Braces Update - November 2012

Hello everybody :)

So yesterday I had an appointment with my ortho. First and foremost, I gotta say - it hurt. A lot. I'm not much of a complainer, but my teeth hurt alot during braces tightning, after and still hurt. They are really sore.

But you know what? When it comes to braces, when it hurts it's a good sign. No pain, no gain.

What did I do at the appointment?

If you're new to braces world, you need to know this. Every month, you go to your orthodontist to get your braces tightned. It does sound scary, but it is not a medieval torture. The braces feel tighter when the new ligatures are put on because of the renewed pressure on the teeth.

Appointment's steps:
1. The orthodontic assistant removed my elastic ligatures (the little rubber bands that hold each bracket to the arch wire).
2. The orthodontist examined me and I didn't need a new arch wire. Depending on the situation, a new arch wire may be needed.
3. New elastic ligatures were put on - you can choose a different color, I've chosen pink again. In the first times this may hurt a little because of the pressure placed on the teeth.
4. And voilà.

And now the picture.

Front view

Right side

So this is how my seven-month journey looks like (April-November):

My next appointment is only in January 9th, 2013. So I guess I won't be comin' here for a while.

So, Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year in advance :)

Later,

**

6 months with braces

Hello :)

I'm a 20 year-old who is currently in a prison called braces. Ok, now seriously - it's not much of a deal, but it is indeed something.

It never occured to me to do a braces journey blog, but now I think it will be fun - since I'm capturing every moment of it, why shouldn't I post it? Before I had braces I was constantly checking braces blogs/journals and even youtube channels, so I could see what I would be expecting. Now I hope I can do the same for you.

I have my braces for 6 months and a few days now - since April 26th, 2012.  My ortho expects me to wear it for another year/year and a half. I see major differences.

Changes of my upper arch, seen from below. April 2012-October 2012.

Now, my diagnosis.
1. Underbite. It is a dental condition where the lower jaw protrudes up and outward abnormally, partially overlapping with the upper teeth. You can have an idea of what it is if you stand in front of a mirror and stick your chin out so your bottom teeth are positioned in front of your upper teeth. Underbites only affect 5-10% of the world’s population. Now that's rare. The most common treatment for underbite is a combination of orthodontics and orthognathic surgery. The orthodontics can and probably will involve removal of teeth. Since surgery is way too expensive, I'm only doing orthodontics. Perhaps someday I can do it.

2. Severe crooked teeth. Specially on my lower teeth, omg. And because of that I had six teeth removed: the 4 wisdom teeth and two lower premolars. Ouch.


Since it's been six months and I plan to post at least every month here, so you guys can check my updates, I'll show you my progress until now ;)

Note: in every picture is my natural bite.

April 2012

This month I had my wisdom teeth removed.

May 2012

June 2012

July 2012

August 2012

I had two teeth removed -  the lower premolars next to each canine.

September 2012

October 2012

My lower teeth are way more aligned and pushed back, so my maxillary central incisors can be, finally, properly in front of them. The canines are slowly but firmly moving back as well. 

I haven't tightened my braces this month yet, so you can expect a new update within a few days.

Later,

**