Thursday, 20 May 2010
Owww!
Ooh my teeth really hurt at the front! The elastics helping them to come together are putting the teeth under a lot of tension and I can't bite anything! I absolutely don't mind as they're starting to come together and look much nicer, but ...owwwww!!
Thursday, 13 May 2010
Spring and Stripping
Link to YouTube Video: Spring and Stripping
I went to the orth this morning and he has placed a spring on my lower set and has stripped down the sides of my big front incisors!! (Stripping is where your teeth are filed or ground down.)
The spring will create enough space around my canine for it to turn and be attached to the lower wire. At the moment it can't be connected due to the angle it's at, so the spring will create enough space for it to turn and be connected.
The orthodontist chose this visit to strip down my teeth as there was already some space between the teeth so it seemed ideal. The actual stripping was not painful, but I was tired and this always makes me more of a wimp! The spacers [which were put in place around my mouth to keep my lips away from my teeth] dug into my gums. The spacers are essential because the stripping equipment is extremely dangerous - if it can strip enamel down, just think what it could do to your flesh! My teeth did bleed a little but did not hurt. All I could feel was vibration and the spacer digging into my gum. The orthodontist has a special measuring device that allows him to check that the teeth are stripped exactly as suggested by Incognito so he used this to measure the gaps.
Oh how I wish they could be stripped down even more! *Sigh* (Obviously the can't because the enamel layer would be gone and the dentine exposed which would be very unhealthy indeed!) It certainly feels lovely to know that they are now smaller than before. I asked when he'd strip across the bottom and he said that this would happen right at the end when all the teeth are lined up and in place. I can't wait for that!!
Finally, after stripping down the teeth at the front, elastic bands were placed behind my front top six teeth to bring them together in a lovely neat block.
For more information about stripping see some of the links below:
Private Healthcare UK - Orthodontics Guide: Enamel Stripping - FAQs - really good.
DB Orthodontic Supplies - See what tools are used for this!
I went to the orth this morning and he has placed a spring on my lower set and has stripped down the sides of my big front incisors!! (Stripping is where your teeth are filed or ground down.)
The spring will create enough space around my canine for it to turn and be attached to the lower wire. At the moment it can't be connected due to the angle it's at, so the spring will create enough space for it to turn and be connected.
The orthodontist chose this visit to strip down my teeth as there was already some space between the teeth so it seemed ideal. The actual stripping was not painful, but I was tired and this always makes me more of a wimp! The spacers [which were put in place around my mouth to keep my lips away from my teeth] dug into my gums. The spacers are essential because the stripping equipment is extremely dangerous - if it can strip enamel down, just think what it could do to your flesh! My teeth did bleed a little but did not hurt. All I could feel was vibration and the spacer digging into my gum. The orthodontist has a special measuring device that allows him to check that the teeth are stripped exactly as suggested by Incognito so he used this to measure the gaps.
Oh how I wish they could be stripped down even more! *Sigh* (Obviously the can't because the enamel layer would be gone and the dentine exposed which would be very unhealthy indeed!) It certainly feels lovely to know that they are now smaller than before. I asked when he'd strip across the bottom and he said that this would happen right at the end when all the teeth are lined up and in place. I can't wait for that!!
Finally, after stripping down the teeth at the front, elastic bands were placed behind my front top six teeth to bring them together in a lovely neat block.
For more information about stripping see some of the links below:
Private Healthcare UK - Orthodontics Guide: Enamel Stripping - FAQs - really good.
DB Orthodontic Supplies - See what tools are used for this!
Saturday, 1 May 2010
New Wire and Signs of Movement!
I had my new wire put on two weeks ago. My teeth were painful for a week and eating was difficult. They are actually starting to look quite different - the crossbite is straightening up so much and my teeth are wider and more even at the top.
As I go through my treatment I'm gradually learning more about the braces and the processes involved. The orthodontist explained to me that the wires get progressively thicker and more powerful. In fact, the starter wire is only designed to get your teeth ready to move rather than actually making a large difference.
Link to YouTube Video: Update
I recorded this video on my phone so the lighting and quality is not so good - but it's really handy to be able to upload from it!
As I go through my treatment I'm gradually learning more about the braces and the processes involved. The orthodontist explained to me that the wires get progressively thicker and more powerful. In fact, the starter wire is only designed to get your teeth ready to move rather than actually making a large difference.
Link to YouTube Video: Update
I recorded this video on my phone so the lighting and quality is not so good - but it's really handy to be able to upload from it!
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