I'm 25 years old and have been unhappy with my teeth for about 6years now. I had pretty good teeth until I went to university but then.... (cue big nasty drum roll) the wisdom teeth made an appearance!
My ortho has told me I'm probably one of the very few unfortunate people whose wisdom teeth really do mess up everything else, I just don't have enough room in my mouth and they've become very unwelcome guests in there. I took the plunge this summer and decided to finally put £3000 leftover from a generous MA scholarship to good use. From straight As to straight teeth, there's a pleasing symmetry in there 
I had my first consultation on August 1st and then returned on Aug 31st to discuss the proposed treatment. This all came to £120 and I know I should have shopped around a bit but, aside from the extra cost this would have involved, I didn't really feel the need. The two orthos at this practice were both so patient and calm and honest about what they can achieve for me that I'm very happy to go ahead with them. I've also mentioned the treatment to my regular dentist who immediately said "They're fantastic there, they'll do a really excellent job for you". So I'm happy!
Here we go - the moment of truth - this is what they're going to be dealing with (I'm blushing already over here! Argh, this is too scary!
):Front view (they're B&W because I always find photos look nicer that way - it's softening the blow of my huge embarassment right now!)
Check out the upper left lateral incisor that's hidden round the back, the midline that's off to the left on the bottom and you can't really see properly but the two upper central incisors are kind of "splaying out" and twisting outwards.
And view from the left:
You can see that pesky upper lateral incisor in his hiding place again
That's also the one that my ortho says is actually a fair size smaller than all my others and I might want to consider getting it bonded once things are all straight, to beef it up to regular size. Check out his friend down below too that's so twisted round it's pretty much sideways on and toppling forwards. Eeek! 
You can just about make out my overjet here too - I think it was 6mm when the ortho measured it.And this is my bottom arch (sorry it's a bit fuzzy):
Pretty messy huh?
That's all my nerves can cope with for now! I'm going to be getting 4 premolars extracted, hopefully in the next 2-3 weeks and then InVu ceramics on top and traditional metal on bottom. Predicted sentence: 18 months.
Those are the essentials I guess, I always write far too much - sorry if I've bored anyone! I sometimes get easily discouraged in things so I know keeping this journal will help keep me focused in tracking my progress. The real moment of pure joy will come for me when that upper lateral incisor finally comes into line, it's all I see in photos and when I look in the mirror and I hate hate hate it!
I'm really encouraged by belmikry's progress with hers though, it came into line pretty quick so I hope mine will do the same. Maybe if I give it a name like she did, it might be more willing to come forward to say hello.....!x
I just noticed that my right side profile is 
I can't believe this day has come and the past week especially has been really tough. I've thought about cancelling everything and learning to put up with my teeth the way they are but deep down in my heart I know I can't and even though I have no scientific proof of this, I know my teeth are getting worse. So what's the point of putting off the inevitable? Once the braces are on I trust that I will be fine and it will even be quite fun - it's a new adventure in life right? And at the end of it all, I'm already thinking of the invitations I'll be sending out for my Going Naked Party! 
I'm thinking perhaps the whole thing was an anticlimax - he twisted the first one a bit, took his hands away and said "Ok, that's the first one done". And my honest reaction was "Are you kidding?!" It just popped right out! The upper right and lower left took a bit more work but the dentist was great - he counted to 10 each time and then stopped for a break which was great as that gives you something to aim at - just 7 more seconds, just 4 more seconds..... I have my four teeth in a little bag and my friend is going to stop by after work and be the Tooth Fairy - I hope the rate has gone up from the 20p I remember last time I put a tooth under my pillow! 