What ARE these things??

[opie]

I was braced May 8 and after the three days of feeling like I was in a midieval torture mouth device, the pain subsided and everything was going quite well. I even got to the point where I didn't need wax any more. Two days ago I noticed the pain of something digging into my cheek, creating a sore. I looked more closely and see a bracket back there, one on either side, with a tiny hook coming out of the bracket. Funny, I never noticed that before, and thought I had taken a pretty good look at all of this that is going on in my mouth. Anyway, why would I have a bracket with a tiny hook on it? Makes me a bit fearful of what my ortho has planned for those two hooks... Also, do you think I am just now feeling these things because my teeth are moving and my arch is widening? I keep meaning to post pics to see if any of you notice movement, but I'm not at all computer savvy and keep putting it off. Maybe this weekend...

[opie]

I guess I better get to reading. I thought I'd just get these braces on, have a little discomfort, get them off after a year or so and voila! A gorgeous Hollywood smile. Didn't realize there was so much to all this. Powerchains and hooks, and the like. I guess I basically know nothing about all of this. I'm off to start reading...

[Miss Smiley]

The hooks were bothering me too, so I took the easier route and just waxed them