Posted by: angelo22
« on: January 13, 2017, 06:57:04 am »Well, now that some time has passed, it's time for checking some results. If any 
First thing, I have to admit my NCR has been somewhat inconsistent during December.
Between staying with my family, a nasty clogged nose (mild sinusitis) and a vacation, I did no more than 3 sessions during that month, all in the first 10 days.
Now, I've only done 2 during the first half of January.
Also, I'm using cooking butter instead of vegetable oil to lubricate the balloon. Even greasier! But I'm not sure which one works best yet.
Results:
My jaw muscles are now fairly strong... I don't have prominent masseters when not tensed, but my mouth always stays shut with no problem at all.
Unfortunately, I did not take profile pictures when I first started, and since in so little time there can't be obvious change, my face is not that changed yet,
but after a whole day with my mouth mostly shut (not chewing gum, staying home because it's studying session) I feel funny sensations in my lower teeth,
similar to those I had when wearing braces, but WAY milder.
I'd say that's because my lower jaw is gradually adapting to a very slow shift by the upper jaw!
This also makes me worried about the dental splint I have in my lower arch though...
(if you don't know, it's a wire used to bind the teeth and keep them static after orthodontic treatment (otherwise they'll push forward again, which is the cause of the crowing) or to prevent dangerous movements caused by bone erosion (periodontitis)).
I'll think about getting it removed, since I hope my lower arch will expand. Then my lower wisdom teeth will be able to pop out (the upper ones already did, although not completely).
But I'd rather first be certain my mandible is expanding, otherwise I'll just get crowded lower incisives again.
But the thing that really keeps me going is a pressure-like feeling (not pain, just... sensation, you know?) exactly in the TMJ area.
I've noticed it's mostly in the right side, and that makes perfect sense because my right cheekbone is very slightly lower than the left one.
I can also see that from my lips, that the right side slightly droops. Nothing ugly, but it's there.
So, in the end, I really think I'm getting somewhere
Good luck to all you guys on this journey, and if you want to discuss or ask me anything, I'm here
PS: This month I'm being pretty focused on researching nutritional needs / deficencies related to bone growth.
I'd rather not take any supplements, but we'll see...

First thing, I have to admit my NCR has been somewhat inconsistent during December.
Between staying with my family, a nasty clogged nose (mild sinusitis) and a vacation, I did no more than 3 sessions during that month, all in the first 10 days.
Now, I've only done 2 during the first half of January.
Also, I'm using cooking butter instead of vegetable oil to lubricate the balloon. Even greasier! But I'm not sure which one works best yet.
Results:
My jaw muscles are now fairly strong... I don't have prominent masseters when not tensed, but my mouth always stays shut with no problem at all.
Unfortunately, I did not take profile pictures when I first started, and since in so little time there can't be obvious change, my face is not that changed yet,
but after a whole day with my mouth mostly shut (not chewing gum, staying home because it's studying session) I feel funny sensations in my lower teeth,
similar to those I had when wearing braces, but WAY milder.
I'd say that's because my lower jaw is gradually adapting to a very slow shift by the upper jaw!
This also makes me worried about the dental splint I have in my lower arch though...
(if you don't know, it's a wire used to bind the teeth and keep them static after orthodontic treatment (otherwise they'll push forward again, which is the cause of the crowing) or to prevent dangerous movements caused by bone erosion (periodontitis)).
I'll think about getting it removed, since I hope my lower arch will expand. Then my lower wisdom teeth will be able to pop out (the upper ones already did, although not completely).
But I'd rather first be certain my mandible is expanding, otherwise I'll just get crowded lower incisives again.
But the thing that really keeps me going is a pressure-like feeling (not pain, just... sensation, you know?) exactly in the TMJ area.
I've noticed it's mostly in the right side, and that makes perfect sense because my right cheekbone is very slightly lower than the left one.
I can also see that from my lips, that the right side slightly droops. Nothing ugly, but it's there.
So, in the end, I really think I'm getting somewhere

Good luck to all you guys on this journey, and if you want to discuss or ask me anything, I'm here

PS: This month I'm being pretty focused on researching nutritional needs / deficencies related to bone growth.
I'd rather not take any supplements, but we'll see...
