Home Stretch-- Present Update

The Bad News:

I just got back from California, and man my teeth are killing me!  First, my orthodontist removed my powerchain from my top row, and the elastic ligatures from my bottom row... then, she took the wires out.  It seems as though the 2 top front teeth were'nt coming together as they should, so my orthodontist used a rounded-looking file to shave between (which didn't hurt at all) them so they would fit against eachother nicely. So for now, I look like a hillbilly!  And, I am back to wearing elastics... Ugh!!

The Good News:

Bite wise my teeth are looking great and they are all nice and straight.  So, not the next visit, but the one after that, my braces will be coming off!  But that still means at least 4 months with braces-- my orthodontist says:  the next visit they will be taking molds of my teeth (like the ones you get before your braces are put on) so that a custom retainer can be made for me... the visit after that the braces will be removed, and I will receive my retainer.  Yay! :-#