dianaschnuth

I thought we were almost done — and we are, in the grand scheme of things. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to schedule my braces removal today.

By the time I took the photo above, the evening after my adjustment, the gaps on bottom had already closed up. At my adjustment, though, there were at least a couple of millimeter-wide gaps between teeth. Doc ordered chains put back on the bottom, and said that we’ll likely keep the chains on for another month or two, just to let everything stabilize. I’m fine with that. I’d rather have it done right than end up with gap-teeth after all this.

(I’m also continuing to wear a triangle elastic on the left and a Class II triangle on the right. The assistant said I’ll probably be wearing that configuration until the braces are removed.)

My next visit is scheduled for four weeks from today, at which point Doc will reassess and decide how long until we schedule removal. The assistant explained that what will happen is that they’ll schedule the removal in the morning, after which we’ll take impressions for my retainers (which I thought Doc had said he’d rather just go with a night guard, but whatever), then I’ll actually come in later that day to pick up my retainers. She said that sometimes they wait until the next day, but my teeth tend to move quickly enough that they’re going to want me in retainers the same day.

So, we may not be completely done by my birthday, but that’s OK by me. It’ll be close enough.