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.