Braces, finally!

[Alee]

Hi everyone, my name is Amanda, I live in Ohio, United States. I'm 32, mother of 4 little girls. I guess I can start my story at 15, the age I first saw an ortho. My mom took me and I got bites, and xrays taken. The cost was going to be around 3000 dollars,none of which was covered by my insurance, and no ppayment plan was available at the time that my mom could afford. But my mom being great as she was said if I really wanted them we would manage. I told her I was fine with the way my teeth were, bc I knew we needed other things before braces. Even though I hated my teeth from about age 12. It seemed everyone around me got their teeth fixed, except me, so I learned to smile w my mouth closed. In my early twenties I saw an ortho after getting my wisdom teeth pulled, which sucked! I always said id rather have another baby before I ever had another tooth pulled, and thankfully I never had one pulled since, but had plenty of babies! Anyway the ortho told me, very rudely, that moving adult teeth was almost pointless, as they will move back. He said it would be a waste of time and money. Back then I was naive, I thought if this guy says so, it must be true. I never thought about a second opinion. Looking back I think he thought id end up skipping on payments, being so young and having a rather crappy job. So last year i took my oldest daughter, age 12 for an ortho consult. I really liked her dr, he was honest and caring. He said she was not ready for braces, and may not even need them once the rest of her teeth grew in. And he was right, a year later her teeth look so pretty, and straight! I ask him if he treated adults and he said yes, he has many adult patients. So I thought about it for awhile, and a few months went by, my mom got diagnosed with stage 4 throat cancer, which moved to her lungs and she died within 6 weeks of her original diagnoses. She had smoked for 40 yrs. When she passed, right before christmas, I quit smoking, and changed some other things as well. For me, losing my mom reminded me you don't have forever to live, so I decided, it was time for change. I started exercising, bought a trampoline, which is the best if you want to lose weight, its fun, easy, and doesn't even feel like exercise! I also started eating better, my goal is to run a marathon supporting lung cancer, in honor Cof my mom. I also bought some white strips to get rid at the smoking tint. It was when I was almost done with the strips that I thought about the braces again, so I made an appt for a consult. Things went well, and the payment plan was only 149 a month for the duration of treatment, 100 for xrays, and at the end of treatment 389 for retainer. I really wanted to do it, but with 4 kids, and my husband the only one working, I'm part time college student, I felt guilty. Thankfully my husband said we could manage, and I just kept thinking something that cost a lot of money was going to come up,.and again, braces would have to wait. Braces, for me is one of those things I said I was going to do for years, but then you never really do. So on May 14, 2013 I went to my regular dentist and got a cleaning, then got my top races the same day. I was so excited, even though I was surrounded by kids at the office, and even the techs were all very young, the only one close to my age was the dr! So I felt a little.out of place, at my last appt one of my daughters friends was there! Ii don't know why, but for some reason, I thought all you had to do was wear the braces. I never thought about how.it would actually feel to have them. I felt like I had to stretch my lip over them just to shut my mouth. And I never gave much thought into all the care and cleaning. But I adjusted and a month later went back for spacers, which was not bad. Then 2 weeks later had my back bottom braces. I actually go tomorrow to get my top back
And the rest of my bottoms! So finally I will be fully braced! I'm looking forward to the slight weigh lose I had with my top! I think I'm really lucky,bc my case didn't have any surgeries, distractions, just may need a palate expander. I just feel so bad for some of you, reading some of what you had to go through or are still facing. Hang in there! I will have my braces for a total of 18-24 months, not too bad! I did regret getting them those first few days, I just kept thinking, what have I done! I felt there was no way I would last 2years, but I adjusted, and I know the end result will be worth it.

[kids041]

I love that your hubby is so supportive Mine is too, so I am getting my braces in 12 days! Eeeep My daughter has braces already, and she just laughs at the thought of her mom (age 43) having braces at the same time

[SunshineRay]

Aww Im sorry about your Mom! Your story was very inspirational and you will be so proud of yourself when this is done. Im 38 and sooo understand being around all the young people at the ortho office. I hate that part!!

[Alee]

Aww Im sorry about your Mom! Your story was very inspirational and you will be so proud of yourself when this is done. Im 38 and sooo understand being around all the young people at the ortho office. I hate that part!!

Thank you! And yes there are always kids everywhere in that office! I have yet to see one other adult patient.at my last visit the tech ask me what grade I was in, all I could do was laugh! I should have told her I was a senior!