An update (finally!)

(Pictures below make my teeth seem yellow due to lighting in my bathroom! Grr)

Everyone! First, hope everyone is doing well. Secondly, I am truly sorry for not being a regular poster. I will only be updating in intervals since my teeth are only moving slowly. I see my orthodontist once every 6 weeks. My next appointment will be November 18.

Here's a summary of what has happened since my last entry (in May!). 
(1) I spent the Summer in Ottawa at a french school
(2) my braces experienced a malfunction...the archwire came out of my last molar on one side of my top teeth. I sought an orthodontist in Ottawa and he pulled it back into the molar...for FREE! Good guy!
(3) Malfunction happened again. Upon returning home I had it resolved when I went to my regular appointment. In September my orthodontist's assistant put a bracket on my last baby tooth (which I think may have been a canine). After two weeks my canine was so loose that it fell out while eating. 
(4) I went back to my orthodontist's office so she would determine the next step. At that appointment I was told this: the bracket was attached to the baby tooth in order for Canine Guidance of the impacted Adult Canine to occur! Neat! In the hole left from the baby tooth I am able to see that impacted too. My orthodontist thinks that the exposure of the Canine by an oral surgeon can be avoided. Let's hope this to be true!  I still have two coils in my mouth and I still have a MAJOR gap from one molar to the front teeth (because the baby tooth left a void). I don't look aesthetically pleasing at the moment.

Also during my last appointment my orthodontist's assistant attached a very small elastic band to one molar (which was bracketed but not connected to the archwire because of overcrowding) to another molar. I'm happy to report that the molar being 'dragged' by the elastic has been moving successfully and is almost in line with the other molars.

Pictures are attached!!

Take Care everyone!

My teeth are killing me - too much pain :(

Hi everyone, especially my 4 followers!

This past Monday I had my 2nd orthodontist appointment. Last time I thought I had a wire change, but apparently not! The orthodontist came and inspected the progress of my upper teeth. Both my orthodontist and her assistant starting talking in tongue (you know, the dental terms we all don't know much about!) and finally she looked at me and said "Next time we'll try to get the bottom brackets on, we need to get the top moving more because that's where you need the major work." So, I did not have my bottom brackets applied...bummer! However, the assistant used a new wire, and this time the spring coil on the top right side of my mouth is gone; one less coil! I was in pain, and I vaguely remember the assistant telling me that next time she was going to put a bracket on the last top molar on each side and that a new wire may not be applied next time.

Right now, I am in a lot of pain. From what I've read, the damon system of brackets should result in less discomfort - but that's not the case yesterday or today! My teeth ache, I can't properly chew because doing so results in so much physical pain. I try to chew with my back teeth where the pain is less significant.

Below are some images. My next appointment is on June 13.

On a side note, I will be having a second consult with an oral surgeon from New Brunswick on May 13 regarding upper/lower jaw surgery for my class 3 malocclusion; He's nicknamed 'the magician' - I've got good vibes already! I'll update Next Friday regarding the consultation.

until then, have a wonderful week! Hope you had the chance to vote, canadian friends!

Class III malocclusion, underbite, crossbite, braces, negative overjet, mandibular prognathism

Class III malocclusion, underbite, crossbite, braces, negative overjet, mandibular prognathism

orthodontics, class III malocclusion, maxillary deficiency, archwire, damon system, brackets, blue bonding

Notice: the coil has been removed! Feeling a lot of pressure/ pain.

Happy Friday eveyone! This past week has been exciting. First, last Sunday a bracket had cracked off one of my front teeth. On Monday I called my orthodontist and was given an appointment for Wednesday. The staff at the office of my orthodontist are super friendly. One of the assistants applied a new bracket and I was on my way. THEN...I went to view the new bracket in the restroom and noticed that my bottom teeth were touching/ moving the new bracket! So I ran back to the office and the assistant seen me and asked what was wrong. I asked whether or not it  is normal to have teeth touching the new bracket and she said NO! She had forgotten that I have a MAJOR bite problem and therefore forgot to check my bite before I had left. End result: more blue bonding - a lot more! It feels like I have rocks in my mouth - I can hardly close it! Second, in the past I had requested a referral to another orthognathic surgeon whose nickname is "the magician" apparently! His website is neat and informative too. Anyway, this week his office called and I'm slotted in for an appointment on May 13 (FRIDAY MAY 13...yikes) for a consultation. I haven't met the surgeon yet, however I'm really considering him already. The first oral maxillofacial surgeon I seen in February was very nice and a relatively new graduate but I need someone with a lot of experience in order to get the best results and this new referral doc uses all the latest technologies.

I will be seeing my orthodontist on May 2 to have my wire replaced if needed and also to have my bottom braces applied; I'll be super bracefull then.

Some pictures below. I am not able to see major change but I'm sure some has taken place since February 6!

Have a good weekend! I'll update again after May 2!

