Thursday, November 25, 2004
Another Adjustment
I had my appointment at NYU orthodontics on Tuesday. After Dr. Weinstein looked me over, I asked him and Dr. Han a number of questions. First off, I wanted to know about the front left tooth. At my last appointment, they said they were going to make that tooth "stand up straight" more. Instead, what happened is that my two front teeth moved together. I cannot tell that my left front tooth was uprighted more at all. When I asked them about this, they insisted that my left front tooth is absolutely fine and that the teeth moving together is good. That's fine; it's just not what I expected or was told. I also asked about the gaps between my two front teeth (the black triangle) and between my lower incisors. They are telling me that the gap on top will always be there but they might be able to reduce it somewhat with filing, and that the gap on the bottom will be closed. (More on that in a moment.) I also asked about my biggest concern of all: my bite. I attempted to explain to Dr. Han that my teeth are constantly shifting during the day and that my bite feels somewhat OK in the morning, but during the day it gets much worse. I am not sure he understands this. He seems puzzled when I complain about my bite, and he assures me that when my treatment is finished that my teeth will fit together just fine and that everything will be OK. Still, this is a huge concern for me. I need to be able to eat an apple again.
No Rebonding, But Power Elastics Instead
At this appointment, the plan was for Dr. Weinstein to remove my front brackets and re-position them, and then use stronger archwires. Instead, Dr. Han had him use power elastics on the lower to close the gaps. He had him file the metal off the corner of the bracket on the lower right canine (metal shavings went everywhere) to prevent my upper tooth from hitting it. By the end of the day, the lower incisor gap had closed completely. I am absolutely astonished at how quickly my teeth move.
Triangle Elastics on Both Sides 24/7
Dr. Han went back and forth on whether or not I should wear elastics giing forward, but at the end he decided that I am now to wear the trinagle shaped elastics on both right and left all the time now (except when eating or brushing, of course). In the two days since, I cannot tell that my bite has improved at all, in fact if anything it seems to have gotten worse. But time will tell. I am putting my faith in him that my bite will be fixed.
Dr. Karlis
Also on Tuesday, Dr. Karlis stopped by while I was being attended to by Dr. W and Dr. Han. I told her again that the numbness and discomfort on the left side of my face persists. She told me to send her an email and she would check me out again.
Two More Appointments Scheduled
I am to see Dr. Weinstein again in December, to have him check the progress on the power elastics on the bottom. Dr. Han may be on vacation, so I might or might not see him at that appointment. Then in January, they will reposition my brackets and move to teh stronger wires. Of course, these plans always have a way of changing.
I had my appointment at NYU orthodontics on Tuesday. After Dr. Weinstein looked me over, I asked him and Dr. Han a number of questions. First off, I wanted to know about the front left tooth. At my last appointment, they said they were going to make that tooth "stand up straight" more. Instead, what happened is that my two front teeth moved together. I cannot tell that my left front tooth was uprighted more at all. When I asked them about this, they insisted that my left front tooth is absolutely fine and that the teeth moving together is good. That's fine; it's just not what I expected or was told. I also asked about the gaps between my two front teeth (the black triangle) and between my lower incisors. They are telling me that the gap on top will always be there but they might be able to reduce it somewhat with filing, and that the gap on the bottom will be closed. (More on that in a moment.) I also asked about my biggest concern of all: my bite. I attempted to explain to Dr. Han that my teeth are constantly shifting during the day and that my bite feels somewhat OK in the morning, but during the day it gets much worse. I am not sure he understands this. He seems puzzled when I complain about my bite, and he assures me that when my treatment is finished that my teeth will fit together just fine and that everything will be OK. Still, this is a huge concern for me. I need to be able to eat an apple again.
No Rebonding, But Power Elastics Instead
At this appointment, the plan was for Dr. Weinstein to remove my front brackets and re-position them, and then use stronger archwires. Instead, Dr. Han had him use power elastics on the lower to close the gaps. He had him file the metal off the corner of the bracket on the lower right canine (metal shavings went everywhere) to prevent my upper tooth from hitting it. By the end of the day, the lower incisor gap had closed completely. I am absolutely astonished at how quickly my teeth move.
