Let's rewind back a decade (I was 16)... my parents took me to an ortho for an evaluation, and the results were that I had a crowding problem and I will need an extraction, namely an incisor. My overprotective dad wasn't too keen on the idea of removing teeth for fear that the gap will never close correctly. So he decides to leave the decision to my teenage self who responded with a strong "heck no!" because I would be walking around with a gap in my front teeth and for fear of being called "metal mouth."
Fast forward to three years ago, when I'd started working... I was now covered by insurance that would cover $3,000 of orthodontia, and I was aware of the fact that the cowding hasn't gone away, and it bothered me. I'd spoken to my dentist who specializes in orthodontics about braces during my routine cleanings but never followed through with the full evaluation.
Because I am missing a lateral incisor on the top, my teeth are fairly straight, and my bottom teeth don't show much when I smile, most people don't even notice that my teeth are crooked. Well, except for those who are obsessed with teeth, like myself.
On the top, one of my central incisors is crooked and bucked out more than it used to be, and one one lateral incisor grew in a little further back than the rest of my teeth, but again, not noticeable to most people.
I am not actually biting down here, so you can see my crowded bottom teeth. I guess they aren't THAT bad...
Fast forward again to 6 months ago... during a routine cleaning (for the first time in a year and a half... I know that was BAD) my dentist informs me that I have the beginnings of gum disease. Not all over, but in the front, on the bottom where the crowding was. That was a wake-up call! Gum disease is something that we hear about all our lives in Listerine commercials but one doesn't really know anyone with it. Now the braces is no longer a cosmetic thing, but something that will correct a problem. This is time, I made a follow-up appointment with him and kept it. So during my next visit, he did a scaling procedure and also did the molding. That stuff was yucky! A two weeks later, I had another appointment for the x-ray and to discuss strategy.
The strategy was the same as the one all those years ago: extract a central incisor from the bottom to even me out and make room. First, I asked about Invisalign, the answer was: you are not a candidate. Then I asked about lingual braces, the answer was: you are going to hate them, and I am not going to put them on you. So we agreed upon ceramic brackets with metal bands. He was going to do the extraction after he put the braces in because in his experience, he's had patients back out even after the extraction for one reason or another. Then I will have to get rubberbands to fix my open bite.
One week later, on Novemeber 9, 2006, he put spacers in. I HATE spacers, enough said.
On November 16, 2006 I was braced. He told me to bring in a movie to watch while he put in the braces, so I got to watch "Wedding Planner" while he went to work with his assistant. I can't give any details other than some of it felt funny and the cement tasted yucky; I was the glasses thingy for me to watch my movie and earphones in. When they were done installing the brackets, he asked me what color ligs I wanted... clear of course, as I wan't my braces to be as invisible as possible. After everything was done, he gave me a mirror and I looked then gave it back quickly fo fear of appearing too vain. I didn't get a good look at the rollercoaster till I got home. First thing I thought was: OMG!!!! what have I gotten myself into?!?!?!?! The pressure was uncomfortable but bearable, so no painkillers for me. Eating was a problem though, but I was prepared: I'd stocked my fridge with yourt shakes and smoothies, and bought myself a container of congee (Chinese thing: it's soupy rice, kind of like runny porridge). I had the congee for dinner. But the pressure bothered me so much that I callled my guy up the next day to see if he would do the extraction before my vacation; I had a flight to Hawaii on 11/20, that Monday. He agreed to squeeze me in Saturday morning... great guy!
As much as I wanted the extraction done, I was SO FREAKING SCARED! I made him shoot me an extra two more times before I left him anywhere near me with any of his tools. There was a lot of gentle tugging. then he realized that my teeth were so crowded that my tooth wasn't budging because it was cemented to the incisor next to it! So he had to buff away the cement. After some yanking, the tooth came out. The wire came back on after they were sure that I had stopped bleeding... which was like 15 minutes later. Before I left, I made him write me a prescription for Tylenol 3, just in case it hurt; I was not getting on an 11 hour flight without being armed with a strong painkiller. I am proud to say that I still have the whole bottle of Tylenol 3 intact; the pressure from the darn braces hurt more than the extraction!
So i went to Hawaii and had a good time between all the trips to the bathroom to brush my teeth. I had the usual braces-food: mashed potatoes, yogurt, mushy bananas... then slowly graduated to sushi. [Insert all your newbie problems here, i.e. poke-y wires, poke-y brackets, sore gums, long cleaning routines, speech problems, cracked lips, etc.] Somehow during the middle of my trip, I noticed that the the lingual hook on the lower left brace was pokey; then I remembered that it must've been that fried chicken that had bent it. The crunchy skin that I couldn't turn down was the only thing that was hard enough to bend the wire. Nothing some more wax didn't solve. God knows that I've swallowed enough wax to make several candles!
Here is a pic from November 25, 2006. I was waiting for my friend to finish showering so we could go the luau, so I had this bright idea to take pictures of my gap so I can see the difference later.
I am not actually biting down. That was just my screwy way of trying to get a good shot at the gap.
After awhile, I noticed that the wire was really poking me on the top left, so I called my guy and asked about it, and he told me to go into after work so he can take a look. He ended up changing the bottom wire and putting on a power chain to start closing the gap along with clipping my poke-y wire. My first adjustment! He wanted me to keep the appointment two weeks later anyway, just to track my progress.
December 18, 2006: I got a new wire on the top, with these little loops, one on each of my top canines. He put on another bracket on my bottom left bicuspid so he could put a spring there to help move my teeth over, and the powerchain at the gap again. This time, instead of a lig to hold the wire in place on that turned incisor, he used a twisted wire and a loop in my wire there... I wonder why?
December 16, 2006: Two whole months since I've been braced! I finally got off my lazy behind and took some progress pictures.
My two incisors are leaning on each other and meeting at the top, leaving a triangular gap by my gums. There is a gap between my bottom right canine and bicuspid from the spring. Definately progress.
December 18, 2007: I went in for my 3rd adjustment. New bottom wire. The loop, twisted wire, spring, and powerchain are all gone. But he put in this spring-like thing to rotate my bottom right canine and make room for the turned incisor which would "probably just pop into place once the canine is out of the way." I took a picture of it, as my descriptions are almost never adequate. that and I've gone picture happy with my camera!
Two months and two days into my journey, my front teeth LOOK straighter to me; it can very well be my own wishful thinking. My bottom teeth definitely are slowly moving into place slowly but surely. I have been obsessed with teeth for the last two months. I look at my own teeth at any given chance, so it's like watching a plant grow, so my teeth never seem to be moving, but I've got pictures to prove it!! Let's see how long I can keep this up!
to be continued...
oh, I wrote a book! I guess I got a little carried away, huh?
The rubberbands don't bother me much, except when they pop off. 
Happy Braceversary! you keeps us posted on your progress too
) on a top central incisor and another one on one of my bottom incisors. He had also put a loop by the turned incisor to help turn it 
