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PAM'S ONGOING AUTOBIOGRAPHY |
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Pam's Impacted Canine Teeth |
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Pam's Impacted Canine Teeth
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ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR- this one is in FRENCH
FIVE
Anyway, back to my story. I had my baby canines pulled, then braces put on September 2001 at the age of 27. After my teeth were straight enough to get the heavy archwire needed, I had exposure surgery to uncover the adult canines in May 2002. First surgery, we exposed the canines and placed gold chains on the teeth and to the archwire, and recovered the teeth with gum tissue. Each month, we would tighten and take off a link or two of chain. The process went this way for quite a while. Second surgery was in May 2003, the teeth had moved all they could under the gums, and had to be exposed and left exposed so tiny buttons could be placed on them (without the chains this time). Unfortunately, the bone and gum regrew over them very quickly, and by the time I got to the ortho, there wasn't enough space even for that. So, I had my third exposure surgery June 2003 to do the same thing as the second one. Buttons were finally placed. These buttons were tied with elastic string to my archwire. Once they had moved down some, and enough tooth was showing, we could put the real brackets on them and attach the archwire to them! That happened in October 2003. At that point, the teeth came down much faster. Then we closed my overbite with powerchains and elastics. Removed: July 6th, 2004 at the age of 30... the FIRST time.
My canines decided to go back up in the gums a bit... apparently due to my retainers pushing them back up!!! My ortho's office agreed to redo my braces for free to bring them back down... REBRACED December 7th, 2004! BUT, only on the top teeth! REMOVED AGAIN: JULY 5th, 2005! This time, they gave me a "wraparound retainer"... so it wont push my canines back up!
All seems to be well, teeth are staying in place!
May 2002, Two weeks after exposureGold chains were attached to my brackets and tied to my archwire. NOTICE THE GAPS BETWEEN MY TEETH? THOSE ARE FROM THE SURGERY AND STITCHES. THE GUMS WILL HEAL BACK. |
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Little chains have come as far as they canThey are now down to their last link, and its time to expose the teeth and LEAVE them exposed this time. |
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June 2003, After the chains had taken us as far as we could go...Tiny buttons were place, since there wasn't enough room for brackets yet. |
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August 2003, 2 months later...the teeth are moving down... |
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August 2003, The right side is moving faster than the left. |
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October 2003, 2 more months later...The teeth are ready for *real* brackets!!! |
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November 2003 |
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May 2004 |
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Hot Pink powerchain |
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June 2004 openMy last full month in braces! |
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July2004, after braces off! |
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July 2004 |
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September2004Canines had went back up in the gums somewhat! |
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Braces Again!To fix the canine problem, in braces again. |
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Yellow powerchains--June 2005LAST MONTH IN BRACES |
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My teeth after braces the 2nd time around.July 2005 |
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November 2005Several months later, I'm still happy. |
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