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!
Saturday, 9 March 2013
Day 93.
I am eagerly counting down the days until my expander is removed..
It is still the most annoying contraption I have ever had to deal with in my lifetime.
I haven't expanded in a while now, over a month at least. I am still experiencing pressure, not with my teeth but my whole face. To me it feels as though my bones are attempting to move back to where they once were. I have days when the pressure is more noticeable and eating is a real chore. Then there are others where it I don't feel anything at all.
I'm not sure if its a subconscious thing, but I just have a sense that everything in my mouth is quite unstable at the moment, less now than a week ago.
My bite hasn't changed. So I am still unable to eat normal food such as a sandwich in public due to having a bite that doesn't meet. I eat them at home because I don't care if my husband thinks that I am part hyena after seeing me rip it apart with my teeth and drop half of it out as I bite....
This has been posing some problems at work. I either have soup, noodles or lasagne. It has become quite repetitive and is obviously not too nutritious as I have lost the two kilos I managed to put back on after losing them when having the expander for about two weeks. I don't have much weight to spare at the moment.
Brushing is still a chore. I will take my full half hour break at work to eat, and be left with -2 minutes to brush. This doesn't remove all traces of food either, but I can't take my waterpik to work everyday. So long as any annoying bits are gone, I am ok until I get home.
I am getting a little nervous for my extractions. I have just over five weeks to go before the expander is out, so not too long before the extractions come around.
It's more how they will look then the pain, how vain am I?
Oh well. Isn't that what this is all about anyway? Looking and feeling better....
It is still the most annoying contraption I have ever had to deal with in my lifetime.
I haven't expanded in a while now, over a month at least. I am still experiencing pressure, not with my teeth but my whole face. To me it feels as though my bones are attempting to move back to where they once were. I have days when the pressure is more noticeable and eating is a real chore. Then there are others where it I don't feel anything at all.
I'm not sure if its a subconscious thing, but I just have a sense that everything in my mouth is quite unstable at the moment, less now than a week ago.
My bite hasn't changed. So I am still unable to eat normal food such as a sandwich in public due to having a bite that doesn't meet. I eat them at home because I don't care if my husband thinks that I am part hyena after seeing me rip it apart with my teeth and drop half of it out as I bite....
This has been posing some problems at work. I either have soup, noodles or lasagne. It has become quite repetitive and is obviously not too nutritious as I have lost the two kilos I managed to put back on after losing them when having the expander for about two weeks. I don't have much weight to spare at the moment.
Brushing is still a chore. I will take my full half hour break at work to eat, and be left with -2 minutes to brush. This doesn't remove all traces of food either, but I can't take my waterpik to work everyday. So long as any annoying bits are gone, I am ok until I get home.
I am getting a little nervous for my extractions. I have just over five weeks to go before the expander is out, so not too long before the extractions come around.
It's more how they will look then the pain, how vain am I?
Oh well. Isn't that what this is all about anyway? Looking and feeling better....
Sunday, 24 February 2013
Day 79
I thought I would do a quick update with a progress picture....
My teeth don't seem to feel any pressure from the last turns that the orthodontist did, but my face feels it.
Just a dull ache across the bridge of my nose and cheekbones, the last of the dreaded expansion pain!
I'm pretty excited about getting the expander removed. I am trying to work out all my appointments so that I don't have too much of a delay between visits after it comes off.... Fingers crossed that my usually booked out dentist squeezes me in somewhere...
So, the picture...
These are my teeth, they aren't pleasant, but a few of them only have a matter of time before they're gone for good and making much needed space for the others. All that you can really see from this shot is the expansion of my actual palate. Quite significant if i say so myself, without surgery and on a 27 year old woman, who says that it doesn't work?
My smile is included, this is to show the crookedness of it and the general crowding of my teeth at the front.
Hopefully in a few months time, I will have a much better profile for photographing!
Fingers crossed!
My teeth don't seem to feel any pressure from the last turns that the orthodontist did, but my face feels it.
Just a dull ache across the bridge of my nose and cheekbones, the last of the dreaded expansion pain!
I'm pretty excited about getting the expander removed. I am trying to work out all my appointments so that I don't have too much of a delay between visits after it comes off.... Fingers crossed that my usually booked out dentist squeezes me in somewhere...
So, the picture...
These are my teeth, they aren't pleasant, but a few of them only have a matter of time before they're gone for good and making much needed space for the others. All that you can really see from this shot is the expansion of my actual palate. Quite significant if i say so myself, without surgery and on a 27 year old woman, who says that it doesn't work?
