Today is bore-you-to-death-with-pictures-of-my-face day at pBd (feel free to comment on the new glasses though; I loved them when I picked them out, but Dumb Dad just said they look big and glasses-y so I’m not sure what to think now?!) .
Why am I showing you pictures of my cheese face?
Because.
Last week I went in to see my orthodontist with hopes of hearing him say some magical words. Something like, after 12 full months of wearing Invisalign*, you are now a free woman and can go back to just being awesome without the worry of 22 hours a day in aligners!
Only, um, no.
That’s NOT what he said.
Instead he handed me the first few of the 19 more trays (which amounts to about 10 additional months) I’ve been assigned to deal with what he calls a “stubborn” bite situation.
I’m calling it a jacked up grill.
Despite that fact, even at only the half-way-to-awesome point, the grill is looking pretty rockstar, right?!
As it should since, when all said and done, I will have suffered experienced 7 years of orthodontic treatment, an invasive oral surgery, a painful palette expander, a chain and pulley system of some sort (don’t ask me the technical term for that), numerous extractions, and a whole mess of pain.
Ahhh, the things one will do for beauty (and TMJ and migraines; I’m not only vain, kay?!).
So what does my long term bout with orthodontia tell you?
The Dudes are doomed!
As is my portfolio (which I don’t even have so I’m not sure how I’m supposed to bank roll this stuff).
#1 has already begun his process (actually, he wore his first set of braces when he was 8 and I can tell you plenty about early orthodontics screening. I think a post on that is in order!). He’s got a permanent retainer and the gangly, 10-year-old-Dude front teeth to prove it…
#2 is coming up on his 7th birthday and has yet to even lose his top teeth. I’m not rushing it because I know how much I will miss his baby smile when his grown up choppers come in. This smile is just so perfectly adorable (with that nose crinkle too; I die)…
And, #3, he’s all baby teeth still. I expect him to be a late bloomer like #2 since he started his second year of life with a mere 8 teeth to his name…
Okay, so be honest. Do you notice a difference in my before and, um, half-way-to-after?!
Have something Wordful to share this week?! Link up and then pop over to Seven Clown Circus and say hi to Angie too!
But, before you go check out our fave Wordful links from last week (a new way we’ve come up with to feature YOUR best work!)…
- My Little Pirate from Stacey’s Mothering Moments
- This is What It’s Supposed to be About from Who Says 8 is Enough
- 21 Months from Naptime Momtog
- The Wind on Her Face from Coffee Jitters
*pBd Admits It’s Free: I am a member of the Invisalign Teen Mom Advisory Board and have received Invisalign treatment as part of my participation in this campaign. All opinions are completely my own and they don’t direct the content of my post. They also don’t tell me to cry about my shoddy DNA or lament my 20 months in treatment. I do that because I’m a whiner. See the Invisalign Teen Disclosure Statement for more info on the program.
{ 52 comments… read them below or add one }
So hard to tell in Pics unless your teeth were completely jacked, and they look great in both, but yeah you can see a small difference!
And I like the glasses, I Love the color!
Yes! I can tell — it looks like they are all evenly together at the front now … instead of some ahead and some behind.
(does my description even make sense?)
And … love the glasses. They are PERFECT (much like the nose crinkle in Dude #2′s smile)
Totally makes sense! It’s funny too b/c I didn’t realize my teeth really looked that way until I started this process and I had no idea of all of the different things having my teeth better aligned could fix!
I can totally see a difference. I’ve been thinking about invisalign for a while now too. I had braces when i was a teen, but the teeth? They keep a movin. Can’t seem to get over the cost though. This post made me run right to the mirror to see if they’ve gotten worse. No luck.
Dana
Yeah, orthodontics is expensive. No way around that unless you have some really awesome insurance!
I LOVE Invisalign! my daughter just picked up her last set. She’s almost done, and I cannot believe the transformation. Her teeth were pretty bad, but they’ve responded well. And you?? You look amazing!!
Thanks Lolli! And good luck with her last set. It’s the realignment that’s got me another 10 months under my belt.
