Teeth whitening

6th May 2015

I started whitening my teeth today. I have the polanight 16% carbamide peroxide gel. 

I was a little apprehensive after my boyfriend told me how painful his teeth were when he whitened his. This gel says that it has a unique blend of soothers, conditioners and a water content high enough to further reduce sensitivity. 

Sounds good right! 

I put a small amount of gel in the retainers as the instructions stated and put them in my mouth. I followed the instructions and left them in for 90 minutes. l think I was a little too cautious with it because the gel was mainly near the edge of my teeth when I removed them. I will put more in tomorrow. I didn't experience any sensitivity really, only a little in my front tooth. Might be because I didn't put enough in :-/. 

Here is day 1 of whitening. 

Day 2 

I put abit more in today and spread it around a little to make sure it went on evenly. Whitened them for around 60 minutes tonight, had no sensitivity at all :). 

Month 31

16th April 2015

I have been so excited for today..... today was the day I had my braces off.

Max started by taking the lower brackets off which just popped off. The ceramic braces were a little more difficult and needed some grinding off. The left molar band didn't want to budge and Max had to grind it to weaken it!

It took an hour to get them all off and was a little uncomfortable pulling the ceramics off. It was all worth it when Max handed me the mirror, I really couldn't believe they were my teeth. I have always seen people's nice straight teeth and never thought mine would ever look like that even after braces.

Max then fitted my upper bonded retainer and took moulds for my retainers.

Here are my before treatment pictures (cringe). Can really see how prominent they were here.

My teeth after braces :) I couldn't be happier. I can't stop feeling them with my tongue and looking at them.

 

 

I am getting an extra set of retainers made to start whitening them, I will blog my progress once I start.

22nd April 2015

I picked my essix retainers up today, the bottom one hadn't arrived so It will be mailed to me next week. I am to wear them full time for 2 weeks and then just at night. 

28th April 2015

I received my lower retainer today in the post. Wow it was tight at first I thought is this someone else's 😳. It took some pushing and I got it in. Very painful to take it out and has irritated my gums. My ortho also asked me to write a testimonial for their website. Here are my teeth with my retainers in. 

1st May 2015

My lower retainer has started to feel lot more comfortable and looser. I will start whitening them soon now that my gums are feeling better.  I feel so much more confident with my new teeth, best decision I have made. 

Month 30

Wednesday 4th March

Everytime I see Max now, my wedding date pops up on the PC. The countdown is on! 

Today Max removed my top wire and asked me to take a critical look at my teeth and tell him what I thought. I said my bite on the left still isn't aligning well and he agreed. He did say from day 1 that the left side would never be perfect due to my uneven bite.

He put a more rigid wire on to bring them more into line and fitted some elastics from my molar to canine on both sides. 

I go back in 4 weeks, Max said depending how my top teeth look he will remove my braces at my next appt. He will remove the bottom ones regardless and fix my permanent retainer. I am so excited for my next appt eeeek. 

Month 28

Wednesday 21st January

First thing Max did today was take an impression of my lowers for my fixed permanent retainer. 

I then told Max that I'm not that happy with my front teeth. I feel the left central incisor is still crossing over the right. He agreed and said he can sort it. 

He then took the brackets off the central incisors and left lateral incisor. Max has taken a few of my lower brackets off in the past and I thought the ceramics would be pretty much the same. NOPE! Ceramics are alot harder to take off, alot of pulling and crunching. He had to grind a few off where they had broken when he was trying to get them off. I got a little sneak peek of how my teeth will look with my braces off, eeee I am excited. I couldn't stop looking at them and feeling them with my tongue. 

He attached an elastic to my molar to help pull it back and gave me some small elastics to put on my left second premolar to my canine at night only. 

Max reassured me we have enough time to make all the small adjustments and have them off by the wedding in May. I go back in 6 weeks. 

Month 29

My bite has definitely changed since using the elastics. The gaps on the left are still there though. The elastic has alao opened up the gap between my canine and lateral incisor. 

My central incisor looks a bit better but I think I have to stop being as picky. They are a million times better than they were before.  

Month 27

10th December 2014

Went to the ortho today thinking my gaps hadn't closed but Max was happy with them. I was expecting them to close more but maybe that is just the shape of my teeth?

He removed the elastics and attached a bracket to my back molar to close the gap. He said next time I go he will attach elastics to my canines to bring them inline more. 

17th December

Wow that back molar was painful with the new bracket, reminded me of having my braces for the first time again. It was painful to chew and my bite was really off. I took some paracetamol and was fine then after a few days. 

Month 26

5th November 2014

I went for my adjustment today feeling a bit disappointed that the gaps still haven't closed yet. They have changed so much though and I am very happy, think I just want it done now. I am also worrying a little that they won't be done in time for my wedding in May. I am sure they will be. I also want them whitening before the wedding if I have enough time.

Anyway back to the 5th of November. 

Max (my ortho) also seemed disappointed about how little they had moved. He said we can put the elastics on differently and they should be closed by your next appointment. I hope so. 

They did feel alot tighter afterwards :) always a good feeling as I know they're gonna move! He also took the bracket off my lower incisor to 'fine tune it'. It has made quite a difference to my bite already. 

I go back in 7 weeks so here's hoping the gaps close, then it won't be long until i'm done. 

I can't remember if I mentioned this on my blog or on the metal mouth messgae board. When I first got my braces my lips became very chapped and dry and have been ever since really unless I use a balm. I have since narrowed it down to flouride toothpaste. I now use a natural toothpaste and my lips are in a much better condition. I still use my balm, but not as often. Just thought I would share that :) 

Month 24

Wednesday 24th Sept

I went for my adjustment today. The gaps hadn't closed as much as he hoped so he replaced the elastics and wires. 

He told me that once the gaps close ( should be closed for my next appointment in 6 weeks) we can just do a few adjustments and I will be finished :). 

He said my front teeth were different shapes so he rounded my front right tooth off a little. He also straightened my bottom tooth out and they look alot better.