appointment update..15 months in

[Candymomof3]

Hi everyone...had my appointment yesterday...I avoided getting my back molars bracketed! Phew! Last time I was there, I mentioned I was having a hard time getting floss back between my upper molars and he said that to fix that, he would bracket the last molars on my left side and tie those in with the rest. The more I thought about this, the less I wanted this to happen. My poor unbracketed molars have not been moved around, and I sure didn't want to have a new bout of ulcers back there, and the pain of moving those things! ugh! The tech was about to get it ready when she talked to the ortho, and he said if flossing is going fine, then there's no reason to bracket them. SO, they just changed the wires and gave me a new pretty white power chain and roped me back in for another 6 weeks. A little tender last night, but no more than usual.
Was kind of a bummer yesterday, my treatment plan initially was for 18 months...but it's actually 24 months...so even though I knew in my heart of hearts that 18 months is not a long time, I was hoping to get these off over the summer...but this takes it to Jan 2011...9 more months away...oh well....I've had them this long...what a few more months? the tech said she highly doubts it will take the whole two years though...so even a few months early and I will be a happy camper! My hubby deploys to the desert in July, and will be back in the winter...that would be so nice to have them off by the time he comes home!
I have been wearing elastics for 10 months now...he has changed it to night time only, which is great. I don't mind wearing them at all...but I sure don't mind ONLY wearing them at night too!!!
My smile has changed so much since Jan of 09....I can hardly believe how much! I can't wait to get these off my teeth, but I am forever grateful that I finally did this and that over half the journey is well behind me!

[lauralea]

Congrats!
Sounds like things are going well! Hope the next 6-8 months go by quickly!

[Denise]

Ah I wish mine were only at night!! I told my ortho assistant I want mine off by my birthday, and she's said, oh ok well let me ask the doctor if you can come in every 3 weeks for a new power chain instead of every 6, so she asked and the doc said yes, so bamo! We're all shooting for a debanding before 10/10/10!! It would be super cool to have your braces off when your man comes home. I lost 40 pounds when my husband deployed (amazing what lots of time on your hands combined with a 24 hour gym can do for you!). He was totally shocked when he saw me. He was gone 16 months so it was quite a change indeed!!

[Sunny]

Sounds like you had a thorough appointment Candy ... and here's crossing everything for your teeth to get an early release date!

Great you don't have to worry about having your molars done. That could have easily extended your treatment time, as often they cause more problems than would be expected.

Great that you can see so many changes and here's to things going well for the rest of your treatment!

[Candymomof3]

thanks guys, and yes Denise, I would be totally stoked to have them off when he comes home...I know he loves me just the way I am but holy cow, it would be great to give him a bigger than big kiss on the flightline and not have to worry about these things getting in the way!! hahaha
It really is great to have these on your teeth when your teeth are basically straight, no one really notices any more...except my darling kindergarter's school friends....not a week goes by when one of them says "Um, Catie's mom, why do you have those things on your teeth??" LOL...they are way cute!
and yes, Sunny...that was my question for the tech...is this going to extend my treatment time? (this is where I also discovered my treatment time was 24 mos, not 18...darn it!) and she said yes, it could...so that was another reason I am ecstatic to not have to get them bracketed. I want out ASAP!!!!
thanks again for all your support....this journey is so much easier with the board....couldn't imagine doing it without being able to vent and celebrate with my fellow brace wearers!

[Denise]

My nephews do the same thing, they live 1600 miles away so we've seen them twice since I've had my braces and all during each visit they kept asking what the things on my teeth were. I probably explained it to them 10 times haha. It's pretty cute. My eldest nephew, who is five, proudly said "I want braces and straight teeth just like Aunt Neise!" Bless his little heart