BLEAH! So my adult #11 tooth (that's the upper canine, or fang on my left side) never came in properly. My baby tooth just never fell out until a couple of years ago. I went to various "specialists" who told me a) leave it alone and it will come in, b) it'll never come in and you need full braces and if you don't your teeth will all fall out and c) a whole range of choices in between. Being doubtful as I am of the medical establishment I did nothing. Lo, three years later it's come about halfway in and shows no sign of going any further. The braces option ranged from $3500 to $5000 and no one seemed willing to give me any sort of break on this but I finally found an orthodontist who said a retainer and a couple of elastics should pull it down enough. I don't care if they're especially straight as long as there isn't a big gap in my smile. So TODAY I go to get this procedure done and I am WAY apprehensive. For $600 there's zero guarantee it will work at all, there's some danger it will further mess up my teeth AND I get to wear a retainer day and night for 3 to 6 months, taking it out only to eat, after which putting the elastics back should be a special challenge. Is this trip really necessary? I feel my vanity overriding my good sense. It doesn't HURT, why mess with it? But alas I am shy about smiling and I hate that stupid gap so I'm going to try it. Wish me luck my non-existent Monday readers. Perhaps I'll feature the new hardware on Thursday.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Adult orthodontia
BLEAH! So my adult #11 tooth (that's the upper canine, or fang on my left side) never came in properly. My baby tooth just never fell out until a couple of years ago. I went to various "specialists" who told me a) leave it alone and it will come in, b) it'll never come in and you need full braces and if you don't your teeth will all fall out and c) a whole range of choices in between. Being doubtful as I am of the medical establishment I did nothing. Lo, three years later it's come about halfway in and shows no sign of going any further. The braces option ranged from $3500 to $5000 and no one seemed willing to give me any sort of break on this but I finally found an orthodontist who said a retainer and a couple of elastics should pull it down enough. I don't care if they're especially straight as long as there isn't a big gap in my smile. So TODAY I go to get this procedure done and I am WAY apprehensive. For $600 there's zero guarantee it will work at all, there's some danger it will further mess up my teeth AND I get to wear a retainer day and night for 3 to 6 months, taking it out only to eat, after which putting the elastics back should be a special challenge. Is this trip really necessary? I feel my vanity overriding my good sense. It doesn't HURT, why mess with it? But alas I am shy about smiling and I hate that stupid gap so I'm going to try it. Wish me luck my non-existent Monday readers. Perhaps I'll feature the new hardware on Thursday.
4 comments:
LMAO it's not Monday.
Good luck with all of that. I think you have a nice smile already & never noticed any gap 'til you pointed it out.
Sass! I was sick yesterday so it's Monday TO ME so there!
well good luck. i hope the cheap, non-brace alternative works. i can understand not wanting the gap. i had to have all 4 of my canines pulled when i was about 12, it took until i was almost 18 for all of the adult ones to come in.
I hope that works for you! It's definitely worth a try.
Post a Comment