My smile is included, this is to show the crookedness of it and the general crowding of my teeth at the front.
Hopefully in a few months time, I will have a much better profile for photographing!
Fingers crossed!
Tuesday, 19 February 2013
day 75
So today I had another orthodontist appointment..
I got some really good news :)
And some not so great.
The expander is doing its job nicely. After turning the key a few times at today's visit my orthodontist told me that my expansion is now complete! Hallelujah! No more turning, bye bye spanner!
:) I now need to leave the device in place for a while for everything to retain its positioning.
He also said that my next visit, he will take the expander out! I was so happy to hear this, I wasn't holding up much hope for talks about removal today and yet here I was getting ready to hear when to book the procedure. I am booked in for the 17th April, that makes my total time with the palate expander to be (at a quick glance) 131 days, four months, one and a half weeks. I have to say that I am pretty happy with that! In roughly six weeks time, I will be expander free!
So that is my good news, finally I will be able to feel my mouth, my tongue will no longer rest against a piece of metal and I shall never have to turn that thing again!
As we were talking about it all, my ortho was saying how nice my teeth are starting to look. *blush
I have to say that I agree, much more attractive than even a few weeks ago!
My smile is broader, my teeth are starting to move into position, bar those horrible second incisors and after my dentist removed the mottling they are looking much healthier also.
This is all good, they are looking nice and most are healthy.
But my lower central incisor (i believe I have mentioned before about this one having some receding in the gums) seems to cause my orthodontist some concern. He went on to tell me that he is starting to think it would be a much safer and better idea to remove this tooth rather than my first premolar on that side. This is because of the receding gum, I will never get it back and it is looking quite low. This tooth is at much larger risk of decay and future extraction than any other tooth in my mouth, so he thinks it is best to be rid of it rather than take the healthy premolar, and then need this removed in the future anyway.
I asked him how it would look and how we would fill the gap and he showed me his teeth!
He had braces about 6 years ago and had crowding at the front, rather than remove two premolars, he had one incisor removed and the braces filled the gaps with the surrounding incisors and canines. His teeth did not look off-set or anything like that, just straight healthy teeth.
He then told me that it would leave quite an unattractive gap once he did remove it so it was also my choice. I agree with him, after all of this I would rather lose the tooth which is least healthy, the gap will be ugly, but its on the bottom arch and I can hide it easily.
Anyway I will post again soon when I get over the excitement of knowing the expander will soon be a thing of the past!! Bring on the braces, they will be a walk in the park!
I got some really good news :)
And some not so great.
The expander is doing its job nicely. After turning the key a few times at today's visit my orthodontist told me that my expansion is now complete! Hallelujah! No more turning, bye bye spanner!
:) I now need to leave the device in place for a while for everything to retain its positioning.
He also said that my next visit, he will take the expander out! I was so happy to hear this, I wasn't holding up much hope for talks about removal today and yet here I was getting ready to hear when to book the procedure. I am booked in for the 17th April, that makes my total time with the palate expander to be (at a quick glance) 131 days, four months, one and a half weeks. I have to say that I am pretty happy with that! In roughly six weeks time, I will be expander free!
So that is my good news, finally I will be able to feel my mouth, my tongue will no longer rest against a piece of metal and I shall never have to turn that thing again!
As we were talking about it all, my ortho was saying how nice my teeth are starting to look. *blush
I have to say that I agree, much more attractive than even a few weeks ago!
My smile is broader, my teeth are starting to move into position, bar those horrible second incisors and after my dentist removed the mottling they are looking much healthier also.
This is all good, they are looking nice and most are healthy.
But my lower central incisor (i believe I have mentioned before about this one having some receding in the gums) seems to cause my orthodontist some concern. He went on to tell me that he is starting to think it would be a much safer and better idea to remove this tooth rather than my first premolar on that side. This is because of the receding gum, I will never get it back and it is looking quite low. This tooth is at much larger risk of decay and future extraction than any other tooth in my mouth, so he thinks it is best to be rid of it rather than take the healthy premolar, and then need this removed in the future anyway.
I asked him how it would look and how we would fill the gap and he showed me his teeth!
He had braces about 6 years ago and had crowding at the front, rather than remove two premolars, he had one incisor removed and the braces filled the gaps with the surrounding incisors and canines. His teeth did not look off-set or anything like that, just straight healthy teeth.
He then told me that it would leave quite an unattractive gap once he did remove it so it was also my choice. I agree with him, after all of this I would rather lose the tooth which is least healthy, the gap will be ugly, but its on the bottom arch and I can hide it easily.
