Incognito small adjustments to Top Brace as it's Christmas

Yesterday, I visited my orthodontist, and because it's nearly Christmas, he only did some small adjustments and changed the elastics which hold the wire onto the bracket.

He assessed my front teeth which still seem to be slanting to my right a bit, although they have improved. Early next year, I'm going back to have the final wire replaced, and he said that he might polish (or reproximate) between my front teeth and across the bottom to give the illusion that they are straighter. I hope that it works!

Attaching Bracket to Wire on Incognito Brace - Quick Visit to Orthodontist!

Today, my orthodontist was able to attach the complete bracket to the Incognito wire. Luckily it hadn't come unstuck again, so my visit was one of the quickest that I've ever had, because the tooth had been moved near enough to the wire to fix it on easily.

This softer wire should help get my teeth back into line ready for the harder wire we tried before to be fixed on. My next appointment is just before Christmas, but he said that we might wait until the New Year so it would be more comfortable over the holidays.

He assessed how much they had moved, and how much they had to move, and thinks he may polish a little off the bottom of the middle ones to give them a better shape.

Sticking Incognito Bracket Back On + Retainer Update

I went back to my orthodontist today to have the bracket, which came off on Saturday shortly after my visit, stuck back on.

Luckily, he didn't have to remove my brace, because it has been comfortable this week and hopefully, it is doing its job to get my front teeth into a nice row.

Firstly, he checked that my tooth would meet the brace, by exerting a bit of pressure which was quite painful. (I did take some paracetamol again before my visit, which seemed to help.)

Then, he polished off all the old glue before fixing the bracket on with lots more to make it hold.

Also, he could only manage to attach half the bracket to my tooth, because he didn't want to strain it. So I'm going back next week when the tooth has moved enough to have it completely fixed.

Compared with the last photo top left, the tooth to my left of my two front teeth is now more in line. (The little brown specks are fragments of glue, not my dinner!)

Speaking of dinner, I liquidized my stir fry so as not to knock the bracket off! I can still feel pressure, so it must still be attached.

Just an update on my plastic retainer. I've been wearing it at night now for nearly three months. I have forgotten it a couple of times, so have had to go and put it on in the dark! My bottom teeth are definitely firmer and steadier. It fits very snuggly, so needs a little leverage with my nails to hook it off in the mornings, but I'm getting on well with the 'Retainer Brite' which I use on alternate mornings, when I don't clean it with toothpaste.

New Softer Incognito Wire. More Stripping or Polishing. Incognito Bracket Stuck on Again.

I had a better time today when I visited my orthodontist. I hadn't been looking forward to it, and even took some paracetamol in case it hurt, but it was ok.

He removed the wire he'd fixed last time and re-stuck the bracket which had come off the tooth to my left of my front two teeth. The new wire went on quite easily because it's softer, although he did 'polish' or rub down the spaces between my front teeth. He did it manually with a diamond strip which was far better than the motorized method. Overall I was pleased and you can see from the photos that my teeth look straighter already!

However, the re-stuck bracket came loose after lunch, even though I only had soup, bread cut into little pieces (so I didn't have to bite it), and slices of banana.

So I'm going to have to go back.

Replacement wire on top Incognito brace

Today I had the wire replaced on my top Incognito brace because my teeth are still slanting slightly to my right. My orthodontist ordered one specially to be sent from Germany. However, although it was a softer version, it wasn't soft enough and it was quite painful as he tried to attach it to my teeth, so he's going to order another even softer one. The other thing was that two of the brackets came off my teeth as he was removing the old wire. Not too much of a problem, but time consuming as the glue had to be 'buzzed' off my teeth before they could be stuck on again.

So not the best day for me, or him! But I know that I chose to have my teeth straightened and it will be all worth it in the end.

Also, I eventually told my friends about my braces. They hadn't noticed a thing! Not even the Inspire Ice brace on my bottom teeth! So that goes to show how inconspicuous they really are, and how easy it is to wear braces without them being seen!

One Week Wearing Clear Retainer

I've been wearing my clear retainer at night for a week since my Inspire Ice brace was removed.

At first it felt a bit uncomfortable, I think that my bottom teeth had shifted slightly in the few days before I collected it, but now it fits very well. So well, in fact, that I have a bit of trouble getting it off each morning, hooking my nails under the edges at the back and working my way round to the front several times until, at last, it's released and pops off.

I've been told to clean it every other day with Retainer Brite. It has to be soaked in a glass of lukewarm water with one of the little blue tablets for 15-20 minutes and then rinsed well under the cold tap. On the alternate days, I just have to use toothpaste and my toothbrush.