March 23, 2011 - 2nd Appt

I was scheduled to have my first checkup since getting braces applied this past Wednesday. However, on Monday, a portion of the archwire connecting some teeth had snapped and required an immediate fix. So, I traveled 2 hrs to see my orthodontist. The appointment was fairly quick - my orthodontist confirmed things were going well and her assistant applied a new wire (though I do not know if the wire is thicker or just the same as the one I had started with in early February). I had no pain from the wire change. One noticeable difference is the change in the coils/springs on the top of my mouth; they are now tighter than and not as "loop-ish" looking. I will keep the post short, but I've posted some pictures from my teeth taken on March 24, 2011. Oh, and one other thing, I requested to be referred to a second oral maxillofacial surgeon in order to get a 2nd opinion on the invasive procedure (orthognathic surgery) that I will need to have in order to properly fix my bite. See previous blog entries for my discussion on orthognathic surgery. My next appointment is scheduled for May 2, 2011.

Class III malocclusion, underbite, crossbite, braces, negative overjet, mandibular prognathism

Class III malocclusion, underbite, crossbite, braces, negative overjet, mandibular prognathism

Class III malocclusion, underbite, crossbite, braces, negative overjet, mandibular prognathism

Entering my 3rd week!

Hi Everyone! Happy Sunday! I'm almost entering my 3rd week of orthodontic treatment. I will not be posting pics of each week. However, there are a few pictures from the second week I'd like to share. My first appointment since having the braces put on will be on March 23. I will post pictures that day or shortly after. I hope there is some changes in my teeth! I can't seem to find any but perhaps it's because I'm always trying to find time to look at them in a mirror.  

Sending warm wishes to everyone,

S

I have an impacted Canine with  with good angulation somewhere b/t my lateral incisor and first premolar.

Initial Pictures from the first week

I've posted some pictures of my teeth taken during the first week. If you are wondering why I have 'blue' in my mouth, the blue substance is used to prevent my bottom teeth from touching the brackets on my top teeth. 

as evidenced by this photo you can see that I have a class III malocclusion: underbite combined with crossbite

side view showing how my bottom teeth fall outside my top teeth

The journey has started: 3 years of Orthodontic treatment

It's been almost a week but my journey with Orthodontic treatment has commenced! It's been 17 years in the making - yes - it's been that long since I've smiled with my teeth! Last Monday, February 6, the braces were put on. According to my Orthodontist, my braces are "the Damon system." The procedure of placing the braces on my teeth was relatively painless and quick - maybe 25 minutes. Here's how it all started:

January 6, 2011 - Initial consultation with my orthodontist. Because there was a cancellation, there was time for x-rays / photos / impression of my bite and a mold of my mouth. Total cost: 545.00.

January 31, 2011 (day after my 25th birthday!) - Patient Interview (PI). Here, my orthodontist's assistant educated me on the issues of my case: (1) I have a Malocclusion, namely a Class III Mesiocclusion (prognathism, negative overjet) where by bottom jaw is more prominent than my top jaw; I have a large mandible (lower jaw) and a short maxillary (upper jaw) bone. My bottom teeth protrudes beyond my upper teeth (a condition known as mandibular prognathism). For a mental image think Jay Leno - he is a classic case of mandibular prognathism. Combined with a mandibular prognathism, I also have a cross-bite. I was told that I was definitely a surgical case and would need to be referred to an oral maxillofacial surgeon. Luckily his office is located in the same building as my orthodontist. Anxious to get the process started I inquired as to how long it takes to be referred. Was told it could be two-three weeks. I told the assistant that I would drop by the surgeons office on the way to let them know that I would be a referral case. I was hoping to be referred the same day as I live 2 hours from the city where my treatment is taking place! To conclude the PI the assistant told me the costs of treatment: $6,500 , Canadian of course. The PI did not cost any monies. I left the meeting determined. I stopped into the oral surgeons office where I was given an appointment for the following Monday. 

February 2, 2011 - called orthodontist office to request appointment for braces the following Monday if possible. I was told to hold. She called me back. She confirmed whether or not i decided on surgery without the consult with the surgeon and I said yes - as I'm willing to do whatever it takes to smile. Appointment for braces booked!

February 6, 2011 - 9:15 am appointment with the oral surgeon. It was a 30 minute consultation. He took measurements and discussed the X-rays taken by my orthodontist. He said that he will most likely move my upper jaw forward. However, he said that if needed he will move my bottom jaw back too in order to correct the bite. But he mostly thinks my bite can be fixed with one procedure, orthognathic surgery on my upper jaw. Luckily in my province we have free health care to some extent. The surgery will be covered almost entirely by my provincial health care. I will need to pay $1,200 for the surgery which will require a stay in hospital for 3 days. The consultation ended, and I'm quite fond of the surgeon. He's hot, and very articulate. Cost of the consultation: $298.00.

February 6, 2011- 2:15pm appointment with my orthodontist. She wasn't there. One of the assistants put the braces on which took 25 minutes. I only have the braces on the top teeth so far.Then there was a period of time discussing the do and don't in terms of food and cleaning. Having the braces on felt different. I have 2 wire coils on my top teeth, left and right side to create space. 

So with that, I will stop talking for today. It's been almost a week already but I've posted the initial picture of my mouth after the braces went on. Don't be afraid. :( 

Yurs in Smiles,

S