Hooks and measurements galore!

At this appointment I had a lot done.

First Mr S wanted to remove my wires, so he set about the lengthy task of trying to open my stubborn brackets.

Nicky the nurse got sent to get a water jet to help unclog my brackets.
The first jet wasn't very good and Mr S wasn't very happy with it.
So they experimented on me with a new spray which was much more powerful.
It vibrated the brackets open as it was so powerful!

He used it with warm water which felt much better then cold water.
The ony bad thing was all the spray that went on my face as it was very powerful!

Mr S asked how it felt from my point of view and whether it had caused discomfort.
I said it was fine.

Once the brackets were open, Mr S marked on the wires the gaps between the brackets and then removed the wires.
This felt weird as my false tooth is attached to my top wire so I had my gap back.

Mr S then attached hooks for my operation onto the wires he had earlier marked.

Once he'd finished that, he closed my brackets up (without the wires in) and prepared me for some molds/impressions.

I needed to have 3 sets done. Mr S said this is so the surgeon Mr O can cut them up and play around with them to figure out what the best way to move my jaw is.

After the impressions were done, he then got me to bite on a piece of wax to show my bite, then he got another piece of wax which I bit and he attached it to an appliance which measures how my jaw is held together.

It looks kinda like this.. (<< see link)

After that I rinsed and Mr S reopened my brackets to put the wires with the hooks attached back in.

He then gave me a small mirror to hold in my mouth on each side while he took photos.

Nicky then handed me a mirror and damp cloth so I could clean my face up.

Mr S then wished me well and said he's looking forward to seeing me after the operation. They also gave me an appointment for the 18th, 4 days after my operation.
Nicky said that as I'll be groggy I will always be the first one in.
She said if I'm not up to it, I can ring or get someone else to ring to cancel it.

Photos of new wiring and hooks: (click images to see close-ups)


Open bite


Closed bite


Top


Bottom


Left


Right


Hooks in detail!

All is well!

This was the first time I went my bus to my appointment, it took nearly an hour!

My boyfriend wasn't able to take me but met me there.
Luckily he told them I was running late.

The first thing Mr S asked was if I had any problems, e.g. broken brackets etc.

He said the last thing you need at this point is anything delaying my surgery.

He set about having a look at my teeth, but had problems with the chair and tool controls, so he said to Nicky his nurse to grap a torch as he wanted to get me sorted and could cancel any other appointments.

Mr S eventually got the controls working, then changed my elastic ligatures.
(He missed a few though :o(
I still have some emerald green looking ones, oh well...)

Just when I thought I was done, he said hold on, got some lip separators out and tried to find the correct size.

After three pairs he found some small enough for my mouth, got me to hold them in position and he took photos of my teeth.

Appointment over, I'll see them in July for my hour long appointment for measurements etc. Joy!

Ready to go!

Check up on the impressions.

I sat down on the chair as usual and Mr S looked at the impressions taken at my last appointment, he showed me how they fit together quite nicely apart from small gaps between my top and bottom molars.
He said he can sort that out after the operation.

I was a bit stunned when he said this as it seems I am finally ready for my operation. I must say I am starting to feel nervous and excited now.

Mr S had a look at my teeth, gave them a quick clean to remove some plaque and changed my 7 elastic ligatures which had gone a emerald colour again.

Mr S also took some photos of my face.
Facing him I had a normal shot with my mouth closed. Then one with my lips slightly open and one with me smiling showing teeth (which I never do).
Another with me facing towards the corner so he has my face at an angle on the photo.
And he took one more with my face facing to the right.

He then sent me for an X-ray and said my next appointment will be a joint clinic with the surgeon Mr O and Mr S. Eek!

I went and sat outside to wait for my X-ray and removed my earrings in anticipation.

For the X-ray I had to sit on a chair and a machine was behind my head.
It had ear plugs which go into my ears (presumably to hold my head steady)

I was told to look ahead and hold my teeth together but keep my lips relaxed.
I had my teeth and lips closed and the X-ray lady wasn't sure if my lips were supposed to be open or not, so she left me and went and asked.

