It's been a while since I've updated - too busy, per usual. I've had a lot on my plate - played in a few concerts, conducted a few performances, ran a 5k, flew to Denver to swing dance, caught another terrible cold... The teeth progress has been minimal, but since it's been a while I thought I'd post some progress pictures. 
The top teeth look almost exactly the same. My stubborn gums have only gotten worse, and I'm going to talk with my orthodontist again at my next appointment (next Thursday). My arches are continuing to round out, and I can feel the pressure almost every day. The back spaces in my lower arch continue to get smaller. My overbite gets bigger and bigger, however. It's really starting to look pretty funny! But the worse it gets now, the better my bite will be after surgery (right?! Right?!).
Does anyone else have problems with clenching at night? I am a mouth breather, or, was a mouth breather until braces. Now, I wake up with intense headaches because I've clenched the entire night. What brings this on? The ortho gave me a mouthguard, but it hasn't helped. It falls out or gags me at night, which I am especially prone to right now with this killer cold. 
Okay, last question - have any of you out there had to change orthodontists? I love mine, but there's a small chance I'm moving to CA at the end of this year - my husband just got a new job. I'm not positive I'm moving with him yet, as I don't want to give up the school-district insurance that pays for my jaw surgeon that I have selected and not some army doctor. I'm not so trusting of the army doctors after my last experiences. Anyway, I was wondering how payment works - I'm paying on my braces now, but how would those payments transfer? Hmm....
Well, I'm off to nurse this cold in bed (I had a 102 degree fever a bit ago!).... it's the last week of school, so I don't have the option to take time off from work.
4 comments:
Crazy that you're freezing, I've been sweating my patootie off for thelast week (unfortunately not literally, but ya know what I mean)!
Sounds like you've been crazy busy. Bet you're counting sleeps 'til schools out :) Sorry to hear gums are still giving you a hard time, that has GOT to be frustrating ~and more than a little uncomfortable, too.
Unfortunately, I'm not much help with your questions, so hopefully others will be more helpful. I clench at night sometimes (mostly the firtst few nights after teeth have made a different 'contact') but aside from lying awake telling myself to relax, this lasts only until I fall asleep again.Feel your pain.
Wow, you've got some decisions to make regarding treatment. Alas, I'm useless in the OD transfer-arrangement department as well. Don't blame you for wanting to stay with what you've got. Would you travel back and forth?
You have been a busy gal! I saw your 5K pics on facebook, congrats!
Have you contacted your orthodontist about it? Maybe they know a doc that they could recommend in California...and call your insurance company, too, as it's possible that even without continuing coverage your payments would be the same. The jaw surgery would be a different story, but perhaps your ortho has ideas.
I can see a difference in your upper teeth! You look at 'em every day, so it's hard to see the changes. You got the most dramatic results out of the lower braces, so now it's just the subtle (but important!) movements that have to be waited on.
Keep smiling, girl!
Hey girlie,
Teeth are lookin gooood! =)
I can't really help with your question either. I was a huge clencher before braces. When I passed in my bite plate for my new grill, my ortho told me that people with braces don't clench as much because their teeth are moving and sensitive.. or something like that. (I was pretty worried about giving up the plate!) Without it, I used to break teeth in my sleep. Since then, no clenching.
I don't know about the transfering stuff either unfortunately...
good luck! I'm sure you will get it all figured out. =)
Thanks again for all of your support. =)
Hi Steph!
Wasn't that weird?? I forget that you are here in wa too. I hate those wind storms!! We get them like twice a year and the electricity goes out everytime. sucks. anyhoo..
Your teeth are look good girl. Yes, it gets worse before the surgery (the bite). I used to clench really bad at night for a while but it stopped. I'm guessing stress related. Worrying about the surgery and all plus the stress on your teeth from the moving.
Your bottom teeth look perfect!
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