Bye, Bye Braces!

Speed Braces Indeed!
Yes, the speed braces worked all their promised magic and they were removed last Wednesday! It wasn't quite three months that I had them on. Taking them off was a lot easier and faster than putting them on; it took only a few minutes.

Of course, we had to take some more molds (my favorite activity at the dentist!) of the teeth sans braces to fit the final retainer. Dr. Glenski is also doing some cosmetic work on all the front teeth so they took some molds for that as well.

I am more than pleased with the results of the speed braces. Having worn them just 3 months I can say with great confidence that wearing them 2 years would have driven me completely bonkers. I don't know how people deal with it. It is a committement; to keep them clean, to watch what you eat, to get regular check ups. The only downside I experienced was that my teeth were sore a lot. But I'd do it this way again. No question.

Put me on retainer, please!
I have a temporary retainer now, until my real one comes in. It's clear plastic, like the Invisalign tray. I keep it in all the time except when I eat. You can't see it at all. I can feel it, though, and it's kind of smooth and plasticy like you'd expect. A gentle tug with both hands pulls it off and it goes back on pretty easily too.

Appearantly, the mouth finds the retainer to be a foreign object and the salivary glands go into overdrive trying to adjust. Since my mouth is already a running faucet, this makes removing the retainer a bit like running my hands under a waterfall. From what I've read, this will pass.

It ain't over 'til it's over
There's more work to be done; a few crowns, a few veneers, the real retainer, and a whitening. Stay tuned...