It's all a bit fiddly and time consuming, but I'm getting used to it.

In a few months when my Incognito brace comes off my top teeth, I'll have to look after another one for those too!

Confident Smile on my Daughter's Wedding Day Thanks to Incognito and Inspire Ice Braces

I was able to smile happily and confidently on my daughter's Wedding Day, thanks to Inspire Ice and Incognito braces.

Although I still have a little way to go, all the months of hard work have paid off. No one would have guessed that I was wearing a brace behind my top teeth!

First Night with Clear Retainer on Bottom Teeth

The first night with my clear retainer was fine.

It was a bit fiddly getting it in place and fixed down without forcing it, but once it was there, I couldn't feel it.

This morning, I managed to get my nails under the edge at the back, but it seemed to be stuck by suction! Anyway, at last I got it free. However, the notes said that I had to be careful not to flex it at the front too much as it might weaken it.

I suppose that with all things, it will become easier with practice!

Tomorrow I have to clean it with Retainer Brite!

Clear Retainer on Bottom Teeth Today! New wire for Incognito brace.

Today I picked up the clear retainer for my bottom teeth. My orthodontist showed my how to put it on gently and take it off by getting my nails under the edge at the back and releasing it. It felt weird at first and quite hard. He said that it should feel better after a few days because my teeth may have moved slightly since the imprint was taken, and are being moved back to their rightful places. I suppose that means that it's doing its job!

He suggested that I have a go and wear it this afternoon for an hour or so. It was a bit difficult getting it in the right place to fit it on, but once it was there it felt quite comfortable. I also managed to get it off again easily.

I feel a bit guilty because my daughter had a similar protector when she used to grind her teeth, and I had no idea what it felt like, but she didn't grumble, even though she used to chew right through hers! Thanks goodness she doesn't do that anymore!

I have to wear mine every night for a year and then perhaps every other night, and of course I'll be wearing the one I'll have for my top teeth as well.

My orthodontist also said that he'll order another wire from Germany for my top Incognito brace as my teeth are still not quite straight. That means that it will be easier for him, and less uncomfortable for me, to adjust them. I think that it's a good idea! My next appointment is in September when it should be ready.

Just noticed that in this photo, I haven't got it pushed down properly. Make sure that you do!

Inspire Ice Brace OFF Today!

My bottom Inspire Ice brace is OFF and it wasn't bad as I thought it would be.

First of all I was asked to bite on a piece of soft wax, I suppose to hold my teeth in place, then there was a tiny sharp pain as each tooth was nudged, and a snap, as the bracket came off. Afterwards the glue was polished off with a buzzing attachment, but it wasn't painful except for one or two sensitive areas. And that was it, apart from the photos to show my brace-free smile, and a quick impression of my bottom teeth to make my plastic retainer. Of course, I still have the top Incognito brace, which is hidden behind my front teeth, but no one will see that on my daughter's wedding day.

However, my orthodontist has given my top teeth another tweak to help to get them completely straight, and it will be another two months before I go back and see how they are getting on, apart from picking up my plastic retainer next week.

I had a lovely surprise when I left, the receptionist presented me with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. I didn't know what to say, but she said that although I haven't finished my treatment yet, they were giving me them because of my daughter's wedding. Wasn't that nice?

Inspire Ice Clear Brace off TOMORROW!!!

I can't believe it, my Inspire Ice Clear brace is coming off my bottom teeth tomorrow after fourteen months! It's gone so quickly.

I don't know how I feel. Quite nervous, I think.

I hope it's not too painful.

I've been looking at some videos on YouTube. Everyone one looks quite happy. Have a look at Margaret below. But what they don't show you is the 'polishing' off of all the glue. Some people say that is really uncomfortable. Anyway, I'm up for it tomorrow and I'll post a new blog then to tell you what it was like, and show you a photo of my lovely straight teeth.

http://www.orthodonticpartners.net/blog/2011/02/margaret-gets-her-braces-off

Incognito Top Brace on for One Year! Inspire Ice brace off bottom teeth in two weeks!

I can't believe that I've had my Incognito brace on my top teeth for one whole year!! Look at the difference! I'm so glad that I did it. Even though it's been painful at times, and it's not quite ready to come off in time for my daughter's wedding, my teeth look so much better. However, they have a little way to go, so I'd rather they were perfect than rush to have it off.
Mind you, I did have a dream one night that they went boi-oing, and sprang back into place!
The Inspire Ice brace has also been great on my bottom teeth, and is ready to come off in two weeks, so in two week's time I should be sitting here blogging - with it off. I can't believe that either, because at first, fourteen months seemed so long!
They already have the permanent retainer fixed to the back, so I just need a plastic retainer made to wear at night, by making a mould of my teeth. I should pick that up a few days later, and that's my bottom teeth finished! Hooray!
Just remembered that they need a little 'polishing' as my orthodontist calls it, to make a perfect line across the top. . . It's not too bad really, it's just the thought of it!

