Before I can get braced however I have to have two extractions...maxillary first bicuspids. I'm scheduled to have this done on August 23, 2011. I'm getting a little ahead of myself. Let me start at the beginning....I have never liked my smile. I wanted braces as a kid (strange, huh?) but I actually never even saw a dentist until I was 17. My mom had a traumatic experience at the dentist when she was a child so she would not take her children to a dentist for fear they would have the same fate. I love my mother dearly but really wish my dental issues would have been taken care of as a child instead of dealing with it as an adult.
At my first ever dental appointment I was told I have an overbite and could get orthodontic treatment if I wanted. Of course I wanted this but my parents could not afford it so I was just happy at that point to have a professional dental cleaning and knowing that I would be getting that every 6 months.
Fast forward 14 years and I am finally at a point in my life where I can ask my dentist for an orthodontic referral. He sets me up with an orthodontist who is supposed to be one of the best when it comes to adult orthodontics. I have my appointment set and two days before I am to be seen my husbands employer cuts the whole staff to only 30 hours/week. Needless to say there was now NO WAY I could afford to pursue any orthodontic treatment. I was bummed!!
Fast forward 2 more years and now my financial situation is back to normal and even better than ever so I reschedule my consult. On June 3, 2011 I had my consultation. I didn't really know what to expect but I was excited and nervous all at the same time. And I will admit I was slightly mortified that I was the only adult in the waiting room waiting to actually be seen and not waiting for my child to be seen; but I got over it. Per my official consult report I have Class II Division II Malocclusion, Class II Skeletal Relationship, 70% overbite/2mm overjet, moderate maxillary/slight to moderate mandibular crowding, vertical maxillary excess and inter-labial gap of 4mm.
The recommended treatment is for extraction of the maxillary first bicuspids along with full orthodontic brackets and mandibular anterior inter-proximal reduction. The projected treatment time is 24 months. As much as I would have loved to schedule the bracing right then in there I had to first discuss this whole thing with my husband. I will admit I was also in sticker shock for the price of treatment. I was fulling expecting a few thousand but not the $6500 that I was quoted. Although I have to say this price included EVERYTHING plus one year of retainer appointments and the retainers themselves once the braces come off. Once I discussed treatment with my husband plus spent the last couple of months saving the required down payment I am ready to go!
I know this journey is going to have plenty of ups and downs but I am ready for anything that comes my way and know that the end goal is to have a smile that I am not ashamed of!
Here are my before pics (I will add others after my extraction and once I'm braced)
I did re-size these but they are still a little big...sorry about that!
My smile:
I know my smile isn't too terrible but the next photos really show my problem areas!
Side view #1:
Side view #2:
Uppers:
Lowers:
That's my story so far. Stay tuned for more!!
I'm hoping it stays that way! I do tend to have a high pain tolerance though. Eating has been a bit challenging. It grosses me out when I feel food move thru the gaps so that's really going to take some getting used to. And the salt water rinses...yuck! 
I'm even more excited to get braced now so that I can get these teeth moving to fill in the gaps...9 more days to go!!!
I'm assuming this is normal as they no longer have a tooth next to them?? I've also noticed that when I floss my uppers it is a lot easier to get the floss in between my teeth. Is it possible that my teeth have moved some since I've had the extractions?
It still grosses me out some when I feel food move through the extraction sites but I'm adjusting. A drink of water after every bite really helps! I also keeping telling myself this will all be worth it in the end!
