Braceface: The Girlfriend

So, I'd like to happily share that I met a really amazing guy who actually really likes this braceface. Just proof that life doesn't stop with a metal mouth. It does, however, make life a little more interesting. So, who cares if people think he's my dad when we are out together because I look 14. (ok, I'm exaggerating, we are the same age). But I swear I got a bigger scoop of sorbet the other night because the girl behind the counter had braces. With a new guy comes meeting lots of new friends and family. And of course, those friends and family are all about sizing up the new girl.

Conversation in car on way to every new meeting...
me: You did tell them I have braces, right?
him: Ummm, I don't remember.
me: (panic) What do you mean?!
him: I don't remember, if I said anything. You know, your braces aren't a big deal.
me: (quiet panic)

I always think that whenever I meet these people they think "Oh... Poor guy, dating a girl with braces."   Yes, I know it's all in my head! (maybe)

Bottom line... I found a perfect guy even with all this hardware in my mouth.

Is it too soon to fantasize about these things coming off???

Progress Report

Hi kids,
It's been so long since I've posted, sorry! I had an appointment with my OD yesterday. He finally changed my arch wire! Yay and owchie!!! The real push is to expand my very narrow bite. He thinks the summer is a more likely time for surgery (I was hoping for spring). I am really noticing changes to the alignment of my teeth, which is really exciting. Here's a comparison of Day One and today. Progress!

Aug. 22, 2011 - Day One

Dec. 1, 2011 - Month 3, Day 9

They added a spring between my upper lateral incisor and cuspid on both sides. This is to add a small space so that my surgeon can make a proper chop... I also have the lovely power chain on my lower left to help straighten out my left central incisor.

Happy December!
Amanda

I ♥ my OD

Had an appointment today. Finally got the last band added to my last molar. All my teeth now have hardware on them. My OD said the most amazing thing... "I don't have any patience. I'm trying to move all these teeth as fast as I can so that we can get you into surgery." I just wish my teeth would move along with the nice man's plan. My arch wire still has not been changed. But he added twisted wires to a few spots (I forget the proper, they look like springs), but their purpose is to rotate and add space to a few of my crowded teeth. Next appointment in 5 weeks, where he'll upgrade my wire.

P.S. One of my favorite sounds is the little clicking noise of the ligature pliers when they clamp down.

Braces and more dating

Hi kids,

I can't believe I've had braces for 2 months. I've almost forgotten about them. The only thing that reminds me is when meeting new people, and by new people I mean new guys on dates.  I'm happy to say I'm past  the kissing w/braces experiment. All went well. It seems the only thing I'm still having trouble with is eating-like-a-normal-person-on-a-date challenge. Since I'm limited by my vegan diet, I'm usually stuck ordering the worst braces foods imaginable. Last night I had an arugula salad. I'm sure I don't even have to describe the bounty of little leafy greens stuck in my grill when I was done - since you all have been there. I did excuse myself after I was done (making sure I did not open my mouth too wide) and made a trip to the ladies room. I, of course, forgot my toothbrush in my other bag, so I was left to swish and gargle my dinner all out. It worked pretty good except for a stubborn piece of lettuce on a back bracket. Somehow, when trying to get it out with my finger, I snagged my bottom lip on the arch wire.  It was so snagged that I had to actually re-maneuver my bleeding lip off the wire. It was awesome. I waited a few minutes for the bleeding to slow and went back to the table and quickly grabbed and reapplied my cherry lip balm. It was date number 2 and we already have plans for a third, so no harm done (except to my lip)!

In reality it hasn't been too bad. The guys who I've gone out with all thought (or rather said) they were cute. Of course, here's one text exchange that wasn't so smooth:

guy: Thanks for going out with me last nite I had fun and you are really cute! Even with braces:)
me: Yes, me too. But 'even w/braces' is not very nice!

Oh well. Hope you all have a great weekend!

Amanda

and yes, i'm totally back to my glasses.

Braces Week 6

Sorry I've been so quiet the past few weeks! It's been a bit uneventful on the metal mouth front. I did have a couple appointments, one to put in more separators, the other to actually add more bands to my molars. My OD also put in a spring between my bottom central incisors. I have to go in again next week for one more separator on my last stubborn molar.

Here's a comparison of week 1 and 6. I can see a little movement. My upper wire is less 'bent' now.

I still haven't had a wire change. 

I know, not a very exciting post. I do have another first date tonight, so we'll see how that goes. There seem to be plenty of guys who seem to not mind the braces. Maybe I'm just attracting metal fetishists. Oh well! 

Braces and dating...

So, not only did I just have my first date in 12 years, but I did it with braces! (I'm not a hermit, I just broke up w/my boyfriend, of yes, 12 years - go figure.) So, I created a profile on eHarmony and OF COURSE, the big question was where in my profile I break the news about my braceface. I ended up deciding that one picture (w/caption) of me with braces thrown into the rest was plenty explanation. After a few back and forth communications with my potential suitor, flash forward to me driving to my date and getting last minute panic - MAYBE HE DIDN'T SEE MY PICTURE WITH BRACES!!! SHIT SHIT SHIT!!!

I, of course, couldn't help myself and asked 5 minutes into it "you did see that I had braces, right?" He laughed and said, "yes, they look good!" Lol. He may have been lying, but I appreciated it:) We had a great time and I think we'll probably go out again.

Most importantly, when I got to my car, I didn't have any bits of food stuck on my teeth. This is going to be very interesting...

Separators Round 2 :(

When my braces were 'installed' two weeks ago, most of my molars were still so tight that my ortho couldn't get bands around them. He was only able to get them on my back 2nd and 3rd molars in one area (lower left).  At the time he told me I had to come back in two weeks to get separators AGAIN to try to finish the job. That's what I did today. And sadly, since I clenched my way through the rubber kind last time, he used metal separators (not pictured below). They really hurt! I go back in two weeks so that he can finish the job. He did mention right away that he could see movement. If you say so doc...

If anyone is wondering why I'm talking about my wisdom teeth (3rd molars), remembering I had oral surgery in July, it was my freak of nature 4th molars that were extracted. I had an extra on both my lower sides.  For a small girl I apparently have a huge mouth and don't need to have my real wisdom teeth removed. Yay!

And just because I know you all want to get a REALLY close up view of the inside of my mouth...

My ortho would like bands on the very back teeth. 

My lower left is the only 'completed' quadrant. #19 was pulled many years ago after it cracked in half. The space is much bigger than what the picture shows.