Loop, I was more "there" this time and I was aware of what they were doing. They took out the right one first. It was out rather fast and easy, but the left one seemed to take forever. They drilled and hammered and pushed and pulled and at that point I felt some pain. I think it was the root that was not all that willing to get rid of me.
Now there is quite a hole in my gum where the left canine used to be. They say it will slowly fill up with new bone.
So they did not come off just like that but on the other hand they only had to make cuts on the "outer" side of my gums, none on the palate side, which was a relief. The surgeon said he had chopped the teeth in three pieces - the root, the crown and the part in between them came out one at a time - to get them out as carefully as possible.
My teeth have felt a little funny, I guess, but not as much as I was afraid they might. Above all I've been very careful not to brush too hard and not to bite into, well, anything.
I'm heading for my dental check up in half an hour. Let's hope that will be an uneventful visit... Then cleaning in the afternoon and I should be all set for braces.
Londonchick, I asked for ceramic brackets and my ortho said no problem. I think we'll discuss all the options again from the start at the appointment. I don't actually know for sure all the variations she has to offer, really. We actually have not yet really been able to discuss braces because there has been so much other stuff to deal with!!
Kelly, thanks for your kind words! I just read somewhere that "bravery is about being scared but still going ahead". Maybe that's the kind of brave I now feel
ADDED in the afternoon:
Dentist says things are looking good, teeth are all cleaned up and polished and the one thing left to do is getting braced on Thursday.
I'm ready to rock!
Case: Impacted canines, crowding & crossbite.
Treatment: SARPE 2004/10/6, RPE 2004/9/28 - 2005/1/31, w-arch until 2005/11/22, impacted canines extracted 2005/5/18.
Braces on: top 2005/6/2, bottom 2005/8/30.
Braces off: 2008/6/9.
Retainers, phase one: expanding Hawley retainer 24/7, bonded retainers on top & bottom.
Retainers, phase two: Hawley on top, bonded both top & bottom, positioner for night time use.