Thursday, February 14, 2008
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Sunday, June 17, 2007
33 weeks update
Updates: June 17, 2007
I haven't written in a while, 13 weeks. Since my last post, I had two appointments.
The one in April was for fine tuning, changing the colours on the lower braces. This is when I also discussed with Dr Selnes the chances of having this entire project finished by February 2008. Chances are I can but nothing can be determined at this point, it all depends on the progress of my mouth and teeth movement. If not done by then, he will refer me to an orthodontist he trusts in Lebanon to complete the treatment. We'll see. I had to keep the elastics which I learned to eat without removing. And by the way, I am eating like a ghoul, no worries about me ;) It's actually bad because bread and chocolate are easier to eat than vegetables and fruits lol
This last appointment in early June, the assistant added some extra padding on the upper back molars to prevent the overbite and allow the upper teeth to move and have the jaw expand to its full shape. So now my teeth don't close all the way and my speech is even funnier than before... FFF, SSS, ShShSh, JJJ, TTT.. Oh well... I find it cute except when I need to spell something over the phone. The best part is that the elastics are gone this time... for now. Oh yes, and they had to remove the pin on one of the upper front teeth and change its direction because this tooth isn't budging. It kinda hurt to cut the pin off the tooth. I hope there will be an easier way to do that once I need to remove all 24 pins!
What was cute at my last appointment is that when I signed in at the door I got a screen filled with balloons and a message that read "Happy Birthday Clo!" (it was 5 days after my birthday) :)
I haven't written in a while, 13 weeks. Since my last post, I had two appointments. The one in April was for fine tuning, changing the colours on the lower braces. This is when I also discussed with Dr Selnes the chances of having this entire project finished by February 2008. Chances are I can but nothing can be determined at this point, it all depends on the progress of my mouth and teeth movement. If not done by then, he will refer me to an orthodontist he trusts in Lebanon to complete the treatment. We'll see. I had to keep the elastics which I learned to eat without removing. And by the way, I am eating like a ghoul, no worries about me ;) It's actually bad because bread and chocolate are easier to eat than vegetables and fruits lol
This last appointment in early June, the assistant added some extra padding on the upper back molars to prevent the overbite and allow the upper teeth to move and have the jaw expand to its full shape. So now my teeth don't close all the way and my speech is even funnier than before... FFF, SSS, ShShSh, JJJ, TTT.. Oh well... I find it cute except when I need to spell something over the phone. The best part is that the elastics are gone this time... for now. Oh yes, and they had to remove the pin on one of the upper front teeth and change its direction because this tooth isn't budging. It kinda hurt to cut the pin off the tooth. I hope there will be an easier way to do that once I need to remove all 24 pins!
What was cute at my last appointment is that when I signed in at the door I got a screen filled with balloons and a message that read "Happy Birthday Clo!" (it was 5 days after my birthday) :)
Thursday, March 15, 2007
20 weeks Update
Updates: March 15, 2007
Yesterday was appointment #3 at the orthodontics office. The one before that, in January, was OK, and the pain was close to none afterwards. It was then that the wires went all the way from end to end now that the extra teeth were removed, and I got new colours at the lower braces, from pink and purple, I had orange and yellow and why the heck not, eh? :)
With time and since October 24, 2006, I got used to the new ways of cleaning teeth, eating and avoiding certain food, and even SSSpeaking and blowing candles! With time and the teeth shifting, my dracula teeth came out. Yes, apparently each of us is born with them, they just hide sometimes I guess when you're not looking, I don't know. Anyways mine are back, up straight and ready...
Yesterday's appointment was different that the previous one. The wire that goes along the teeth were changed, and for the first time I saw these individual wires go into my mouth. These things that are inserted at every tooth and turned around the pin on each pin of the front teeth. I had seen these on other people and was wondering whether I was too old for this or simply spared. The view was actually worse than when it was done on me. Apparently these little suckers are put to stabilize the teeth individually and prevent them from turning or shifting in an unwanted direction. With these, once each is tightened, I felt the tooth itself become tighter in the gum. A lot of work happened on the upper set. As for the lower, it was easier and faster and this time for colours, I had to stick to only one, because the donuts were replaced with a one-piece, so I chose "teal". Once all this is done, I was shown how and where to put the elastics that link the upper and lower teeth, and pull both sets to close off the gap. Everything added yesterday has the purpose of pulling the teeth together and aligning the jaws.
I can't tell you how much everything hurts, teeth, jaws, eyes, head... the whole package. Hopefully it won't be like this for a long time. From previous experience I know it will be all normal again in a couple of days. My only worry is the elastics. I guess I simply need to talk less, eat less and try not to yawn a lot LOL
Yesterday was appointment #3 at the orthodontics office. The one before that, in January, was OK, and the pain was close to none afterwards. It was then that the wires went all the way from end to end now that the extra teeth were removed, and I got new colours at the lower braces, from pink and purple, I had orange and yellow and why the heck not, eh? :)
With time and since October 24, 2006, I got used to the new ways of cleaning teeth, eating and avoiding certain food, and even SSSpeaking and blowing candles! With time and the teeth shifting, my dracula teeth came out. Yes, apparently each of us is born with them, they just hide sometimes I guess when you're not looking, I don't know. Anyways mine are back, up straight and ready...
