Did you have archwire on when you had your cleaning? I had my first clening and got my archwire removed. It was quit tedious to go fist to ortho office and get the wire off, then to dentist and back to the ortho office. Luckily they are located about 5 min walking distance. I was specially asked by the dentist get the archwire off before coming to cleaning. Cleaning was performed by the assistant and the dentist came and checked my fillings shortly and hit my teeth to see if there are cavities.I'm thinking she's going to do the uppers. WRONG! She flossed my lowers by going in at the top, to the wire and back up! Not under the wire at all. Well, sh!t, lady, that did no good! Then she does the uppers and I'm done.
Thats scary to have so many cavities... I had 10!!!! cavities filled before my braces and gums were in bad shape. I dont want to know how it is after braces are taken off. But, i did not really take care my teeth at all before. No flossing and brushing was not that good either.
When I had my uppers removed I was in my second to last quarter (to finish my BA) and was taking a statistics class that totally monopolized my free time. I had my lowers removed on 8/30/07 (I know, I'm horrible for not posting sooner!), spent some time out of town and then came back at started my final quarter. This quarter has been totally kicking my BUTT - I really should have split in in two. I'm taking four classes; two electives, logic and my senior seminar; and I pretty much have coursework to do seven days a week. 
But on the bright side, it's almost over - I officially graduate and will have my Bachelors in Business Administration with a Human Resource Concentration on December 14, 2007! Yay me! 
Anyway, the lowers coming off was pretty uneventful; I got my retainer and went on my way. My lower retainer took some getting used to, as it was really tough to get in and out. Apparently my front lowers are rather long and that makes putting the retainer in a little more difficult. I've gotten used to it now and can pop it in and out with no trouble. I've already been in for my first retainer check; it was all of 45 seconds. My ortho took my upper, put it in, said, "looks good" took it out. Put the bottom one in, said, "looks good, see you in March." That was it, quick and easy!
I made an appointment after my lowers came off, and my dentist (the one I don't like, I could get on the schedule of the one I DO like) took new x-rays and yes, the cavites she saw were really there. 
had my ceramic braces on my uppers for 1 week, still getting used to them!!
You have such a wide sparkly smile, and I bet your bite is so much better too.
But anyway, your teeth look AWESOME. I can't believe how fast the transformation went. 