6 Months, 14 Days

I went in to the orthodontist yesterday for my seventh adjustment. Not much to report, only that I might be getting my upper archwire off in two months! Here's hoping! That would be fabulous! He's not promising anything though. Fair enough. I think it will be about four more visits or months until they're completely off.

Look at how pretty those chompers are looking!

I'm not sure if I got new archwires because the orthodontist didn't say he was putting new ones in, but he may have. I got all my ligatures or modules (whatever) changed this time to clear pearl ones, which I am happy about, and I got a powerchain again put on my upper front four teeth. Before doing so, again, he used what I remember this time as an interproximal something (trimmer or file, maybe) to shave off a bit between all my four front teeth on top and bottom.

This photo shows just how far I can push my upper teeth beyond my bottom. It's not my natural bite. Quite significant considering I couldn't imagine my uppers going in front of my lower teeth. 

I was concerned last month about one of my front teeth wearing away a little due to it apparently coming into contact with a lower bracket. You might be able to see it on my left front tooth in the third photo of the second group, looking like two little bumps shaped (miraculously) like the bracket below.

I went in and saw a different orthodontist back then, because mine wasn't available, and he said that he thought there wasn't anything to worry about. When I saw my orthodontist yesterday, he also said that there wasn't anything to worry about, and that the wear was already there before I got braces. I know it wasn't. I know my teeth and have photos to show that it wasn't.

It is minimal though, and he said that we would even the teeth out a little when treatment is done. I don't want my teeth leveled out and straightened too much to make them look unnatural. Nevertheless, I'm not happy about it. If it gets worse, I will bring it up again.

My smile is looking great. Nothing too much different to usual, though. I'd love just to have the braces off and be done with it. I want it now!

Everyday though, I just think to myself that I'm getting closer to my goal, and that helps me see why it's all worth it. Make yourself hella-ugly to be hella-pretty, ironic. 

I'm pretty lucky that I'm wearing them for what is apparently going to be a relatively short amount of time, so I should be happy with that alone. I can't wait to have them off and smile all day long!

5 Months, 17 Days

My teeth have been holding up quite well, albeit not making much visible or tangible progress that I can really get excited about or that I can really make a case for. The orthodontist implied that my progress is going well, and said that I'd be out of them quite soon. Fair enough not saying exactly when.

The photo below shows how my clear modules or ligatures held up just before I went into the orthodontist and got them changed. The clear ones, I've found, do discolour and yellow more than the pearl coloured modules. In addition to that, the yellowing of the modules makes your teeth look more yellow by contrast.

In today's visit I got a new "finishing wire" on my upper arch and the first four front teeth got a clear power chain elastic. The rest of my teeth on the upper arch got clear pearl modules. Before applying the arch wire, the orthodontist filed away slightly at between each of the front three gaps to help the alignment gel and come together as desired.

The orthodontist only changed the first four modules of my bottom arch. I found that odd, for a few reasons. It doesn't take much effort to change them, and I am paying quite a bit for this treatment so it's unreasonable to not have all my modules changed. They are also quite discoloured as you can see in the photos, and one of the last modules on my left bottom arch is only hanging on half of the bracket.

He did mention that the back teeth of my bottom arch aren't a priority, or that important, and said not to worry too much when I lost a module a few months back, so maybe that's why he didn't bother with changing them. I really would have liked them changed, though. I didn't even realise he wasn't changing them until I walked out of there and was on the train home and had a good look.

I also asked him about the centreline of my teeth, and he said there's not too much more room to move with that, because they're pretty centred as it is. He also said that manipulation depends on different tooth widths. I don't think it will be moving much more, but we'll see. There's still an indefinite time to go, and I have been developing small gaps between my front upper teeth.

The orthodontist also said that there would be a few more months of wire wear, then something about putting another wire in with some kinks and bends in it to make tweaks and fine tuned adjustments, followed by making my retainer impressions done. He reiterated that he wants to get rid of me as soon as possible, with a laugh.

I am still to wear my 'E' and 'D' elastics on alternating days, for half the day, and I do so after dinner until I wake up. I have been wearing them everyday, but I've probably been a little naughty and have doubled up on them a few times. I'm not sure if it's quite alright to be doing this, but I thought it wouldn't hurt.

Other than that, not much of an update this time, but I am delighted with my overall progress, and can't wait until they come off. The orthodontist said before Christmas—and then laughed and said, "But, I didn't say which Christmas!"

Eating Braces-friendly—What to Eat with Braces

Before I got braces, I was inundated with the overwhelming amount of sources telling me what I could and couldn't eat when I finally did get them on. Let me tell you, I wasn't looking forward to bans on certain foods.