Extra Adjustment to Top Incognito Brace

I had my follow up appointment today after the polishing and power chain two weeks ago. The good news is that my teeth have formed a more even row, but I could still see that the front ones were tilting sideways. My orthodontist agreed and added some little wires to nudge them back into place. Again a bit painful at the time, but all right now. I hope I've done the right thing because I want my teeth to look perfect when they're finished and I don't want to wish that I'd asked for them to be made right, but didn't. I think that I can see a difference in the before and after photos too.
Anyway, my bottom Inspire Ice brace is due to be removed on 21st July!! I'm fine about that, but I'm going to have to wait a couple more months for the top one. I don't mind because no one can see it! Just looking forward to eating crisps, crunchy biscuits and biting into an apple again!

More reproximation and power chain elastics!

A couple of days after visiting my orthodontist last week, I noticed that a gap had opened up next to my middle two front teeth on my left hand side. It began to worry me as I'd just had my last adjustment and I wanted my teeth to be as perfect as possible when my braces were removed. He was able to see me today, and agreed that there had been some movement. He removed my wire which had got quite snug, (it was a bit uncomfortable to do), then polished the edges of my front teeth so they would fit together more closely. This time he used a metal strip and there were no vibrations, so it wasn't so bad - just like filing your nails. He replaced the wire and added some power chain elastics to hold them together. I can already see a difference in the photos. The upper one was taken last week and the lower one today.
I have another check up appointment in about two weeks to make sure that everything is going ok. So fingers crossed, I will have a great smile for my daughter's wedding!

Last adjustment! Incognito and Inspire Ice braces off at next appointment!

There we go! I've had my last adjustment today, and both my Incognito and Inspire Ice braces will come off next time. That's just 8 days before my daughter's wedding!
Apart from changing the little elastics which hold the wire onto the brackets, my orthodontist tightened up my right canine tooth, which is not as in line as it should be. It did hurt a bit as he nudged it, but we agreed that meant that it had moved. No pain, no gain!
I'm still worried about having my braces removed, but I can't wear them for ever! I am looking forward to biting into crisps and biscuits instead of breaking them into little pieces and making lots of crumbs.
But, already, now my teeth are more settled, I'm finding that I can chew more things. Last night, I went for a Chinese meal with my friends, and found that I could eat those duck pancakes which we always have as a starter more easily. However, I did order some Chef's Drunken Fish which was lovely and soft, in a batter, rather like sweet and sour pork, only fish. Yum!
It was funny at the surgery. My younger daughter is learning to drive, and so drove me there. Afterwards, she was there in the waiting room for me, as if I was the teenager and she was the mum!

Inspire Ice Clear Brace on for One Year!

It's just one year ago today that my Inspire Ice Clear Brace was fitted to my bottom teeth and the impressions taken for the Incognito one for my top teeth, and look at the difference!!!
Apart from my top teeth being in a nice straight row, my bottom teeth are lined up nicely too. You can see how the wire was not at all straight when I started and I'm sure that I frowned quite a bit when my orthodontist showed me his work in the mirror. With all that wire on, plus the brace wax because it soon began to rub, it looked awful, but only if I pulled that funny face!
Well, it's only eight weeks until they both come off, just in time for my daughter's wedding. I have just one appointment before then, and I think it's to have some finishing polishing or stripping to get my teeth in shape. It doesn't hurt, but the vibrations go right through my head!
I'll say again, that it's all been totally worth it, sometimes a bit uncomfortable when the braces have been adjusted, or the wires have been changed, but I'm so glad I've done it and I'm not sitting here now wishing that I had.
If you're not sure, just go for it. It's well worthwhile.

Finally! Last Strong Incognito Wire on Top Teeth!

