I've been to the orthodontist a few or more times by now. My wires have been changed multiple times. The upper arch looks straight to the untrained eye. Why is this significant? Because I'm an untrained eye--and you probably are, too.
My orthodontist, however, has a highly trained eye. I might consider him a bit OCD--which is what I want in someone I'm paying a lot of money to for my daughter's and my smile.
***Side Note: Aurora is now halfway through her orthodontic treatment! She has had her expander and Herbst Appliance off for a couple months and her bite is looking really promising!***
As part of my current treatment, Dr. Allen is using Temporary Anchorage Devices (TADs) to help pull my open bite together. These are small screws that are placed as skeletal anchorage to bring the teeth together and close the open bite. I had my TAD placed on May 14th. It's on the left, screwed into my skull (literally, no kidding) above and between my canine and the first molar. The goal is to move my first and second molar on the bottom arch into a straight position. Right now, they are still turned in toward my tongue instead of straight up and down.
In order to install the TAD, they had to numb my mouth. I really didn't feel anything as he was working the TAD into place. Really, the part that is causing me the difficulty are the "buttons" as they called them. They placed these very small "buttons" (they're actually more like spikes when the rubber band is not in place, but I digress) on the inside of my left first and second molars on the lower arch. I take the smallest rubber band I've ever seen in my life and connect those two buttons to the TAD up top. Those rubber bands are super strong, too. I've popped a few of them hollering at the kids or laughing too hard at something I read on Facebook (what? I've got some hilarious friends. Seriously, we should have our own show already!). When the bands snap, the whole room hears it, though. That's super embarrassing. Most people are like, "Woah! What the heck was that?!?" When I explain, they ask if I'm ok, or if I need anything. My response:
I've only had the TAD installed for a couple weeks now. It's been a slow process. I expected things to go as quickly as they did at first. You know, two weeks later and those bottom teeth are not only in place, but they're touching the teeth up top. No. Not how this is going to go.
Because the TAD is placed into skeletal tissue through the gums, I have to take really good care of that area around it. An infection could set back my treatment by months. Every time I eat, I have to change the rubber band. Every time I change the rubber band, I have to treat the TAD with an antimicrobial medication given to me by the ortho folks. I was told that if I wanted to treat the TAD 8 times a day, that would be fine, but to definitely treat it after I wake up in the morning, after each meal, and before I go to bed at night. I just carry the bottle with me in my purse, along with a Ziplock bag of Q-tips and all the other mouth care items I have in there: toothbrush, toothpaste, ibuprofen, my rubber bands, and those interdental brushy things to get the food the toothbrush missed. Yeah, I now carry more dental supplies than makeup supplies. Go, figure.
Remember how I mentioned I was tired? I'm on a whole new level of tired now. Every day at 2pm--and I could almost set my clock by it--I feel pressure on the left side of my face. I take my chewable Ibuprofen at this time and within 20 minutes, everything settles down. I don't know what it is about 2pm, though. Need to ask the ortho folks about that next time. Each night, I'm going to bed earlier even though I take a power nap in the afternoons. And, working out at the gym? Yeah, that's gone by the wayside for a bit. The best I can do is walk a mile or so up and down my neighborhood in the evenings after dinner.
I keep a positive attitude about it, though. There are definitely noticeable results. The open bite isn't nearly as open as it was. I'm seeing straighter teeth on the bottom and can even move my jaw so that the front incisors can now make contact--both of which I've never had before!
Is it worth it? Yes!
Does it hurt? Yes!
Would I recommend it? Yes!
Do I want another nap? Yes! Always yes. I regret every nap I never took in my pre-orthodontia life.
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