Photos of Zara from Somerset, UK

Zara is 24 and lives in Somerset, UK, where she is a Graphic Designer for small promotions company, specializing in motorsport. She got braces to correct crowding and a slight overbite. She will be in braces for 24 months, at a cost of £2100. Her braces went on in November, 2003.

Zara says, "My teeth have really bothered me for a long time now, but it was a case of having the initial courage (and money!) to do something about it! I feel very let down by my first dentist, who I had been seeing every six months since I had teeth, he would tell me at every check up "we'll look at sorting out some braces next time so your crowding can be fixed". Next time never came with him! I changed dentists in Jan 2003 (after making my new years resolution - "change my teeth!") and my new dentist was happy to refer me to an orthodontist straight away.

"I was finally on my way to the teeth I always wanted! After 8 long months of waiting for my appointment, I eventually got one! I went along and had X-rays taken of my teeth and digital photographs taken of my teeth, smile and also my face from the front and side with my mouth closed. (If I had realised they were taking the photos I would have made more of an effort to look good!!!) (the X-rays cost me £40, which I had to pay there and then). I had a consultation with the orthodontist, he looked at my teeth and said he was happy to treat me and that I would be really pleased with the results - as long as I was prepared to spend the next two years in fixed braces. 

"At first this seemed scary and then when he told me what it would all cost, I thought my bravery had hit a huge brick wall - how was I going to afford to have it done? Luckily, he explained that I could pay a bit each month, with an initial deposit of £300 to cover the braces going on. Paying for them is going to be a struggle each month - but its something I really want done - and a great investment for my future :-) I made another appointment for the moulds of my teeth to be taken, another 3 weeks to wait! On the day I went in and I was surrounded in the waiting room by school children, braced up, looking very miserable to be there!! I was looking at them and thinking "I wish I had my treatment at their age!" I got a few strange looks from their parents, I don't know of any other adults in my area that have braces.

"My orthodontist took the moulds, unusual squishy feeling. I didn't have a choice of flavour, but it wasn't unpleasant - it tasted exactly like playdoh, sort of like marzipan. I was directed to the mirror afterwards as there were dribbles of it down my chin - glad I didn't walk back out into the waiting room looking like that!!! I made my next appointment to start the treatment. I was told I would need blue spacers put between my back teeth a week before the actual braces go on - and my £300 deposit would be due then! 

"I got the spacers in December. It wasn't as bad as I thought. After reading posts in the forum I was really dreading it, but they didn't hurt too much going in, it was just pressure, similar to flossing. The spacers are donut shaped, so he put a piece of floss through the centre and then pulled them down between the teeth. The teeth grip the spacer in place and then he removes the floss. They initially felt "bouncy", but as time has gone on and I have been biting down on them they have gone hard like thin plastic. The first day with them was probably the worst, I didn't like the feeling of having something stuck between my teeth and really wanted to pull them out!!! After the second day I didn't really notice them too much, unless I was eating, then it feels like loads of food is getting stuck around them!!

"The orthodontist took more moulds of my teeth, and yet again I had to wipe dribbles of it away from my chin!! Paid my deposit and was told not to worry about anything and look forward to my straight teeth. Now it has come so close I am feeling nervous, but also excited that I made this happen, I have wanted to do something about my teeth for ages - and now I am! 

"I had my braces put on November 19.  I was feeling nervous, but also excited that I could wave goodbye to my crowded teeth and begin to see great changes. I was worried about what I would look like in braces, I thought they would really emphasise just how crooked my teeth are. 

"Finally, I was another metal mouth!! I'd done it!! Wow what a wierd feeling, I can't believe I had actually started my treatment. My ortho and the nurse were really friendly and put me right at ease. We listened to CD's as they put my brackets on and they were really efficient - all done within 1/2 hour!! I have all my top teeth apart from the very back two bracketed and the same on the bottom. It feels like a load of metal. Whilst putting the brackets on I didn't feel any discomfort and only slightly tasted the glue which was a bit bitter. The funniest part is when they ask you to close your lips back over the brackets - very strange, you feel as though your lips wont cover them! 

"My brackets I believe are the Damon System, he didn't actually use a brand name but from what he said I am assuming that they are. I don't need the elastic band to hold the wire to the bracket, the wire was clipped into the bracket. I was told this applied less pressure to the tooth and often was less painful and moved the teeth quicker. I have had molar bands put round the teeth which had spacers either side, my ortho is concerned my teeth may move forwards and has put these on incase I need headgear to correct it. He did say though that often with these brackets people get better results and can usually avoid the headgear - I'm keeping my fingers crossed! 

My next appointment isn't until February 2004, he said that these brackets don't need so much adjusting and that by then my teeth should look hugely different! I only needed to pop in if I experienced any problems."