I'm Julie, 26, live just outside of Boston. I've had braces for all of a month and a half now, and am surprisingly a lot better with it than I would have expected. So here's my story...
I was 17 when I was told I needed braces, and I said 'no way,' knowing that as an already-awkward teenager, there was no way I was having a metal smile for my senior year and into college.
Now in my mid-20s, I've been constantly bothered by the 'look' of my smile. I see teeth overlapping, I notice crookedness in photos, and I just don't like what I see.
At the advice of my dentist, I went to an orthodontist to see if I was a candidate for Invisalign. I was not. But, he told me, the procedure for me would involve ceramic braces, a palatal expander, and a front tooth extraction.
First, I said 'ok, thanks for the consultation' and left it at that. Invisalign was going to be committment enough, there was no way I wanted actual braces! and a tooth pulled? Nuh-uh.
Then I thought about it. I'm at a stable point in my career, and i've got a great boyfriend (2+ years) who is planning a wedding with me for 2 years down the road. Why not? I figured that if I do it now, i'll be done in time for wedding pictures. So, I went for it.
At the end of September, I got my top braces put on and the palatal expander put in. The braces aren't bad at all! Between the ceramic, the clear and the titanium wire, no one notices them.
...but the expander I LOATHE. Hate it soooo much. Everything gets stuck in it, I haven't been able to eat a salad since I got it, and the 2x weekly 'expandings' are painful. Luckily my awesome boyfriend has done very well with his duty of 'turning the screw' on the expander for me, so I don't have to do that myself! 5 more months of this thing, ugh!
And then last Wednesday, I had a marathon day of orthodontics. Went to the ortho in the AM to get the bottom braces put on. Went to the oral surgeon in the afternoon to get the front tooth pulled. And once the bleeding stopped, I went BACK to the ortho to get the wire put in. PHEW!!!
So right now, i'm anxiously waiting for this gaping hole in the front of my teeth to close. I was told it should be normal-looking by Christmas. I can't wait to see what my mouth will look like! I've learned to adore my Sonicare toothbrush, and I can't be away from my water pik for too long either.
Total anticipated time in braces: 18 months. I think things will be MUCH easier once this blasted expander is out. I can already see a difference in the straightness of my teeth, so that's exciting. And I know i'll be a happy, smiling woman for those wedding photos in October 07
Glad to have found this group! There's so many things that others just cannot appreciate about being an adult with braces.