Anyway I will post again soon when I get over the excitement of knowing the expander will soon be a thing of the past!! Bring on the braces, they will be a walk in the park!
Saturday, 16 February 2013
Day 72
I just read my last post and realised that I probably should update, and edit it! It is terribly written! (possibly due to the fact it was done at 11pm on a mobile device) My apologies....
It is early morning now so I will give it a better go this time and check my spelling and grammar before posting.
I decided to post again because things have changed since then, a whole 8 days ago! My Expander has decided to remind me of its presence almost on a daily basis now....
Even after I have stopped turning!
My mouth is more then aware that there is something in there.
I could really only explain this as an aching jaw, it feels as though the rest of my teeth are trying to catch up with the molars the expander is bonded to. These molars sit out further in my arch, probably due to the fact that they are the ones taking all the force when the spanner is turned. I really don't know if the other teeth are following suit, it feels as though they are, but I am not sure if they should be moving... Non-Surgical Adult Expansion, why can it not be a straightforward process? Oh that's right, because we are humans and must all be different....
For the first time since my first turn of the spanner, I caved and took pain medication... Not just once but twice this week, and for the whole duration of those days. After my very first turn of the spanner at home, I realised the pressure wasn't so bad and didn't take anything prior to turning again. I have been quite proud of the fact that I have done close to 50 turns of my expander, with no pain medication, as I need to minimise my use of them due to stomach problems.
This week I have dealt with the soreness in my mouth by taking medication, and suffered for it later with my stomach acting up horribly in response. It's a catch 22 situation, I have to decide if the pain meds really are worth the aftermath...
It's funny too, people can tell when you are in pain, I don't know how I let it show but my work colleagues are already on the ball. There is quite an age gap between us, most of them have had orthodontic work, or their teenage children did. They understand my lisping, running to the bathroom with a toothbrush and sometimes they even notice I am in pain before I do! -.- often, one of them will tell me 'your mouth is hurting today, your not as boppy!' Lol!
I am usually what some would call 'a bubbly person' I enjoy life, (even work, I am a preschool teacher, best job ever) and people quite often tell me I am happy and smile all the time, even with my teeth as they are... Hahah! This last week, I must have looked like I had lost my dog...
The expander is annoying me a lot. I dream about getting it removed often, not the actual procedure but afterwards. Being able to feel the inside of my mouth without metal being in the way!
Oh what a day that shall be! I will talk and sing and swallow and eat peacefully once again, hopefully better than before!
I have noticed that breathing through my nose is something I am doing a lot more now. I can get just as much air into my lungs by breathing via my nose, then my mouth! How exciting right?!?!?
My bite is still off, I think I have more teeth actually touching now, but they're molars. So my eating is still somewhat relatable to that of a baby T-Rex.
Anyway, a short post just to let you know that I haven't forgotten my expander.... It has its ways of reminding me that it's there, that it's changing things....
Oh the joy!!!
It is early morning now so I will give it a better go this time and check my spelling and grammar before posting.
I decided to post again because things have changed since then, a whole 8 days ago! My Expander has decided to remind me of its presence almost on a daily basis now....
Even after I have stopped turning!
My mouth is more then aware that there is something in there.
I could really only explain this as an aching jaw, it feels as though the rest of my teeth are trying to catch up with the molars the expander is bonded to. These molars sit out further in my arch, probably due to the fact that they are the ones taking all the force when the spanner is turned. I really don't know if the other teeth are following suit, it feels as though they are, but I am not sure if they should be moving... Non-Surgical Adult Expansion, why can it not be a straightforward process? Oh that's right, because we are humans and must all be different....
For the first time since my first turn of the spanner, I caved and took pain medication... Not just once but twice this week, and for the whole duration of those days. After my very first turn of the spanner at home, I realised the pressure wasn't so bad and didn't take anything prior to turning again. I have been quite proud of the fact that I have done close to 50 turns of my expander, with no pain medication, as I need to minimise my use of them due to stomach problems.
This week I have dealt with the soreness in my mouth by taking medication, and suffered for it later with my stomach acting up horribly in response. It's a catch 22 situation, I have to decide if the pain meds really are worth the aftermath...
It's funny too, people can tell when you are in pain, I don't know how I let it show but my work colleagues are already on the ball. There is quite an age gap between us, most of them have had orthodontic work, or their teenage children did. They understand my lisping, running to the bathroom with a toothbrush and sometimes they even notice I am in pain before I do! -.- often, one of them will tell me 'your mouth is hurting today, your not as boppy!' Lol!