No crunchy things, chewy things, sticky things, hard things, nutty-crunchy-yummy-crispy things. Oh no, goodness no! That was pretty much everything apart from yogurt, soup and scrambled eggs—which, there's nothing wrong with, but what ever else would I eat?

As I sit here composing this, all the while crunch-munching into an apple—having eaten popcorn earlier today, as well as celery, amongst a myriad of other things before, like lollies, nuts, Doritos and crunchy, sourdough bread—restrictive eating has not been on my agenda! It may be because I'm special. It may be because food is in love with me. Or, that I am in love with food. Whatever the case, whatever the food, I've been able to eat it.

I will pull myself up on this one here though. When I get new wires, for the next few days to almost a week, my teeth do become sore, but not unbearably so, or for a prolonged amount of time. This does make it uncomfortable to eat certain foods as the teeth are tender and don't take much give.

Also, there will always be a self-sabotage, protecting mechanism built-in from the moment you get braces, which you will unconsciously become less aware of, which won't let you crunch with no abandon. I'm sorry, but once those things are attached to your teeth and have invaded eating space, your mouth and teeth won't let you ferociously plunge your teeth into something. They know they have something on them.

Unless you're an idiot and have no self-respect or understanding that you when force your teeth into something, something hard or difficult, that you won't do any damage. It doesn't work like that. You know you're wearing braces, and you'll self-regulate like that. But the good thing about it is you won't notice. Or, over time, you'll learn not to notice. Unless of course you've just gotten an adjustment, and it really will hurt you to bite.

I have gotten one new archwire set over the course of over 5 months of treatment now. No biggie. I wish I had new wires so my teeth could move more. In this case, I haven't had much experience with restrictive eating due to sore teeth from new wires, in that respect, because I haven't had any new wires to make my teeth sore in the first place.

What's the go here? I do think I'm a little bit special.

One word of warning thing though, I wouldn't go nuts on unpopped popcorn. Not saying it can't be done, but those babies are hard with a capital 'H'.

You should know what feels right and how much tension your teeth can take. Jaws of steel I have, I think! 

Either way, I love my new bite marks and chewing style. I now use my incisors to completely clasp onto crunchy foods like apples and celery, and it's an amazing, rounded feeling. Since the upper teeth are in front of the lowers, it's a completely new way of eating, and chewing. It just feels so right!

I can't wait to bite into an apple sans-braces. That will be the day!

In all, use your own judgement and don't feel you're missing out on anything, because I haven't in the slightest. It's all about adapting to the feel of your teeth, plus those teeth training-wheels, so it will take a bit of getting used to settling in.

Nuts to all the haters!

Although, avoid sugar. It's bad for you, and say no to cavities!

So, what's on the menu next? An apple a day keeps the dentist away, right?

4 Months, 26 Days

I just came back from braces adjustment number 5, from the new orthodontist who was taking over this time because my orthodontist is on a holiday. He changed my ligatures—the clear colour as opposed to pearl, as I anticipated—and said my teeth are looking great!

My centreline is still a little bit off on both top and bottom jaws, but I assume this will be fixed in time. My right front tooth is still a little crooked too, and I can still feel the bump when I run my tongue over the back of the top arch, although, this has improved a lot since I started treatment.

The small gaps between my teeth on the sides have been closing and moving around. There are still some gaps left as they are still moving around and making room for my bite.

This photo shows just how far I can now extend my upper jaw over my bottom. It is not the natural bite, which is feeling perfect now! Those little worries I had about the bite sitting not quite right in the last post quickly disappeared soon after that, so I was really happy about that.

There's not too much progress that I've really seen, which isn't great, but I usually only see changes when I get a new wire—which I may get next month—or due to new and initial elastic wear. As the affects of the elastics I've been wearing have pretty much stabilised, I'm only wearing them for half a day to do so.

I love that my teeth look brand new with the adjustment, and I'll see how these clear ligatures hold up over the course of the month. I have been drinking an exponentially increased amount of cola—without the straw, mind you!—and, my teeth are looking, as per usual, quite yellow in the photos, but more so than normal I think. I can't wait to get these braces off and get them nice and sparkly whitened!

I've got a whole bunch of photos of my progress and current state of my teeth, as I realised I only ever really have to update after my adjustments, so I've put in more photos than normal! I'm happy to report everything is going well, and I look forward to knocking one more month off my countdown!

I'd love more of your questions or comments, too, so keep them coming! Happy smiling, until next time!

3 Months, 21 Days

I am a happy chappy. I just came back from the orthodontist from my fourth adjustment. I have some great news, too!

