Sadness, Depression & Advice for Others

Wow, I just realized I started this blog in 2015. My journey didn't even start in 2015 but the dedication to fix my smile finally became real in 2015. I've struggled with my appearance since graduating from high school in 2009.

But 4 years later and I'm so ready to see my new smile. I'm already so happy with all the changes the TAD's have made but it's the last 6 months that are the hardest.

I hate braces and what they have done to my self-confidence. I was put on an anti-depressant and just recently decided to go off of them and already regretting it. It's sad that I needed a substance to look at myself in the mirror and be confident out in public. To the people with braces, I'm not sure how you do it with a smile. Every chance I get I completely hide and avoid attention or smiling.

That's not me. This isn't me. I'm ready to be me again.

I want to say it's been worth it, but my only advice is to make sure you are happy already going into this journey. With a strong support system, family and friends, who care about you.  This is the time I needed to be dating, networking, and out living my life. Instead, I've been watching Netflix in my bedroom every weekend.

Over this....

It's been 14 months in braces.

I'm so sick of these things. I love the results of the TAD's so far but they just take forever to intrude. One side is higher than the other sadly so we cannot take them out.. I'll probably have these in for another 2 months at a minimum. 😥

Hopefully, by the end of this year, they will be off.

Sorry I didn't update in March.

- Kristen

Here's another progress photo that was taken just now. Again, this is pretty awesome progress from a year ago (photo below). I cannot wait to have the gum contouring to make my gumline even.

Below was with the palate expander. 

Update! *almost* 1 year down!

Hey there,
Forgot to update this with my progress thus far! So, started braces on March 28th 2018 and it's almost coming up to my one year anniversary! On August 1st, 2018 I had 2 purple temporary anchorage devices (TADs) screwed into my upper jaw with spring coils attached to the braces. The Damon braces straightened my teeth SO fast just wish the TADs would be as quick to intrude my teeth.

It's been about 6 and a half months with TADs and there's been intrusion although I can't say I'm as far along as we thought. It could be the travel restrictions being so far and having to see my ortho less than other patients. I'm not entirely sure but what I can say for sure, they are 100% intruding and moving up!

So exciting! To be honest, I'm already super happy with all the progress I've made. The below picture is top (February) and bottom (October) and some food in my teeth. lol

My 18 months treatment time will most likely be extended since I thought I would be in TADs for 8 months but it looks like they needed longer to intrude. I'll update once I have my next appointment on March 27th.

Thanks for reading and sharing my journey!