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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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Had another adjustment yesterday and got some good news. I only have one more wire change to go!! They will most likely put in the heavier stainless steel wire at my next appointment, both upper and lower, on June 30.

Yesterday, I got a button. Now, I thought I was done having annoying things glued to the inside of my mouth. Wrong!

The "button" is glued to my inside right canine. The elastic hooks around it and comes out to hook to my lower molar and canine ...

Ok technically it's not until Thursday the 8th, but I have time right now to post so I'm taking the opportunity. What's a few days amongst friends, right?

So I had an ortho appointment today. Said things are looking fantastic. Teeth are moving at the expected pace (1mm/month). I didn't get a new wire today, but I did get a new power chain and they told me that I'm going to start coming in every 3 weeks for a new power chain to help the process.

I told them I want these ...

March 2010:

Yesterday was my fourth major adjustment since having my braces put on in April. This time they increased my arch wire by a fraction of a millimeter, but went to a square wire that, like the last ones, are 'heat reactive', so eating/drinking anything cold does give me some sort of minor reprieve from the pain. This time, I don't have nearly the pain and sensitivity that I've experienced in the past.

What's new is that I now have a clear power chain, and they started me on elastics. ...

April 2009: no arch wire yet, had to have two teeth pulled. Everything else is on.


May 2009: arch wire is on, as is the horrible spring in the front.


June 2009: same as May, a bit of movement can be seen.
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Had my third major adjustment this morning. Got my first new wire on my bottom teeth, a square one that is a heavier gauge than my last one. They also put in a stopper on one of my teeth on the right side (lower). New, heavier gauge wire on my top teeth as well. Had the appointment two hours ago and can already feel teeth getting tight and sore. They gave me several packets of Advil so I will continually medicate myself through these next few days and by Thursday or Friday I should be pain free ...

So I had my second major adjustment yesterday and, just like i thought, my front teeth are KILLING ME. However, my back teeth do not seem the least bit affected by the new wire.

For the last 8 weeks I've had two small springs that were connected from each front tooth, skipping the laterals (which are my only two teeth that are crooked, and they are very, very crooked) and connected to the canines. In just 8 weeks, the springs created such a noticeable gap I couldn't believe it! ...

So my first real adjustment appointment is coming up on Tuesday, June 23 and I'm pretty excited!! I can actually SEE movement now, and it's amazing. My teeth still hurt every now and then, and my left side is still a bit pressure-sensitive. But it's so worth it to see this movement. On Tuesday I'll get my front springs off, and brackets placed on my crooked laterals. Then I'll have a normal wire in front! I know I'm going to be in a LOT of pain for about a week following the appointment but ...

Well I think I've had my first braces 'rite of passage'. Sometime last weekend I popped a bracket off one of my top teeth. Luckily it was holding on by the wire, so it was just sliding around a bit. Went in yesterday and had it rebonded, and while I was there they thought, hey let's go ahead and tighten a few wires too. Hurray, now my teeth are sore.

Next appointment is June 23. Brackets go on my two crooked laterals and the straightening of the two crooked teeth that ...

So yesterday they put the arch wire on, and also some springs. The springs are connected to my two front teeth, and connect to the second tooth back since the teeth on either side of the front teeth are so crooked. They are hoping that when I go back in 8 weeks I'll have a space large enough to fit brackets on the crooked teeth and start moving those as well.

I'm pretty sore today. Last night the aches came and went but it's constant this morning. I am also getting a pretty bad ...

Well the extraction yesterday went fine. I was in a drugged-up haze most of the day but today, other than a headache, I feel fine. No mouth pain at all. So now we just let the holes heal, and the top wire goes on the 29th. I'm looking forward to enjoying a few days without mouth pain until that top wire goes on and the soreness begins again!