The day finally arrived. If any of you remember, my week 2 blog was written in a state of pain as I had just gotten my braces adjusted for the last time. Well I am here to update you: the braces are off! Finally, after two years and five months, my mouth is full of metal no more. Monday afternoon, at 2 pm, the braces came off at last. I had been a little worried that it wasn't going to happen though. I had heard stories of people going to their final appointment only to be told that they were not, in fact, getting their braces off. So, I went in a little nervous. But then, once I got in the chair I was being asked about retainers. I was a bit confused at first, but then I realized that meant that what I was hoping for would come to pass.
Taking the brackets off was quite easy; they all just popped off very easily. The metal bands on my back teeth were a different story. As the orthodontist pulled at them, it felt as though she was pulling out my teeth. It was painful, but it also ended up being quick as well. After this, the glue had to be scraped off. All kinds of tools were stuck in my mouth as the glue was being removed. Finally, an hour and a half later, it was all off, my new x-rays were taken, and my retainers were made. I couldn't believe it. I could not stop feeling my newly-smooth teeth with my tongue. I still can't, and it's been three days. It just feels so bizarre! I'm able to feel my teeth which I haven't felt in almost two and a half years, and I can eat things that I could not before. It's so nice to have my annoying braces off.
Now, the only thing I have to deal with is my retainers. For the first three days, I had to wear them for 24 hours a day. It was kind of annoying at first: they were a little painful and I had a lisp every time I would talk. But now, I only have to wear them for 12 hours a day, which is better than the the whole day I guess.
I can't believe it's been almost two and a half years since I got my braces on. It was 2018 and I was 14! That just seems crazy to me. I feel like I've grown so much since then. Now, I'm braces-less and enjoying it immensely!
Congratulations!! I got my braces off almost exactly a year ago. It's the best feeling!! Retainers are definitely not fun, but make sure you wear them or your teeth will shift...I know from experience :)
ReplyDeleteSo happy for you! I'm glad that your experience went relativley smoothly. Retainers aren't too bad, as long as you wear them often. My favorite part about getting my braces off was being able to eat all of the food that I was not allowed to eat when I had them on!
ReplyDeleteRetainers can be a pain but also a life saver. I have a lot of anxiety over my teeth, mostly because braces were such a pain for so long, and so I hoped that the sacrifice of wearing them for so long would actually pay off. Whenever I thought my teeth were shifting (long after I no longer needed to use my retainer anymore) I’d just grab my retainers, and in 3 days time, it was as if I just left the orthodontist.
ReplyDelete