Week 27

Well here we are! Week 27. Things are going ok. I ended up having to get the top wires clipped on Monday afternoon that is how fast the combination of the chain and the "ideal wire" have started moving those top teeth!

The pain has been ok, just low level throbbing, always worse in the morning. I think it's because I've been a little stressed this last week and I'm clenching my jaw in my sleep.

This being said, it's not even 1/2 as bad as it was last time. My jaw/teeth line is still a little bit lopsided, but, I think it might be getting a little better. I know I shouldn't even look at that right now as that is the last phase but it seems so obvious to me.

I also started to notice that the bottom is moving a little unevenly. if you look at the midlines or the line between the front teeth of each jaw, they're not quite squared/straight right now. I know this will also be tweaked later but jeeze, how crooked am I going to get before I start straightening out?

As always, the first day and most recent pictures for your "approval" :-#



First Day



Week 27












Amazing isn't it?

Ouchie!

Things must be moving and moving fast...I got the new wire on Thursday and already have a wire poking! OW! OW! OW!

But because my ortho is AWESOME! They are going to squeeze me in right after work...and since Starbucks is just 1/2 a block away....yeah...it's all good!

I LOVE my ortho's office...they are soo sweet, understanding and can put up with a wuss like me! :-#

Week Twentysix--Happy Halloween--A Little Early

Fall is in the air, leaves are changing, the sun is lower and I've got black and orange chains on my braces! I had my adjustment yesterday and the good news is...I've got the "ideal" wire on the top! It's the heaviest gauge wire they use and it's square. It is for all the heavy-duty moving. The sort of "not-so-good" news is that A) I still needed chains both top and bottom and B) the bottom had not progressed well enough to get the ideal wire.

The ortho did say that he is impressed with the way things are looking and we are moving right on track...so that's a plus.

I had the lovely Helen yesterday. She makes me laugh. She was a little unsure if I really wanted the Halloween colors, but did them anyway. I think they're a trip. I mean really, its only for 6 weeks and I get them off 5 days after Halloween so what's the big deal? Now what colors do I want for Thanksgiving? Or not? My next appointment is November 4th, so it's prime to get them in Thanksgiving colors, except that they don't get changed again until December 16. So do I skip Thanksgiving and go for Christmas? I'm not sure I want to get Christmas colors on the 16th because I'll have those bands/chains until the end of January. Oh the decisions...LOL.

As always, here are the weekly pictures....I looked at the 25th week anniversary pictures and it just amazes me how far I've come in just 6 months....:-#

First Day

Week 26

 Now on the plus side, the pain from the new, heavy wire and new chains didn't start right away. I did keep ice on it during the day and took Advil before and after so the pain wasn't too bad but at eight last night my husband and I went to get dinner and the pain started with my very first bite of dinner. I was able to finish it but it was very uncomfortable. I took more Advil when I got home and some other medicine I have for jaw pain when I went to bed.

It's not horrible today, just uncomfortable. I can deal, heck look at how pretty my chompers are getting, it makes all the pain worthwhile.

Week Twentyfive and a Look Back

So I have arrived at my 25th week anniversary! (Yay, ME!)

If the 2 year time frame is correct I have approximately 556 days left in braces...but on the plus side, that means I have 175 down. So I'm "getting there".

I've decided that in stead of just the first week picture and this week's picture, I'll post a few so you can see how they've changed as the changes happened....

First Day

Week Five

Week Ten

Week Fifteen

Week Twenty

 



Week Twentyfive











Next week if things have progressed as expected, I'll be up to the "ideal" archwire. This is the archwire that is the thickest, square and does all the "heavy lifting" when it comes to moving teeth. I'm hopeful that I won't also need another dreaded power chain.

With it being close to Halloween (my next adjustment is the week after Halloween) if I do not need a power chain, I think I'm going to pick black and orange bands. If I need a powerchain...well, I don't know. I'd have to think some more about that. Black may make it look as if all my teeth are rotting...lol.

I look back at the pictures above and am so impress at how far I've come in such a short time. I've bitten my tongue for the first time, can actually bite off bread with my front teeth....they are already starting to look so good. I haven't had any major TMJ issues either so I'm very happy with my results so far.

Week Twentyfour

So I'm posting week 24 a little late, but hey, I've been busy....

I don't think there's been much change....but I think what I will do for my 25th week anniversary next week will be to post a "retrospective" picking some of the biggest changes....
So anyway....

First Day


Week 24

Twentythree for me!

I'm posting week 23 a week late. I was on vacation last week with limited internet so I took the picture and am now posting it. There's not much to mention.

So as always, the first day




Week 23