Spacers

I guessed right.
Impressions and spacers – plus photos!

When I first arrived, I passed the paperwork to Anne (an unfamiliar yet familiar face) – my signed consent form. I was then ushered to the treatment room and I was told that they were going to take some photos. Front, side and with the expander thing-a-ma-jig (keeps your mouth open, exposing your teeth?) so that my cross bite is exposed. I took the opportunity then to ask if I could have a photo of my x-ray! I told myself I have to be less “shy” and just snap away if I want to have some photos (nothing in the contract says that I can’t take photos) to keep a photographic trail of my treatment.

They explained to me that they were going to put pink stuff on these trays to get impressions of my teeth. I didn’t remember it being pink last time but I definitely remember it was not as nice tasting/smelling (it was of strawberries!) as this.

The last time this was done, I remember it was REALLY a mouthful and I nearly gagged when both arches were done – so I am that little bit nervous.

Whaddaya know? No problems with breathing or swallowing. I was even comfortable enough to snap a photo (one shot, no edit – snapped the right spot with my eyes out of the photo!)

After the impressions, I was asked to bite on a piece of pink-translucent thing that was shaped like a horseshoe – it’s to make a record of my bite.

Looks spongey and not anywhere near intimidating, right? I’ve read about how they are painful (some even went to say it was the most painful ordeal throughout their orthodontic journey!) so I was prepared to expect pain.

First one was behind my first molar on the lower right – it went it pretty alright because my wisdom tooth was removed. Anne had to first extend the band with some sort of claw-tweezer (sorry, don’t know the term) and then sort of “floss” the band in between my teeth. When the band gets to the bottom, she could then release it and the spacer would be in place.

While doing this, we made small talk and I blurted out, “Are you, Jan and Trish orthodontic technicians?”

Turns out Anne is a dentist and she has been practising for 30 years!

I asked because I’ve read people’s accounts of the techs/assistants doing all the orthodontic work and not the orthodontist themselves, or even when the orthodontist was not in sight. Was a bit worried when they told me my orthodontist is away but they were still going ahead with their plans (although I guess it’s not really THAT big a deal because my treatment hasn’t “started” yet and it was just some preliminary stuff) – here I was thinking, “Oh no! Other people’s horror stories are happening to me!”
I was a bit more relaxed when I found out Anne was a very experienced dentist – because she was the one putting in the spacers for me (honestly, I didn’t want to be accidentally poked by that device she was holding! I can only imagine it would’ve been AWFUL!)

The spacers felt like having meat lodged in between your teeth – irritating but not exactly painful (yet) and you can’t pick it.

Top arch

Bottom arch – please excuse my fillings. Boo!

—

Whoops.
Had curry for lunch (well, I cooked it yesterday and I don’t want it to go to waste!) and I was able to chew through the pork pieces…but my spacers turned teal/green now.

Teal coloured spacers now!

Spacers resting in the gum pocket that once had one of my premolar.

Tagged as: teeth