Re: To Sazymania

[Guest guest]

you said: " oh yeah? blasted braces. what can I do? " .

When I first had the appliances installed, I put together a little

cometic bag in which I carried the ortho equipment.

Major importance: a mirror, a small one. Glide floss strips. A travel

toothbrush. Traveling proxabrushes. little toothpaste, little

mouthwash. Brace relief, and/or wax. For a guy, it could all be

packed in a miniature " kit. "

I can remember only once when I needed my packet and couldn't find a

place private enough to use it. I was on assignment covering an

author who was visiting town and speaking all day. He was racing from

one place to another so quickly, and there were so many people

around us that I couldn't get off to the bathroom to do my thing.

But it didn't really matter. That was my first day in elastics, so I

didn't find myself eating much, either.

I've since given several of these little packages to friends getting

braces installed, and all have said how much they appreciated them.

Cammie

> > > Hi All

> > >

> > > Well I went to see both my OD and OMS yesterday after 3 months

> post-

> > > op. Neither of them had seen me in over a month since I was

away

> in

> > > Italy.

> > >

> > > My OMS was super pleased with my progress. He said that my jaw

> was

> > > healing very nicely and I was looking very good. I still have

> some

> > > swelling but it's noticeable only to me and the people who know

> me

> > > very well. In other words if you were to see me walking down

the

> > > street you wouldn't notice it. I discussed with my OMS the fact

> > that

> > > my nose has truly turned up as a result of the surgery. It's

not

> a

> > > big deal to me since everything else went REALLY well but if I

> > could

> > > have had everything turn out perfect I would have liked to have

> > kept

> > > my nose at it's former position. Unfortunately that couldn't be

> > > helped but it seems that if I ever decide to get my slightly

> > > deviated septum fixed with a septoplasty then my nose issue

> should

> > > be resolved. We'll see...I'm certainly in no rush to have

another

> > > surgery. My OMS also gave me the go-ahead to start flossing

again

> > > even though I still haven't regained any sensation in my upper

> > gums,

> > > I just need to be careful. He even said I could go get my teeth

> > > professionally cleaned. Whoohoo!! I'm to see him again in 1

> month's

> > > time.

> > >

> > > My OD was also very pleased with how my teeth were coming

along.

> He

> > > took off 4 of my brackets - 2 from my back upper teeth and 2

from

> > my

> > > back bottom teeth. I know it's only 4 brackets but it felt like

> the

> > > beginning of liberation!! Right now my bottom teeth are only

> being

> > > held stationary by a little piece of wire. Next month I'll get

> all

> > > the braces off on them and have a permanent retainer put in.

The

> > top

> > > teeth still need about 2 more months of braces and then I get

to

> de-

> > > brace them too after which I will have to wear a retainer only

at

> > > night for 6 months and then for 1 hour every day for another 6

> > > months. My OD explained to me that it takes about 267 days for

a

> > > bone to truly solidify hence why I need to use the retainer at

> > > night. I must say when he showed me what my retainer would look

> > like

> > > I was impressed because it looks just like an invisalign would -

> a

> > > see-through plastic cover. VERY different from the retainers I

> had

> > > the past 3 times I took my braces off. Since my adjustment

> > yesterday

> > > the gap in between my 2 front teeth is already almost gone.

It's

> > > amazing how fast the teeth move!!

> > >

> > > The last piece of news is that I've also been cleared to start

> > > chewing fully again, with the exception of steak and hard

> > vegetables

> > > and fruit like apples, which I am totally fine with.

> > >

> > > So that's my LONG update. Sorry for the long and boring email

but

> I

> > > just wanted to share with everyone and show them that light

does

> > > exist at the end of the tunnel so hold on tight and don't give

up!

> > >

> > > Thanks for reading!

> > >

> > > Sara