Fast forward 25 years. My insurance through work just started paying for adult orthodontics three years ago, so I'd started debating whether I wanted to go through the time and hassle. At my last regular checkup with my dentist, he suggested I bite the bullet and pursue braces. Aside from severe crowding of my bottom teeth, my overbite has gotten worse over the years and my dentist is growing concerned that my teeth are chipping.
After gather information and the initial consult, I decided this wouldn't be so bad, even if it meant three years out of my life (2 in braces, 1 in retainers). After waiting a couple of months while I had a tissue graft on my lower gums (through no fault of my dental hygiene, my gumline had receeded to the point that the root on one tooth was exposed), I finally had spacers put on 6 March and the upper brackets put on 13 March. Lower brackets will go on at either the first (in 7 weeks) or second adjustment.
![Image](http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/1120/im0000920yy.th.jpg)