Good-bye expander!

Okay, so I'm about seven months in now and they finally removed my expander Tuesday! Never have I been so excited to go to the Ortho :) Have to say it did hurt just a little when they popped those molar bands off though!

The biggest most dramatic part of my movement has already happened, now I think it is going to be a very very slow process of getting everything where it should be...we'll see.

I have finally come to terms with being braced (yea, it took seven months!!!) There's even days now when I forget about them.

Next visit is in another 6 weeks. Just an adjustment.

Good news!!!

Okay, so I've had my bite plate for a month now...overall not too bad. The first few days it caused a little pain but other than that I can't complain!

Anyway, went back to the Ortho today, had hopes of them removing my expander. Needless to say I had high hopes! :) On the bright side they've decided to take it out during my visit next month. Woo hoo! Couldn't be more excited. It doesn't bother me anymore but it sure would be nice to have it gone. Other than that it was just new archwires today. Upgraded from a round #14 wire on bottom to a square #16 wire (I think that's what she said...all I was thinking about was my expander...lol). And for the top we went from a round #12 to a square #16. Needless to say, a rather big change, especially on top, and was in pain before I made it out the office doors at the Ortho's office. At this point all I was thinking about was Advil :)

They wanted something slightly larger on top but the wire wouldn't go in my bracket correctly yet...guessing because of the shape of the arch. On my next visit a larger wire will be put on top after removing my expander to keep the molars in place.

I would post more pics but there hasn't been a lot of noticeable change since my last ones.

Can't wait until the next visit!

Now I need more Advil :)

New brackets...new bite plate....

I went back today to get my removable bite plate, not quite as bad as what I had expected. I've been trying to figure out how it would fit in my mouth since I already have an expander. It is a lot to have on the roof of your mouth at once and learning to talk again is a pain but it will all be worth while. I hope. They also ran an archwire through the brackets they put on last week, I'm guessing this will help with my arch formation on the bottom.

Expander...now a bite plate too!

Okay, so I went back to the Ortho Monday to get brackets put on my bottom back molars. They put them on, re-wired and everything was great. Then, they decided to grind off and move the "built"up bite plates that were on the second molars, because they weren't of much use where they were. After the attempt to "build up" new ones...twice, they filed them back off and decided that a "built up" bite plate on my teeth just wouldn't work with my bite and I needed a removable bite plate to keep from knocking off brackets!

I already of an expander, how in the world do they expect to fit a bite plate in there too!!! I go back Monday, guess I'll find out then...wish me luck!

Hopefully it won't be as bad as I'm imagining...

I'm just now getting around to putting some pictures on here since my last appointment. I'm so excited to see the changes! Can't believe it is happening so fast.

I go back just after Christmas to get brackets put on the back teeth on bottom. Hopefully during the visit after that they'll take out my expander.

First adjustment...

Well, so, I went back to the ortho today and all they did was change my bottom wire from a 12 to a 14. I go back in six weeks and they are going to put a bracket on the very back bottom molars to help form my bottom arch better. I'll post pictures of my progress soon.

Turn no more!!!

Well, I had a visit with the Ortho today...I DON'T HAVE TO TURN MY EXPANDER ANYMORE!!!

They were supposed to change my wires but decided to wait another four weeks because of sensitivity on my lower ones. Possibly in three months or so they'll take out the expander. All in all a good visit!