I'm 33 years old and most of my life I have been self-conscience of my smile. I have a gap between my front teeth, their odd shaped and the lower teeth are crowded. I had gotten use to my smile and had resolved to do nothing about it. Until my boyfriend made a comment in jest about my smile.

So, I decided to get braces. Anticipating the worst, I went see the orthodontist and she told me I will have to wear braces for 2 years and I will need to have a tooth pulled!!! Yikes! So a week later in go the spacers. Spacers are the most painful thing I have ever experienced. I'm sure only to be rivaled by childbirth. Anyway, after two weeks of spacers it's time for the braces to go on. I'm expecting the worse because my spacers have been no piece of cake. However, just getting those spacers out was reason enough to get the braces on.

So, after about an hour or so the braces are on and it really didn't hurt at all. It's now been two weeks and my mouth is finally starting to get back to normal. But remember the ortho recommended I get a tooth removed. I could put this off no more so I schedule my oral surgery.

Here goes....Expecting that this would be the worst pain ever I get my boyfriend who started this whole drama to take me to the oral surgeon. The entire process from local anesthesia to pulling the tooth was actually NOT PAINFUL!!

But wait. As I lay there it hits me, I just got a permanent tooth pulled. If this braces stuff doesn't work I'm screwed...and that's when I boo hooed like a big baby. I got a look at my mouth and then more tears... Finally my boyfriend who started all this drama assured me that I looked fine and the braces would close that gap in no time. And because of my bite and smile you really can't see the space.

It's been half a day and now I'm actually okay with the braces and the tooth being gone. I can't wait until my two years is up and the braces come off and the spaces are gone.

I can smile again...