Aaron's Journey With Braces

Debanding actually happened today! The long wait is over, the teeth are set free! Love that new smile! With all the excitement, it was hard to get Aaron to stand still for a good picture. One of the great "goodies" our orthodontist provided for us was a gift certificate to a local photographer for a free 5"x7" photo. (Actually, two photos, one for us and one for the doctor to hang on their "wall of fame" for finished cases - still a nice perk for patients.) We're not completely free just yet, there is a fixed retainer on the bottom teeth for now....

Familiar site. The waiting room.  Aaron just had his 77 week check up. (It just feels like it's been 1,000,077 weeks) Elastics back on at night. Next appointment in 4 more weeks, and then, "we're getting close, just a few more adjustments!"This is the part of the treatment process where we must really trust that all this time is going to pay off with the world's most perfect smile. We just have to wait "a little" longer. Sigh. Patience is a virtue.   

So close and yet so far! Aaron did such a great job with his elastics, he's only weeks away from getting his braces off! That came as a surprise to me - I was finding so many elastics all over the house, I worried that any were staying in his mouth. The braces won't be off before the start of the school year, but it won't be long after that. We've scheduled his next check up only four weeks out.  He's already saying how strange it is not to have to remove any elastics whenever he's about to eat anything....

They're everywhere!  Those little round latex circles -sometimes in bright colors, sometimes neutral - are found all over the house. On a napkin next to a dinner plate, on the floor by the sofa, and especially IN THE LAUNDRY!  Aaron forgets that he stowed an elastics packet in his pocket, and inevitably they end up going for a spin in the washer and a tumble in the dryer. I figure, the elastics can only withstand so much exposure to the heat and humidity of a clothes dryer before they're usefulness is compromised... but luckily, we have a few extra bags...