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.

Thicker wire on top Incognito brace

At my appointment yesterday, my orthodontist fixed a thicker wire onto the top Incognito brace and firmly(!) attached my right canine tooth to it. It has been a bit painful today, but I've had some paracetamol and it's helped. I can't take ibuprofen because I have gastritis, and I don't want to upset my tummy. He said that I'm now over the worst and the new thicker wires each time will pull my teeth into shape.
Eating wise, until yesterday,I have been doing very well, but still being careful of foods like crisps and hard crusts. I'm pleased that my teeth look so straight already, and really glad that I've got braces.
You know when you look in the mirror and think my hair's not so good today, I'll wash it, have it trimmed or coloured? Well, you can't do that with your teeth, they look the same every day unless you decide to have braces or have them whitened. So now it's great to look in the mirror and see that they are straight. Fantastic!

Stripping those teeth or Reproximation

I'm at the point now when my Orthodontist may (or may not!) strip my front teeth. I've been reading up about it and it's usually the front six teeth teeth that are done to make room for them to sit straight. It is supposed to be painless! He said that he might use some sandpaper! Not a nice thought! It's actually fine diamond granules which I hope will be on an equally fine piece of paper. The enamel removed is only 0.5 of a millimetre from each side of the tooth, and would be the usual wear and tear if the tooth had been sitting normally beside another tooth instead of being crowded out. I'm not sure when it will be done, maybe at my next appointment? I hope it's not the December one, because I usually go out for a Christmas meal on that evening with my friends. Talking of friends, still not one of them has noticed! Well, I suppose that's what the Incognito system is for. It's certainly worth it not to have a row of wire and brackets in front of my top teeth. ( You can't really see the Inspire Ice brackets on the bottom.) We've just had some new soffits and fascias put on our house. The scaffolding did look rather familiar!

Top Spring Removed and Thicker Wire on Lower Inspire Ice Brace

Look at the difference after less than four weeks! There you go! Yesterday, I had my little top spring removed which was making a space for my canine tooth, and my orthodontist was so pleased with my progress that I've moved up to a thicker wire on my bottom teeth. They felt a little achey yesterday, and it's painful to eat again, but I know it won't last long. I have to keep reminding myself that my teeth look certainly more straight than crooked, and I must smile and show them. I'm so glad that I had the Incognito brace on the top, because it's almost impossible to see it, except on the canine tooth which is still sticking out a little at the moment. None of my friends have made any comment yet. I wonder who'll be the first? I bought some new season Cox's apples today. I don't know how I'm going to eat them. I think that I might bake them!

Bottom spring off today!

Today, my bottom spring was taken off and the middle tooth attached to the wire! Hooray! Since the spring had expanded, the skin inside my bottom lip used to get stuck in it especially during the night. I'm so pleased. Also, my visit to the orthodontist wasn't so uncomfortable as last time. He said it was because my teeth had begun to move more and it was getting easier to adjust them. Well, it's now nearly five hours since my visit and I can feel pressure on my front teeth. Nothing too bad, but they feel a bit itchy around the sockets, if you can imagine what I mean. I feel so much happier than I did last month. He took some photos too for his gallery of my treatment, and said he could see a real difference.
I've had the bottom brace on since May 22nd, that's over three months and the top on since July 1st, so that's two. Hopefully the bottom one can be off before the end of July 2011 - about eleven more months and the top one in about a year or so, if all goes well.
He said that my teeth should be in line in about six months and then the rest of the time would be to stablise them with progressively thicker wires.

I can't wait for that gorgeous smile!

PS I had some Thorntons chocolates today, and couldn't bite them - too painful - so I cut them into four pieces. Lovely, and they lasted much longer too!

Progress with my front teeth!

I've just compared some photos of my front teeth since July 1st when I had the Incognito brace fitted and - I can see that both teeth are already straighter! Of course the left one is still sticking out more than the other, but things are happening! This has made me feel much better, because sometimes I can't wait for it to all be over, and on the other hand, I'm scared about having them taken off!
The food I most enjoy at the moment is a banana sandwich and a fruity yoghurt from Sainsbury's. This is because I can take a big bite of the sandwich and chew it without worrying. There are so many foods that I can't wait to eat again, like crunchy Cox's apples - I'll have to wait until next year to take that big bite. Going to an Harvester today, I did enjoy meatballs with linguine, but I didn't try the grilled gammon incase it was a bit tough. All in all though, I manage quite well, although we have some interesting meals as my husband's on a gluten-free diet at the moment!
I have been watching Rose's progress on YouTube with her Incognito braces. She always cheers me up as she's a few weeks ahead of me, and tells me what to expect next. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpDTSB5qHmk&NR=1

Friday July 30th - 52 weeks to the wedding!

Yesterday, I had my Incognito brace adjusted for the first time. It had been painful having the Inspire Ice one done last time when the Incognito was fitted, so I was a little apprehensive. Well, it felt as if my front teeth were being repositioned by force, which of course they were! I didn't like it and it made me worry what it will be like when they are finally taken off. I feel as if my teeth will just snap off, so I'm not really looking forward to it at all. In comparison, the adjustment of the Inspire Ice bracket was quick and easy this time, even though two tools were used one to loosen and the other to tighten. I've been reading about people's experiences having their braces off on the internet. They say that mostly they just pop off. Well, I hope that they do! It also says that the polishing off of the cement is the worst. Perhaps they haven't had as many fillings as me! But also they say that their teeth feel very sensitive. I'm really not looking forward to it at all. Actually, I feel the worst that I have since I was wondering whether to go ahead and have braces, but I've got them now, so I've just got to go through with it. It's like being pregnant and knowing at the end that somehow you will give birth to the baby, even if you are afraid.
The other thing is that I've been having mouth ulcers because of the rubbing of the braces. The silicon wax was good and the Bonjela to some extent, but when I went to the chemist to get some Adcortisol in Orabase, they said that it had been discontinued!!! What was I to do? Another chemist suggested Iglu with two dots making a smile. It is as good as Orabase and I'm very glad.
Only 52 weeks to the wedding and at this time, 20.39, I hope that I will have had the bottom brace off and my top teeth will be nearly ready, oh, and that I have a beautiful smile!