retained

The bottom braces are OFF!  Naturally, I forgot to pretreat with ibuprofen, so it HURT when the gal snapped off those last few brackets, but I’m not complaining (too much).  She cleaned the teeth off really well, then glued on a wire to the back of my bottom teeth.  I’m aware that this is in leui of a removable bottom retainer, but I’m not sure if it’s permanent.  Probably.  She also fitted my upper retainer.  Wow, this thing is so much more comfy than the one I had in college, the first time my mom tried to convince me to brace up.  It’s not bothering me at all, other than the taste/smell.  Ever drank nail polish remover?  That’s what this reminds me of… well, what I imagine drinking it would be like… I’ve never tried it either. J  I brushed it really well when I stopped at home, but it still smells.  Hopefully that’s just the “new retainer smell” and will fade. 

 

My orthodontist’s office recently bought a Flip camcorder and has been shooting little “thank-you” video clips for the newly-debraced to send home.  Children send them to their parents, but they sent mine to my hubbie.  I look ridiculous, but I’m sure he thought it was cute.  Basically you just grin into the camera and say “thank for putting up with all my whining!”  He’s buying me sushi tonight, and I’m so looking forward to not having it stuck all over my teeth!

 

I go back in 10 weeks to see if my retainer is doing its job and to get final photos taken.  I’m post some before that, but I didn’t have time this morning…today I’m going to pop out this retainer and indulge in some long-missed junk food.  Crunch ‘N Munch, Cheez-its (could have eaten those, but hated cleaning all the gunk off), Jolly Ranchers, and Sour Patch Kids!   A couple days of this and then back to the diet…  I did bring a nice juicy red pear for a snack as well – something healthy to bite into!

 

As I was typing this, my dentist’s office called.  They have an opening tomorrow and can move my cleaning up from next week.  5 minutes later, they called back to confirm.  Apparently, the second receptionist didn’t realize that the first one had just called.  At least they’re thorough… J

 

 

 

weird, but wonderful

Top braces are off!  And most of the bottom, too, actually.  All of my brackets are gone except for the bottom front 6.  Dr. Weber and crew then sand-blasted all the glue off (well, that’s what it felt like!) and even lightly sanded the bottom of my two front teeth to smooth out the ridges that have always been there.  I go back next Wednesday to get my retainers and have them yank off these last 6 brackets. 

 

For those of you close to the end – it didn’t hurt like I was worried that it would.  There was a little big of a twinge on the front teeth when they pull them off, but it’s not that bad.  If you are worried like me, pre-treat with ibuprofen.  I didn’t do that today and didn’t have any ill effects.  I might next week though, because I was told the bottom front ones are more sensitive.  They left those brackets on for an extra week because those teeth have the shortest roots and are most prone to shifting.  Best to wait until I have the retainers ready.

 

Before I left, Dr. Weber’s team presented me with a gift bag of all the foods I was supposed to avoid while in braces. J  Popcorn, sunflower seeds, peanuts, tootsie rolls, bubble gum, suckers, and taffy.  Nice!  What I really want is an apple and a Snickers. J

 

I have these remaining brackets completely encased in wax – the now-exposed remaining wire is really digging into my lip.  I see no reason to tough it out – it’ll be “wax on” for the rest of the week.

 

I tell ya, though – this is the most awesome and weird feeling ever – and I love it!

The sun will come out...

Tomorrow! Upper braces come off tomorrow! Did I mention that I'm getting the upper ones off tomorrow??? Yea!
5 bucks say that I am too excited to sleep tonight, wake up in a fog, and drive halfway to work before I remember the appointment.



Anyways, last night of elastic-ing the mouth shut before bed! (btw, I tilted my head in this show - I don't think my mouth is this lopsided anymore!)

In the chair

Blogging from the orthodontist chair - my new phone rocks.  Upper debanding next Tuesday!

and on and on and on

Meh.  5 more weeks.  Well, 3 weeks to check on my progress – Dr. Weber wants to see two teeth on the right side move a little closer together.  Then another week until they take off the top brackets.  Then yet another week until they have my retainers ready, at which time they will take off my bottom brackets, and I’m done. 

I had sort of hoped to have these things off before our big Halloween show, but oh well.  Better to get them as good as possible than to rush for vanity’s sake (yeah, still trying to convince myself of that!).

The receptionist asked me if there was any particular food that I was craving.  I thought that was odd – I suppose she meant hard or chewy candy or something, especially since it’s October and so close to Halloween and all the sticky food that goes along with this creepy holiday…  I told her hot wings – I haven’t been able to eat them well, without pulling the meat off the bones.  But then again, at the point, I hadn’t have breakfast yet, so anything sounded great!

 

The light! Can you see it?

The one at the end of this long orthodontic tunnel?  It's on!  I went in for my orthodontist appointment this afternoon.  There was no discussion of delays due to my infection.  The infection which has miraculously (finally) felt better the past two days...  Instead, the assistant snipped off my back wires, wrapped my front brackets in thinner wire, and showed me how to use my finishing elastics!  Yea!  She told me I'd wear them for 3 weeks at night, but Dr. Weber came over and told me two weeks.  So, I go back on the 5th of October, and then I'll probably have 2-3 more weeks after that and then I'm D-O-N-E. 

My ow-ies are not gone, but they don't hurt nearly as bad.  I haven't worn wax since Tuesday night (mostly because I ran out).  They did, however, get rubbed open and bled all over the poor lady's hands and instruments while she was trying to put the elastics on... oops.  Not that I could have controlled it, but I'm sure she was just as grossed out as I was.  Ew.  Dr. Weber had her take photos of the infected spots, so that they could compare them next time to see if it's not getting better.  He thinks I'm somehow getting them caught in my teeth/brackets, because they are not flat against my cheeks, but raised - and may have to be taken off...which sounds painful.  Hopefully not.

But nonetheless, almost done!  Almost done!  Almost done!  Yea!

the scoop on the goo

Stephanie asked for more info on Gishy Goo.  While no expert, I can at least link you to their website.   www.gishygoo.com J  I meant to take a picture of my stash but toss the empty syringe before thinking about it.  It’s basically a “flavored, thixotropic, polyvinyl siloxane silicone elastomer” that you squeeze out, roll between your fingers and gob onto your brackets.  It tastes really great and feels pretty darn good.  I don’t like the fact that it’s opaque and therefore highly visible when I smile or talk.  At least with wax, the person you’re talking to doesn’t necessarily know what they’re seeing! J  But comfort becomes far more important than style when your face is being shredded by brackets, am I right?

 

I have no clue where you get this stuff other than from the orthodontist.  It was the first time they’d offered it to me, so maybe it’s new?

 

I officially ran out of the goo last night, and am wax-free at the moment.  That’ll last until I need to eat or have to speak in a meeting at work.  I bought more wax, but am trying to see how long I can go without.  Back to the ortho tomorrow afternoon to get a verdict on the state of my teeth.