Yep, that’s a good-lookin’ grill, Mama! I always love looking at pretty teeth… especially I had to go through 26 years of jacked up teeth myself before I endured 3 years of braces. My poor daughter had braces too. So I’m guessing this next munchkin will have them too
I plan on getting Invisalign for him!
Thanks! I actually just talked to #1 about possibly getting Invisalign (he wore traditional braces the first go around), but he’s not sure he’s responsible enough for it. Um, sounds pretty responsible to me if you can say that, right?!
I agree with Erin; it’s too hard to tell. Unless you were Flava Flav’s long lost daughter, I’ma need an in-person (although, no, that won’t work either b/c I need the in-person before to compare to the in-person after. Nevermind. Yes! I see a difference! There. Carry on). But seriously, I’m sure YOU see the difference and that’s all that counts. The way it looks (and feels) to you is probably astronomical (especially after all this time).
I am on my third round of ortho. Started when I was 27 (after years of fright of the dentist, all four wisdom teeth being pulled at once (and being numb for only TWO)) and 10 years later, braces removed, put back on, removed, put back on, and I’m nearly done. Hopefully September will be it. The oldest girl at 11 needs braces (like your #2 her smile was perfect. Once the larger, permanent teeth came in though, it was like the shift from hell!) and I refuse to be in braces at the same time).
Yeah, if I don’t hurry up and get these things off #1 & I will be wearing them together!
You lucky girl!
I got braces when I was 24 and paid for them myself, so I did not go for invisalign because it was too pricey for me. Having braces was not fun, but having nice teeth after was awesome!
Here’s my insider Invisalgin tip on cost: if the doc is really comfortable w/Invisalign and up on certifications and such they should be really comparably priced. My orthodontist doesn’t charge much more for Invisalign than he would for some of his other straightening products.
I feel your pain girl. I was in and out of braces for seven years as a tween/teen. With the oral surgery to match. It sucked. And yep, she a major difference between the before and after. Just can’t figure out where else they are supposed to go. Your grill looks good from here!! And sorry for your boys, looks like the braces check is in the mail…
Your midline from before to 1/2 is drastically more awesome! It wasn’t bad before, but I can see your issue.
I like Honey Mommy got braces as a post-college adult (23) and had them for 25 whole months (and I had all four wisdom teeth yanked from my skull WITH braces in at the same time) – I can say the one thing about adult orthodontia is that you definitely appreciate it more and I think there is less likely “movement” after they get to where they need to be. (Whereas when you’re young you’re still growing.)
Kudos to you though! The invisalign is working for sure.
Thanks! And yes, I was very misaligned previously. It was the root of all the evil! I wore my first set into college (got them off when I was 20 after being in them for FIVE years!). Should’ve dug that retainer out of the mall trash can when I tossed it by mistake!
I can totally see a difference in the before and halfway there – you’re looking HAWT!
And I personally love your new specs! And YES I vote for a post on early orthodontist screening because Princess Nagger is DOOMED from both the hubby and I, and will definitely be needing braces. Not only did genetics do her wrong, but her thumb-sucking didn’t help either. 
Stinky Cats
None of The Dudes sucked their fingers or even used pacifiers so at least we’re fortunate to not have to add that to the issues. But, Dumb Dad even wore head gear so it’s hopeless!
I’m very excited to see your post on Invisalign. I just had impressions made on Monday to start the process. I am feeling really excited but also a little tapped out after paying the deposit. I’m hoping to have great results in 12-18 months like you!
Awesome! Welcome to the club! It really has made a huge difference for me! Good luck!
I see a difference. If cost wasn’t an issue, I’d get them too. This is AFTER I had braces for 6 years growing up. And my Kiddo is doomed too. At 8, he’s already at the Orthodontist each month. Ah, teeth.
Yes! #1 wore braces for about 7 months at 8. He has them off now with a permanent retainer until he gets some more adult teeth and wears them again! We just want him in and out before we have to start #2! It’s like paying for college!
Okay, totally off topic, but seriously. I just got my new glasses yesterday, and my girls re-acted like dumb dad did. All those people just don’t know how cutting edge we are and how “granny-likes-her-elastic-waist-polyester-doubleknit” they are!
