Progress Report November 2011

Hello again!

I honestly thought I would get my braces off before now, however I had a relapse after surgery and have been in jaw therapy for two years with my orthodontist.  He has worked on my jaw and teeth and moved the roots around till I am tired.  I had to have a root canal yesterday due to surgery trauma that damaged a front tooth.  It was turning brown and my dentist agreed with the orthodontist that it needed the root canal.  Funny story-----my dentist did the root canal without any pain killers at all.  It took about 45 minutes and he was done.  NO PAIN!  My dentist is wonderful!!!  Believe it or not it is true!   : )

Anyway, my braces may come off by the end of the year or the first of next year and I know that is not terribly long.  I can wait.  He said he could work on moving the root of my front tooth some more but it would take another year of therapy and it sill may not change the position of the tooth.  I told him I was okay with where the tooth was and he could just leave it alone.

I am posting pictures for you all to see the difference in my teeth and how far they have come over the past three years.  I am happy with the results. In the near future, I will need to get a crown on my front tooth that has the root canal and I must have two implants after the braces come off.  After these things are complete, maybe I will be finished.  I sure hope so.  Here are my pictures.  Many blessings to you all!

Before Surgery April 2009

After Surgery August 2009

After tads were put in February 2010

Today November 2011

We are getting there!   : )

My Jaw....An Update

Hello Everyone,

I have been waiting and waiting for the "perfect" post for you! This is not it!!! I want to tell you all that my jaws are lined up and my braces are coming off..........but that is not the case. : /

My orthodontist is the greatest guy. He is working with bands, TADs and power chains to correct my relapse. I think I can see improvement but of course, I would. I am just ready to be done will all this. But anyway, everything is going good. My braces will be staying with me for a while longer. My right jaw still pops at times and both sides get very tired during the ortho visits. My surgeon is still willing to do a second surgery at no cost, so who knows?

I am still checking in on your blogs and keeping up with everyone. Some of you have your braces off now and you look "beautiful." I know my day for de-bracing is coming. I'll be patient. Blessings to you all. : )

One Year Update

Wow, time flies! This week marks ONE YEAR since jaw surgery. I went to the orthodontist and he is moving my teeth all kinds of ways. After surgery I had a relapse in my upper left jaw causing a cross-bite and an under-bite. My orthodontist is working on the under-bite now. He is moving my teeth in ways that make them look like the hillbilly teeth you find in a dollar store. It is not a pretty site, to say the least. I have a big space on the left top and a very short front tooth. They said it would be awhile before they could close the space, so "gappy" I am. I am posting a profile shot tonight. That is something I would have never done before surgery. LOL. I am happy with the results and I am glad I went through with the surgery. All is well. : )

Ortho Update!

I am updating today due to "I am so tired of looking at the last picture"! lol I did have a visit to the orthodontist and he was very happy about the results of the TADS. He said I could come in every four weeks to have the wires changed and to watch the progress. It is still going slow, but we are getting there! I just got back from the beach, so I put a couple of pictures that look better than my last one. Check out the jaw line! I have a chin! lol I can't even imagine what I am going to look like without braces! I will be glad when they are gone. : )

Gross TADs Photo!

Hello Everybody!

I got the TADS. : / They are not fun! They make my mouth sore, so I have to use extra wax. As far as seeing them, you can't unless I show you. See photo! When I first got them, the surgeon put one in my palate. It got infected and I got very sick. It was on a weekend so I called and got an antibiotic and went in on Monday to have it looked at. The orthodontist called the surgeon and he saw me the next day. He took it out! Thank goodness! I could have hugged him. (but he doesn't seem like the hugging type, so I didn't) LOL. The orthodontist did say he would need it put back in soon, so the surgeon ordered a new one. Yay....I guess.

I am seeing improvements in my front teeth, so maybe this is a good thing! I sure hope so. : )

TADS

The surgeon called and scheduled a date to put the TADs in. It is scheduled for December 31st. The good thing.... I can go to NCY without pain and I can still eat at Christmas!!! I will post pictures of them. May be gross, but may be interesting!! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

Here we go!!!!

I went to the orthodontist today so he could explain everything to me. This is the plan..... I start on Friday by getting a heavy gauge wire on top. He is going to put the power chain on bottom.

They have ordered some TAD's for the surgeon to place in my bones. This is the strange part... he will place these TAD's (temporary anchorage devices) in my bone above and between my teeth. These screws will go directly in the bone so the orthodontist can put wire from the TAD to the brackets to torque the top front teeth forward. This is a 6 to 8 month process that may prevent surgery. He said not to bet on that because the purpose of this procedure is to get me "surgery ready" by spring or summer. (I can dream, right?)

I am glad surgery is a few months away, but I am concerned about the pain level involved with screws in my bone... but come to think about it, we surgery patients have many screws and metal in our bones. I guess it will be okay.

Has anyone else out there had TADs? How did you do with them?

Well I feel as if I am starting over. Maybe next time we will get it right. : )

Thanks for all the comments. I appreciate the support!!!

Blessings to you all....