Braced; disgraced

I'm officially braced. (I also got a horrible haircut today, which certainly doesn't help...) I only got the top done today because my orthodontist wanted to give me a chance to get used to it, but for some reason he also put those metal rings on my bottom back molars. Those are poking me the most. The brackets aren't so bad -- they mostly just feel bumpy. However, my teeth are pretty sore, and it hurts to chew on my back teeth. I also can't really bite/chew with my front teeth because my underbite makes that pretty much impossible. So dinner was basically making my salmon into salmon salad and swallowing that and some rice without chewing. Dessert was a smoothie, which was actually harder to eat than you'd expect. It actually hurt to suck on the straw.

My orthodontist decided to put ceramic/porcelain brackets on my front teeth and canines. I am missing my lateral incisors, which have been replaced by Maryland bridges so they obviously don't need brackets. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the porcelain brackets, but I'm actually very happy with them. I think they're much more discreet than metal. And, you know, when your bangs look like mine do today, discreet is really the least you can do.

The Beginning

My underbite has been developing for four and a half years... ever since my braces were removed when I was thirteen. I was told then that the only way to correct it would be surgery, which I would not be able to begin until I was done growing. Now, at seventeen years old and six feet tall, I am (hopefully!!) done growing and (definitely!!) ready to have my jaws fixed.

So far, I have visited my orthodontist, an oral-maxillofacial surgeon, and have been reading many blogs. The surgeon has identified that I will probably need surgery on both my upper and lower jaw, most likely this coming winter. I am starting braces next week to help get my mouth ready for surgery. While I'm not looking forward to a year to a year and a half in braces or to having my jaws broken and wired together for a month, I am looking forward to a new bite and prettier profile.