I am usually what some would call 'a bubbly person' I enjoy life, (even work, I am a preschool teacher, best job ever) and people quite often tell me I am happy and smile all the time, even with my teeth as they are... Hahah! This last week, I must have looked like I had lost my dog...
The expander is annoying me a lot. I dream about getting it removed often, not the actual procedure but afterwards. Being able to feel the inside of my mouth without metal being in the way!
Oh what a day that shall be! I will talk and sing and swallow and eat peacefully once again, hopefully better than before!
I have noticed that breathing through my nose is something I am doing a lot more now. I can get just as much air into my lungs by breathing via my nose, then my mouth! How exciting right?!?!?
My bite is still off, I think I have more teeth actually touching now, but they're molars. So my eating is still somewhat relatable to that of a baby T-Rex.
Anyway, a short post just to let you know that I haven't forgotten my expander.... It has its ways of reminding me that it's there, that it's changing things....
Oh the joy!!!
Friday, 8 February 2013
Day 64.
Two days have gone by since I have seen the dentist, i have to live through another 12 before my next orthodontic visit.
It's ok though, I haven't been noticing my expander, my jaw pain has eased a lot since I stopped turning the key. The only part that does bug me constantly now is the lifted expander arm (please see previous posts)
It hangs off like a little hook and I manage to get everything caught and stuck.
I have included a few links (ohhh go me!) which hopefully work and link to the YouTube vids that I have seen which show how things work and stuff.
The palate expander in this video is quite differently shaped to mine and has a key, not spanner. It also shows a gap forming between the two front teeth, my expansion has resulted in small gaps between all my molars and a tiny gap between the front upper two at the top, the bottoms of the two teeth are still touching. :/
http://youtu.be/UkOMI8eUNHk
I was complaining before, my Moaning Myrtle alter ego is here....
:)
But she only has a few small complaints.
My two upper front teeth were buffed two days ago at the dentist, these teeth felt quite tender yesterday. I didn't really notice until the afternoon as I was super busy at work, but once I did take note I wasn't keen on even rubbing my tongue over them. Gosh they look great though, well much better than before! I am starting to see them turn into 'normal' teeth, the bottom of the two teeth is starting to straighten and have less ridges, they are now white spot free and are sitting in the right position! I am still over the moon with the results of buffing them, I actually looked at them for longer than a few seconds.
In my last post I mentioned these spots and the dentist prescribing me 'tooth mousse' to use everyday.
Well vanilla isn't as trusty as I believed, I would describe the taste of this as being tolerable, rather than saliva inducing. Which is what it is supposed to do.
I put it on in bed after I have done brushing and flossing etc. I have learnt to use a cotton tip applicator because of the sheer crowding of my teeth, I rub the mousse over all teeth making sure that they are coated with the mousse and then refrain from spitting, swallowing and rinsing for at least 3-5 Minutes. Rinsing shouldn't be done at all. I then can't eat or drink anything for 30 mins so I usually go straight to sleep anyway. The taste is not pleasant, but it's not bad either, so it doesn't worry me too much.
The more saliva produced, the better the product works. So far I think it works ok, either way I have no white spots annoying me again yet, and shouldn't get any if its doing its god properly. He is a video that describes what tooth mousse does.
http://youtu.be/tcZQqheu-ps
When I got home from the dentist I could not stop looking at the two 'new' teeth at the front. Both my husband and I were examining them when we both noticed the crookedness of my smile. :(
My face has changed from the expander. Not drastically, but definitely enough for people close to me to notice. I have a broader face, which is good. The bad part is that my expansion is working better on the left, so the right has catching up to do. My smile looks crooked as a result.
Of course it is temporary, but I makes me nervous for future extractions and treatments. I have read a lot of information online in relation to the changes in facial structure from both upper palate expansion and extractions of the four first premolars. Most information is negative, but a few people stating expansion made them look better.
Removing teeth can alter the face as the canines,incisors and first premolars all provide lip and facial support, when removed the support can be lost and the face can have a sunken in appearance.
We have all seen people with that sunken in look, I now wonder if they have suffered from bad orthodontic work or a dentist who likes to pull teeth rather than heal them....
It all comes down to trusting my excellent orthodontist and dentist. Now I know they are both on the same page, I will have two people to blame if it goes terribly wrong...
Of course I am joking!!! They know a lot more than I do, have explained it and it is the patients choice to go ahead with the treatment....
Reading into it is both beneficial and not so, doubts can form that really are not relevant.
My treatment plan is on track and it is easy to understand. Much more so than what i had always thought would happen. I have always want my canines removed as they stick out the most and push the 2nd incisors back. I now know doing this would cause total loss of lip support, and is very rarely done in practice because of this. The first premolars are the better and safer choice and will leave a much less noticeable gap when they are extracted, with braces the two canines will move down in their place and the two incisors forward to sit in line with the front teeth.
