So I have had my first problem with the brace and brackets. Not long after the lower brace had been fitted, I was brushing my teeth and noticed one of the backers had come away from the tooth, spinning in the wire.
Panic stricken, as I knew that the orthadontist had now left Prague, I rang and emailed my dentist surgery for help. I was worried that the bracket would drop off, or I would eat it by accident! As the brackets are ceramic, if I loose one then a replacement has to be ordered from America, which is obviously not a quick event.
Thankfully they told me to come in later that day, and the normal dentist was able to repair it. He used a different method of fixing, which used ultra violet light to cure the cement, rather than just telling my not to eat for a few hours. I was surprised, and also cautious at this fix, thinking that it would not last.
A few weeks in and the broken repaired backet is still holding strong, and no others have popped off. I think I am lucky that this is the first problem in 3 months, and I am hoping that they are now all set solid and I don't have to have any more repairs before I have them removed in hopefully 9 months time.
Sunday, 31 March 2013
Sunday, 24 March 2013
Progress!
When I was visiting the orthodontist to have the lower track fitted, he asked me how I was getting on. I told him I was surprised how much they had moved. He gave me one of those 'really, I think your are imagining it' type of looks.
However, after assuming the position in the chair, opening my mouth, all I heard was, 'wow, I need to fetch my colleague!'
To his astonishment my teeth are nearly now in line across the top of the front. He told me that normally there is no movement with the first wire as it is mainly there to get your mouth used to the brace. But to have this sort of reaction to it means that I may not take as long as first expected to have everything in line.
This made me feel good. Knowing that the first month of pain, discomfort, inability to eat properly has not been in vain.
I am hoping that the top teeth carry on this transformation and the bottom teeth follow suit as quickly.
Just to show off, here is the picture again from the first fitting and two months later. It still shocks me! I love it when you can see visible results. I know it is a long way off perfect, but so far I am happy with what has happened.
However, after assuming the position in the chair, opening my mouth, all I heard was, 'wow, I need to fetch my colleague!'
To his astonishment my teeth are nearly now in line across the top of the front. He told me that normally there is no movement with the first wire as it is mainly there to get your mouth used to the brace. But to have this sort of reaction to it means that I may not take as long as first expected to have everything in line.
This made me feel good. Knowing that the first month of pain, discomfort, inability to eat properly has not been in vain.
I am hoping that the top teeth carry on this transformation and the bottom teeth follow suit as quickly.
Just to show off, here is the picture again from the first fitting and two months later. It still shocks me! I love it when you can see visible results. I know it is a long way off perfect, but so far I am happy with what has happened.
Tuesday, 19 March 2013
The second track fitting...back on soup!
I have now had the lower track fitted to my teeth. I am also now back on soup and eating with 2 teeth.
The fitting appointment followed the same process as the one for the top. Wide mouth frog device, driest mouth in the history of the dessert, pushing and pulling to get the brackets fixed on my teeth. Again I have the anchors that are glued on the teeth rather than those that are rings round the teeth. I defiantly prefer these. Generally this process of sticking and gluing was alright.
Then came a painful bit. The orthodontist removed the wire from the top set. Pulling on my sensitive teeth, he then fitted the new wire. In one word, OUCH!! When it takes 2 fully grown men to manipulate the wire into place on the brackets, you know it is going to hurt. When you can't have the transparent bands and have to have white, because the transparent bands aren't strong enough to hold the wire in, you know it isn't going to have a pleasant after affect!
And it doesn't.
He fixed the lower wire in too, this is a thin one like the one that was on originally on the top. As my teeth are so crooked he couldn't even use a band to secure it on one part. So I now sport a wire wrapped round my tooth holding the brace in place!
Here I am, a couple of days on, the pain is nothing like when the top was fitted, I only took painkillers for 1 day this time. However my main issue is the nerve irritation, it makes me want to scream, it sort of itches and it is a constant dull ache. I know it will fade, but I think it is going to drive me crazy first!!!
Anyway, here is a lovely picture of my wide mouth frog impression, showing my new top wire and bands and my shiny unstained lower brace.
