I have a new smile

[Robyn]

Growing up, I struggled to maintain a healthy dental hygiene routine. Most of my childhood and teenage life I would see myself getting a filling every couple of months. I became desensitized to the fear of dentists due to the frequent visits I'd make. I got braces as a teenager and while they helped straighten my teeth a little, it wasn't a perfect solution and I felt unmotivated to maintain consistency with wearing my retainers. So my teeth became crooked again. And brushing became a burden with my increasingly challenging mental health. It was an embarrassment and I struggled to smile in photos and conversations.

Fast forward to last year when I began my life changing transition. During a cleaning visit, my dentist, aware of my transition, offered to give me the option of new teeth that would help me feel confident with my smile again. I accepted, and this year I began braces again for a few months. In October I graduated from them and this past week I had my first set of crowns installed. It's really impacted my life in such a positive way already. I have a few photos below showing this process.

How has the dentist experience been for you? What's the most expensive or challenging procedure you've had done? Are your teeth perfect?

Before braces, during and after braces and crowns.

[User 180565 is taking donation]

I have such bad dreams of my teeth falling out, I had a bridge done a few months back that set me back like 3 grand mind me asking the over all cost of it all? America is in such bad shape when it comes to dental costs and insurance sure were expected to brush which I've been doing more after that set back but it really can be hard for us as humans to care about little details about ourselves when so much other trauma happens in our life struggles.

[wildmaven]

Nov 12, 2021 9:23:43 GMT -8 Robyn said:

It's really impacted my life in such a positive way already. I have a few photos below showing this process.

Wow, congrats! It must be an amazing feeling to finally see the progress you’ve wanted for so long! Now your beautiful smile matches your amazing spirit!

[:~:Sarapha:~:]

That is absolutely amazing!!

I started with orthodontics when I was in second grade (I'm now 30), and gosh, I've been through the wringer haha I had a massive overbite of 2cm. They said it was one of the biggest they've worked on. Malnutrition also lead to a small pallette, so I was set up for the long haul. The first thing they did was put a contraption in my mouth called a Mara. You can read more about this torture device HERE. Along with that, I also had a pallette spacer. So, I had bi-weekly visits to have the spacer adjusted, and have the Mara adjusted. I had both on for 20 grueling months, starting just after third grade started. It was *impossible* to brush effectively with this thing on, so I ended up with many cavities in my back teeth. I got very lucky, though, and the MARA was a success. If it had not worked, the only other option was to surgically break my jaw and move it manually, which definitely does not sound like fun.

When that nightmare was over, and they filled the cavities, I was at the end of sixth grade. I had one stubborn baby tooth that was sticking around, impeding their ability to do further work. That's when they were like, "well, we'll just pull it". I asked if that would affect the adult tooth under, and they said it wouldn't. Ittttt did. That tooth began coming in sideways. So at the start of Seventh grade, they did surgery on me, removing a small part of the gumline, attaching an eyelet to the emerging tooth, then putting braces on the whole bottom row. I had those on for 2 years, they were taken off halfway through ninth grade.

*Then*, in eleventh grade they suddenly decided I should have braces on my top teeth for another two years. I declined this, not wanting to go through another two years of braces, and into college, nonetheless. Their reason was that one of my canines was slightly crooked. I fought hard about that one. Which is *hilarious* because last year, that exact same tooth decided to get an abscess at the root, and subsequently died. Needed a root canal and a crown, which ended up straightening it out anyway 😂 the Fates are funny.

[sharon]

That's fantastic congratulations! I used to dread going to the dentist as a kid - as an adult I prioritize it and listen to every suggest the dentists make. My teeth are not perfect. Toothaches are the worst and I have a very low pain tolerance so I try to stay on top of my dental hygiene.

[MattyH]

Nov 12, 2021 9:53:42 GMT -8 User 180565 is taking donation said:

America is in such bad shape when it comes to dental costs and insurance

I live in Scotland so we have free dental healthcare.