I don’t even want to hear about those teeth. Mine are, well and truly, a mess. Insurance doesn’t cover braces on grown ups. We advocated for the better insurance because my daughters sucked their fingers until they were five and (at least) nine. No. Such. Thing. Their teeth are perfect. I look like a shark.
I told him “nerdy” glasses are in and actually make you look cool. He gave me his what-are-you-saying-are-you-hearing-yourself-right-now look. I rolled my eyes. It was a regular daily exchange.
In other news your shark comment made me laugh. Not b/c it’s funny, just b/c we actually call #1 Shark Boy. He likes it. For some reason even though that was one of the worst movies ever made, he thinks it was awesome and doesn’t care that his two rows of teeth have earned him the moniker.
you are so adorable!! I totally need to get glasses. UGH I hate that doc appt for some reason!
I just hate having to pay for them! We have insurance and these things were still insanely priced!
I do notice a difference… and this helped with your headaches and TMJ? Huh? I may have to look into this more.
Yes! Mostly because I am a freak of nature with a whole bunch of baby teeth still in my mouth causing my jaw to be thrown off kilter. It’s weird.
I can tell a difference. I love the glasses. The nose crinkle is to die for.
And he has those little freckles on each side too. Girls better stay away or I will have words!
My kids are doomed too! But I think you are looking great. And the glasses rock. Thanks for featuring me! I was torn between being mad and laughing. It seems parenting is like that a lot!
Everyday, right?!
My two oldest girls jacked-up grills were too, um, jacked-up for even Invisalign
Yep, glad they’re working for ya!
Yep, glad they’re working for ya!
I would’ve been too the first time I think. Fortunately I was a good fit since I’ve already had the toughest work done on my first go around with braces!
I did notice a difference and most of all, I love all the smiles, not just from the mouth you can see all the way through the eyes, those are great smiles!!!
Thanks, Lucy! Tyra Banks would be so proud of us! I think she calls it smizing:)
I think you have an incredible smile!
Thank you Teresha! It’s a work in progress:)
I can’t really tell a difference because I was distracted by how thin you look in the second picture. You look great!
(and you have a pretty smile in both pix)
Stop. It. I don’t feel thin right now. Or ever. But thank you for saying it anyway!
Your grill looks great! I’m scared – my 7yo dtr has a referral to see an orthodontist (she messed up her own teeth by sucking her thumb) and I DON’T WANNA GO! How can people afford this stuff? ::sigh::
Beats me. We had to do a monthly plan for #1′s first set of braces and I am desperately afraid to take him back for his second set.
I can totally tell. The dentist just told us #5 would probably need braces. Oldest 3 don’t. I thought we were home free. Boo.
It may be the angle, but it looks like your 2 top teeth are now less prominent. I need Invisalign in my life.
love the glasses
i totally see a difference! your teeth look great now, and just imagine how awesome they will look (and how awesome you will feel!) when it’s all said and done
You look adorable in your new glasses!
You have a fantastic smile. You belong on a billboard.
You have a lovely smile. Hang in there. I wore braces ( the big ugly silver ones) for 4 years then a retainer for 2 years after that. Hugs
Your teeth look amazing!!! I’m scared for my son. He hasn’t lost any teeth yet and my family has a history of really bad buck teeth in the front and my husband’s teeth are even worse.
I’ve been toying with the idea of a kids tooth post too….. 2 of my kids wear this mouth-guide thingy that is helping to shape their jaws as they grow and helps the teeth drop into the “right spots” from the get-go. But it doesn’t work for everyone…. kid #3 had had major dental work done, and he’s only 8! 2 palette expanders, braces, and he also had his tonsils and adenoids removed in November. Poor guy.
#4 looks like she is going to go the mouth-guide route too (oh- and did I mention that in most cases this means these kids will NOT need braces?!)… and it is too soon for #5 and #6- they are both 6 years old and neither of them has lost even their first tooth yet!
I DO think your teeth look better now than in your “before”pics…. and I LOVE your new specs!
Invisalign is the clear alternative to metal braces that uses a series of virtually invisible and removable aligners that gradually move teeth over time. The benefits include: no food restrictions, little interference with sports or other activities, and teeth get straightened without most people knowing they are in treatment.
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