I thought I would share with you two before and after photos to summarize my successful treatment. Before you look at the photos just remember something - this treatment was achieved with NO extractions and NO surgery AT ALL. To anyone who may be considering orthodontic treatment but worried about surgery and/or extractions, just take a look at the severe crowding I had and realize that there probably are other options for you. Also, know that no matter how jacked up your teeth are, they CAN be fixed!
Also (patting myself on the back, here) I made it through my entire time in braces without popping a bracket off! That was a goal of mine.
Before (Roughly April of 2004):
After (February 15, 2007):
A couple of last notes. First, to put the entire treatment (and by treatment, I mean ortho, whitening, bonding and other dental work) into perspective, the most painful part of the whole ordeal was when I got ZOOM whitening a few weeks ago. The "zingers" hurt far, far worse than anything I experienced in braces.
Finally, it all became worth it yesterday. I was getting my photo taken for a piece of ID and was laughing and joking around with the lady taking the picture. When it was time to actually take the picture, she told me to smile. Instinctively, like I've always done, I didn't. Her reply? "Why don't you want to smile? You have a nice smile!" - This was the first time anyone has said this to me and meant it. It was a nice feeling and I'm still having a hard time getting used to the idea that, after 30 years, the roles are reversed and my teeth ARE actually nice and, possibly, the envy of others.
Thanks again for this board, it's been a great help for me while enduring treatment!
