As many of you know I hate my diastema. I’ve put “get braces” on my to-do list since I was old enough to feel nervous when I didn’t want to smile in my school picture. Since then I’ve also been dealing with the hassles of having crossbite and occlusal issues. I’m constantly biting my lips while eating and now some other things that I’ll describe in a moment.

I went to the dentist on Thursday. I thought I had cavities. I don’t have any pain, but I’ve noticed two or three pits on the occlusal surfaces of my lower molars. To my surprise these were not diagnosed as cavities but results of my (apparently at night) clenching. Since my teeth are already out of order when I clench my upper teeth are drilling holes in the bottom teeth.

Great.

Well I wanted braces anyway…

I put a down payment on orthodontia Thursday. $400. My total treatment will cost $2,700. Which sounds like a lot until you consider the usual cost for someone of my advanced age and condition would go into the upwards of $7,000. So working for a dental appliance company will come in handy after all.

I’ll get my braces put on in late February or early March and then have a “metal-mouth” for two years. Even then I may need veneers to fully close the diastema.