The fitting appointment followed the same process as the one for the top. Wide mouth frog device, driest mouth in the history of the dessert, pushing and pulling to get the brackets fixed on my teeth. Again I have the anchors that are glued on the teeth rather than those that are rings round the teeth. I defiantly prefer these. Generally this process of sticking and gluing was alright.
Then came a painful bit. The orthodontist removed the wire from the top set. Pulling on my sensitive teeth, he then fitted the new wire. In one word, OUCH!! When it takes 2 fully grown men to manipulate the wire into place on the brackets, you know it is going to hurt. When you can't have the transparent bands and have to have white, because the transparent bands aren't strong enough to hold the wire in, you know it isn't going to have a pleasant after affect!
And it doesn't.
He fixed the lower wire in too, this is a thin one like the one that was on originally on the top. As my teeth are so crooked he couldn't even use a band to secure it on one part. So I now sport a wire wrapped round my tooth holding the brace in place!
Here I am, a couple of days on, the pain is nothing like when the top was fitted, I only took painkillers for 1 day this time. However my main issue is the nerve irritation, it makes me want to scream, it sort of itches and it is a constant dull ache. I know it will fade, but I think it is going to drive me crazy first!!!
Sunday, 10 March 2013
I think I'm getting used to these things
Today someone thought I was 26! I believe that these braces are having an affect on peoples perception of my age. I am 33, so to be asked if I am over 26 I was flabbergasted! It is not the first time either, a young lad on holiday also asked how old I was, I don't know for what purpose, but I can convince myself it was because I look younger now.
So people percieve that young people have braces, therefore does have other benifits other than straightening teeth.
I am also happy to report that eating is now nearly normal, they are still uncomftable, but I can just about bite, I can crunch things, I even ate a hard boiled sweet, well sucked it.
As for the staining of the bands, I was concerned as these bands are to be on for 8 weeks instead of 4, but I am pleased to report that they are still looking reasonable, obviously they aren't perfectly clear still, but they are offensive either.
The sensodine whitening toothpaste is ok, I am still finding a bit of build up and brown marks in places, to combat this I am still trying to find a good mouthwash. So far I have tried Plax and Colgate sensative with no success. I have just bought Listerine stay white, so we will have to wait and see the results on this one.
However, I am now concerned, 2 months in and the top track is ok, settled in quite well and returning to normal. In a couple of weeks I have the bottom track fittted. I am quite aprehensive of the wide mouth frog devise, the pain for the few days after and living on soup again. Knowing it will double my cleaning time and make my bottom lip stick out more.
I am also struggling with dry flaky peeling lips all the time. I don't know exactally what is causing this, but it has to be some side affect of the braces, as it has never happened before, but we can see if the lovely spring and summer sun has any improvement on this.
So people percieve that young people have braces, therefore does have other benifits other than straightening teeth.
I am also happy to report that eating is now nearly normal, they are still uncomftable, but I can just about bite, I can crunch things, I even ate a hard boiled sweet, well sucked it.
As for the staining of the bands, I was concerned as these bands are to be on for 8 weeks instead of 4, but I am pleased to report that they are still looking reasonable, obviously they aren't perfectly clear still, but they are offensive either.
The sensodine whitening toothpaste is ok, I am still finding a bit of build up and brown marks in places, to combat this I am still trying to find a good mouthwash. So far I have tried Plax and Colgate sensative with no success. I have just bought Listerine stay white, so we will have to wait and see the results on this one.
However, I am now concerned, 2 months in and the top track is ok, settled in quite well and returning to normal. In a couple of weeks I have the bottom track fittted. I am quite aprehensive of the wide mouth frog devise, the pain for the few days after and living on soup again. Knowing it will double my cleaning time and make my bottom lip stick out more.
I am also struggling with dry flaky peeling lips all the time. I don't know exactally what is causing this, but it has to be some side affect of the braces, as it has never happened before, but we can see if the lovely spring and summer sun has any improvement on this.
