After debating for several years about getting braces, I've decided to take the plunge. The thing that pushed me over the edge was actually my friend's wedding. I realized that I really just don't like the way my teeth look. I've always been a little self-conscious about them, but seeing those pics really made me realize how much I didn't like them. Here are a few of the offending pics.
So the search for an ortho was on! I started with some referrals from my dentist. Got in with one guy who I was referred to and then picked another randomly from the phone book. Both of them said pretty much the same stuff, and the only real difference seemed to be the price and location. They were both very nice. So I went with the cheaper one. I think the more expensive one was more expensive simply because they offered "extras." They had about three different contests going when I went in for my consult. Not what I want to pay for.
The decision was made. I'm going with Dr. P. His staff is very nice, I like him, and they seem to be fairly flexible with scheduling. The next steps were records and the perio consult. Dr. P requires a perio consult for all adult patients.
Records exam was certainly interesting. They offered me about 10 flavors to choose from for the impressions. I chose the pina colada. She put in the lower mold, and I thought to myself "huh, tastes vaguely like plastic, and not at all like pina colada..." Just about that time, the assistant realized that she had forgotten to put the flavoring in. So she promised to put it in for the upper impression.
First attempt at the upper impression led to crud sliding down my throat, and the most awful taste! Adding the pina colada flavoring caused the stuff to have this most awful chemical taste with a hint of pineapple. I'll take the plastic-taste any day! And, as it turned out, I took it twice more that very same day. On the first attempt, my incisors scraped the front of the mold and it was no good. Same with the second. But, third time's the charm. The assistant was great, though. For the second two, she changed the way she applied the pressure to the tray so that the stuff oozed more toward the front of my mouth and not down my throat.
Impressions are horribly messy business, especially when you have so many attempts in a row! I ended up with the stuff all over my face, in my hair, and even up my nose!!!
Next stop was the perio. Very nice office (a little too nice, if you know what I mean...). But the staff was friendly and the guy was nice. Best of all, after torturing me with that little metal probe, he determined that my gums are absolutely perfect. No need for any further consult. Green light for braces.
And now we are current. I am eagerly awaiting my final consult with the ortho to see what series of torture devices he has planned, and exactly how long it will take (and whether he'd like my arm, my leg, or both!).
Dr. P's summary of the problem:
-deep overbite
-overjet
-upper molars too far forward in relation to lowers on left side
-crowding of lowers
The preliminary plan? Upper and lower braces (I've chosen full metal for cost). Also, likely extractions. I'm probably going to end up losing 4 premolars.
And, the moment you've all been waiting for.... The pictures!
Front
Left
Right
Upper
Lower
. Looking ast your dates, it seems we're going to be b-day twins. My uppers are going on on the 10th Jan. Your teeth seem very straight to me! The treatment estimate times are just that - estimates. My teeth are much more wonky and crowded than yours (yours aren't wonky at all), and my estimate is 2 years. My ortho said the teeth straighten out quite quickly, but it takes time to close the extraction gaps (mine will be the 4 premolars like you, although I've only had the top 2 (+ a wisdom tooth) out so far). Here's hoping that our teeth behave really well, and that are estimates turn out to be on the generous side 
. When are your extactions due?