Finally, I've got the last strong wire on my top teeth! It was a bit tough to fit, but at least it means that they will now move to their proper resting places! My orthodontist also changed the Inspire Ice squares on my bottom teeth. I think it's been a great combination, as you can't really see my bottom teeth unless I pull a funny face like in the photos, so the clear brackets haven't shown very much at all. And still my friends haven't said a word. I think that I'm going to have to tell them before the braces come off, or they won't believe me! Of course, I've been very, very pleased with the Incognito top braces too, which are completely invisible.
Before my appointment, I looked through the brochure of testimonials. One satisfied patient said that she thought she had been too old to have braces at 35! And another at 47! I had to smile (with my lovely new teeth). It's been well worth having them done at 56!
Congratulations to my orthodonic nurse too. She had her baby, a little boy, over the Easter holidays.
Now I've got to be brave too, and have my braces off before my daughter's wedding!
PS I forgot to mention that I'm hardly aware of the retainer wire behind my bottom teeth at all. I did play with it at first and made my tongue sore, though. But after that, it's been fine.

Photos at last!

Since beginning this blog last May, I haven't been able to bring myself to publish the photos of my teeth. I thought they were awful!!!
But now I'm near the end, I had another look at them and thought you might like to see them after all!
From November 2009 to today!
I think you could say there was a great improvement!
I have added photos to nearly all of the past postings if you want to see the progress I've made.
Now there's only three main appointments to go plus the fitting of the plastic retainers.
I'm so glad I've done it!

Retainer wire on bottom teeth. Softer wire on top teeth. Plus I have date when they're all coming off!

Today, I had the retainer wire glued to my bottom teeth. It was fine. My orthodontist first added an elastic to my brace to close up a little gap then he cleaned the backs of my teeth thoroughly, and glued on the little wire which had been made from the impression made last time. It's embedded in the glue so I can't really feel it at all.
I'd been a bit worried about my top right canine which isn't level with the others yet, so he took off the firmer wire and replaced it with a softer wire, in the hope that it could be brought into line more effectively. And that was it!
He still says I'm on line to having them both removed before the wedding so I have an appointment booked on July 21st, and one on the 26th to have the plastic retainers fitted.
I can't believe that it's nearly all over, that this time last year I hadn't made up my mind to do it yet. Now I'm so glad that I have!

Second to Last Wire on Top Teeth

Phew! Second to last wire on top teeth today. It was a tough wire and a bit uncomfortable to fit, but I kept thinking of my daughter's wedding!
My orthodontist said that next time he would fix the permanent retainer on my bottom teeth. He took an impression today so it will be ready. He's also going to 'tidy up' these teeth to make a straight line across the top. Not too sure about it, but I suppose they have got to look right. He may also 'tidy up' the edges of my top teeth too.
He says that on the July appointment, he'll be able to take both braces off! That's fantastic after what will be braces for 13 months on my bottom teeth, and 12 months on my top!
I noticed for the first time today - just shows how nervous I've been- that his nurse is pregnant, and the baby's expected in early May! She's just as worried about giving birth to her first child as I will be on the day the braces come off. However, the receptionist said that it would be fine: I was worried before I had them put on but I survived, and I'll survive having them taken off, and she's right. It'll be wonderful to be free at last with straight teeth except for the two little retainer wires behind.

Last wire on bottom teeth!

Today I had my last wire fitted on my bottom teeth! My orthodontist said that it would be there for a while as it was a strong one to keep my teeth in their new positions. In the next few visits he will be fixing a permanent wire retainer behind them to also keep them in place. He also said that he would level them off to make them straight. This is because those teeth that were sticking out have not worn down like the others and are longer. sounds delightful, doesn't it?
Anyway, I'm still really glad that I'm doing it. They all look lovely and straight already!
Another thing is that I didn't realise how many things upset me when I looked at people's straight teeth on the television. For example, when the Maclean's advert came on for The Girl with the Perfect Smile on Dancing on Ice this year, I thought at first, "Oh, I haven't got a perfect smile", and I didn't last year when it was on. Then I remembered that I have! It's fantastic!

Polishing, Stripping, Reproximation

Today, I had four front teeth polished, stripped or reproximated to make them a bit narrower so they will lie straighter. I was quite worried and only had 3 hours sleep. Ok, it wasn't so bad. It didn't hurt my teeth, but the vibrations were not so nice. It did feel like a big saw in my head, a bit like James Bond, I survived it though, and when I told the receptionist that I felt like I needed one of those stickers, she gave me one!
I was a bit worried too that the gap would show, but it hardly does. I think my teeth are already closing up. They don't feel sensitive either which was also one of my worries, and I was able to eat my meatballs and spaghetti tonight!
Good news though, my orthodontist says that I may be able to have both braces off before the wedding at the end of July. Certainly the lower Inspire Ice one, maybe also the Incognito as well. But we do have to be sure that my teeth are ready and I would certainly go along with that!
Thank goodness today is over!