Long time no post!

I've had my bottom braces for a little bit over a year now and my ortho said that it's ready to come off this month...maybe next month. I'm happy w/ the results and I can't wait to whiten them. I've had them longer than expected but it's still shorter than most people I knew that had braces. So yaay!

I haven't experience any pain and or discomfort in the past couple of months. My monthly adjustments however had been longer than usual. I find it though that they're having a tougher time tweeking my i-braces (upper braces). Speaking of upper braces...I think I only have 1-2 months and they too are ready to come off. They're just trying to pull my used to be crooked tooth more forward and that's about it.

Out of all the pains, teeth extractions, dry socket, chains, bite blockers, and monthly painful adjustment...I'm so glad I decided to get braces. Best investment ever! I'd do it again! No pain...no gain! I smile more often now and my confidence level sky rocketed...not that I had issues w/ it before but it helps. I'll update my video soon!

6th month!

Wow! half way there *crossing fingers*. My misaligned upper tooth is no longer "misaligned". It happened so fast. Seems like it happened overnight. I don't pay attention to my braces as I used to. It doesn't bother me anymore, however, it keeps me awake at night coz I'm grinding my teeth more often than before and it's hurting my jaw. My ortho said, it happens more so now coz my bite is off (bite blockers). I hope for my next visit they'll be taking these blockers off and have a goodnight sleep.

I-braces are showing better and faster results than my old skool train tracks on the bottom. I don't have that many gaps now. They're focusing more of untwisting one of my lower front tooth. They said after that it should just be a little tweaking here and there. They've made all the major adjustment and they're just going to be focusing on the details. I'm excited!

Adjustment pains? Not as bad as before *phew* but I still have a few sore spots but nothing I can't handle. I've updated my video...feel free to watch...better have a strong stomach :p

Jan 20/09 - another adjustment :(

I had my 3rd adjustment for my bottom braces and my first for my ibraces (top). In the past few weeks my teeth were sore on and off again. My teeth move so fast which is good but bad at the same time coz the pain is almost constant.

Before I went to my adjustment yesterday I knew it's going to be bad...pain wise. I usually take 2 extra strength tylenol an hour before to help me w/ the pain but yesterday, I forgot to take them. My adjustment was only supposed to take 30min to 45mins max but coz I was in so much pain it took us 1.5hr. It was horrible. Some teeth were more sore than others. Everytime they applied pressure on them it felt like someone was extracting a tooth w/o any numbing agent. I usually handle pain very well...so I know when I'm in pain...I'm REALLY in pain. Oh and they put a thicker wire - ugh! Tattoo for me is nothing...no pain no nothing. Just minor scratches. However, nothing beats the dry socket I developed a few months ago...that was really painful.

Anyway, I found myself sweating when they were adjusting my lower braces. I had to ask the dental assistant to stop every so often. When they put the power chains (elastic to help close my extraction site gap) it was way tighter than the last one I had on and it literally moved my teeth (it was that tight). They also put more bite blocker on my molars so that my upper tooth can move forward and also to prevent me from clenching and grinding my teeth at night.

Adjusting my upper i-braces wasn't bad at all. I felt the pressure and a little pain but it was tolerable. They did it within 5-10 mins. After adjusting I took 2 extra strength tylenol. I wished I wasn't allergic to ibprufen blah! I'm in pain right now and I'm trying not to take anything for it. I really don't want to damage my liver by taking so much tylenol. I'm back to my soft food diet...maybe for a few days or a week. But I'm kinda glad it hurts coz at least I know it's working :)

Updated Version of my Braces Video

Oct 16, 2008: fitting of my lower braces

Oct/08: removal of my 2 lower bicuspids

Nov/08: 1st adjustment of my lower braces

Dec 16, 2008: fitting of my upper braces (i-braces) and 2nd adjustment of my lower braces - they added 2 power chains to help close the gap (2 lower bicuspids extraction site)

Next adjustment: Jan 20, 2009

IN PAIN...I got my bottom braces 3 days ago. Has clear brackets and they left 2 teeth with no brackets. My ortho says that my 2 lower bicuspids need to be removed. See...I have a small mouth with lotsa teeth. Over crowded...I also found out that my bottom wisdom teeth are impacted. Therefore a specialist will need to remove them. It won't affect my treatment at all, however, I was advised that they have to be removed as soon as I can to prevent infection. So, I've decided to remove them after my treatment. Less trauma for my mouth.

So here's my story. I've always wanted to get braces. When I was 10, my Aunt (dentist from the Philippines) removed 2 of my upper bicuspids. I had this one tooth that was slightly out of place. So she made me a retainer so that it'll guide the tooth to grow and align itself with the rest of my upper teeth. Being 10 and irresponsible. I lost them. So, that tooth began to grow behind my front teeth. Not attractive at all.

In my early twenties, my upper wisdom teeth grew and both were removed by my dentist. So my upper teeth aren't over crowded at all. It's just that one tooth that's not aligned. To make a long story short...I decided to take advantage of my Dental benefits and went for a consultation . I heard about i-braces from a friend so, I thought it would be perfect for me. I-braces are just like regular braces except they're on the back of your teeth. Custom made to fit. Turns out I'm a good candidate for i-braces. It's a little bit more expensive than regular braces but it's worth it. Invisalign was another option however, I had a consulation with another orthodontist a few years ago and said I wasn't a good candidate because I had a slight bite problem and invisalign will not fix it. Also, treatment might take a lot longer than reg. braces. Anyway, I decided to get i-braces for the top and regular clear brackets braces for the bottom to save some money. My ortho says my treatment should last 10-12 months. I'm crossing my fingers. I hope he's right.

so...here I am waiting for my 2 bicuspids to be extracted. I thought the dentist were going to remove them yesterday (Oct 17) but it was just a consulation. I've been leaving work early just for these braces. Just for smile...so much to do...so much pain...my boss reminded me w/ the old saying - "no pain, no gain..." she's right. Even my pay check is in pain for missing work and using up all my overtime banked hours.

here's a little timeline...

Sept 16/08: Scheduled dental cleaning (Dentist) am - Braces consultation (Orthodontist) pm
Sept 20/08: Scheduled filling (4 teeth)
Oct 9/08: Orthodontist - x-ray and moulds
Oct 16/08: Attached lower braces (clear brackets)
Oct 17/08: Dentist consulation (removal of my 2 bicuspids and lower wisdom)
Oct 26/08: Scheduled removal of my 2 bicuspids - dentist
Nov 18/08: Scheduled lower braces - tightening
Dec 16/08: Installation of upper i-braces (they had to order it - custom made from Texas)