It has been an adventure with James and his teeth. He had a button and chain surgically placed on his canine tooth last October. It straightened out his tooth and then because his braces were removed due to his allergies the button and chain didn't pull the tooth the right way. It caused a new problem with his tooth being behind all of the other teeth. The space for the tooth shrunk and the only want to correct everything was braces. We saw the other orthodontist in the practice and went over everything with him. I felt frustrated leaving the appointment because he didn't understand the level of James's allergies to nickel and latex. He just wanted to put braces back on and said it would only be short term and that James could handle the effects for a few weeks. James broke down in tears because he remembers how miserable he got last year. He has the most random, rare and unique reaction to nickel and latex. No one understands or fully believes him outside his family.
I talked to Ali after we left the orthodontist. I was so discouraged and felt like there were no solutions. She called some people she knows and found out there are nickel free wires and brackets that would be a possibility. I called the orthodontist and basically told him if he didn't want to order in a nickel free product then we would go to their competition who is innovative and willing to help James (which they were, I called the competition and had an appointment set up). Thankfully our orthodontist was willing to help us and go the extra mile. I realize he has plenty of patients and they all follow the norm so why go out of his way for us bu this is exactly how you go from good to great. You have to do extra.
The orthodontist ordered a special wire, to go with the ceramic brackets and the latex free elastics. James got the full set of braces put on a few days after school started. So far it's going well. I'm so relieved and grateful!
