constant pain... again
I wore braces for about 4 years in high-school. Since then, my jaw has apparently changed shape, and I've had impacted wisdom teeth which have since been removed. Perhaps due to the above reasons my teeth started shifting, and after a while the retainer I was wearing no longer fit. Since my original orthodontic treatment was apparently over and done with, I no longer had regular appointments to see my orthodontist. When I tried to contact him again, I discovered that his practice had disappeared. My dentist referred me to another orthodontist, who said that I "presented with a Class II relationship with a deep overbite on a skeletal II base". He said that "the only way to achieve a satisfactory Class I relationship is to involve a combined orthodontic and surgical approach". That didn't sound good. He then said that "should you not wish to proceed with surgical intervention", at which point I breathed a sigh of relief, "the upper and lower fixed appliances treatment will only be able to re-align both dental arches, and the Class II relationship will still remain". D'oh, I think? "You will then require indefinite use of upper and lower retention appliances in order to maintain the correction". Yep, d'oh.
I didn't like the sound of that, so I put in a more concerted effort to track down my old orthodontist. I eventually found that he'd moved his practice to Gladesville. When I went to see him, he said that people with my type of bite were difficult cases, and our teeth tended to want to move. I could either wear braces again, with the indefinite retainer wear, or I could do nothing and let my teeth do as they pleased.
This second opinion from my old orthodontist wasn't exactly good news, but he didn't mention the drastic sounding surgery as an option. He did, however, give me a quote that was about $2000 more than the quote given to me by the other orthodontist... if I was going to get the treatment done, I didn't want to have to travel all the way to Gladesville and pay a couple of extra grand to do so.
So after all of that, I'm getting treatment from a new orthodontist, I'm struggling to eat solid food again, and I can look forward to a lifetime of wearing a retainer. Two more years of metal in my mouth to make the first four years seem worth it. At the end of it all, I'll supposedly have perfect teeth. That'll make it all worthwhile, right? The fact that I didn't have the nerve to disagree must say something unflattering about me.
Justin just came to return a few of the videos and DVDs Jesse and I hired out last Friday... ooh look, The Elephant Man.
I didn't like the sound of that, so I put in a more concerted effort to track down my old orthodontist. I eventually found that he'd moved his practice to Gladesville. When I went to see him, he said that people with my type of bite were difficult cases, and our teeth tended to want to move. I could either wear braces again, with the indefinite retainer wear, or I could do nothing and let my teeth do as they pleased.
DR. WOLFE
I'm also afraid little Lisa is going to need braces.
LISA
Oh no! I'll be socially unpopular! (pause) More so.
MARGE
Are you sure, doctor?
DR. WOLFE
Well, judge for yourself. (showing a computer image) Here's Lisa today. Without treatment, here's what she'll look like at age 11... age 14... age 17... and finally, age 18.
The last picture shows a huge tooth has grown up through her face. Lisa gasps.
BART
Cool! she'll be a freak!
MARGE
Bart!
BART
We can stick her in a trailer, drive around the south and charge two bits a gander.
This second opinion from my old orthodontist wasn't exactly good news, but he didn't mention the drastic sounding surgery as an option. He did, however, give me a quote that was about $2000 more than the quote given to me by the other orthodontist... if I was going to get the treatment done, I didn't want to have to travel all the way to Gladesville and pay a couple of extra grand to do so.
So after all of that, I'm getting treatment from a new orthodontist, I'm struggling to eat solid food again, and I can look forward to a lifetime of wearing a retainer. Two more years of metal in my mouth to make the first four years seem worth it. At the end of it all, I'll supposedly have perfect teeth. That'll make it all worthwhile, right? The fact that I didn't have the nerve to disagree must say something unflattering about me.
Justin just came to return a few of the videos and DVDs Jesse and I hired out last Friday... ooh look, The Elephant Man.
posted by Gene at 2:25 pm
i'm in the process of the first stages of getting braces and i'm so freaked out... the next time i see my dentist i'll be getting my 4 teeth out that's needed in order for room for my teeth to move around... did it hurt for you when u got ur wisdom tooth out? i'm so afraid of the pain i havent been able to make my next appointment!
I know how you feel. I had to have 4 molars taken out before I got braces the first time around. Having them taken out ended up being more unpleasant than painful, but dreading the process was just as bad. Try not to freak too much, you'll cope :)
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