Mr S's nurse came back with her and told me to just close my teeth and keep my lips relaxed as closing my lips may change the position of my jaw.

I eventually managed to keep my lips in the relaxed position which for me means they do stay open slightly. It feels weird though as I guess I'm used to closing my lips all the time.

I had the X-ray taken and then waited to make sure it came out okay.
After waiting for about 10 mins I was told I can go.

I'll see the X-ray at my next appointment with the surgeon and Mr S.

Impressions... same old, same old

Impressions time again!

Mr S and his dental nurse were talking about which size tray to use.
I interrupted saying "last time you used the small trays but had to redo them with the big trays as they were too small".

Mr S thanked me and said "At least someone remembers". Lol.

Well I didn't exactly want to go through 5 trays again, did I?!

Anyway so the top and bottom impressions were done using the big trays in the usual way without removing my wires first. (You know the procedure by now, putty stuff is put in your mouth on a U shaped plastic tray which sits on the teeth. you then bite down hard on it and when it has hardened, it is then eased it off the teeth).

Bottom impression almost got messed up like the last time.
He asked me to adjust the opening of my mouth then remembered as I did it that it messes up the mold so asked me to close again.

My 7 silver elastic ligs were changed again, (they'd become discoloured and gone a weird emerald colour), the powerchain put in at the last appointment was removed and I got to clean the putty bits on my face using a dampened cloth and mirror handed to me by the nurse.

I also asked Mr S to have a look at my top wire as it was sticking into my gum right at the back on the left, painful!
He cut and filed it down for me, much better!

Next app we get to see the new changes if any.

Silly gaps!

Mr S told me my gaps are closing up and I'm gradually getting closer to being ready for the operation now.

Wait a minute, haven't I heard this all before? I've been told on separate occasions first by Miss M (and then by Mr S when he took over) my operation should have been in 2006 and 2007, now it's in 2008. Hmm...

Anyway, today I had my wires changed on the top teeth and the usual ligs changed to replace the ones which have turned emerald.

I also had a powerchain put near the back of my mouth to close up some gaps (photo below).
Mr S almost forgot the powerchain, he'd put the chair up and had to put it down again!

He said next time I'll have some more molds/impressions done.
I said "Again?" and he said "Yes, they are needed to look at the new positions"
Meh! It hasn't been that long since I had them last done. Oh well..

Photos taken 31st Dec:


Bite (click image to see close-up)


Open bite (click image to see close-up)


Top (click image to see close-up)


Bottom (click image to see close-up)


Left (click image to see close-up)


Right (click image to see close-up)


Left top back (click image to see close-up)


Right top back (shows discoloured powerchain - click image to see close-up)

Ouch.....

In my appointment today, Mr S went a bit drastic and pulled 6 of the doors/ clips off on some of my bottom brackets and 1 of my top brackets.

This was a pretty painful process. He used a pliers type tool on the clips and had to rock them from side to side to free them from the bracket.

This caused pressure on my teeth and hurt a bit.

In using this method, one of my central incisor bottom brackets came off accidentally. He replaced this one with a normal In-ovation bracket.

During this process, I involuntarily let out a small squeak which made Mr S ask "Are you okay poppet? I heard a squeak".
That made me grin as I didn't mean for it to happen!

The doors/ clips removed were replaced with silver elastic ligatures! (ligs for short)
I'll have to ask if I can get coloured ligs now, hehe.
Hmm... the possibilities!

He decided to remove them as he was having so much difficulty with opening them to do a simple wire change.

He says he will eventually change all of my brackets so I'll have no self-ligating brackets left.

He then changed my wires and filed down my false tooth so it looks more natural next to my other top central incisor.

He said at my next appointment, I'll be having mold/impressions done and if they look okay and need no tweaking, my next appointment will be a joint clinic with Mr S and Mr O (the surgeon).

NB: Photos


Banding


Bite


Top


Bottom


Bottom2