Thirty-Two Months.. and Farewell

Who knows if anyone but me has or will read this blog, but hopefully it serves as a resource for someone out there in InternetLandia (tm).  It has been two months since my braces were removed, and during my last visit the orthodontist filed my teeth one more time now that they have settled.

I'm not promising that I won't have any more work done on my teeth, but it certainly will not happen soon.  It is fair to say that I now have a "nice smile" and it's time to move on for now.  It's truly been a 2.5 year journey.  

My current focus is my physical fitness so that soon I will be able to have a "nice body" to match.  

So, farewell blogosphere.  

Thirty Months!

On December 15, 2015 a miracle happened... my braces were removed!


It took much longer than expected, but I am 90% happy.  My best pieces of advice to anyone would be:


1. Do your research and find a good orthodontist.
2. Anticipate that it could take a year longer than they state. 
3. Buy a Waterpik and be diligent about caring for your teeth.  Everyone comments on how white mine are, and I think it is because I was very careful.
4. Choose the essix retainer!  I have the Hawley and hate it and will have to pay extra to get an essix.

Twenty-Four Months (Two Years in Braces)

...or what the rest of the world calls two years.  I can't believe I have had my braces on for two full years.  In case you missed it, this a full year longer than my initial estimate.  The top photo is my teeth today.  The central photo is the starting point.  The bottom photo is a couple of months in. 

My teeth are not whiter, but for some reason it was hard for me to get a "normal" looking picture.  I'd say my teeth are not as white as the top photo, but not as yellow as the others.  

Anyhow, at my adjustment yesterday she tied some wires around the brackets on my lateral incisors in order to help them move more quickly into their desired positions.  She then re-applied my power chain to the top.  Her computer even says, "ready for debracing".  There is a chance she will take off my braces at my next appointment, but I'm gonna go with August is still more likely.  

Twenty-Two Months

I got a power chain today.  I'd be almost excited about this except that I had a power chain seven months ago.  I no longer even ask her when the braces will come off, but I would guess August.  I know--it's crazy.  My next appointment is June 1st.  She'll probably make her last tweaks during that visit.  Then she'll probably find something else wrong in July.  So, my money is on August.

The bottom photos are my 1st and 2nd months in braces.  The top photo is me today.

Twenty-One Months (Gingivectomy)

I know these pictures look hella creepy.

I had the second gingivectomy done yesterday and I'm happy with the results.  Dr. Campbell is super nice and very good. The whole office is friendly.  I'm happy to have found an African American periodontist, and I will continue to use him as my primary dentist. 

The bad news is that my ortho extended my treatment time by two months. I'm truly going to die in braces. 

Looks like a horror movie scene.

Smile!

Ready for my gory closeup.

Eighteen Months

top to bottom: 18 mo's, 0 mo's, 12 mo's

Eighteen months, but are we still even counting?  Lol.  So, yesterday I had my first real adjustment since seeing Dr. Baker.  It was a doozy!  The appointment was supposed to last an hour, which is already long for an ortho appointment, but it went even longer.  I've decided that Dr. Baker is neurotic and meticulous... but that's exactly what you want from your orthodontist!  While I was there she chastised her assistants for the tiniest of things--too much glue, not enough glue, not enough suction etc.  This is not someone I would want to hang out with weekends, but I digress.

So, let's go over what was accomplished:

1. Removed all of my lower brackets and replaced them.
2. Removed the brackets from my central and lateral incisors and replaced them.
3. Contoured my teeth to remove ridges and improve symmetry.

She had me brush my teeth after removing the brackets which gave me a sneak peek at how my teeth will look after the braces are removed.  I was so pleased!  I can't wait to get these suckers off.

I am looking into getting a second gingivectomy.  My first periodontist did say that I would probably need a touch up, and I was never fully satisfied with the work he did on my lateral incisors.  There is also some slight unevenness around my central incisors.  This time around I am opting for laser.  I feel you have more control of the final look with a laser.

It's crazy that I was hoping to have my braces off in time for the Spring Getaway in Myrtle Beach last year and now I'm hoping to get them off by the Spring Getaway this year!

Seventeen Months

I've come to terms with the fact that I am going to die wearing braces.  I have a new orthdontist, Dr. Baker at CB Orthodontics.  She has a terrible attitude, but she sees my vision for my teeth and immediately said, "I feel like your lateral incisors should be lower.  During the next visit I would remove the brackets and reposition everything".  So, I decided to go with her even though it means six MORE months in braces and more money.

The top is me most recently.  Note the gingivectomy.  I think I will have a second gingivectomy done.