I've got some pictures up here for you to see how my teeth stand at the moment. The colors are abit wierd-I took them with a new camera and I'm still getting used to it but here they are:
When they told me at the ortho today, I started shaking so badly and I couldn't stop smiling and when I drove home I actually broke down and started crying. I had to open the windows even though it's freezing cold outside to convince myself that it was all real and not a dream. I haven't posted much lately so I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with my story, but in a nutshell I got braced on September 9th 2002 for an impacted canine. I got it uncovered for the first time on Jan. 2 2004 and then again when the bracket broke off and came through the gum on June 11, 2004.
It's been a real roller coaster ride for me, with so many setbacks that at so many times I really felt like giving up. As stupid as it sounds, it's actually been quite emotional for me. When I first got braces I was just starting 8th grade and dentists were the scariest thing in the world. I still remember the date of one of my dentist appointments because I was dreading it so much-for months literally-Nov. 27, 2001. When they told me that my canine was impacted and I would need surgery and braces for at least two years, I literally broke down. For months. As a seventh grader, it's all quite scary and it was all just so unknown all I could think of was 'surgery surgery surgery' and it scared the bejeebies out of me.
Getting to where I am now with my teeth is one of my proudest accomplishments to date. I've had braces now for 40 months and will officially end up at 8 days shy of 42 months. That's 8 days shy of three and a half years. Yes I've got it all worked out
Anyways, it's been such an obstacle for me-I've times I've really gotten depressed over the whole issue and how it seemed so unrelenting but I have to say that in the end it is most definately worth it. It's going to be so wierd to think of me without braces. They've been such a part of me for so long. All of my friends that I know so well now have never seen me without braces-I've had them all through high school and half of middle school. They're like an identity, and to think of myself without them is like changing my name or something. I can't even imagine what it'll be like to play my clarinet without them-I've battled through 4 concert band seasons and 3 marching band seasons it's been hell I tell you.
I asked my ortho about retainers today. It seemed so wierd really asking about retainers. He said I'm going to have a bonded one on the bottom and then a Hawley on top for a while so that they can tweak things if they happen to change and then once things settle down I can get an essix if I want to. That sounds perfect to me-I really like the idea of a bonded retainer on bottom, so I won't be able to forget about it and it'll really hold things in there and I also really like the Hawley on top. I'm into those 'old school' kind of things if you can call a Hawley that....and I've seen them all over so I am really curious to see what they're like. I also like that both the Hawley and the bonded allow your bite to settle because that's something I was worried about. Then when I go off to college I can get an essix which will blend in more.
Wow, this really has been quite the essay, I'm sorry it's so long! I just hope it gives someone somewhere out there who might be just starting their treatment and scared about the whole thing the confidence that I never got back in 2002, and if I've learned anything over these past 42 months,
it's that braces really aren't that bad.
Much love, Eve
I have been totally following your story and its so exciting to see what a beautfiul smile you finally have! 
I really can't wait for that! 
