Week Eighty-Three BIG NEWS

Well I have some awesome news....after 580 days I finally got the news I've been waiting for...THE BRACES ARE COMING OFF! LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE BRACES ARE COMING OFF!

I'm so relieved. The last few weeks have been tough, trying to do the final tweaks...but yesterday I was given my 'parole' date, November 9th! On the 9th I go in, they remove the braces, polish my pearly whites and take impressions. The next day I go in to pick up my Hawley Retainers. These are what you think of when you think of retainers, plastic and wire. After a few weeks of allowing my bite to settle, I'll be given clear ones similar to the Invisalign braces to be worn during the day.

I'm so excited, over the moon.

So after all this time, just a reminder of how far I've come.

First Day....

Week 83--Look how beautiful! (And Halloween colors to boot!)

First Appointment

I had my first appointment with the orthdotontist today. He's a very nice man and his staff is polite, fun and professional.

I decided to go with the stainless steel braces rather than the clear. I may have some "complications" that would be better dealt with steel over the clear. I am not so vain that I'd be that worried by the metal.

It's costing a little more than I expected, but with the "complications" I understand why.

I had my impressions taken today. They were NOT bad. I had remembered them from when I was a kid as the worst part. I remember how rough that orthodontist was and how I kept gagging through the entire process and that it seemed like it took forever. Today, it was less than a minute per tray. The technician was gentle and no gagging.

Then I had a series of panaramic xrays and pictures taken. I asked for copies of the pictures so hopefully, eventually I'll receive them in my email and can post thost here.

In one month, I go to get spacers put in between my back teeth. These will make room for the bands that will hold onto the back teeth. Two weeks after that, I will get my "tin grin".

I must admit, I was hoping to get them on sooner, sooner on, sooner off...but I will have a vacation in the middle of the two weeks and they recommended not going on vacation with the spacers in place. If the spacers would break or pop out I wouldn't have a way to get them fixed while gone.

So. T-minus 45 days of freedom to eat gooey, chewy, crunchy stuff....