catgyrl

Well, today's visit was a pretty productive one. I mentioned to him that I was concerned that every time we go back to Class II elastics, my upper left teeth keep getting pulled UP, when I know we're trying to pull them DOWN. Not sure if he took my comment into consideration—or if this was something he’d already planned to do—but I ended up getting 2 more hooks attached to my lower canines, and he changed my elastics configuration back to triangles. However, these are regular triangles (upper canine down to lower canine and back over to lower premolar). Basically, the reverse of what I had before. The first time she put one on, it popped right off. She said, "Well, I guess you can practice putting BOTH of them on, then." I told her "No way! You're putting that first one on!" She's an odd one, this assistant... She kept saying that I was getting "upside down triangles". Ummm... Noooo... The triangles I had before were upside down (flat side on top), but I gave up trying to explain it to her.

Anyway, he told me that the top would be sore because we needed to get those teeth moving and said, "That's why we used a heavier wire." I hadn't even noticed that he put a different one in! It's called a TMA wire, so of course I had to ask what it was. Surprisingly, he took the time to explain that it had to do with using less friction... And that it was supposed to make it easier to make the appropriate bends for torquing. (Well, that's what I understood, anyway...) I think he might’ve made some slight bends in it, but honestly, I can’t see much from my vantage point.

Here's a pic of my new wire, raised upper-left teeth, clean ligs and elastics. (I just noticed the yellow dot from my new hook just floating around back there. haha)


No change to lowers. Honestly, I'm not too jazzed about this new elastics configuration. I look like I have vampire fangs. LOL! And he was right about the soreness! Not so much from the wire (yet…) but my lower teeth hurt a bit from the new elastics. The farther forward your elastics are, the harder it is to open your mouth. I most definitely need to take them out to eat, unless I’m eating soup.

Oh yeah… I’m experimenting back with clear ligs. I want to see how disciplined I can be with not drinking so much soda. That would benefit my health, as well.

Cathy