Achy Breaky Teeth

Well not really breaky but definately achy. *sighs* I'm tired of achy teeth. They've been sore all weekend. I think my sinus infection is putting pressure on the top row and the bottom is really moving in response to the power chaing going all the way back to the molars.

I JUST happened to notice that the gap that formed on the bottom left has begun to close so the power chain must be working and that would explain the pain...but it's going to drive me nuts.

I'm just a mess today. *sighs* And even Advil is not working. *pouts*

Week Twentytwo, What's new?

What's new you say? Hmm...not much and a lot, lol.

The pain is mostly gone, thank goodness! I don't think I could have stood another month of pain from the power chain. I do have a whole lot of wiggling going on. It seems that every tooth is wiggling and moving around, even the molars. It's not that painful, just very weird. The center pulp of my teeth seems really sensitive I sometimes can feel the pulp pulsating with my every heartbeat. It's so strange, not painful just a weird sensation that theres some gentle throbbing inside each tooth.

I know I've mentioned it before, but this week was the first time anyone pointed out how lopsided my teeth are right now. I was visiting my mother and she asked to see my teeth. I smiled and she said, "They look funny." I asked, "How so?" She replied, "Your mouth's crooked."

I then had to point out two things to her. One, the ortho isn't trying to move my teeth down yet, so the one side that did come down, did so on it's own. So it's going to look a little lopsided. Two, it also accentuates the angle my top jaw actually sits at, the angle that's pushing my jaw out of alignment and causing my TMJ issues.

I had to tell her then (I had been trying to avoid this, she is a worrier) That if when the ortho tries to bring my teeth down, if he can't move them to compensate for my misalignment of my jaws, they'll have to cut my top jaw from my skull and reattach it 'level'. It's not what we want to do, we really hope that the braces will do the trick, but I have to be aware that it might be necessary.

Needless to say, she wasn't happy. I'm not either, but if it's what the ortho and the oral surgeon say needs to be done to keep the TMJ from reoccurring, I'll do it. I'd rather be in pain from the surgery for a few months, than have the TMJ pain the rest of my life. I mean, if we can't get the teeth to realign to compensate, and I don't have the surgery at that point, really the braces would have been for nothing. Yes, I'd have a much prettier smile, but I didn't go into this for vanity. I want my jaw to stop hurting. The pain from my TMJ was so bad that I don't know what I would have done if there wouldn't have been an option such as the braces/surgery to stop the pain. I can see how people could take to drugs or alcohol to dull the near constant pain. I hope to GOD we can get this to a point where I never have that again. I know the braces are doing some good because A) my teeth are lining up better and my chewing is better B) I haven't had any TMJ incidents since we started the braces.

To me, the lack of TMJ issues since beginning braces tells me that my doctors know what they are talking about and I'm on the right track. So yes, if they tell me they need to cut my jaw off of my skull and reattach it so that everything fits the way it should, you'd better believe that I would be willing to do it.

As always, it's Thursday and I have my "anniversary" pictures. The first week, this week, week 22 and I've also added a picture with lines drawn over my braces so you can see the angle of "crookedness" that my mother pointed out to me. I exaggerated the lines a little because when you see them in 2D it's not as easy to pick out as if you are seeing them in 3D.

First Day

Week 22

Week 22 with lines

Week Twentyone

Well, here we are week 21. The major soreness was gone by the end of the weekend, much to my delight and surprise.

The only thing I really notice now that the "crunching" of my molars moving has stopped is that the hook for my rubberbands, on the lower right front of my mouth is now catching my lip. What's that all about? It's kind of just annoying, but I can't even wax it during the day because it's very visible.

Oh well, it's not causing a blister or anything so I shouldn't complain.

Edited to add: if you look at the hook, the tooth has moved forward and the angle has changed, ever so slightly....I think that's why it's starting to catch...

As always, my pictures:

First Day



Week 21


You know, it just amazes me, it's only been 148 days and look at all the changes! One side of my open bite is mostly closed and really, they are getting very straight. If they are this good now, I can't wait to see how great they will look in approximately 583 days! *sigh*

Week Twenty

Well, it's Week Twenty. I had my adjustment yesterday and my dreams of getting rid of the dreaded power chain were dashed. Not only did I get a new power chain, but it has now been extended all the way back to my molars, top and bottom! The last link of the chain is looped over the hooks on the bands.

Can you say ouch?!

To add a little salt to the wound, they said I might need them a few more times. Blech! They upped the gauge of the wire as well.

On the plus side, they said that next time, I'll be getting the "ideal wire" or the heaviest gauge wire that is square-shaped that does the "heavy moving" so....

I really like my orthodontist and all the ladies that work there. If it wasn't that my mouth was so sore when I left I'd really love visiting, ha, ha, ha.

Since it wasn't too long after my appointment, I was able to eat chicken fingers for dinner. By morning, I'm back on my MPMSY diet, mashed potatoes, Milk Shake and Yogurt.

As always,

First Day


Week Twenty

Like the lavender?

Week Nineteen

Again with the late post....so sorry. My mother had another operation on Thursday, the last one, thank goodness. She doesn't have Internet so I was very limited. I did take the obligatory picture, however.

Teeth-wise, it's been a good week (except for one incident which I'll outline later.) The pain is gone and while there's been some popping and moving, it's all very manageable. The incident was that my husband and I went for a drive on Sunday and he decided to take a dirt road...a very rutted dirt road. At one point the Jeep hit a very big pothole and I wasn't expecting it and the jolt rammed my teeth together. Boy did I see stars! Luckily it passed in a few moments.

Changes this week? I happened to notice that on the left side of my mouth, that my front teeth have moved down and they are actually beginning to over lap the bottom, almost like a normal bite! It's quite exciting! If you consider it's only been 19 weeks, it's even more amazing. The only down side is that the right side isn't coming down as quickly and my mouth is getting to look very lopsided--at least to me. Most people probably wouldn't notice.

I also noticed that the bottom teeth are much more straight from just two weeks ago, I've included that picture as well. If you look at week seventeen, you can see how the blue power chain accentuates how bowed-looking my bottom teeth are, whereas this week, it's nearly straight.

These things are amazing!


First Day

Week Seventeen

Week Nineteen

So Thursday, I'll have my next adjustment. I'm not sure what color bands to pick. If I have to go with a power chain again and I really hope not since I'll be going away for the weekend and I don't' want to be miserable, I might go with something more subtle, like the plum. If it's just bands, no power chain, then maybe I'll go with screaming pink...who knows? I won't know until I sit in the chair.

Any suggestions? LOL!

Week Eighteen

Here we are at week eighteen. The pain is lessened and I'm doing OK...Not much to say this week. I have posted my "anniversary" progress pictures as I try to do, even though this week is late again as my mother had surgery last Thursday so I really was preoccupied. I did manage to snap my "anniversary" picture as I do every week, though the quality is less than stellar. I apologize for it's quality...

First day


Week Eighteen


Notice any progress? :-#