Yesterday's appointment was different that the previous one. The wire that goes along the teeth were changed, and for the first time I saw these individual wires go into my mouth. These things that are inserted at every tooth and turned around the pin on each pin of the front teeth. I had seen these on other people and was wondering whether I was too old for this or simply spared. The view was actually worse than when it was done on me. Apparently these little suckers are put to stabilize the teeth individually and prevent them from turning or shifting in an unwanted direction. With these, once each is tightened, I felt the tooth itself become tighter in the gum. A lot of work happened on the upper set. As for the lower, it was easier and faster and this time for colours, I had to stick to only one, because the donuts were replaced with a one-piece, so I chose "teal". Once all this is done, I was shown how and where to put the elastics that link the upper and lower teeth, and pull both sets to close off the gap. Everything added yesterday has the purpose of pulling the teeth together and aligning the jaws.
I can't tell you how much everything hurts, teeth, jaws, eyes, head... the whole package. Hopefully it won't be like this for a long time. From previous experience I know it will be all normal again in a couple of days. My only worry is the elastics. I guess I simply need to talk less, eat less and try not to yawn a lot LOL
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
10 weeks Update
Updates: January 5, 2007
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The teeth are definitely moving. I can see space between the front lower teeth and better alignment everywhere. The mini brush goes in under the wires between the teeth much easier. I still haven't mastered - dared - flossing, but I booked a cleaning appointment for next week ;). I also have my second ortho appointment that same morning. This time the wires are going on all teeth, now that the extra teeth are gone and the space is filling in well with the rest.
The hooks in the back stopped bothering me, but the front pins are still dangerously sharp; I'm making good use of the protective wax :)
Food intake is better and I think I mastered the art of using fork & knife instead of biting directly into big pieces. The funniest episode was New Year's. We had chaabiyat for dessert (see picture, these yummies are not bite size); everyone was biting into their chaabiyat while Ms Coco here was cutting hers with a knife and eating with the fork metel elli Alla 3atiyoun lol Well anyways, it was worth every bite ;)
All in all, this experience was hell for the first couple of months but I'm definitely getting better at it, and I'm looking forward to next week's appointment.
Akid to be continued....
The hooks in the back stopped bothering me, but the front pins are still dangerously sharp; I'm making good use of the protective wax :)
Food intake is better and I think I mastered the art of using fork & knife instead of biting directly into big pieces. The funniest episode was New Year's. We had chaabiyat for dessert (see picture, these yummies are not bite size); everyone was biting into their chaabiyat while Ms Coco here was cutting hers with a knife and eating with the fork metel elli Alla 3atiyoun lol Well anyways, it was worth every bite ;)All in all, this experience was hell for the first couple of months but I'm definitely getting better at it, and I'm looking forward to next week's appointment.
Akid to be continued....
Thursday, December 14, 2006
7 weeks update
Updates: Monday, December 11, 2006
7 weeks later, I'm still eating soft food and end up swallowing without proper chewing because the teeth are still sore and some actually hurt. I noticed that the canines on the left side touch now... really painful when they do.
Last Friday as I was fed up and on the verge of shouting out loud from my frustration, I went to the mirror looking for some positive sign of change, and sure enough, I noticed that some teeth have moved. First I didn't believe it so I came to the picture here and compared.. YES! THEY MOVED!! You can't imagine my joy. At last I can see a result for all this pain. For more reassurance, I took the mini brush that is supposed to clean between the teeth behind the wires. This little thingy this time passed in between teeth that used to be much tighter not allowing it to go through. YES YES YES!! All these little noticeable changes compensate for the pain and the new diet.
Speaking of diet, it has completely changed. Food has to be cut into small pieces; it has to be soft and shouldn't require too much effort chewing. Apples are replaced with applesauce masalan. Cookies have to be soaked in milk or juice so they become easier to eat. Nothing crunchy, no nuts, no nachos, no toasted pita bread :( I still attempt to eat a sandwich with no luck enjoying it and go back my soups :( I now understand how and why babies with new teeth use their whole mouth and involve their tongue a lot in the chewing process.. It's the only way to break the food into smaller particles when the teeth are inexistent or useless :)
W to be continued...
7 weeks later, I'm still eating soft food and end up swallowing without proper chewing because the teeth are still sore and some actually hurt. I noticed that the canines on the left side touch now... really painful when they do.
Last Friday as I was fed up and on the verge of shouting out loud from my frustration, I went to the mirror looking for some positive sign of change, and sure enough, I noticed that some teeth have moved. First I didn't believe it so I came to the picture here and compared.. YES! THEY MOVED!! You can't imagine my joy. At last I can see a result for all this pain. For more reassurance, I took the mini brush that is supposed to clean between the teeth behind the wires. This little thingy this time passed in between teeth that used to be much tighter not allowing it to go through. YES YES YES!! All these little noticeable changes compensate for the pain and the new diet.
Speaking of diet, it has completely changed. Food has to be cut into small pieces; it has to be soft and shouldn't require too much effort chewing. Apples are replaced with applesauce masalan. Cookies have to be soaked in milk or juice so they become easier to eat. Nothing crunchy, no nuts, no nachos, no toasted pita bread :( I still attempt to eat a sandwich with no luck enjoying it and go back my soups :( I now understand how and why babies with new teeth use their whole mouth and involve their tongue a lot in the chewing process.. It's the only way to break the food into smaller particles when the teeth are inexistent or useless :)
W to be continued...
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