Misadventures in Orthodontics
It started because I was able to secure an emergency appointment due to a broken wire for ½ hour at 10:30am last Wednesday, which worked as it was after my earlier planned doctor’s appointment. Once there, the orthodontist decided that my teeth were rapidly progressing enough to skip ahead 8 wire sizes (what would normally be 12 week’s worth of treatment) - mind you, treatment was already running 3 months ahead of schedule- my teeth move fast…..
How fast, we were about to discover.
The orthodontist next looked at my front teeth, noticed there was a ¼ inch gap, and suggested that a “chain” be put on the two of them to bring them back together. Fine. A chain, new studs & rubber bands, 2 new wires, and over two hours later, I take 4 Advil and leave to get a milkshake as everything else will hurt to chew. While I’m having my lunch-of-milkshake, my two front teeth move. All the way move. They move together and then start overlapping each other like relatives during the holidays. So, I call the orthodontist, do they want me back? Yes, at 2pm, since now they are all at lunch.
At 2pm, they cut the “chain” off, put 3 teeth together with figure eight wires, and add a chain onto two other teeth. They also asked me if given how rapidly my teeth moved this time, would I like another appointment for 4pm? or would I like to come back 3x’s a day for the next month so I could be completely done with the entire treatment?
As I’m leaving the office, the wonderful nurse/technician hands me lots more Advil. She advised me not to take any more after the four I’d taken earlier, as “You’ll get a stomach ache.” At which point she looks at me and not-so-subtlety recommends, “Do you drink?”
How fast, we were about to discover.
The orthodontist next looked at my front teeth, noticed there was a ¼ inch gap, and suggested that a “chain” be put on the two of them to bring them back together. Fine. A chain, new studs & rubber bands, 2 new wires, and over two hours later, I take 4 Advil and leave to get a milkshake as everything else will hurt to chew. While I’m having my lunch-of-milkshake, my two front teeth move. All the way move. They move together and then start overlapping each other like relatives during the holidays. So, I call the orthodontist, do they want me back? Yes, at 2pm, since now they are all at lunch.
At 2pm, they cut the “chain” off, put 3 teeth together with figure eight wires, and add a chain onto two other teeth. They also asked me if given how rapidly my teeth moved this time, would I like another appointment for 4pm? or would I like to come back 3x’s a day for the next month so I could be completely done with the entire treatment?
As I’m leaving the office, the wonderful nurse/technician hands me lots more Advil. She advised me not to take any more after the four I’d taken earlier, as “You’ll get a stomach ache.” At which point she looks at me and not-so-subtlety recommends, “Do you drink?”