Official Start Of The Braces Journey

This entry will be split into two sections: The wordy section and the fulgy pictures section. For those who are interested to see how crooked my teeth were, please click on the link.

My braces journey should have started and ended before 20. I remembered going for the very first appointment at National Dental Centre when I was in secondary school and they told me that they will put me in the waiting list for about three years. 

Three years came and gone, and they never called me back. That is how much trust you should place in public healthcare service. In fact a friend of mine still has his braces on after seven years, not because he has super uneven teeth, but because each appointment comes every 3 months. 

So then, on Oct 29 2011, I went to Aline Dental for consultation. It was the fastest and most expensive decision I ever made lol. The reason was simple, my fear for pain have been overcame by my irritation about my crooked teeth. 

Anyway Dr. Tan appeared to be a rather gentle and quiet orthodontist and the clinic is bursting with people on the day I went for the appointment (I caught a few newcomers like me too), so I think that he must be a good orthodontist :) 

Some people said that there's nothing wrong wrong with my teeth, some even went to the extent saying that my crooked teeth are cute (wtf really o.0?) but that's because they aren't the ones brushing and noticing the teeth! 

Anyway the verdict from the 1st consultation:

I have to extract 4 teeth

*cues thunderstorm*

I just had my teeth extracted yesterday but not after a pleading call to Dr. Tan asking if it's okay for me to only extract the top 2.

Of course is not okay, what was I thinking! 

Many people walked me through the process of braces fitting and tightening, but no one really told me much about about teeth extraction, except that I wouldn't feel anything. 

So after my own experience, I only have 1 word for it: tiring. 

The dentist first inject the LA to both sides of the teeth (the gum on the outside and inside)

Pain level was 2/10 for the outside, and 5/10 on the inside where she described the tissue as tight and hence it will be painful to force the needle in.

During the extraction, I felt pressure/ blunt pain, the same kind as you would feel from someone pinching you with their fingers and not with their fingernails.

Pain level 0/10 

Heartpain level 10/10 (oiii 4 relatively health teeth *sobs)

Honestly, extraction of clots from my face during facial is even more painful than the injection lol but that's because my facialist will extract clots that haven't even surfaced o.0 

I took out all 4 teeth because 

a) I have to take all of them out anyway, I cannot be bothered to travel to the place twice

b) The first two extraction was painless, my dentist rocks! I know. 

c) The dentist assured me that while some people chose to take out 1 or 2 teeth at a time, she has to extract 5 or even 6 teeth at one shot (for dentures) so taking out 4 is normal. The procedure is the same for everyone, is just the fear stopping people from finishing things up

Immediate aftermath was horrible, the LA's effect were still there so I look freaking swollen and ugly

*horrified*

Aftermath was tiring. 

I have to change the gauze every half hour for approximately 2.5 to 3 hours and could only eat my dinner at 10pm. *grumbles* I have to eat porridge even though I felt perfectly fine! So I sneakily ate some potato chips afterwards when everyone was asleep oh and mochi too :D 

There was no need for the panadol I was given, even after the numbness effect wore off. I just felt some things missing and that's about all. 

People who have their teeth extracted said that I will have a swollen face for these 2 days (which was the reason why I took MC on Friday for extraction) but my face returned back to normal after the LA wore off :D 

*whispers* I think their dentist not very good. 

Overall I paid $200 for the extraction

and if you want to come to the clinic (nope they have no website)

it's 

Meng Dental Clinic

731 Yishun St 72 

#01-41 S760731

Ph: 6758 2288

The only reason why I didn't go to the clinic that Dr. Tan recommended was because this clinic has been my family clinic for years. 

Some tips from me

1. Try to go for your extraction before your menses. It's a weird logic I know, but I know I wouldn't appreciate losing blood while losing blood during menses or losing even more blood after menses ended. 
2. Brush your teeth after every meal and gaggle salt water. You have a crater size hole, of course food will get stuck. It is also a wound so ensure that it's clean otherwise nasty bacteria will colonise the place 
3. If you hate the taste of blood, drink your water with a straw.

Okay you can click and view my ugly teeth now 

How is this "okay" ?!?!

Ugly yes?

My teeth. Still not very sure what to do with them