I was a thumb sucker as a kid. I came out of the womb sucking my thumb. My thumb and me were best buds.
Sucking my thumb was my comfort. It was my security. It protected me from bad dreams. It calmed my nerves.
However it had it's drawbacks - one of which was crooked teeth. My top teeth grew in around my thumb. If you looked at the roof of my mouth you'd see it.
Once I stopped (took me a long time) I had to find something else to calm my nerves...but that's a whole other blog post...
In Jr High it was standard in our house to get braces. However, I was a very shy kid. I was self conscious. My mom worried that braces would make me feel even more self conscious. So, we both decided against braces...for now.
I didn't think about it during high school, or college, until I turned 26 and realized I was no longer on my parents insurance...and no longer able to have braces covered. If I wanted them I'd have to save the money myself.
I worried still about having to have them on for a year or more. I was social and was dating. I didn't want braces, but I wanted straight teeth.
Comments about your crooked teeth are never fun to hear.
I remember when I was about 15 years old and seeing a family friend. She looked at me and Erin and said, "I can never tell you two apart! The only way I can is by looking at Shannon's teeth because Erin's are straight and Shannon's are crooked".
I'll never forget that comment.
I remember also a kid at Kiddie Kandids (where I had worked for so many years) was afraid to have me take his picture because "she has vampire teeth". HA!
Many more comments are hard to forget.
Fast forward to the past 8 years... I have been trying to figure out a way to get braces. I have HATED my smile. Hated. I know that's a strong word, but it's how I felt.
My dear, sweet, loving husband surprised me with a brand new piano one Christmas. I cried! When he told me it was either a new piano or braces I cried inside some more. While I LOVE my piano, the idea that I could have had braces was hard to swallow. Again, I love my piano! I would have probably chosen braces though if it was my choice. But, I'm thankful I have it, and now thankful for what has happened with my teeth without the expense of braces.
So...now to get to the good stuff...in February I went to the Dentist for a cleaning. I had only been to this Dentist once before for an emergency root canal. It was the best root canal ever!!! Seriously.
After they cleaned my teeth he came in to do a dental plan and talk about the work I needed. He then mentioned that he would like to do this thing called 'Dental bonding' on my front teeth (that's where the majority of the crookedness is). He explained that it would give the look as if I've had braces.
I sat up. "WHAT?!?! You can do that?!??!" I exclaimed!
"yes, I can. It's what I love to do. It's my baby." He responded.
"Oh my gosh, I'm going to cry!" I said.
I told him about my past and how I had wanted straight teeth for years and years, and how everyone of my siblings has straight, beautiful teeth except for me.
So, I went home and told Ryan and we talked about it. I didn't know if it was actually going to happen because of the expense of it (mind you it's significantly cheaper than braces and veneers, but still costs money). I kind of put it out of my mind.
Until one day he tells me I'm going to get my teeth done. I tried to fight it saying we didn't have the money. He kept coming back saying, "it's done. You're getting it done and that's final."
The appointment was set for yesterday, April 10th.
I was nervous. Excited, but nervous. I didn't think it would actually happen. In fact on the drive to the dentist I was convinced something bad was going to happen and it would prevent me from getting it done.
Well, nothing bad happened...thankfully. I walked into the office just before 2pm. They set out a few hours for the appointment since there was other work they were going to do as well. I sat in the chair, they gave me gas (the best!) and I put my headphones on and listened to Mindy Gledhill's "anchor" album.
An hour or so later I open my eyes to Ryan standing in the room talking with the Dentist. He was watching him go to work on my teeth. The dr. stepped away for a moment. I asked Ryan how they looked. He said, "different...but good". I turned on my phone and take a picture and see how they looked. I couldn't believe my eyes!!!
I HAD STRAIGHT TEETH!!!! A few tears were shed at that moment.
Finally at 5:30 I was done. He gave me a mirror to see my full smile. WOW!!!! What a difference it made!!!! I am THRILLED with the results!
Take a look!
BEFORE
DURING
BEFORE & AFTER...
AFTER...
HAPPY DAY!!!!!!!
