Sarahlynn's journey in braces

[sarahlynn]

Way too long since I've updated - but that's what happened when I stopped being super self conscious of everything about my braces - life carried on and time has been flying! I've been in elastics for several months now (class II elastics), maybe close to 6 months, I can't remember.

I know I'm close to finishing wires since the ortho has said I'm close - but I don't want any timelines to focus on because if things are delayed then I will be disappointed. I'm happy to carry on without having an end date thus far - I'm in the computer as finishing in June 2011 (that will be 2 years), but if it happens before then GREAT!

I've had bracket adjustments in the past 3 or 4 months - I'm a little annoyed because they are meant to lower or push up my front teeth to make them more even in height, but it's messing with things up front. I know it will all work out in the end but this readjustment business is a little irritating.

I really can't believe how the time is flying and how much more confidence these braces have given me. I smile ALL THE TIME. I am so excited to go and get some professional pics taken with my husband when these come off - I've always wanted to have some really nice close up pics of us but I've always dreaded that due to my teeth and my insecurities about them! During the first year in braces I didn't even want to openly smile in pics because I hated that metal mouth look in my pics. But now I have the confidence to smile wide even with this metal mouth.

I turn 31 this summer and hopefully I will be out of these by then - whenever my birthday rolled around I used to think, "x yrs old with terrible teeth" then it was, "29 yrs old with metal mouth and (then) still messed up teeth" then it was, "30 with a metal mouth but at least straighter teeth." I can't wait for the year when I have perfect teeth!!