My expander is gone.
I decided to wait a few days before posting so I could share my whole experience, I still had issues to deal with after my expander came off.
But to the removal first....
This last Wednesday I had my most anticipated orthodontist appointment so far, I have been so excited that I didn't think to be nervous.
My Orthodontist explained to me the process, he will use a plier looking device to 'loosen' the side brackets from the tooth and glue and then the expander will come out and he will remove any left over glue by buffing it off. He also said that I may hear cracking noises, and that it is not my teeth cracking, but the glue and that I will feel intense pressure when he loosens the brackets, almost to the point of feeling as though he is pulling a tooth, but not to worry because he isn't. :|
Hahaha. We had a little laugh then.
I don't know why because it wasn't funny.
He explained it pretty well.
Now, I have read a fair amount of info on this topic online, Dr. Google is my friend usually. All the information I found in relation to removal states that it is not a painful process, slight pressure will be felt but no pain.
Well I am blowing all that out of the water now, because I have experienced it first hand and all I can say is OUCH.
A lot of pressure was needed to loosen the brackets, I heard cracking which was quite scary after spending money to break my own face, I was a little worried that my new palate bone was under more stress then it could handle. All the worry was nothing compared to the pain. It was so intense I was about to ask him to stop, but then he did stop and the expander was out in front of my eyes, (Grotesque looking thing) I was in tears, so I had to wipe my eyes and compose myself to actually see it was out.
He then buffed (most) of the glue off, this was a little tender as my teeth had just gone through trauma! But nothing compared to removal of the RME.
I rinsed after this and it was the first time I actually felt my new mouth, after spitting what looked to be a substantial amount of glue and food remains which have been able to hide from my water pik, I could actually appreciate the last four months of going through this.
My mouth is huge. It's amazing that this little device has done so much for me in such a short time frame.
So after smiling at myself I went back to see what's next, because there is always a next step in orthodontics, unless you're in a retainer.
My orthodontist said that he couldn't book me back in until I have my extractions done, as soon as I have booked that appointment with my dentist he will book me in with him two weeks later which is when braces will be put on! :)
So a small break for now, I expect to have the extractions done within two months. I am so excited to be getting closer to that!
:|
Anyway, the first day of no expander device was a bit draining. My teeth ached, my face ached and I just was tender in the mouth. I also found a small amount of glue which was missed and is driving me insane, but the most annoying was that the gum on one of the anchoring molars must have been encased under the expander for the last four months and was torn completely upon removal of the expander, I'm left with a small 'flap' hanging there. Gross. Annoying. And constant bleeding for about 6 hours afterward. This has (in the last 5 days) healed for the most part.
Other than the complaints, I am so happy I did this. My smile is wider, my face broader and I feel so many benefits.
I can breathe through my nose so much better.
My face has changed enough for friends to notice, it's broader, my cheek bones are finally as pronounced as they should be for someone of my weight and facial shape.
I have suffered no migraines since the expander went in, this is a massive plus for me. So much money and time went on finding a cause for my constant migraines in the past, do you think my doctor will believe me when I tell him that making my face bigger has eradicated them from my life?
My mouth is getting there, it is awesome to feel the amount of space I now have!
But this brings me to the end of my expander journey....
I may keep the blog going though, continue through until braces are removed... I will just have to see how interested I get.
If there is something I missed, or you want to know, feel free to ask. I will check back often. :)
Thanks for reading!
Saturday 20 April 2013
Saturday 13 April 2013
Day 127.
So excited. Four days to go and my expander is getting removed.
There are no words to explain how much I anticipate that moment when I can finally feel the roof of my mouth again, speak as fast as I like without stuttering terribly and eat food without it getting stuck everywhere! Hahah!
I can just imagine the freedom....
For a short while anyway. I have four extractions coming up in the next month or so, and then braces on 3-4 weeks later.
I understand braces have common side effects with expanders, but I doubt my speech will be altered from braces. Let alone mentioning how an expander feels like an enormous amount of metal when in your mouth. It took me about three days after it was put in before I stopped gagging from having something constantly touch the back of my tongue.