Triangle Elastics on Both Sides 24/7
Dr. Han went back and forth on whether or not I should wear elastics giing forward, but at the end he decided that I am now to wear the trinagle shaped elastics on both right and left all the time now (except when eating or brushing, of course). In the two days since, I cannot tell that my bite has improved at all, in fact if anything it seems to have gotten worse. But time will tell. I am putting my faith in him that my bite will be fixed.
Dr. Karlis
Also on Tuesday, Dr. Karlis stopped by while I was being attended to by Dr. W and Dr. Han. I told her again that the numbness and discomfort on the left side of my face persists. She told me to send her an email and she would check me out again.
Two More Appointments Scheduled
I am to see Dr. Weinstein again in December, to have him check the progress on the power elastics on the bottom. Dr. Han may be on vacation, so I might or might not see him at that appointment. Then in January, they will reposition my brackets and move to teh stronger wires. Of course, these plans always have a way of changing.
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Bone Loss Is Forcing an Early End to the Treatment
At my appointment on Tuesday (Election Day) they took Xrays of my upperr and lower front teeth, and they discovered that I have bone loss. The problem is pronounced enough that they want to take the braces off early. So instead of going the whole nine yards over the next ten months, they are going to hurry my treatment along, do the best they can with things, and remove the braces, probably in the next few months. Meanwhile, I recently stubbed a toe very badly, and yesterday I had it Xrayed and it is broken. So in light of what the orthos said about bone loss in my mouth and the broken toe, Dr. Champagne is having me go for a bone density test. He says I should have the braces taken off no matter what the results.
My Bite Is Still Way Off
Also at this appointment, I complained again that my bite is still off. I told them that when I wake up in the morning after wearing the triangle shaped rubberband in the front right, that my bite feels better. So they are having me wear the triangle shaped rubberband 24/7 until the next appointment. They also said somethhing about using a pink tissue to see where my bite is not closing proerly and grinding down my teeth to close the bite. I don't like that idea. I told Dr. Han my No. 1 concern going forward will be to get my bite fixed.
Still Crooked In Front
Dr. Han asked me how I felt about my left front upper tooth, and I asked that it be made to stand up just a litte straighter. He had Dr. Weinstein make a small adjustment to the upper archwire, but my tooth did not move the way they said it would. Instead, the gap closed and I have the black triangle again, although smaller than before.
Repositioning of the Brackets
At my next visit they are going to pop off my two upper and three lower incisor brackets and reposition them at better angles. This will allow them to use stronger wires. I bet I will see significant progress after that procedure.
At my appointment on Tuesday (Election Day) they took Xrays of my upperr and lower front teeth, and they discovered that I have bone loss. The problem is pronounced enough that they want to take the braces off early. So instead of going the whole nine yards over the next ten months, they are going to hurry my treatment along, do the best they can with things, and remove the braces, probably in the next few months. Meanwhile, I recently stubbed a toe very badly, and yesterday I had it Xrayed and it is broken. So in light of what the orthos said about bone loss in my mouth and the broken toe, Dr. Champagne is having me go for a bone density test. He says I should have the braces taken off no matter what the results.
My Bite Is Still Way Off
Also at this appointment, I complained again that my bite is still off. I told them that when I wake up in the morning after wearing the triangle shaped rubberband in the front right, that my bite feels better. So they are having me wear the triangle shaped rubberband 24/7 until the next appointment. They also said somethhing about using a pink tissue to see where my bite is not closing proerly and grinding down my teeth to close the bite. I don't like that idea. I told Dr. Han my No. 1 concern going forward will be to get my bite fixed.
Still Crooked In Front
Dr. Han asked me how I felt about my left front upper tooth, and I asked that it be made to stand up just a litte straighter. He had Dr. Weinstein make a small adjustment to the upper archwire, but my tooth did not move the way they said it would. Instead, the gap closed and I have the black triangle again, although smaller than before.
Repositioning of the Brackets
At my next visit they are going to pop off my two upper and three lower incisor brackets and reposition them at better angles. This will allow them to use stronger wires. I bet I will see significant progress after that procedure.
