I have all the thought and planning yet lack of one of the key step which is the action to do it.
One of the main reason I have been dragging for so long was because of my family issue.
My family always think that braces is inappropriate.
They have the mindset that natural is everything a human need.
Braces will not only cost a lot of time, money, pain; but it also lengthen a human face shape that it will looks longer and sharper.
In Chinese Feng Shui, a long and sharp face shape represent lack of prosperity.
My family disagreement indeed dragged my plan but not changed my mind.
At June 2015, I have been bringing this issue up with my life partner, Jeremy.
At the very beginning, his response was neutral.
He said that he doesn't think my teeth is crooked that I need a braces; he also mentioned that my teeth and my face shape are just nice that he sees no point for me to undergo some adjustment.
I acknowledged his point and I talked to him further about the reason and my thoughts that I wanted to go for braces.
He agreed on my point and he said that he will support my decision, either I choose to go brace my teeth or let it be natural.
I have then made my decision to go for braces.
On 15 July 2015, I have made an appointment for dental consultation. My mother went for the dental consultation with me.
During the session, she kept repeating to the orthodontic that there is no need for me to go for braces (which indirectly trying to influence the orthodontic to say that I do not need a braces).
The orthodontic analyse my condition by taking my mother's concerns into the explanation. She said that my case is not serious, and it is optional for me to go for braces. She roughly explained the cost, procedure and the length of treatment.
She let me make my decision, and if I have decided to go for the treatment I would need to schedule another appointment for X-Ray and braces mold.
(Price: Dental Consultation - RM30)
I have made another appointment for X-Ray and braces mold. I informed my mother on 21 July. She was shocked and sounds disappointing. "I thought you have cancel your plan to go for braces..." She said.
On 22 July 2015, around 1pm before I go for the appointment she called me. She threaten me: "You are already so old and now only you go for braces. If you are going for the braces, you no need to get married". After the call, I broke down to tears. How could she said that? She was the one who has been stopping me to go for braces. If she was being supportive enough I might have completed my braces treatment by now. And why is she threatening me with marriage?
But of course, I was scared and disturbed by what she said. I did not go for the dental appointment on that day.
I am full with self doubt and self blaming. I was trying to communicate with Jeremy; however, I feel like what he can do is just giving me so general statement like "It's like that de la.." "Either way I also support you"
I got mad and I refused to discuss or update him further regarding this. He sensed that I wasn't happy and disturbed. He was being concerned of my feeling yet I chose to keep it with myself.
Until one day that I have broke down to tears. He comfort me and convinced me that I can go for braces if I want, he sees more advantage as compare to disadvantage for me to go for braces. He has then repeated himself that he will support me no matter how. He has also decided to talk to my mother on my behalf. For our marriage, he said he can wait for me but at the same time, we can work towards it. Caz marriage does not happen with just a few days time but taken years to work on to it.
I feel relieved.
1 August 2015, he talked to my mother before we go for the braces appointment. He managed to convinced my mother and we went for the appointment. On that day, I went for X-Ray and get my braces mold done.
(Price: X-Ray and braces mold - RM300)
(Duration of the treatment: less than 15 minutes for X-Ray; less than 30 minutes for braces mold)
Next appointment was 1 week after, 8 August 2015 where I extracted two tooth. The fourth tooth counting from the middle tooth, each side.
(Price: simple tooth extraction - RM80 each)
(Duration of the treatment for simple extraction: around 10 minutes of waiting after injection of anesthetic; orthodontic loosens the tooth with [elevator] and use [forceps] to remove the tooth - less than 5 minutes)
After the tooth extraction, it was painful and very disturbing to eat. The first two days, the extraction wound was painful and the remaining days I was suffering with the pain at the tooth besides the extracted tooth.
I was under pain killer for 4 days until I finished the pain killer prescribed by the orthodontic. I then approached my company in-house clinic for another 20 tablets of pain killer just in case. I took one tablet of the pain killer from the in-house clinic and I find my hands are itchy. The itchiness stays for 5 days or more.
I talked to my mother about the issue. My mother suspect that it might be sensitive tooth which causing the pain. She asked me to brush my teeth with sensitive care toothpaste and apply a little of the toothpaste around the affected tooth before I sleep.
I followed the same and the next day I find that the pain subsides. I have stopped taking pain killer since then.
For normal case where 4 tooth extraction is needed, the orthodontic will extract 2 tooth from one side; and extract another 2 tooth from another side in the following treatment.
But for my case, as so far only 2 tooth extraction (both from the upper teeth) is required, the orthodontic has extracted 2 tooth each side from the upper teeth. This has caused some difficulties for me to eat.
The day after the tooth extraction, I have been eating liquid food (ie porridge, milo, oats, red bean soup) for four days. After that, I have started to take soft food such as noodle, breads, and rice. As there's hole at the tooth extracted side, I find it disturbing to eat small food such as mee hoon or rice as it might tends to stuck at the holes which causing minor pain.
The next Saturday, 15 August 2015 was the day I put on the braces for my upper teeth.
I was suppose to go for the appointment with Jeremy but he has to go for meeting vacation which was planned long time ago. He asked if I can wait until he come back from his meeting vacation then he will bring me for braces.
I felt very disturbing with two missing tooth and I feel like I should have go and get my braces done without dragging further. I talked to him that my mother will be going for the appointment with me and my brother will be fetching us there. He was okay with it.
I went for the appointment with my mother accompany me by my side during the treatment. During the treatment, my mother has raised a lot of questions to the orthodontic regarding braces and teeth related issue; but those questions have got nothing to do with my case (she asked about the orthodontic's opinion for my sisters's teeth condition and implantation for her own teeth). The orthodontic explained patiently but I felt like the orthodontic was distracted during the treatment by 'busying' answering the questions my mother asked.
Within one hour, the braces for my upper teeth has complete. I did't feel any pain.
The orthodontic claimed that I might feel the pain on the second or third day. And she said that pain killer is not required for this kind of treatment. I insisted that she prescribe me the pain killer just in case. She prescribed me the pain killer as per requested.
My braces is made of clear ceramic brackets and a thin metal archwire.
(Price: deposit of braces for upper teeth: RM1000; clear ceramic blocks - RM1500)
(Duration of the treatment for upper teeth:
1. Before the braces are fitted, the teeth was cleaned and conditioned - 10 minutes
2. Brackets glued to the teeth - 30 minutes
3. Connecting the brackets with thin archwire - less than 10 minutes
Having braces on your teeth is like taking care of a baby.
"They" (braces) can be annoying but they are part of you; and you know you are the only key person to take good care of it.
During the treatment, you might face some difficulties as below:
(i) discomfort the braces causes on your teeth particularly;
(ii) lack of enjoyment for the food you take (regardless how tasty the food is)
(iii) a lot more time spend on choosing the food you can take (avoid hard food or sticky food)
(iv) a lot more time required for you to finish a plate of food (as you may need to cut the food into smaller pieces)
(ii) a lot more time spend on your teeth brushing routine (I need roughly 30 minutes to clean my teeth)
Below is the braces starter kit provided by my orthodontic.
Progression:
1st month: Put the braces for upper teeth
2nd month: Add on the braces for lower teeth
