OK...so here's my update: Rubber bands and Braces suck! The End
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(That's me venting!)
OK...The real update:I went in for my fourth followup appointment and it was brutal! I'm in soooo much pain right now I could cry :( I think I'm in more pain now than I was when I first got them! I went in yesterday at 2:30pm. I remember them telling me the last time I was there that they were going to remove and re-arrange some brackets and check my bite etc. So the appointment was going to take longer than the usual it took about an hour and a half from start to finish.
They started by removing some of my brackets which included most of them. Once they removed them they gave me the opportunity to floss and brush minus the wires and most of my brackets...this was VERY exciting because I got to see most of my teeth without brackets or wires! The glue was still on my teeth, but I got to see the overall picture of what my new smile would look like! It was very exciting! So exciting that I took a bit longer to brush and look in the mirror because I couldn't stop looking at myself smile! :D I know I'm a bit of a nerd...but I soaked every second in!
Once I was done brushing and flossing I jumped back into the chair and the assistant started polishing the glue off my teeth...It felt like my teeth were being filed down to nothing! I must admit I was a bit scared of her polishing a bit too much! I know I was being over dramatic but I only have one set of teeth! I can't grow anymore or go out and replace them like it's no big deal.
Once she was done polishing, the orthodontist replaced my brackets. It was like getting a new set on...Once he was done with that the assistant put a wire in (she said it was a thinner wire) and did the usual push on teeth, tie, etc. PAINFUL!
When everything was set and done, the ortho came back to see me and said "Have you been wearing your rubber bands?" "Yes...kinda" I said. "And the front set at night?" I nodded.
Truth is I've only been wearing both sets (side, and front) only at night. I'm supposed to be wearing the side ones all day and the ones in the front only at night. Well I've been good about wearing my gear at night...most nights! And he obviously knew I wasn't telling the truth!
He said "Well, your teeth arn't moving as fast as I'd like them to with wearing your bands only at night, so I'm going to ask that you wear both sets 22 hours a day." I about cried in my chair! I just nodded my head and went on my way out the door.
Will I wear them 22 hours a day?? Probably not...who am I kidding?! I mean he has to understand that I work in the day and do a lot of public speaking and he can't possibly expect me to wear my front bands while I'm doing it?! Come on! Let's get real! I'm a working adult who has to do these things...If I were younger and didn't have a job and only went to school...perfect, but my reality is I'm not. I've come to the conclusion I will double up on my bands at night and not wear them in the day. I will also wear them as soon as I get home. So in theory I should be without my bands for no longer than 8 hours per day. I do promise to make a better attempt these next 10 weeks...because the last thing I want to do is prolong my treatment.
Not only did I get a bunch of brackets replaced...I also got brackets put on my last top and bottom molars. I didn't have brackets on those before, and I wish I still didn't since having them on makes me chew on the back of my cheecks on the inside...know what I mean? It's hard to close my mouth and not pinch the inside of the skin in the back of my mouth...All I have to say is "Yay Wax!" I'm going to have to start using more of it!
I'm still in a lot of pain, I can't bite, let alone chew for long periods of time :( I'm hoping all this pain will go away soon since I will be watching the Superbowl in LAS VEGAS with two of my best freinds! I'm so excited to escape from my home town for a while! But I'd like to be pain free so I can enjoy awesome food with my girls!
Here's a few pictures I took in my bathroom as soon as I got home from the ortho...trying to lighten the mood.
Hope all my fellow bracers are doing wonderful! Just remember everyday we're that much closer to a corrected jaw and a perfect smile! :)
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xoxo,
C