why, but this time around I was there for 45 minutes instead of my usual 20 minutes. This is what happened...
As usual, I arrived and checked in. Before I could take a seat in the waiting area the nurse calls me over and I am seated in one of the doctor's patient chairs. Before taking my seat I saw one of my orthodontist looking at the computer and instructing the nurse to do something. So, shortly after I sat down, the nurse went ahead and removed my upper wires. Later, I had to wait for a few minutes for the orthodontist to come and check my progress.
The orthodontist took a look and asked me to open and close my mouth a few times to see how the teeth were aligning. He said the gap looked good - it looked like it was closing well but that we still needed to work on opening up the upper left side. He also decided to have the lower wires removed because he thought that the way I was wearing my rubber bands were preventing my teeth from opening up so here comes another experiment!!!!!
My lower wires were taken off and he worked on new wires (without the hooks). He said the new wire is stronger. He shaped the wire and did some twisting to it and also made it a little narrower, I guess to narrow my teeth on the bottom. With regards to the upper wires, I am not sure he did much adjusting to it. Afterward, it took forever for the nurse to place the lower wires. She had trouble aligning it and kept putting it in and out....
Once both my wires were in I was told we would be putting a "button" on my molar. I wasn't sure where but the nurse explained it would be in the inner part (I'll post the pictures later). So now I have a "button" on my 1st molar on the upper left side and I wear a new rubberband that goes from the button to the 2nd molar on the lower left side. This is supposed to help push out the upper teeth. So far, it is working but hasn't moved far out enough.
Overall, it is great!
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