Well before I
start the story of my removal, I’ll tell you a
little bit about my history with braces. My
younger sister began her orthodontic treatment
at the age of 6, so when I was about 10 years
old my mom asked the dentist if I would also
need braces, but they said that it would be
purely for cosmetic purposes so of course I
didn’t get them. When I was 14 years old my
dentist said that my overbite had gotten worse
and that we should see an orthodontist. We went
and he informed us that my treatment would
require oral surgery.
I got my braces
on in September of 2003. That following summer
we went to see the oral surgeon and he informed
us that I was ready for surgery, it was booked
for December 13th of 2004. The week before my
surgery I went to the orthodontist where they
put a bunch of little hooks to use to fix my
mouth shut after surgery. My surgery took about
3-4 hours, I was in the hospital for 4 days and
I had my mouth closed shut for 2 weeks. In may
of 2005 the orthodontist said we’re close now,
so I was so excited but then June hit and the
same thing was said, same with July, then in
august we booked a debond check but when I came
in he said we’d wait another month and then
check again. Finally on September 13th 2005 we
booked the debonding appointment, for October
13th, exactly 10 months after my surgery.
On October 12th
we drove to the town where my orthodontist is as
we do not have one here… and my appointment was
7AM our time, that night I tossed and turned and
finally fell asleep for 3 hours. I woke up
feeling very excited, as I ate breakfast I
thought it would be the last time I would have
to eat with braces YAY.
We arrived at
the orthodontist a couple minutes late so they
were waiting as it was just opening time. I went
in and the orthodontist came to check to see if
I was ready. He gave the ok and she began the
process. I have had one bracket ever removed in
my 2 years with braces, so I kinda new what was
going to happen. She just began to take them off
one my one, there was a lot of pressure but not
really pain. Then she let me go brush and rinse,
I smiled and saw my self braces free for the
first time in 25 months, I thought my mouth
looked unhealthy cause my gums had swollen up. I
went back and she began scrapping the cement off
my teeth, which was the worst sound I thought
there would be marks left on my teeth, it didn’t
hurt except for a few teeth were the brackets
had been very close to my gums.
She got most of
it off but the orthodontist had to come and take
the rest off with a little electric file almost,
then he filed down the bottom of my front teeth
cause there were some bumps were on my teeth.
They let me go brush again. My mouth felt so
weird to me it was as if I had no teeth just
gum, I had been so used to metal in my mouth for
so long. I came back and got molds, pictures and
x-rays taken and left. All day I was feeling my
teeth and smiling. That afternoon I returned to
the orthodontist were I got my retainers, a
clear one for the day and a different for night.
I smiled as I left thinking back to the day I
got them on, how scared I was of what lay ahead
but I did it and now I am happy with my new look
and new smile.
My message to
anyone with braces: it’s a long haul, sometimes
painful and frustrating but when you see your
smile in the end it's all worth it!