Something To Bite Into

Yes, you may have guessed, this is a story about teeth.  Meant to act as a log of events but it may also help others understand the procedures relevant to our situation.  Given that each mouth is unique, there are only so many orthodontic combinations and roads back to getting a set of straight teeth.  The rate of success is usually more than satisfactory due to the inevitable improvement.

First Diagnose April 2006

The orthodontist, states that part of the problem is an under bite.  The Jay Leno, Brian Mulroney diagnostic.  Long term, a protruding lower jaw.  Along with the inability to align the teeth properly and of course, eat properly. 

The visit to the Ortho Surgeon took place, as requested by the Orthodontist.   (yes, at that price, they deserve capital letters)

Follow up December 2006 

Recommendations…

Break the jaw, wire it for 6 weeks and feed through liquids… not too cool for anyone to go through, yet you meet people who do go through it.  A bit of a problem with an asthmatic person to have the mouth wired shut.  

That is only part of the solution.  The upper mouth referred to as the pallet, is too narrow.  So we’ll need an expander.  It will also create space for the teeth to align properly after the braces are in place. 

Aside 

It’s nice to see that Ortho procedures and braces are now seen as an positive thing.  When I was in school, they were railroad tracks that belonged on the most unfortunate kids.  Now a days, everybody has them.  They’re a sign that you look after yourself.  You care.  You see adults, going for the first time, or even better for a second time for adjustments.

Still, not too many teens relish the idea.  Conscious about dating and what not.  The more have them, the less of a concern it is.   That’s the way it is. 

Being Ready

Having the will and commitment to go through it is key.  It is the unknown.  Once you start, there shouldn’t be any second guessing.  That period for us, was probably six months. 

The Time Table

It’s now  three months DS is going through the procedure.  Sometimes twice a week for a follow up or an adjustment at the ortho.  Two to three hour sessions and other days, ten minutes.  No one complains about early class dismissal usually, but for this type of appointement, it’s not too glamourous.

It interferes with after school activities as well as creates a whole bunch of extra luggage mentally to cope with.  Fortunately, our DS is equipped to deal with it.  As a parent, you just know the extra real estate or luggage is present.  (should you ever read this, you’ve handled the whole thing so well)

The long term is minimum two years, so, if you start the treatment at fourteen years old, your guaranteed to get them off before your seventeenth birthday.  That doesn’t mean  permanently.

The Signatures 

Kind of funny…When you sign the contract and the payment schedule it comes along some side documents.  One is a no guarantee that the crack between your two front teeth will align properly with the centre of your face.  Another was  a statement that the word of either parent was as valid as the other’s.  Probably pretty handy for divorce family cases.

We Begin…

Braces and wires go on as well as spacers (thick elastics creating a space between the molars).  two or three sessions.

Wire comes off.  Mouth imprint is taken to build the pallet expander.

The expander gets fitted.

Parents must accompany DS to make sure they know how to assist with the expander.

The expander will remain for a minimum of six months with the first month expanding twice a day. 

Some Humour 

After assisting to the "How do you crank the expander" lesson, we found that none of us could do it.  I had my knee on my son’s chest the first morning with a flashlight in his mouth looking for a whole about the size of a pin.  Oh I found it!  I just couldn’t get the right motion to crank it, nor could DW or DS.  That was good for a trip back after school.  We never touched it again.  DS walked up to the mirror and cranked twice a day. 

What a difference the expander made, day by day.  You can see the results within three weeks in the photo.  A couple of days after this shot was taken, he could actually fit his tongue right through or dangle his headphones in there.  I’ll post that later.

 Just as the cranking period was finished, the Ortho went on vacation, I guess so.  He could certainly afford it!

This entry was started March 3rd, 2007 and will periodically be updated until we’re done.