A BIG Reason to Smile!

Anybody remember this or this or this?

Well, they are coming off!!!

Today is my last day in braces!

My orthodontist originally estimated that I would be in braces for 12 to 18 months. Well, it turns out I have teeth that are pretty easy to move (a good thing in braces, a bad thing out of braces)! I was only in braces for 11 months!

My journey to straight teeth isn't over yet....

Tomorrow they will be putting a permanent retainer behind my lower teeth (the suckers that really get out of hand when left to their own devices). It is permanent... meaning forever... meaning today is the last day I will feel my tongue against the back of my teeth.... I will forever have metal there. I'm not too happy about that, but I'll do anything to keep these babies straight.

I will also have a clear retainer that I'll have to wear 24/7 (except when I'm eating) for the next three to six months.

Then, I'll have a retainer that I only have to wear at nights. I will forever wear this retainer at night. Isn't that sexy?

None of those things sound great but they are all better than braces on my teeth or crooked teeth. So I will happily suffer through it all.

To celebrate - my friend is throwing a Junk Food Party at his house on Saturday night. That should be interesting!!

Look for pictures of my new and improved smile tomorrow! My orthodontist even took before pics and will take after pics tomorrow. He is going to email these to me so that I can show you all what a difference it is. The before pictures are quite embarassing but I did something about it and it isn't my smile anymore so who cares?!?!?

I am so happy! You really have no idea how ecstatic I am right now!!! Yay!!