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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). ...

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 ...

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!

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! I am glad it brought me to make some good new friends on this board tho!

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 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 ...

My last appointment was Monday the 14th, and I went in ready with my demands. I was greeted by my same ortho tech I've had the last several times, a girl in her mid-20's who is just as sweet as all get out. She starts off by saying we are going to take some x-rays today. Yay!! That's a good sign! So we go to take them, and I tell her I'm done. April 8 will be two years for me, and I'm so over these damn things being in my mouth. She kind of laughed and said she totally understands where I'm coming ...

Another orthodontist appointment today. Apparently he still wants to tweak my jaw a bit to align the bite properly. A few weeks ago I was told the only thing left to do was close up this one little gap and we'd be done. So they put two new power chains on top, and changed my elastics configuration a bit. My next appointment isn't for another four weeks, which puts me at over 23 months. I'm slightly annoyed as the whole time he's been telling me I'm running ahead of schedule and now this - I have ...

It's been a while since I've been on this site, but I thought I'd post a quick update. Had an ortho appointment this morning in which they put tooth 'putty' on my laterals. I got to see them without brackets and they were quite a bit smaller and misshapen compared to the rest of my teeth. Then, I got to see them after the putty and wow! All my teeth look straight and normal now! I never thought that would ever happen. Brackets went back onto the laterals, got a new c-chain (power chain), and now ...

My adjustment on Monday was a good one, and the ortho's tech said one of my last!

She said that I'm in month 19 of 24 and I'm in the finishing stages. I had a few bends in my arch wire put in to start straightening out the crooked laterals. They also put springs across my laterals to start opening up a small gap between them and my two front teeth. Because my laterals are slightly smaller than my other teeth he is going to leave a gap and 'putty' up those two teeth so ...

Well I'm almost to month 19 now, and no sight of getting these things off. However, my gap is closing up nicely and is almost where it needs to be. And I finally, yesterday, got the news I was waiting for. The doc is going to straighten my laterals!! They are straight in the sense that they are flat, but they still hang crooked in the sockets. Considering when they started out they were completely twisted sideways, they've come quite far. However, this has been my main focus through my entire treatment ...

Button button, who's got the button? NOT ME! They finally removed that blasted thing, and I couldn't be happier

They did a lot more work today than I thought they were going to do. They removed both my wires, "tweaked" them, and put them back in. If these are the same wires I sure as heck wouldn't have known. They hurt!! My jaws are so sore. We are still working on closing up the gap on my right side where the tooth was pulled. I also have two power chains on my arch, ...

Today is my 15 month birthday/anniversary/whathaveyou. Not much to report. Still no debanding date. Next appointment is August 2 at which time I believe they will be bending the wires on my laterals to straighten them out. Double power chain on the top for now to help close up that gap on the right side. Still have the button as well, to help pull the right side of the jaw out a bit.

15 month comparison:
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Went to the 'heaviest gauge' wire today. He didn't tell me exactly what it was, but wow, it's already starting to ache.

I have two power chains on top to help close up the gap between the lateral and the first molar on my right side (my canine was pulled). My laterals, which were completely twisted, are straight now, but are still hanging crooked. I go back August 2 for more tweaking, as the ortho put it.

I still have my button, glued to the inside of my mouth ...

I'm at 14 months today!! I can't believe it's really been that long. I'm getting concerned about my laterals, that seem to be moving backwards just fine, but aren't straightening in the least. I will definitely be sure to ask about this at my next appointment on June 30. I am also wondering what is up with the gap in my front teeth. I know my teeth are far from being where they will end up but I sure hope he closes it up soon! I'm not Madonna, I can't pull off the gap-tooth look
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