Crooked Teeth, Part I
I’ve always meant to write about this, but I’m a lazy bastard, so here it is.
So I just got my first Invisalign trays!
This all started at my dental cleaning in January. I don’t quite know all the details (or any, really), but my original dentist had passed away over a year ago, and in the meantime, some new dentist took over his practice, and then another dentist took it over again. So anyway, I’ve always thought my teeth were pretty jacked up and wanted them corrected, but as long as my past dentists never said anything, I didn’t bother bringing it up. They know better than I do, after all. Anyway, my new dentist recommended getting braces, and referred me to an orthodontist.
Initially I was disappointed that the earliest available appointment was three weeks after making the call, but I’ve come to realize that that’s pretty standard — apparently orthodontics is a very in demand service. It makes you think about all the jacked up teeth people have in the world . . . and why animals have straight teeth. How do they naturally achieve that?
I had no idea what to expect, but thanks to the internet, I had a general idea, and hoped all the good stuff, like getting braces then and there, would apply to me. My orthodontist (a woman) and the assistants (there were tons of ‘em) were really friendly. Anyway, the actual examination was extremely quick. My orthodontist looked at in my mouth, identified teeth, and told me that I was a good candidate for Invisalign. That was a pleasant surprise, and I think I knew that additional cost wouldn’t matter, because although I was willing to accept adult braces, my vanity hadn’t.
The doctor also noted some funky lesions on my tongue. She asked me if they hurt, and I said no. I figured that if they didn’t hurt, it was nothing I should be worried about. But, she made a point to reexamine the lesions at the next appointment.
From there, they had me take impressions of my teeth, pictures, and x-rays. Having impressions involved putting this gummy substance in trays that I had to bite down on. Did I have to bite down? No, I think the assistant had to hold it against my teeth. It’s a weird experience when you take yourself out of the moment and realize you have someone holding this gunk in your mouth. The picture-taking was also kinda funny. These plastic hook-y things had to pull my mouth open and my cheeks away from my teeth while the assistant took pictures with their huge, fancy, fandangled camera, this close to you. And then there were standard pictures of my face and side profile, which I’ve been doing for other doctor’s office and even for a college class. It always feels like a mug shot! Anyway, the assistant said I’m photogenic, so that was a big ego boost. From there, we did x-rays. It wasn’t a standard x-ray machine in a dentist’s office. It was this huge contraption that you stood under, and I think it rotated around your head. No matter how much lead you put on me, a big machine with like that feels like it’s gonna shoot too much x-rays that would either kill you or give you super powers.
The appointment was wrapped up with more administrative matters. I was given quotations on traditional braces, and Invisalign, and various payment plans. I think I just went ahead and decided on the Invisalign then and there. I had to schedule another appointment and decide how to pay.
I’ll talk about the second appointment later.
