I have had a couple more visits to the ortho since my last post. I have now been fitted with elastics on both sides - see pic:

I have developed quite a skill at applying the elastics - I can even slip 'em in without looking, or while walking down the street! (It has to be a quiet street, though, with nobody looking.) I can feel them pulling on my teeth, and the upper and lower teeth are slowly getting straighter and more aligned.

The ortho says the next stage is to get the upper teeth rotated out a bit more, as they still slant inwards a bit, then try to close up the holes. (I am still wearing a power chain, but so far it doesn't seem to be having much effect.)

I found this photo of my pre-treatment self on a friend's Facebook page. This is why I am putting myself through the treatment - I don't know how I could have left my teeth looking like this for so long.

Just in time for Valentine's Day (I should be so lucky), I have been back to the dentists. My canine had moved quite a lot, but the ortho was a bit concerned that the power chain had not been working to its full extent - the pain and pulling sensation from last session only lasted for a day or so.

She went for a different approach this time. She applied another power chain, and then - all praise the Flying Spaghetti Monster - she ...

... drum roll ...

REMOVED THE TPA!

Yes - the inside of my mouth is mine all mine again!! I wasn't expecting this, but after just over a year of having that bar in my mouth, I can move my tongue freely again. The bands are still in place around my teeth, but I have already forgotten the Scold's Bridle.

I have another Z-string around some of my front teeth, to close up the gaps, and this time the ortho has applied an elastic on my left side. She says I have to fit a new one every morning and evening, and advised me to remove it before eating and to clean my teeth before re-fitting it.

I have just had the first go at fitting it, after having supper. I really hope this gets easier, because the thing was pinging all over the place. I am thinking of buying a crochet hook tomorrow, to make this task easier. Seriously.

Never mind, though - the TPA has gone!

Had my ortho appointment this afternoon, and was surprised to find that I needed more equipment in my mush. The orthodontist was concerned that the gap in my teeth wasn't reducing as fast as she had hoped. Therefore, she fitted a power chain. I had not expected this so had not done my usual research on ArchWired - I was imagining a(nother) huge hunk of metal in my mouth. In fact, the chain is made of elastic, as Archwired explain here: http://www.archwired.com/power_chains.htm

The orthodontist also fitted a "Z-string" around my gappy teeth, although it seemed more like a G-string to me, as it was twanging a merry tune while she was working with it. In addition, I have the thick wire back on my upper teeth, and a thicker wire on my lower ones - so my mouth was feeling pretty crowded when I left the dentists.

As threatened, here are the pictures:

I particularly like the big hook things on the corner brackets - I'm feeling like a cyborg with all this lot!

Not much to report in the last few months - I have been getting on with my life, and not paying too much attention to my teeth. The lower ones have really straightened up, though.

Last Monday it was the first anniversary of the start of my treatment. There are now signs of light at the end of the tunnel - I had an appointment just before Christmas, and the orthodontist said that I would be brace-free by next Xmas!

I still have the TPA, but I'm hoping I won't have it for too much longer.

Next appointment is next Friday - I will do a photo after that.