Resuming Braces

I finally found the courage to resume my braces treatment yesterday after 8 looooong months of removing them for my wedding last year. As expected, my dentist wasn't too happy with the delay and lectured me quite sternly. I was practically squirming guiltily in my seat without daring to utter a single word.

So anyway, this is my 21st visit to have my upper and lower braces fitted again after the looooong break. Think initially the dentist wanted to fit only the upper braces but in the end decided to do both at one go. Surprisingly, it didn't hurt as bad as I expected it to be. Sure, I was a little sore when I got up this morning... but it was nothing too unbearable... and THANK GOD for that...

However, since my upper jaw is larger than my lower jaw... with both upper & lower braces fitted, I will end up biting into the lower jaw braces and potentially bite off the wire... So... the dentist put 2 bite blocks (which is really a clump of hard clay) at my forth upper tooth (both left and right)... it was so near my front teeth that when I smile, it can be seen... and worst still... when I bite, there is this HUGE gap between my upper and lower jaw separated by this 2 clump of clays!!! In short, that meant that I cannot chew ANYTHING... and will either have to take porridge or bread with milo everyday for the next 6 months!!!

16-03-2008: $1,100 [Deposit, X-Rays, Photos & Moulding]
30-03-2008: $ 870 [Deposit & Upper Braces Fitting]
20-04-2008: $ 423 [Extraction & Medication]
18-05-2008: $ 325 [Wire Change]
17-08-2008: $ 325 [Bottom Braces Fitting]
14-09-2008: $ 764 [Extraction, Frenectomy & Medication]
25-10-2008: $ 385 [Wire Change & Scaling]
23-11-2008: $ 385 [Wire Change & Rubber Loops Change & Scaling]
24-12-2008: $ 325 [Wire Change & Rubber Loops Change]
24-01-2009: $ 325 [Wire Change & Rubber Loops Change]
21-02-2009: $ 325 [Wire Change & Rubber Loops Change]
28-02-2009: $ 714 [Loose Bracket, 2 Screws, 4 Springs and 4 Crisscrossed Wires]
21-03-2009: $ 325 [Springs & Crisscrossed Wires Adjustment]
30-04-2009: $ 325 [Loose Bracket, Wires Change]
30-05-2009: $ 325 [Loose Bracket, Mini Wires Removal, Thicker Crisscrossed Wires]
04-07-2009: $ 325 [Loose Bracket, Springs Adjustment, 8-Ring Rubber Loops]
01-08-2009: $ 275 [Springs Adjustment, Additional Crisscross Wires, Rubber Loops]
22-08-2009: F.O.C [Springs Adjustment, Additional Crisscross Wires, Rubber Loops]
07-09-2009: $ 510 [X-Ray, Braces Removal, Scaling]
08-09-2009: $ 70 [Solubles for Retainer x 4 boxes + Plastic Case for Retainer]
26-05-2010: F.O.C [Upper & Lower Braces Fitting + 2 x Bite Blocks]

YTD Spent: $8,421.00

Come to think of it... I've actually completed my payment for the braces treatment... so if the dentist is calculative... he could've just ignored me... for all upcoming visits to tighten my braces will be F.O.C from now on... So ya... thank you dentist...