Sunday, 3 March 2013
Back to food again
5 weeks on from the first fitting, I have nearly got my bite back.
I have successfully started to munch my way through bread buns, admittedly it is more of a grab and tear manoeuvre than an actual bite, but it is so much better.
There is still numbness in the front 4 teeth, which causes a bit of discomfort, but I am loving getting back to some sort of normality.
However this is going to be short lived.....I am due to have my bottom rail on in about 3 weeks time, so I will be back to square 1 and soup again for a few weeks. I am just starting to get used to having the top brace on, I really don't want to go back to the beginning again.
I can see the benefit of having one done at once, and I am thankful that I have not been too unlucky with my recovery. I really sympathise with anyone who has had both fitted at the same time, and I can quite understand why they spent longer to recover.
What is lovely to see is that I believe my teeth are starting to move, my boyfriend also thinks this, so it is not just my wishful thinking. I am starting to see parts of my teeth that I have never seen before, which I a bit strange, and it is getting easier to clean round them as if there is more space to get the inter dental brush in.
However this has added to the discolouration situation. I have started to use Sensodyne whitening repair and protect toothpaste, which has helped with the yellow, but it is by no where near perfect, there are still stains appearing, I am still holding out some hope that the orthodontist can do something when I see him next.
I have successfully started to munch my way through bread buns, admittedly it is more of a grab and tear manoeuvre than an actual bite, but it is so much better.
There is still numbness in the front 4 teeth, which causes a bit of discomfort, but I am loving getting back to some sort of normality.
However this is going to be short lived.....I am due to have my bottom rail on in about 3 weeks time, so I will be back to square 1 and soup again for a few weeks. I am just starting to get used to having the top brace on, I really don't want to go back to the beginning again.
I can see the benefit of having one done at once, and I am thankful that I have not been too unlucky with my recovery. I really sympathise with anyone who has had both fitted at the same time, and I can quite understand why they spent longer to recover.
What is lovely to see is that I believe my teeth are starting to move, my boyfriend also thinks this, so it is not just my wishful thinking. I am starting to see parts of my teeth that I have never seen before, which I a bit strange, and it is getting easier to clean round them as if there is more space to get the inter dental brush in.
However this has added to the discolouration situation. I have started to use Sensodyne whitening repair and protect toothpaste, which has helped with the yellow, but it is by no where near perfect, there are still stains appearing, I am still holding out some hope that the orthodontist can do something when I see him next.
Sunday, 24 February 2013
More Celebs to compare me to!
Whilst reading the Mail online, I flicked through the celeb bit, as you do, not because you really want to know, but it is always fun to see what everyone is doing.
I spotted Faith Hill at the Grammys, with some lovely close ups of her ceramic brace. Now it did take me a while to remember who she was, but I eventually realised she is an American singer, the only song I can recall is 'This Kiss', just for those other people struggling to place her!
I was quite surprised to see her with braces, as I am with any famous person. However it makes sense, when you make your money from singing, focus is on your mouth, and a perfect set of gnashers is quite pleasing on the eye. I read on the Internet that she has had them on for about 8 months and she had to have them because she didn't wear her retainer when younger.
I seem to remember my orthodontist saying that I would have to have a removable brace after this fixed one is taken off, although I'm not entirely sure what that will involve and how long that will be for. So that is on my list of questions for my next visit.
Seeing her with braces has again made me realise that it is quite common, and in general people who want to improve their smile, do so, they don't get any backlash, they just get on with it. I have begun to realise that the benefits will always outweigh any 'bad press' I receive. It also hits a note with me that with all the expensive procedures people can get for straightening teeth, celebs still choose to have fixed braces, that has made me curious why. The only reason I can come up with is that it is the most affective way of straightening teeth.
I spotted Faith Hill at the Grammys, with some lovely close ups of her ceramic brace. Now it did take me a while to remember who she was, but I eventually realised she is an American singer, the only song I can recall is 'This Kiss', just for those other people struggling to place her!
