Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Four New Brackets and a Stronger Wire Downstairs
Today Dr. Han examned me first, gave Dr. Weinstein instructions, then left. The plan was for Dr. Weinstein to give me a stronger lower archwire, and to replace misaligned lower brackets as necessary. Dr. Weinstein first popped off three brackets and rebonded them. For this he had to grind off the old bonding agent (at one point he pushed too hard and caused me great pain), then I had to wear the plastic spacers in my mouth while he glued, placed and bonded the brackets. I rinsed. Then, after I had gone through all of that, he decided he wanted to rebond the lower right canine as well, so we repeated the process all over again for that one tooth. Then, he realized he had used the wrong brackets on the first lower three, so he had to pop those back off and repeat the process a third time. He also added a power chain to the lower right side molars, to close a gap there. I am to continue wearing the triangle bands 24/7 and to come back in three weeks.
My Bite
Dr. Han asked me how my bite was doing, and I told him that I think it is still off, that my teeth are not contacting normally but are instead hitting at a bad angle, tilting with an opening between them toward the inside of my mouth. He examined my mouth very carefully and then proclained that my bite is fine.
Good Progress, and the Plan for Going Forward
Before I left today, Dr. Weisntein took some pictures of my face and teeth, and he showed me the progress we have made. And despite all of my displeasure with my bite, the facial numbness, and the aggravation of everything, my teeth are in fact in much better alignment now. He talked to me about my bite and assured me that all will be fine by the end of treatment. He also showed me that my two upper far back molars are going to be dealt with soon. They are going to put brackets on them and swing them in a bit. This will also help my bite, hopefully.
The Reception Desk Is Still a Nightmare
The reception desk and waiting area at NYU Orthodontics is a chaotic mess. The receptionists, who check in patients and fill out forms, are rude and slow. I signed in at 9:30 for my 9:45 appointment. Dr. Weinstein was sick of waitinig for me, so at 9:50 he called me back without having signed in. Then at 10:00, my name was called, so I had to go back to the reception desk and check in with them between having my teeth examined and worked on. There are not enough chairs to accommodate the people in the waiting room (often it is standing room only), and the chairs they do have are uncomfortable and too closely spaced together. Of course, all of these are minor issues compared to the real problems I have with my teeth, my bite and the lingering numbness in my face.
Today Dr. Han examned me first, gave Dr. Weinstein instructions, then left. The plan was for Dr. Weinstein to give me a stronger lower archwire, and to replace misaligned lower brackets as necessary. Dr. Weinstein first popped off three brackets and rebonded them. For this he had to grind off the old bonding agent (at one point he pushed too hard and caused me great pain), then I had to wear the plastic spacers in my mouth while he glued, placed and bonded the brackets. I rinsed. Then, after I had gone through all of that, he decided he wanted to rebond the lower right canine as well, so we repeated the process all over again for that one tooth. Then, he realized he had used the wrong brackets on the first lower three, so he had to pop those back off and repeat the process a third time. He also added a power chain to the lower right side molars, to close a gap there. I am to continue wearing the triangle bands 24/7 and to come back in three weeks.
My Bite
Dr. Han asked me how my bite was doing, and I told him that I think it is still off, that my teeth are not contacting normally but are instead hitting at a bad angle, tilting with an opening between them toward the inside of my mouth. He examined my mouth very carefully and then proclained that my bite is fine.
Good Progress, and the Plan for Going Forward
Before I left today, Dr. Weisntein took some pictures of my face and teeth, and he showed me the progress we have made. And despite all of my displeasure with my bite, the facial numbness, and the aggravation of everything, my teeth are in fact in much better alignment now. He talked to me about my bite and assured me that all will be fine by the end of treatment. He also showed me that my two upper far back molars are going to be dealt with soon. They are going to put brackets on them and swing them in a bit. This will also help my bite, hopefully.
The Reception Desk Is Still a Nightmare
The reception desk and waiting area at NYU Orthodontics is a chaotic mess. The receptionists, who check in patients and fill out forms, are rude and slow. I signed in at 9:30 for my 9:45 appointment. Dr. Weinstein was sick of waitinig for me, so at 9:50 he called me back without having signed in. Then at 10:00, my name was called, so I had to go back to the reception desk and check in with them between having my teeth examined and worked on. There are not enough chairs to accommodate the people in the waiting room (often it is standing room only), and the chairs they do have are uncomfortable and too closely spaced together. Of course, all of these are minor issues compared to the real problems I have with my teeth, my bite and the lingering numbness in my face.
