Adult Case for Braces

Yes...I admit it...I was one of those "thumb suckers" throughout the early years of my life. I remember my parents trying everyting in all creation to get me to stop sucking my thumb. Pepper, Vicks, tieing a mitten onto my hand...you name it...they tried it, but much to no avail.

I had always wanted to have my teeth straightened when I was younger because of the nasty names kids would instinctivly call me because of my protruding teeth. As I got to be a teen I was resigned to knowing that if I wanted it done I would have to pay for it on my own. I remember having quite a bit of jaw problems back in my teenage years. My jaw would only open so far and then it would lock. I didn't get much sympathy at the time but now I know it was due to my misaligned bite and the stress it was under.

I was about 23 years old and a bit naive when I saw a commercial on tv for braces for only $999, what a deal I thought! This was back in the early 80's and maybe that 's what they cost back then but I think probably NOT!

This seemed like a great opportunity for me so I went with it and made my first appointment. I had always wanted them and knew this was my one way of making them affordable. I was living on my own and working and made my first appointment with the orthdontic practice. Upon the consultation with the orthodontist, he told me that they cold certainly get my teeth straight but that I would need surgery to bring my lower jaw forward and my upper jaw back. It sounded good for me, althought I wasn't quite concerned about doing the surgery when it was all over with. I was in braces for about two years and had them taken off when I knew I'd be moving out of state. I probably had a few more months to go before they were ready to come off and so they did as I had asked. I was delighted with the results and the rest is history...

NOT...here I am 25 years later and having problems with my jaw and not happy with how my teeth have moved over those 25 years. Did I mention that I should have been wearing my retainer over all of these 25 years??? Well, I lost it and never had it replace, so here we are back to square one.

I feel like I have a hook tooth that protrudes further than the north sea...LOL...ok, so I'm exaggerating a bit, but it bothers me enough to want to do something about it. Here I am 25 years later and asking myself, "do you really want to do this all over again"?? You're getting old, is it really worth it?? Ok...if you're good at mathmatics you've already deciphered my age to be around 46, although if you were to ask me I'd tell you a firm "29". :)

This past week I set up an appointment with my son's orthodontist. My 15 year old son is just about out of braces...if he would continue wearing his rubberbands, he would have been out six months ago...as parents, we know how that goes. He's been in them twice as well, once when he was about 7 and then again when he turned 12...so much for getting a jump start on preventative orthodonitics. I just pray that his mouth isn't full of white marks all over his teeth because that was another challenge...BRUSHING!!!!!!!!

Ok...I've just climbed off my soapbox and I'll continue more after my consultation.