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!

Update on Incognito braces and Inspire Ice braces

I went to my Orthodontist nearly two weeks ago, but he didn't 'polish' or strip away the extra enamel. I think he's being kind because it's Christmas. For the past six weeks, I've been very lucky, and I can now eat almost anything. I keep telling myself that I can smile. It's so easy to smile with my lips together, that I forget that I've got a lovely smile now! I'm so pleased that I've done this. It's the best thing that I've done since I don't know when. You forget how much having crooked teeth affects your life, and how you think about yourself.