Sunny

Finally it was my turn to have 'chair time' on Thursday.

After the usual umming and arring ... my ortho announced that my braces must come off soon ... they've been on far too long ... like this is news to me! Anyway he's unhappy that my bite is still open (which happened during treatment ... it was closed in the beginning) and that my upper teeth are so far to the right. He said without surgery these things (and a few others) cannot be corrected properly, but they need to be improved.

So he announces we're going to move to radical elastic treatment and when this is over the braces will be coming off. The braces coming off part has me brimming with joy ... but radical elastic treatment ... I'm not so sure about that. At least there's a four day weekend ahead ... I hope that helps.

He shows me how to put them on ... there's seven of them ... he draws diagrams ... numbers the order ... and then explains wearing time. My jaw is already aching and it's only been a few minutes since they've been put on for the second time (first by my ortho and second by me) ... this is not looking good ... Me who's never had any pain in over 4 1/2 years ... seems like I've been skiting way too much!

Wearing of elastics - try for as long as possible and wear for as long as possible each time. That second part means don't put them in and take them out too often, as this will risk root reabsorption, as the teeth will be moving back and forwards to often. Work days - aim for 15 hours, weekends and holidays - aim for 22 hours ... oh dear ... this is all sounding way to crazy. I won't be able to eat, can barely talk ... and ... oh dear ... tiime for a whinge!

Then he tells me I have to keep a diary ... geepers this sounds like he's talking to one of our young patients, but he explains this is more about helping me and also for him to check if the times I'm achieveing are making progress. He does tell me this will be hard ... and I start to tear up ... damn my bite!

Photos to follow!