Here is a video that shows the deal, these teeth closely resemble my upper teeth, especially at the front, (without my open bite problem) so it gives me a good idea of what is going to happen.
http://youtu.be/VeyAvem4p2w
I hope the videos work.
I'm sure I will post again soon, hopefully not for the next 12 days though!
It's ok though, I haven't been noticing my expander, my jaw pain has eased a lot since I stopped turning the key. The only part that does bug me constantly now is the lifted expander arm (please see previous posts)
It hangs off like a little hook and I manage to get everything caught and stuck.
I have included a few links (ohhh go me!) which hopefully work and link to the YouTube vids that I have seen which show how things work and stuff.
The palate expander in this video is quite differently shaped to mine and has a key, not spanner. It also shows a gap forming between the two front teeth, my expansion has resulted in small gaps between all my molars and a tiny gap between the front upper two at the top, the bottoms of the two teeth are still touching. :/
http://youtu.be/UkOMI8eUNHk
I was complaining before, my Moaning Myrtle alter ego is here....
:)
But she only has a few small complaints.
My two upper front teeth were buffed two days ago at the dentist, these teeth felt quite tender yesterday. I didn't really notice until the afternoon as I was super busy at work, but once I did take note I wasn't keen on even rubbing my tongue over them. Gosh they look great though, well much better than before! I am starting to see them turn into 'normal' teeth, the bottom of the two teeth is starting to straighten and have less ridges, they are now white spot free and are sitting in the right position! I am still over the moon with the results of buffing them, I actually looked at them for longer than a few seconds.
In my last post I mentioned these spots and the dentist prescribing me 'tooth mousse' to use everyday.
Well vanilla isn't as trusty as I believed, I would describe the taste of this as being tolerable, rather than saliva inducing. Which is what it is supposed to do.
I put it on in bed after I have done brushing and flossing etc. I have learnt to use a cotton tip applicator because of the sheer crowding of my teeth, I rub the mousse over all teeth making sure that they are coated with the mousse and then refrain from spitting, swallowing and rinsing for at least 3-5 Minutes. Rinsing shouldn't be done at all. I then can't eat or drink anything for 30 mins so I usually go straight to sleep anyway. The taste is not pleasant, but it's not bad either, so it doesn't worry me too much.
The more saliva produced, the better the product works. So far I think it works ok, either way I have no white spots annoying me again yet, and shouldn't get any if its doing its god properly. He is a video that describes what tooth mousse does.
http://youtu.be/tcZQqheu-ps
When I got home from the dentist I could not stop looking at the two 'new' teeth at the front. Both my husband and I were examining them when we both noticed the crookedness of my smile. :(
My face has changed from the expander. Not drastically, but definitely enough for people close to me to notice. I have a broader face, which is good. The bad part is that my expansion is working better on the left, so the right has catching up to do. My smile looks crooked as a result.
Of course it is temporary, but I makes me nervous for future extractions and treatments. I have read a lot of information online in relation to the changes in facial structure from both upper palate expansion and extractions of the four first premolars. Most information is negative, but a few people stating expansion made them look better.
Removing teeth can alter the face as the canines,incisors and first premolars all provide lip and facial support, when removed the support can be lost and the face can have a sunken in appearance.
We have all seen people with that sunken in look, I now wonder if they have suffered from bad orthodontic work or a dentist who likes to pull teeth rather than heal them....
It all comes down to trusting my excellent orthodontist and dentist. Now I know they are both on the same page, I will have two people to blame if it goes terribly wrong...
Of course I am joking!!! They know a lot more than I do, have explained it and it is the patients choice to go ahead with the treatment....
Reading into it is both beneficial and not so, doubts can form that really are not relevant.
My treatment plan is on track and it is easy to understand. Much more so than what i had always thought would happen. I have always want my canines removed as they stick out the most and push the 2nd incisors back. I now know doing this would cause total loss of lip support, and is very rarely done in practice because of this. The first premolars are the better and safer choice and will leave a much less noticeable gap when they are extracted, with braces the two canines will move down in their place and the two incisors forward to sit in line with the front teeth.
Here is a video that shows the deal, these teeth closely resemble my upper teeth, especially at the front, (without my open bite problem) so it gives me a good idea of what is going to happen.
http://youtu.be/VeyAvem4p2w
I hope the videos work.
I'm sure I will post again soon, hopefully not for the next 12 days though!
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