More than four years after I first went to an orthodontist and was told I needed not only braces but jaw surgery, and a year after I canceled my first braces appointment due to financial fears, I will be getting my braces on on Wednesday.
I'm 36 and have wanted straight teeth since I was a kid. I remember our family dentist telling me I should use my tongue to try to push my two front teeth out to where they should be. This seemed way too hard.
I've also felt like I had a weird (on good days), ugly (on bad days) chin since I was a teenager. I loathe my profile. Once I got over the initial shock of the cost of braces and the need for jaw surgery, and had five orthodontists all tell me the same thing, I decided to go for it.
Long story short, the day is almost here for this whole process to start. I'm excited and nervous, hoping it's all going to be worth it. It's strange to think that my face will never again be the same after Wednesday.
My friend Susan, a veteran of adult braces, is coming down to give me moral support. We're going out for steak and red wine and popcorn the night before. A last hurrah.
6 Comments:
Hi, it's me, Michelle. Ohmigod! Wednesday, that's not far away. I'm very excited for you. Of course I hope you'll call me and let me know everything went okay. I love you. Me.
Who's your orthodontist? I had Dr. Shaw off of Reserve do my braces when I lived in Msla. I heard the same thing---jaw surgery first, then braces. He let me do the braces without the jaw surgery, though. Although my teeth are starting to shift after having the braces off for 3 years, I'm still glad I did it.
Having braces sucks but it's exciting to see your teeth change positions and straighten out. Congratuations! And no gum-chewing for you! :-)
Hooray, Michelle commented! Hey, want to be a guest poster sometime?
Neva, do you wear a retainer? This frightens me -- to hear of people whose teeth are shifting back, after all that time and expense. Shaw was one I went to for a consultation, but I decided to go with Briar Diggs.
Good luck tomorrow! I had my braces as an adult (26) and was initially surprised at how much mouth ached for the first few days. (Not really hurt, but ached.)
A few years later I worked for an orthodontist.
A bit of advice would be: you will be told to wear the retainer day and night for at least six months and then only at night for at least six months. Most of us don't do that and experience shifting.
Wear them. You will be glad you did (or stubborn like me and still have to wear them years later b/c you did not follow instructions)!
-Kym
Patia, I was supposed to wear a retainer 24/7 for 3 months, but I couldn't do it. My gag reflex wouldn't let me. After 3 years without braces, my teeth have shifted a little, but barely. I'm still pleased with the results, regardless.
Thanks, guys. Neva, I'm glad to hear you're happy with the results. You must have gotten a regular retainer. I'm hoping I'll get the nifty clear kind. They look so much more comfortable.
And RM, I will definitely follow the instructions about wearing the retainer!
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