My Damon Clear Braces Journey Update - Day 320

Wow so I guess its been a LONG while since I last posted!,

I think definitely one of the things I have learn in the close to 10 months in braces is caring a lot less what other people think about my braced look which is an awesome feeling and is one that I can share for those who are considering braces but are worried about how it may affect their appearance.

 Here's my progress thus far...



The changes are definitely a lot more subtle in the front especially but my bite is improving, here's where my extraction gaps are at



My bite is improving and the gaps are definitely closing, with every visit my elastics get changed to a thicker one, strangely through no real pain (not complaining though), for those who are not familiar with what they look like here's an example



I also now have 3 orthodontic brushes of varying sizes as the movement have opened up gaps or black triangle looking holes between my teeth, here's the ones I'm using at present

(1) Oral-B - Fantastic for cleaning in between brackets




(2)Watsons - Fantastic for cleaning the "black triangles" between teeth

Damon Clear Braces Progress - Day 186

I am getting progressively worse at updating my progress anyway, my last appointment was at the beginning of this month and I finally got to find out what those hooks on my upper archwire were for.. elastics!



I have double elastics going on the left and right, one yellow one that is hooked onto the clear hook and a white elastic (that I change daily) that goes on to the metal hook

I have to say that I am overjoyed by elastics but at least they may mean my gaps will close faster, changes are a lot more subtle now but still happening, I have felt my overjet reducing, basically right now only the front 4 are not quite touching my bottom row, the lateral incisors are almost in contact now with my bottom row



My next appointment is this Friday where I will most probably get a powerchain added (again) to my top row

In a completely unrelated story I met a guy just this week who has had his braces on for 4 years and counting (!) - *note to self to ask for all the powerchains and elastics to be used at the next appointment

peace out!

Damon Clear Braces Progress - Day 169

My latest orthodontic adventures was just last weekend and I am now fully braced top and bottom!


Getting the bottom braces on was much like when the top row was put on, those suckers were on in less than 30 minutes - I took tylenol before the session which was a good thing as she also put in a very tight wire for my top braces.

As you can see there is quite a bit of aligning that needs to happen to my bottom row, the arch basically needs to "open up" in order to match the progress on the top row, you may also notice bottom wire doesn't go all the way to the back my left hand side, this is because I have a crown there and she wants to leave it alone till a much later stage

Question - can someone tell me what the metal "T" things she put on the top are? She explained that it was to close gaps specifically those between my laterals and my cuspids but I forgot what she called them (for teeth terminology check out this useful link)

The bottom rows have so far been giving me a bit more grief than the top rows when they were put on, I have several ulcers (ouch!) making eating a bit of an adventure in itself  ;)

She also put in bite blockers at the back of my top row which are these cement blocks meant to prevent my top teeth from coming into contact with my bottom braces - they're not fun but not too unbearable

Here's my progress so far, changes are becoming a lot more subtle I think but I have noticed that my smile is getting "wider" in pictures

Damon Clear Braces Progress - Day 150

Hi friends in braces!

Its been almost 3 weeks since my last ortho appointment so I guess I should update on my current progress

The good news was that my progress is good and at my next appointment (which is next week!) I will be getting my bottom row braces as well

I mentioned that I had begun to notice some gaps on my right side between my lateral incisor and canine as they were moving to close the gap where my second premolar was => the outcome of this conversation was me getting power chains put in as you can see in the pic below

What are powerchains? They are basically this super strength rubber band use to close up gaps that may form during your orthodontic treatment, they can be installed for some periods in between fittings or stay for the rest of the treatment, replaced at every fitting with a new one with varying strengths (read more on power chains here)

I will not lie and will say that getting powerchains put in has thus far been the most unpleasant experience of my orthodontic journey so far (and that includes extractions!), that said once it was all said and done and I was leaving the clinic is was business as usual again

You can see that I got transparent ones put in - the upside is you can barely see them, the downside is no coffee, curries (basically my two favorites) or anything that may remotely stain the teeth =( Thankfully though since I am seeing my orthodontist next week I am going to have as much curry and coffee this week *heheheheh

According to my ortho once my bottom rows are put on (next week) I am basically looking at less than a year to be debraced, I am pretty excited

Here's a snapshot of my progress so far (Day zero => Day 2 => Day 150)



You can see a bit of imbalance between my top and bottom rows now - its because the arch on my top row has widened, hoping that the installation of the lower braces will solve this

Peace out and as always do let me know if you have any questions in the comment section below =)

Damon Clear Braces Progress - Day 118

Hullo fellow brace wearers/enthusiasts

I know its been a while since my last update but life seems to keep chugging on with no regard for my braced condition lol how inconsiderate of father time...

I have also been finding after a while that I have stopped worrying about when my braces are going to come off and have accepted that this is how I'm going to look for a while, I guess you can say that I feel that the braces are part of me now


That all said since its coming up to 120 days of me in braces I thought that I'd share my progress with you

As reminder here were my teeth pre-braces

Day Zero



and here is my progress as of day 118



 The very last orthodontic appointment was relatively painless, my orthodontist said that in another 2 appointments time my bottom braces will be going on and from there we will be looking at less than a year of brace time - pretty exciting stuff

My extraction gaps have closed about 30% or so but I still have a bit to go

Meanwhile for those who are interested I also go to get my teeth cleaned once a month by my regular dentist to make sure I don't get any decays during my treatment

I am excited at all the progress but am thinking I may even miss my braces a little when they're gone.. sadistic? probably

Signing off for now but please do let me know if there is anything question I can answer for you in the comments section =)