
My name is Leann and I have just been sentenced to a year in ceramics. This was PURELY my choice. I was told that I only needed to get them if I was cosmetically unhappy. I thought about it for almost a year and then I decided to choose an differnent Ortho than the one I had originally planned on using. I am so happy I switched. The first Ortho was going to charge $3000 for ALL my teeth for about 14 months. Thats when I decided to think about it because I am paying for them MYSELF and thats a lot of money for someone of 24 and I support myself.
Well, this past Christmas my mom called me and asked if I still wanted braces. I, of course, told her YES and she said that she mentioned to her boss that I wanted them and he said that his best friend since childhood was an Ortho. So, she set up an appointment with him for my consultation.


At the consultation, I told him about how I really didnt like that other guy and why. I told him what I wanted fix and then he came up with a few possible solutions. I also let him know that I was on a "limited budget" and that I really liked the ceramics because of my profession. Well, he presented to me the few solutions and I asked him what he would do if I was his own daughter. He told me that he would do what he called a "limited service" treatment because my molars are PERFECT. So, basically, I have 8 on the top and 8 on the bottom and I got the CERAMICS!!! Since my mom worked for his best friend he said he would also cut me a deal. When they did the pricing the original cost of the "limited treatment" was $4000, but with some miracle work (and a prayer) he is only charging me $2200. It took a couple of months for the down payment because that was my Christmas present from my dad. But after that, it was showtime and I made my appointment for 02/24/05.

So, now it is 02/26/05 and I am IN PAIN!!! I DO feel like someone has hit me with a bat. The brackets dont hurt as much as the MOVEMENT. I have only used wax twice so far. As far as the movement, I have ALREADY noticed a signifigant change in my bite and position of my teeth. Is this "normal"? Not to mention that the week before I got these darn things in, I had a viral infection in my lungs. So, ever since before I got the braces, I have had a severe dry cough. I am literally MISERABLE! But, I know that this is just temporary and that I will feel better soon and these things will stop hurting.











Does anyone have any recommendations for soft food to eat? My jaw is even sore so it is hard to chew.

thanks,
leann