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.

One Year in Braces

...and I'm mad. My ortho did NOT do the bracket repositioning, and tried to argue with me when I told him that I didn't want my lateral incisors to look so short.  Wtf?  I'm paying the thousands of dollars!  You shut up and do the COSMETIC procedure the way I want!

All I know is, he better get to working on them next month or his first online review will be absolute trash!  I have already had these on longer than anticipated. This is ridiculous!!!

12 Months? WHAT!

So, it's been 12 friggen months since I got my braces.  The last six months have been incredibly frustrating because I swear I see no difference in my teeth!

Today I am FINALLY getting what my ortho calls a "planned bracket repositioning" which basically just means he is going to move my brackets into more desirable positions.  I'll post pictures this afternoon.  No matter what my braces are definitely coming off by August because
1. I am relocating in August
2. My orthodontist graduates and is also relocating in August

People keep saying my teeth don't look "bad", but that's far from the point.  The teeth that impact my actual smile are the ones that have not changed, so at this point the braces feel completely pointless.  I'm hoping this next adjustment will be the difference maker.