February adjustment

I also saw my orthodontist this week for another adjustment. I filled him in on my appointment with the surgeon and he feels that I will be ready for surgery even if the gaps aren't completely closed. My next appointment will be mid-March for pre-surgery impressions to make models and for X-rays. I will also get the blue molar pads removed from my lower back teeth then. I will need to see him 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 weeks postop for checkups but won't have another adjustment until at least the 6 week postop mark.

Good news!!!!  We've started working on closing my central gap now. Basically they added a figure-8 fine wire to three teeth on the left to move that side as a group and attached the powerchain to the right central incisor to start closing the gap. My new powerchains are white (boo! They stain easier).

For the lower arch they changed to an "M-wire" (I think the "M" stands for medieval torture device!!!) this was by far my most painful adjustment. I'm not sure what was so different about this wire, I'm guessing it might be the shape but it was also inserted differently. Usually they put the wire through the channels in the back teeth then close the bracket doors on the other teeth. The torture wire gets closed into the front brackets first, then somehow (painfully) pushed and bent/closed into the other brackets and then bent and forced into the channels at the back. I was in the chair for almost 40 minutes. My mouth hurts just thinking about it. Had to put heat on my jaw that night which relieved things a bit. Also got new power chains on the bottom to finish closing up the very small gaps.

I tried googling m-wire and this was the closest thing I could find to what I think they might have put on the lower arch.

Here are my latest pictures: