12:30 pm 12th July 2011

Bottom Teeth: Straightened

Power chain

This appointment was during my summer holidays. I was excited about this appointment because this was the colour of braces I would wear when I was in London, and the south-east coast of England, where there would be lots of photos taken of me. Doctor Malinowska spent about twenty minutes in my mouth, which is much longer than the usual five minutes. I knew my teeth had moved well because I heard her say “Fantastic, fantastic,” to herself. The assistant asked what colour I would like, and I asked if they had clear ligatures. She said they didn’t use clear ligatures but they did have silver, which blended in easily. Despite this, I chose purple braces. My orthodontist put a “Power chain” on the bottom of my teeth to hold them in position, as they had finished moving and were straight. On my upper teeth she used another super elastic between my right (your left) first premolar and second premolar to close a gap. She used colligation (twisting a thin wire so it criss crosses around the brackets) between my two first premolars to hold the teeth in place. I was delighted to hear she was planning to take my braces off in Autumn! 

Bottom teeth are straight and have a purple power chain holding them in position

Coligation

Most of the gaps have now closed

You can see the upper teeth do not look natural

1:30pm Friday 10th June 2011

More gaps!

I forgot to upload photos for this appointment - but I can still tell you what happened. My canines had finished closing, but now the gap between my canines and first premolars needed to be closed! There for more super elastics was placed between the gaps to close the teeth. You will see in the photos for my next appointment that the gaps have closed very nicely. I chose the colour orange because it is bright, although I would not reccomend it. It doesn’t make your teeth look like they’re rotten, but it just doesn’t seem to look right - it doesn’t blend in or stand out.

9:30 am Friday 20th May 2011

My Smile Improves

Today I got my braces tightened once again. My teeth were in pain for only a couple of days after the appointment. I got light blue braces but as you can see from the pictures the braces turned green again. My teeth had improved so much since the day I got them put on! As you can see the gaps between the upper canines and upper central incisors have nearly closed, although in Photo 3 it shows that there has been a gap made between the canine and first premolar because of this. For the first time my teeth were starting to look less gappy, although they did look like shark teeth! This will get fixed when I get my braces off. I’m really excited about the progress my teeth are making! I’ve to get another appointment in four weeks time.

10:20 am Friday 1st April 2011

Spaces Start to Close

I had a thick wire put on my braces to make them stronger and a “Super elastic” put between my upper left canine and upper left central incisor. I also had another super elastic placed between my upper right canine and upper right central incisor. The orthodontist told me these elastic bands would help move my teeth really quickly. Even after a few hours I noticed an improvement with the gaps. This time there was pain! For about a week once again. I chose the colour blue which looked really good in my mouth.

9:00 am Friday 11th February 2011

Bite: Corrected

At this appointment I got my removable appliance taken off, and a fixed appliance put on my top teeth, to close the gaps because of my missing lateral incisors. I chose multicoloured braces. The problems with my teeth were amplified because of the metal now on my upper teeth. There was very little movement after this appointment and my teeth didn’t hurt at all. My mouth felt strange without the big piece of plastic on the roof of my mouth.

1:30 pm Tuesday 21st December 2010

Christmas Coloured Braces!

I was worried my teeth would hurt on Christmas day because I had this appointment, however I had very little pain at all and went out for dinner at Frankie and Benny’s with my sister Francesca. The orthodontist told me that by Christmas 2011 I would have perfect teeth - I was delighted! I got red braces to celebrate Christmas!

9:00 am Tuesday 9th November 2010

More Pain?

I was to get my braces tightened this day. The pain only continued for about five days after tightening. I chose purple braces.

1:00 pm Wednesday 15th September 2010

Braces Go On!

I sat in school that morning while being very excited. The time came, and I had something to eat, and then went to the orthodontist with my mum. The orthodontist called my name and I sat on the chair. She put a Removable appliance” on my upper teeth to correct my bite, and a “Fixed Appliance” on my lower teeth to straighten them. My teeth felt slightly strange after getting braces, but it was only when I got home and  tried to eat, that the pain started. I took some ibuprofen tablets to ease the pain, but I was still unable to eat. The pain continued for about a week, although it gradually faded away. I got turquoise braces (although they turned green after a while).

9:50 am Tuesday 6th July 2010

Impressions are taken!

On that day I was really hoping I would get braces. The orthodontist had told me I needed braces around two years ago and after about four appointments to check if my teeth were ready, I was told they weren’t, time after time. I was sure I would be told “Sorry you’ll have to come back in a year,” but I was told that my mouth was ready for treatment to begin! I had to take impressions, which weren’t particularly pleasant, and I had to bite on wax with my front teeth. I was told in twelve weeks my braces would be ready. I was so excited!