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Braces tightening - what happened at my 6th tightening

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This tightening whizzed round as it’s only been four weeks since my last.  My orthodontist wanted to get me in before Christmas and the New Year madness!

Changes since last appointment:

  • Left lateral incisor gap has opened up too much, so 7mm now, but needs to be 6mm. 
  • Right lateral incisor gap is now 5mm, but needs to my 6mm.  This is taking longer as it catches on a bottom tooth (hence the biting blocks!)
  • Bottom teeth are beginning to align.  They’re not there yet though as it was only the 2nd out of 4 wires.

What they’ve done this appointment:

  • Tightened the top wire
  • Changed the bottom wire for the 3rd thickest (only one more after this one)
  • Elastics to the top left to pull my peg tooth into the middle of the lateral incisor gap.  This is where my dentist wants it positioned for a veneer.
  • Elastics to top right to pull my canine back one more millimetre to create 6mm lateral incisor gap ready for eventual false tooth on a bridge.
  • First set of elastics at the bottom to pull my front teeth together to close all the gaps – the most noticeable being about a 3mm gap between the bottom front teeth.
  • Build up the biting blocks as they’d worn down. Now I feel like my teeth are about 1cm apart and it’s hard to close my lips.  I have to really force my mouth closed!  They will stop the teeth catching on each other though and speed it up, so it’s worth it.

Plans for next appointment:

  • Elastics going from top to bottom teeth!  Oh my!  I believe this is to start closing ALL the gaps and I assume it’s a more effective way of doing it as it sounds really awkward!  The orthodontist said she’ll wait until after Christmas for this one, so it sounds like it will be tricky to eat/talk?!
  • Take an impression of my huge right lateral incisor gap for a temporary false tooth!  Woohoo!  This gap should be 6mm by the next appointment and she asked if I was self-conscious about it.  I wasn’t expecting a false tooth until the retainer stage, so if I can have something sooner that will be amazing.  It will also help me to imagine the final results as I can’t picture them in my head at all with so many gaps at the front!
  • Change bottom wire for the thickest and final wire which is a steel wire to finalise the alignment and keep them there.

It’s all going well and any pain is worth it.  I could even have the brace off by the end of 2017 if I’m lucky! 

My entire braces & false teeth journey from start to finish!

First orthodontist consultation

Making the decision to get false teeth and braces at 30

Braces booking appointment and moulds

Dentist appointment to check teeth for removal

Two weeks until I get braces

Two baby teeth removed ready for adult braces

Top brace fitting

Braces at 30 - day 2

Braces at 30 - day 3

One week with adult braces

18 days with adult braces

One month with adult braces

What happened at my first brace tightening appointment

3 months with adult braces

4 months with adult braces and another tightening appointment

One week after my third braces tightening

Bottom brace fitting and biting blocks

5th brace tightening

6th brace tightening and update

7th brace tightening and update

Elastics added to my braces from top to bottom

False tooth impression taken for my brace

Temporary false tooth on brace

Braces closing gaps and improving overbite

18 months with a brace

13th braces tightening appointment

22 months with an adult brace before and after

15th tightening appointment braces photos

2 year update with adult braces

17th brace tightening at 24 months with an adult brace

My last braces tightening appointment?

The embarrassing day I get my top brace removed

Essix retainer with false tooth - fitting and photos

Dental implants consultation

Can I get dental implants?

20th braces tightening appointment

Peg tooth extraction

28 months - bottom brace removed!

12 reasons I hate the clear Essix retainer

Hawley retainer fitting appointment

The partial denture disappointment

5 weeks until I get my bridges and false teeth!

The final result of my braces at 30 and false teeth

Before and after braces photos

My teeth whitening experience