So after forking out £80 for one consultation its not surprising the world was my oyster at when I would like to be seen and how soon I would. I only had to wait about 2 weeks.... the longest two weeks of my life it would seem. But finally the day arrived. I was so excited to finally go and find out if I was a valid candidate for braces on the NHS or how must it would all cost if I decided to go privately. Surely this appointment was going to be an all singing and dancing appointment seen as it cost so much.... maybe not!
I walked in to the room and was greeted by a friendly assistant and orthodontist... great start I thought. He sat me down, asked me a couple of questions and then had a quick look in my mouth. 'Right' He said... great I thought this must be where they take all the pictures, do all the moulds etc etc....wrong! The orthodontist then gave me a break down of prices for private braces only but said I was a candidate for orthognathic surgery and braces on the NHS..... then I was sent packing to mull over it orthagnathic surgery, Dvd in hand.
So I walked away feeling kind of deflated..... its not all bad though I thought maybe I wouldn't have to pay the whole £80 seen as the consultation wasn't completed. Wrong again. Now that really hurt. But the positive bit was I'd been seen a lot sooner than if I had waited for an NHS appointment, they had agreed to do the surgery and braces for free and they were going to send me a real consultation appointment. So I watched the Dvd to make sure I fully knew what I was letting myself in for. After the full hour of watching bits of operations, listening to people explain how hard it is to go through I miraculously still wanted to go through with it. So all I had to do now was wait for my next appointment to come through.
This didn't actually happen until 4 1/2 months later. Needless to say I was restless. But at least the main consultation was going to happen and we could really get down to business. Wrong again. I went to a different town to see my orthodontist because it meant I could have an earlier appointment. When going into the room once again I was excited to be moving on the process..... I spent and entire 3 minutes in the room before being discharged. The disappointment was indescribable. No moulds. No pictures. No real info. I just got told I was going to have to go and make another appointment to see my orthodontist again. That second appointment only really acted as a ultimatum appointment. Will she or won't she sign her life away?
Its not all bad though.... I made my next appointment and my orthodontist swindled it so I could see him and my surgeon at the same time. I did have to wait another 2 months but in the end it really was worth it. I arrived and was taken straight to a room to have my photos taken, then all my moulds were done, I was then sent for my xrays and after that I had a joint appointment with my orthodontist and surgeon. After that I only had to wait 2 weeks and my pearly whites were braced.
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
The rest is history...
So after years of being unhappy with my teeth I decided to take action myself and march down to the dentist to ask for a brace. There is a bit of background regarding my gnashers...
When I was 16 they sent me to the hospital to get my jaw checked out and told me I needed surgery. Of course I did what any 16 year old would do when given the choice of having a major operation or getting to keep my summer holidays to laze around with mates - I said no.
When I was 20 I had changed to a different dentist when it creeped up on me again. Would I like to have jaw surgery to correct my bite? Still naive and young at heart I thought better of it. Why was I always given this grand choice? Why not just waltz me off to the theatre and be done with it? My mum and dad weren't overly impressed with the idea of me having my jaw broken when it didn't seem to be an imperative thing. So once again I got away with it, my jaw intact.
Fast-forward 2 1/2 years later and I started to feel self conscious about my pearly whites. I'd over analyse pictures of myself, make sure I was at a particular angle on photos, smile with my mouth closed. Anything to not have to look at those teeth of mine. I noticed they were getting more and more out of line as the months and years went by. I longed for that perfect hollywood smile. I ate, slept and breathed having an amazing smile. Starting a new job - I felt self conscious. What were people going to think of my teeth?? Probably nothing - they're just teeth right? But to me they were getting to be all I could think about. Everytime I met someone new I'd analyse their teeth and smile. Triumphant that maybe one of my teeth was better aligned than theirs or unhappy that they didn't live constantly chained up in a world of crookedness.
Now as you're reading this you may think 'She must have the worst teeth in the world'. I didn't. Far from it. But it was just something that became so central and important to myself. That day in the dentist when I asked for a brace he told me I was probably eligible for it free on the NHS because of my jaw but I could get a quicker consultation if I paid £80. So I did it. Anything to get this show on the road...
When I was 16 they sent me to the hospital to get my jaw checked out and told me I needed surgery. Of course I did what any 16 year old would do when given the choice of having a major operation or getting to keep my summer holidays to laze around with mates - I said no.
When I was 20 I had changed to a different dentist when it creeped up on me again. Would I like to have jaw surgery to correct my bite? Still naive and young at heart I thought better of it. Why was I always given this grand choice? Why not just waltz me off to the theatre and be done with it? My mum and dad weren't overly impressed with the idea of me having my jaw broken when it didn't seem to be an imperative thing. So once again I got away with it, my jaw intact.
Fast-forward 2 1/2 years later and I started to feel self conscious about my pearly whites. I'd over analyse pictures of myself, make sure I was at a particular angle on photos, smile with my mouth closed. Anything to not have to look at those teeth of mine. I noticed they were getting more and more out of line as the months and years went by. I longed for that perfect hollywood smile. I ate, slept and breathed having an amazing smile. Starting a new job - I felt self conscious. What were people going to think of my teeth?? Probably nothing - they're just teeth right? But to me they were getting to be all I could think about. Everytime I met someone new I'd analyse their teeth and smile. Triumphant that maybe one of my teeth was better aligned than theirs or unhappy that they didn't live constantly chained up in a world of crookedness.
Now as you're reading this you may think 'She must have the worst teeth in the world'. I didn't. Far from it. But it was just something that became so central and important to myself. That day in the dentist when I asked for a brace he told me I was probably eligible for it free on the NHS because of my jaw but I could get a quicker consultation if I paid £80. So I did it. Anything to get this show on the road...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)