He changed all my ligatures, or modules—whatever you want to call them—and they look brand-spankingly whitely new, which is fantastic! He also changed my bottom archwire to a single wire, and added new metal hooks for my elastics.

The thing is, I still have to wear my elastics—both 'E' and 'D' alternating days—but because my teeth are basically where they need to be, but just need maintenance, I only need to wear them for half a day! Lord hallelujah, this is the best news. Elastics, I do not like. And the less social time with them, the best.

The orthodontist also said that things are looking really good, or something like that, which is good to hear! I'm due to see another different orthodontist in five weeks time, mainly because mine is going on a little holiday—which he tends to do often, the lucky man!

My teeth are coming together really nicely in a great bite. My only concerns are that I am able to push my teeth forward more than necessary, which I'm not too sure is normal—and who am I to know—but obviously things are still a work in progress, and if it's still an issue for me, I'll bring it up with my orthodontist. "Build the house, paint the rooms" mantra—ready, set, go!

It's been almost 4 months, and I'm feeling fine! I'm smiling most of the time now, I'm very quite nearly almost over the whole self-conscious braces thing, which I'm sure will never completely go away, but at least my teeth are looking fantastic! Everyday I just think to myself that this is already worth it. I love it, I'm loving my progressing smile, and I can't wait to get my braces off to show what will be an amazing set of pearly whites!

Do they look less yellow? I've been drinking more cola.

Underbite Fixed with Braces Only

I got ceramic braces—to fix an underbite class III malocussion—which has now been corrected after under three months. I thought I would make an update, and just outline that the main reason I am recording my progress in this braces blog is not only to document the changes of my teeth, but to allow others to see my experience of fixing an underbite with braces only. When I was searching for information prior to going ahead with—and during—treatment, I was surprised at the lack of resources about the orthodontic procedures available for those with an underbite, who of which are not willing or able to undergo orthodontic corrective jaw surgery.

I felt really lost in the dark, and admittedly, quite frankly confused. I thought braces fixed all types of problems with teeth, no sweat (just time), and not just overbites, as predominantly seen in the majority of cases. In so far as my understanding goes, the use of braces only, can and will fix an underbite if the malocclusion is not skeletal—or that of the jaw structure—and not to an extensive degree. It is understandable that those with quite severe jaw underbite malocclusions will inevitably require surgery to align the jaws, and this can be unavoidable for some.

My teeth and jaws however, were not of the extreme case—although still quite obviously misaligned—and I can't stress enough, that the use of braces only, as well as expander plate wear, were able to fix my teeth and move them into a correct bite.

Of course, all individual situations are obviously different, and a professional opinion is advised, but I thought I would document my case for those looking for information on such a niche and rarely detailed orthodontic situation. Bite problems are very common, and I was surprised at the apparent oversight and lack of information available to document such orthodontic treatment progress.

Because I love photos, and all sorts, below are two pictures of my teeth before, and two pictures 3 months and 5 days into braces, because my smile picture says a lot—with pretty glitter lip gloss to boot! My underbite was officially (me being the 'official'!) gone after 2 months and 7 days of wearing braces, and I couldn't be happier, and smilier!

Before Bite

Before

After 3 Months, 5 Days

After 3 Months, 5 Days

I obviously still have a bit of a way to go, but you'll have to admit that it's a good start to what is a perfect smile! Both my centrelines are a little bit off on the top and bottom, my front right incisor (on your left) is still little bit crooked and I have an unhappy, little gap forming between my front teeth, which I assume is moving the centreline.

I will continue to update my progress along the whole journey, and I will happily take any questions you may have or comments you would like to share. I hope my story helps at least one person decide that their underbite has got to go, and be replaced by a smile that they've always wanted.

Update: Since, I have updated this blog entry because I have had my braces removed, and here's a more definitive look at what I've achieved, and I think you'll agree that the results are beyond amazing. I couldn't be any much happier.

You can see how great the bite looks, and the underbite, well you can say a big bye-bye to that one! These are my teeth after 9 months and 11 days into wearing braces, when my upper bands were removed.

Underbite, be gone! I am so happy I can smile with my teeth now, it's smile-inducing in and of itself! Here's to happy teeth and happy smiles!

Update: 9 months, and 22 days later, I am completely done with braces. Underbite gone, braces off, The perfect smile. I can now smile a perfect smile with very happy teeth inside a very happy girl's mouth, practically beaming with perpetual smiles.

Before During After

Be sure to check out my last post, detailing my whole journey, with photos, found here: Before and After Braces—Braces Off, Underbite Fixed and The Perfect Teeth

Happy smiling!