Adjustments

Well I have an appointment on May 1st, but thought I'd update my blog while I have the time.

I had my surgery on November 30th. So I'm about 5 months out. I'd say the swelling is 90% gone. I can still tell on the left cheek there is some. I have no complaints now, just kinda wanna get these off asap. MY ortho is still working with my back molars, applying torque. He is undoing what the palatal expander did when I was in my early 20's the first time around. The expander ...

Well, the spaces on my bottom teeth are finally closing and I'd say I'm about 6 weeks or so out to surgery for my bite....

I have to meet with the surgeon soon to do another set of molds , xrays, etc.

Kind of excited to get it over with, but still nervous, especially about the liquid diet... I dont want to lose too much weight, so I may eat eat eat the couple weeks before to put on 5 or 10, which is hard for me.. I'm about 5'10 173 as I write this and work out. ...

Had an adjustment yesterday in which the ortho changed out the powerchain on the bottom.

I'm still wearing the elastics 24/7. We just need a few spaces on the bottom to close before I can do the surgery for my underbite.

I'll be away for most of the month of May for my Sisters wedding, so when I get back I expect to have a date for surgery sometime in June.

Here's a pic I just snapped on my Mac. You can see the spaces on the bottom and my lower jaw ...

Well, my ortho did molds on the appointment earlier this week and reviewed them today to see that he wanted me back in the office and wearing rubber bands full time.

I expect my bite to get even worse, but spaces to close... this will have me ready for surgery hopefully end of may or beginning of June..

The rubber bands aren't so bad, and you can hardly see them when I talk...

I have a date tonight... hope I remember to take them out way before we ...

Had an adjustment this morning. My doc took 2 brackets off the bottom and repositioned them.

Still have some spaces on my lower teeth to close before I can be given the go ahead on surgery...

I'm def feeling the pain here a few hours later, which is a good thing... I really want to see the spaces close already as it seems I have seen any real movement in a couple months...

Closing in on my 8th month.... and I can say it has really gone by quick so ...

Had an adjustment today in which he added more torque to the wire to help tip the molars in.

We also added power bands to top and bottom to close spaces, in which I still have some good spaces on my bottom teeth.

My surgeon wants to see me in 2 weeks and start getting things in process and maybe set a date. Pretty excited that we are on track, as they told me surgery would be around 8 to 10 months from the start. I have my sisters wedding in May, so I may have ...

Had my adjustment today.... My wire was upgraded and powerchain was put on the bottom front teeth in order to close some gaps. otherwise, not much to report. My bite has gotten a bit worse, but this was expected.

I'll post some pictures in about 2 weeks.

My next appointment isn't until Jan 2011. I'll be 6 months in then! its going by pretty fast

Adjustment went very smooth. I was started with an intermediate wire, so it was left in and powerchains were added on both top and bottom. The goal is to close the spaces over the next 6 weeks and then I will be moving towards the surgical wires. I'll do another update in a couple weeks to show what the powerchains have done to close the spaces.

Here are some pics:

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Day Before Adjustment

sept-28-2010.jpg

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Things are going as expected. My bite has gotten a bit worse, but this is very common as we are working on straightening the teeth within the arch at this point. It is a slow gradual change, so doesn't bother me much at all.
Still flossing is the biggest PIA, but I sit in the bathroom and take my time to do it several times per week. It is interesting that certain teeth hurt for a few days (sign of movement) here 6 weeks out. My ortho is doing adjustments every 8 weeks and was very clear ...

Well, I had my braces on a few days before I noticed a loose bracket.

Called my ortho and got an appointment right away.. They had me in and out in about 10 minutes and back in business.

Def not in as much pain as the first few days and eating pretty normally again.

I'll tell you what, when you have a great doctor and staff, the process can be enjoyable