Yet another orthodontist appointment

So I had my orthodontist appointment today...and you know what, I actually have news to share.

I told the tech about the root resorption observed by my dentist on the X-Rays that were taken on my last dental appointment, and after a few cat-and-mouse moments with the orthodontist office trying to get a hold of the said X-Rays (my dental office had sent them over, but something about the orthodontist office being unable to download them), I ended up taking a panoramic X-Ray at the orthodontist office. Something about the dental office doing bite-wings, and the orthodontist wanted a panoramic view. So anyway, I had another X-Ray taken.

The orthodontist had a look at the X-Ray, and while he does observe the same root shortenings that my dentist did (on my incisors, all eight of them), he wasn't nearly as concerned about them as she was. It wasn't good that I have root resorption, but I guess the amount that had happened didn't really phase him. He said that root shortening was a common effect of braces, and that the roots may look shorter to the dentist because he tilted my bottom teeth, and my top central incisor remains slightly flared out still. So no drastic measurements were taken, and we continue on with treatment...with the caveat that we we finish the treatment sooner rather than later, to prevent further root resorption.

We did more IPR today, and he put a bend in the wire to hopefully coax my upper left canine to be tilted forward. He didn't want to do anything about the upper left canine--he said he didn't want to apply more pressure there, but instead, he'll do some teeth shaping when we're closer to the end. Not sure I like the sound of that, but I guess he knows what's best for my teeth overall. I also got my bite blocks removed today! It was a bit weird when the tech was polishing it off...just a lot of vibration that I wasn't used to. But it didn't hurt, wasn't uncomfortable, and I don't have bite blocks anymore! Sure will be nice to chew food without those two blocks in the way. Got the powerchains placed back, and I was told to continue with the nighttime elastics. Not too enthused about the continued elastics....but it is what it is. I don't want to do elastics when I'm on vacation next month, but at least it's better than full time elastic wear. I'd hate to have to deal with full time elastics while on vacation. Especially when I'm going to the "Most Magical Place on Earth". Nighttime elastics aren't so terrible.

Now, the orthodontist hopes to do impression for retainers with my next appointment, and then the appointment after that is when the braces will be off. Obviously, that's all if things go according to plan. I certainly hope they do. So it looks like there's a chance for me to have my braces off by the end of the year, which would be amazing!

More IPR was done, so hopefully the space between my upper right central and lateral incisor will close up this time.

Week 71, 72, and Month 16

Another two weeks...and another month have gone by! I'm already on the 16th month of my treatment, which holy cow, has been a journey when I think back to when I started. I was looking at the pictures of when I first started, and boy, am I glad that I decided to fix my teeth! My teeth looks much better now when compared to before, and I actually have a bite that's not weird. (I've always known that my bite wasn't perfect, but I never knew just how bad it was before I went to my consult). So I guess with any luck, I should be finished relatively soon.

I have an orthodontist appointment on the upcoming Monday, and I'm going to see what the orthodontist have to say about the root resorption issue. I just hope that it's not severe enough for him to stop things completely, and that we can get to an acceptable finish even with the resorption. I feel like my treatment is pretty close to be finished--all I need done is to bring the front two incisors back a bit from their slightly protruded position, level my left lateral incisor so that it matches with my right, and tilt the left canine out a bit. I really hope we can finish that even with the root resorption. The dumb thing is my dentist is concerned enough to send my orthodontist a copy of the X rays, but not concerned enough that she's suggesting I stop treatment. So who really knows?

The space between my top right central and lateral incisor have closed a bit, but it's still very obviously there, so I predict that there will be more powerchains for that for my next appointment. I also predict that the orthodontist will want to work on bringing in the front central incisors some more. I'm honestly not sure sure if putting the powerchain underneath the brackets on my front four incisor really helps to bring the central incisors in...but my left incisor have seem to been pushed back a bit. That and the gap between those two aren't there anymore. I'd like to think that the powerchain underneath the brackets work--my right central incisor was randomly hurting two days ago, and I'd like to think that's just the tooth moving.

Other than that, I'm pretty damn sure my molars are all touching when I bite down, because I feel them. And I really hope that I can stop with the nightly elastics...because this box configuration is seriously pissing me off. Especially when doing up the one on the right side. It just doesn't matter what technique I use or not use...it'll just slip off over and over again until I randomly get it to stay. I've woken up with it off, the elastic having snapped off the first molars during my sleep. And I've spent good chunk of time before bed just coaxing it to stay. I'm just really hoping that all my efforts and work will result in me not having to wear this elastic combination ever again. I don't mind wearing elastics. I just really fucking hate this one particular combination, mostly because they didn't think to put in a post on the top first molar. If there had been a post, it would've made all the difference in the world. But nope. I get to put it on the back of a curve. Yeah, because the back of a curve is the best position to make sure that the elastic doesn't fall off.

Overall, I think I'm at the stage where I'm just about done with having braces. I'd like them off sooner rather than later, but not at the compromise of my teeth.

Week 71

Week 72

Month 16. You can definitely see some minor changes when compared to the picture from Month 15. My top left central incisor is more tilted inwards now, and the space between that and left lateral incisor is gone. Actually my top right central incisor seemed a bit more pulled back too...well I guess things are moving after all!

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Month 15

Week 68, 69, and 70

So another three weeks went by and I...obviously haven't been the best at keeping this blog updated. I blame it on the summer heat and sunshine.

Anyway, I did call my orthodontist regarding the X-Rays that my dentist sent over, and the office said it was okay for me to just keep my original appointment on August 20, instead of coming in earlier. I'm guessing that the X-Rays weren't that terrible to the orthodontist...or this is just the way the office does things. Squeezing in last minute appointment is hard at the office, and I'd know from changing my appointment dates. So here's to hoping that the root resorption isn't as bad as it looks.

The gap created by IPR between my top left lateral and central incisor have closed, but not the one on the right side. Coincidentally, my top right central incisor have been more achy than usual...I just hope that means that the tooth is moving and the protrusion is getting better. Other than that, wearing elastics at nigh is pretty damn annoying, and the hooks on the right side just doesn't want to cooperate with me.

Pictures!

Week 68

Week 69

Week 70