I was quite surprised to see her with braces, as I am with any famous person. However it makes sense, when you make your money from singing, focus is on your mouth, and a perfect set of gnashers is quite pleasing on the eye. I read on the Internet that she has had them on for about 8 months and she had to have them because she didn't wear her retainer when younger.
I seem to remember my orthodontist saying that I would have to have a removable brace after this fixed one is taken off, although I'm not entirely sure what that will involve and how long that will be for. So that is on my list of questions for my next visit.
Seeing her with braces has again made me realise that it is quite common, and in general people who want to improve their smile, do so, they don't get any backlash, they just get on with it. I have begun to realise that the benefits will always outweigh any 'bad press' I receive. It also hits a note with me that with all the expensive procedures people can get for straightening teeth, celebs still choose to have fixed braces, that has made me curious why. The only reason I can come up with is that it is the most affective way of straightening teeth.
Sunday, 17 February 2013
Cleaning...an obsession?!
My problem began when I developed an infection round my wisdom tooth on the bottom, nothing at all to do with the brace, I get them periodically, however I am now down to just 2 teeth to eat with again....mmm soup!
Originally I was keeping my mouth clean and tidy with a good brushing, then brushing in between the teeth and under the wire with a toothpaste covered inter dental brush, then a good rinse with an anti plaque mouthwash. I was happy with the results.
Once the infection was out of control I resorted to Corsodyl mouth wash, aniseed tasting and only slightly better than the infection itself. Mouth healing I was happy again.
That was until I saw myself in the mirror. You know the time when the sun is directly on you and you realise that you actually have an awful completion and you can see every flaw multiplied by a million. Well, I noticed that I have a set of horrid yellow teeth. Below the brace is fine, but above have discoloured significantly.
I'm sure that I have blown this out of all proportions, but I am now on a mission to regain control over this yellow invasion. I am now on the hunt for a sensitive, whitening, fluoride toothpaste. In Prague, that is not the easiest thing to track down. I may have to source it in the UK and bring a supply back.
One thing I have noticed is that when I drink tea, coffee or diet coke, they do look worse. Short of carrying round mouthwash (I already have to carry a tooth pick and inter dental brush everywhere, good job I have a big purse!) I have taken to rinsing with water after each drink. It does make me feel a bit daft, but I am just focusing on the long term benefits.
All I can say is that it is hugely important to take time brushing and cleaning, at least twice a day. I have learnt my lesson now and am on an uphill struggle to rectify it.
I don't have another appointment with my orthodontist till March, when I am hoping that he can clean them a bit when he changes the wire and elastics, but until then I am just going to have to keep my mouth shut.
Originally I was keeping my mouth clean and tidy with a good brushing, then brushing in between the teeth and under the wire with a toothpaste covered inter dental brush, then a good rinse with an anti plaque mouthwash. I was happy with the results.
Once the infection was out of control I resorted to Corsodyl mouth wash, aniseed tasting and only slightly better than the infection itself. Mouth healing I was happy again.
That was until I saw myself in the mirror. You know the time when the sun is directly on you and you realise that you actually have an awful completion and you can see every flaw multiplied by a million. Well, I noticed that I have a set of horrid yellow teeth. Below the brace is fine, but above have discoloured significantly.
I'm sure that I have blown this out of all proportions, but I am now on a mission to regain control over this yellow invasion. I am now on the hunt for a sensitive, whitening, fluoride toothpaste. In Prague, that is not the easiest thing to track down. I may have to source it in the UK and bring a supply back.
One thing I have noticed is that when I drink tea, coffee or diet coke, they do look worse. Short of carrying round mouthwash (I already have to carry a tooth pick and inter dental brush everywhere, good job I have a big purse!) I have taken to rinsing with water after each drink. It does make me feel a bit daft, but I am just focusing on the long term benefits.
All I can say is that it is hugely important to take time brushing and cleaning, at least twice a day. I have learnt my lesson now and am on an uphill struggle to rectify it.
I don't have another appointment with my orthodontist till March, when I am hoping that he can clean them a bit when he changes the wire and elastics, but until then I am just going to have to keep my mouth shut.
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