When I was a pre-teen, I had some funky crooked teeth. As a result they yanked some teeth out of my head and I wore braces for over two years.
My orthodontist at the time was, to put it bluntly, a jerk. Aside from the many times he wounded me during my appointments, he also greatly dropped the ball when my braces came off.
Normally, orthodontists are very quick to get the retainer to the patient as quickly as possible: same day or next day, if possible.
Mine didn’t give me my retainer until 3 weeks after the braces were removed.
In 3 weeks, my teeth had shifted out of position, so when I put that retainer in my mouth, guess what happened?
It hurt.
A lot.
I was 14 years old, and logic says that if something hurts, don’t do it!
No amount of adult reasoning and begging by my parents could convince me to wear that retainer. The sucker hurt, it could be removed, ergo, it was not going in my mouth.
Right now I want to slap that short-sighted 14 year old version of myself upside the head.
Tuesday morning I went to the orthodontist and walked out with a mouth full of braces.
Not only did that stubborn teenager cost me almost $7,000 and an additional year of wearing braces, but she set me up to have to spend a year listening to my parents say “I told you so!”
I don’t know which one stings more: the “I told you so’s” or the pain in my mouth right now.
Really. Just want to slap her.
(And yes, I’m acting as if this was another person who did this to me instead of myself, because I am SO different from the person I was we may as well be strangers. I’m not shirking responsibility. I know I did this to myself.)
Anyway, one might wonder why I would put braces on my teeth and a huge hole in our finances when I’ve been quite clear that we are broke. I mean, aren’t braces a cosmetic, vanity thing?
Sometimes they are frivolous. But sometimes they’re necessary.
My latest dentist appointment showed a sudden, severe recession in my gums; bad enough that the dentist suggested I see a periodontist about grafting.
Only, he suggested I first see an orthodontist to straighten my teeth. Apparently my teeth have shifted quite a bit in the last 23 years, and will continue to shift.
That shifting is causing my teeth to put extra pressure on my gums. Since they are continuing to shift, if I go get some grafting to fix my gums now, in another 10-20 years I will likely have to go get grafting done again.
Ouch.
So I was advised to straighten my teeth, WEAR MY RETAINER, and get my gums grafted after the braces come off.
Since I’m no longer a short-sighted, pain-avoiding kid, I agreed to the treatment and Darrel and I shuffled money and reduced our debt payoff to afford the payments.
Let me tell you, I think I flat out gave myself a memory block when I was younger. I don’t remember braces being terribly painful. But let me tell you: braces freaking HURT!
Unfortunately, I can’t take anything for the pain, since even though he has reduced the amount, Zac is still nursing.
If ever there was something to encourage me to wean him, it’s the idea that I could pop some ibuprofen right now.
Even worse, my diet is already extemely limited – and the braces are limiting it even further. Trying to find soft foods to eat means some of my favorite meals are off the list for now.
For this week at work I’ve brought only soup, mashed potatoes, quinoa cookies (baked the minimum amount of time so they don’t get firm) and hard-boiled eggs to eat.
On the plus side, I may end up losing that last 3 pounds I’ve been wanting to shake!
The boys are fascinated by my braces. They keep grabbing my lips, pulling my mouth open and running their fingers over the brackets.
Zac, especially, doesn’t seem to know what to make of them. It’s kind of funny, actually.
Anyway, all I can say is that if you have a teen who recently got their braces off and doesn’t want to wear their retainer, send them over to this post.
I’m a walking example of how short-sighted, stubborn teenage willfulness can bite you in the butt down the road.
Now please excuse me while I go try to sleep so I can avoid some pain for a while.
Did you ever wear braces? How long did it take to get your retainer?
Three of my kids are in braces, a fourth will probably start them over the summer, and my dentist just gave me a referral today. Good insurance. My teeth were always great. I have worn glasses and hearing aids most of my life so I was quite proud that I had great teeth. I think so many pregnancies, births, and nursing trashed my teeth. Ugh. Now I get to have braces with my glasses and hearing aids. I think they are better than they were years ago. Only one of my kids has had any pain problems.
Oh, Amy, I’m sorry to hear you need braces, too. I’m really happy for you (and a little jealous) that you have such great insurance! That’s a HUGE stress reliever!
Interesting that only one of your kids has had any pain problems. Maybe younger people just bounce back faster than adults? LOL I certainly don’t remember braces hurting when I was a kid. Mild discomfort for a day after tightening, but not much more than that.
Yes, braces are much better than they were years ago. I was shocked at how quickly and easily they put them on, and the other technology they’ve developed is amazing! Aside from the pain (and the cleaning hassles), they’re actually kind of cool. 😉
Don’t worry; once your braces come off, you’ll be back to having awesome teeth again! Hugs!
I am a 60 year old woman. I had no choice but to get braces since when I had them when I was 15 I had four teeth extracted. Now I’ve had them on for almost a year-the ortho said about a year and a half. I had soreness and tooth pain, but for the last few months I’ve had horrible debilitating stabbing pains in my head and above my eyes and temples. When I complain I am told there’s nothing they can do but I should take tylenol or mortaring which neither works. Is there anybody else having this problem? Isn’t there something I can do? I am concerned about the pain. I don’t think it’s normal.
Oh, Karen. I’m so sorry you’re having such pain. That does NOT sound normal! I’m afraid I don’t know anything about this; would you mind if I share your comment on my facebook page to see if there is an answer out there for you?