Also, braces are placed on the outer side of the teeth (well most, you can get ones that go on the inner side for a much larger price, they can't be seen from the outside.) that is a comfort to me as my tongue has copped a beating off the expander. I have a smooth surface on my tongue where the expander bar rests, and the small cuts from just general rubbing have been painful.
The side of my mouth is pretty sore too. The bracket that is bonded to the molar is giant and sticks out a good 5mm, it gets caught when I eat and rubs against my mouth when I talk, so I won't miss that. I haven't used wax for a month or longer, so that isn't helpful to the situation. Wax really helps when i do have it and use it. Braces will do the same, the brackets will rub and irritate the mouth but I will keep up with applying wax then.
My teeth are feeling quite good again, there are still some days where I have pain but I think that is just settling, they have moved a fair amount in the last four months.
I am getting quite giddy at the thought that I will finally have straight teeth in the not too distant future, I still can't imagine what I will look like though.
Maybe this ---> : D
Any who, not much to report at the moment, I will be sure to update when I have had the awful thing removed. I am quite interested to see if it will be a painful process, (as the insertion was not at all) but it is glued or 'bonded' to my molars with some kind of super-duper glue. I am not afraid of a little pain at the dentist, it's the constant ache that you get with orthodontic devices after your visit that affects me the most. I get depressed when I have to eat because chewing is painful and so I have to get something I didn't necessarily want at that moment just so the texture of food is easy to chew. As a result, I don't eat much and loose weight. I need to really start and make a diet that is plausible, healthy and easy.
I have never been a person who likes cooking though. I will clean before I will choose to cook.... Funny that.
Post again in a few days! Eekkk!
There are no words to explain how much I anticipate that moment when I can finally feel the roof of my mouth again, speak as fast as I like without stuttering terribly and eat food without it getting stuck everywhere! Hahah!
I can just imagine the freedom....
For a short while anyway. I have four extractions coming up in the next month or so, and then braces on 3-4 weeks later.
I understand braces have common side effects with expanders, but I doubt my speech will be altered from braces. Let alone mentioning how an expander feels like an enormous amount of metal when in your mouth. It took me about three days after it was put in before I stopped gagging from having something constantly touch the back of my tongue.
Also, braces are placed on the outer side of the teeth (well most, you can get ones that go on the inner side for a much larger price, they can't be seen from the outside.) that is a comfort to me as my tongue has copped a beating off the expander. I have a smooth surface on my tongue where the expander bar rests, and the small cuts from just general rubbing have been painful.
The side of my mouth is pretty sore too. The bracket that is bonded to the molar is giant and sticks out a good 5mm, it gets caught when I eat and rubs against my mouth when I talk, so I won't miss that. I haven't used wax for a month or longer, so that isn't helpful to the situation. Wax really helps when i do have it and use it. Braces will do the same, the brackets will rub and irritate the mouth but I will keep up with applying wax then.
My teeth are feeling quite good again, there are still some days where I have pain but I think that is just settling, they have moved a fair amount in the last four months.
I am getting quite giddy at the thought that I will finally have straight teeth in the not too distant future, I still can't imagine what I will look like though.
Maybe this ---> : D
Any who, not much to report at the moment, I will be sure to update when I have had the awful thing removed. I am quite interested to see if it will be a painful process, (as the insertion was not at all) but it is glued or 'bonded' to my molars with some kind of super-duper glue. I am not afraid of a little pain at the dentist, it's the constant ache that you get with orthodontic devices after your visit that affects me the most. I get depressed when I have to eat because chewing is painful and so I have to get something I didn't necessarily want at that moment just so the texture of food is easy to chew. As a result, I don't eat much and loose weight. I need to really start and make a diet that is plausible, healthy and easy.
I have never been a person who likes cooking though. I will clean before I will choose to cook.... Funny that.
Post again in a few days! Eekkk!
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