new beginnings...

Well....I went to the orthodontist this morning for a consultation for braces. Eek..I was told about a month ago by my regular dentist that instead of Invisalign, she recommends that I get metal braces.  I cringed as the words came out of her mouth.  I regularly get mistaken for a high school girl, even though I am 22 (almost 23) and married, so the thought of metal braces gave me a sickening feeling.  I asked her why she thought metal braces would be a better idea and she informed me that I have a cross bite on both sides, an open bite, and crowding.  Since braces are in the ballpark of $5,000, she explained that it would be better to dish out all that money and get my teeth completely fixed.  Therefore, that is how I ended up in the orthodontist chair this morning at 11am.
During my appointment today, I had to take several pictures of my mouth and spoke with the dentist.  As he was finagling his way through my mouth, he explained to me that an option of mine is to have oral surgery to break my jaw (my upper jaw is more narrow than my bottom).  Money signs immediately came to the mind when he said oral surgery and due to the fact that I have zero dental insurance...that isn't an option.  So after much discussion, I opted to get ceramic braces on my top and metal braces on bottom.
 Unfortunately, my treatment time will be up to 2 years :( I was not happy about that; however, I want my teeth fixed, so that is something that comes along with the process :/ I got a great deal--around $4,900 for 2 years of braces, ceramic, retainers for post braces, and it includes all my appointments, etc.  Thankfully, we have $4,000 saved up for my braces that I can pay when I get my braces on and then we can do monthly payments the rest of the time period.

WARNING: these pictures are NOT pretty. no judging, please and thank you :) 

here is a before picture. cross bite, over bite, and crowding is apparent.

again. awkward picture. but the blue things in my molars are separators which are trying to make some space for this quad helix thing i will have to get put it to push my upper molars out.

i am in so much pain.

next monday, i have another appointment to get impressions and rubberbands will be put on my molars where the separators are now. 

then...

march 7th: a new beginning with my braces. 

here's to the next 2 years....