Hardware!

We went to the orthodontist again yesterday, and didn't know until we were there that it was finally the day when Rowan would get braces! WOOO HOOO! He was very shocked and a little afraid when they told him, but once all was said and done, I'm glad it happened that way. He didn't have any time to fret and worry about what it would be like, because he found out and then it was done. I wish I'd thought to have my camera with me, but the pictures from the iPod have to do.

In the waiting room, no idea what's coming next.

The orthodontist looked at his teeth and x-ray, and said that it was time for hardware! He was super nervous and I asked him if he wanted me to stay with him. He said yes, so I did.

He had to brush his teeth before any work was done.

All ready to go!

With his super cool orthodontist

One happy boy!

He did great with it. He held still just like he was supposed to, and when it was done he said that it wasn't so bad. His mouth was sore this morning, so I packed him soft foods for snacks and gave him an ibuprofen. Everyone has said that we'll be surprised at how fast his teeth move around, so I plan on taking weekly pictures so we can watch the change happen. Hooray for braces!

Toothy update

We've been in a holding pattern since the bone graft last year. Rowan's mouth needed time to heal, and then we had to wait for the current crop of residents to graduate and the new group to start at the dental school before we could get in for the orthodontics.

This is the one thing where Rowan hasn't been exactly smooth sailing. His surgeries have all been great. His recoveries have been fantastic. He's healed remarkably. His teeth?

 

Well...

Rowan had to have his bone graft done without having the palate expansion done first, because he HAS lateral incisors. Doing the graft early gives him a better chance of actually being able to keep them. His palate expansion was put off because his 6 year molar wasn't in yet. It's STILL not in. He's 8, closing in on 9 now, but that molar is hung up on the molar next to it. It can't come down. So, the plan is to remove the offending molar, and then hold the space for the permanent molar with brackets until it can come in. The removal is set for May 20th. 

Why so far away? 

Rowan (understandably) has a little anxiety about anyone mucking around in his mouth. He's fine with regular cleanings and x-rays, but removing something? We elected to give him gas for this, with the option of putting him under completely. The ped's anesthesiologist is only in the clinic on Fridays, so we had to schedule it pretty far out.

But he's had his molds done, and the plan for braces is in place. So once the molar is out, we should move right along to hardware not too long after that. Then Rowan's teeth will face the same direction, and he'll be able to bite into foods again. Won't that be great?

He's considering what color of brackets to get. Our ortho resident recommended to NOT get green, because it looks like you have salad stuck in your teeth. We're trusting her on that one. No on green.