http://www.bracesreview.com/forums/blogs/denise/ Adult Teeth Braces Forums Discussing Dental Braces, Invisalign, Ibraces, Teeth Whitening, TMJ, and More! en Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:00:33 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.bracesreview.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.bracesreview.com/forums/blogs/denise/ http://www.bracesreview.com/forums/blogs/denise/debanding-pics-1632/ Wed, 27 Apr 2011 06:29:51 GMT Here's the set of photos on my Flickr account!
Braces - a set on Flickr

Here's a sneak peek at what you'll see...
April 2009:


April 2011:

(gums are a bit swollen in this pic. They reassure me it won't look so odd when the swelling goes down and the retainers smash the teeth back together). ]]> Denise http://www.bracesreview.com/forums/blogs/denise/debanding-pics-1632/ http://www.bracesreview.com/forums/blogs/denise/debanding-story-1627/ Tue, 26 Apr 2011 05:34:36 GMT So it started out by taking some molds which I don't know why, but they did. Then she took the power chains off (all FOUR). Then she let me know that it's going to be a loud snapping noise as she broke the bond on each bracket, but it won't hurt my teeth. The ones in the back didn't hurt, but when she got to my four front teeth, yes it did. She did them fast though and did them on 1,2, 3! So I could hold my breath and "brace" myself haha. I'd say in all, they were off in a matter of less than 5 minutes. She then proceeded to do a bunch of filing and polishing which probably took the most time. Around a half an hour of what felt like drilling. She did some gum shaping which kind of hurt, but in a 'pinching your arm' sort of way. It was fast, but not super painful. Then I got to go brush my teeth and floss and I about died when I looked in the mirror. My gums were so swollen! They looked like bubble gum oozing out from between my teeth and were slightly bleeding. She reassured me this is absolutely normal but man alive did they feel odd. The teeth didn't feel 'slimey' as I'd heard, just really smooth. It was a good feeling smooth. They then did two molds on the bottom and two on top for my retainers. I get to pick up my retainers Tuesday night. The molds were nasty, and worse than I remember them being in the beginning. When we were all done and cleaned up, she brought up side by side photos of my pics before braces and my pics after and WOW!! I was so amazed at how bad my teeth were, and didn't even realize it. I'm a little bummed I'm having to get my retainers tomorrow, as I'm enjoying this 'free' feeling!

The funniest part is that when I got back to work and ate some crackers, the first thing I did was sweep my mouth with my tongue to get the food out of my brackets! The swelling got worse, and I finally took some ibuprofen around 3:00 and that helped with the pain a lot. All in all I'd say it was a good experience. Went pretty fast. And I got the song at the end, along with my balloon and candy bouquet!! I had chinese food for dinner, nothing too crazy as my teeth are still a bit sensitive, but it was AMAZING to take a bite and then just instantly take another bite without picking rice out of my brackets!

This is truly the coolest feeling ever :D I will post pics probably Wednesday night as that's the soonest I'll be home all evening :) ]]> Denise http://www.bracesreview.com/forums/blogs/denise/debanding-story-1627/ http://www.bracesreview.com/forums/blogs/denise/debanding-13-hours-1625/ Mon, 25 Apr 2011 03:13:42 GMT I am so excited I know I'm not going to get any sleep. Two years of pain and misery and constant complaining, but also exciting to watch the progress and now it's almost over! Hooray! Will post my 'debanding' story soon as I can! ]]> Denise http://www.bracesreview.com/forums/blogs/denise/debanding-13-hours-1625/ http://www.bracesreview.com/forums/blogs/denise/i-got-debanding-date-1615/ Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:36:53 GMT Well it's finally come, those magic words - DEBANDING!! Monday April 25 is the big day and I think it may be the happiest day of my life. I'm so excited! It's been a painful and frustrating and happy road all at the same time, and I can honestly say I'm not going to miss these for ONE SECOND! :D I am glad it brought me to make some good new friends on this board tho! ]]> Denise http://www.bracesreview.com/forums/blogs/denise/i-got-debanding-date-1615/ http://www.bracesreview.com/forums/blogs/denise/no-debanding-probably-until-may-1566/ Thu, 31 Mar 2011 01:32:53 GMT Had another appointment today. Thought I'd be getting a debanding date. 3 weeks ago, I spoke with my orthodontist about closing up the gaps and being done. Today I get in the chair and the assistant starts to take my lower wire out for 'detailing'. Um, what? I thought we were done with detailing. He told me 2 months ago we were done with detailing. She then takes the wire out and says, oh look at all the calcite buildup, no wonder your teeth aren't moving, let's get that cleaned up while I'm here so the wire can move easier. WHY didn't the girl last week do that?! GAAAAH!!! So the ortho comes over, tweaks the wire, they put it back in, and he goes 'ok well we are just going to detail this until you cry uncle'. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I was very clear at my last adjustment that I was DONE. I said 'For the love of god Uncle. UNCLE UNCLE!" He kind of laughed but I looked at him very seriously and said 'I'm serious, I want these off.' So with my new double power chains, top and bottom, and the tweaking, and the lack of calcite, my teeth have already moved more in the last several hours than they did in the last two weeks. My teeth and jaw are absolutely aching of course, but that's how it goes. Next appointment is April 20 and if I don't get a debanding date I'm going to lose my mind. My 24 months are up next month and my patience with these is gone. I just want them off. Enough venting, thank you for listening since you're the only people who TRULY understand what this feels like haha. ]]> Denise http://www.bracesreview.com/forums/blogs/denise/no-debanding-probably-until-may-1566/ http://www.bracesreview.com/forums/blogs/denise/frustrated-so-close-sooo-close-1561/ Tue, 29 Mar 2011 03:48:01 GMT So I have another appointment this wednesday and I have to say I'm so frustrated. Watching paint dry is better than trying to watch these two very very small gaps close! I swear they haven't moved a smidgen since I got the double powerchains on top and bottom. There is still a gap between my lower front two teeth, the teeth still aren't even touching yet. And the gap on my upper right side is still there as well. I am sure the teeth have moved, but I'm rapidly approaching my two-year mark (next week) and my patience with these things is DONE. I know they'll be off in due time, probably in April, but still.... ]]> Denise http://www.bracesreview.com/forums/blogs/denise/frustrated-so-close-sooo-close-1561/