Brace-Off, or, The End of a Journey

It's finally happened. After 11 months and some change, my teeth are Invisalign-free (except for the 3 months of retainers ahead of me).

My cheeks hurt from how much smiling I've been doing.

Thanks for following my Invisalign journey.  I have to say, it was really hard on my confidence to have "braces" for nearly a year as a grown-up.  It was like being that awkward kid in school all over again.  But you know what? It was worth every dollar I spent, every day of plastic trays, every visit to the orthodontist.

I know my teeth weren't all that crazy before, but I was always extremely self-conscious about them - to the point of only smiling on one side, or only allowing my face to be photographed at a particular angle, or hating-to-my-core all photos that showed my snaggle tooth.

But before you think, "sweet mercy, this lady is VAIN!" there were also dental health reasons for me getting my teeth straightened.  Flossing the crowded teeth was always a challenge.  The open bite put a lot of pressure on my back teeth, which caused jaw problems.  It was hard to chew or bite into certain foods.  It really had become necessary.

Anyhow, it's done now.  I think it was a worthwhile investment.  My smile is still crooked, and I still have jaw damage from years of clenching, but I feel like I can smile wide for the first time in my 30-something years on this earth. What a relief!