And they're off.............

We entered into that stage of childhood/teenage development last year (sometime in October) where we try to straighten what has become crooked about their smile. Beatrice was very excited to get braces, and thought that it was neat.......for a while. I have always felt strongly about my children getting braces. If they needed them, I would find a way to make it happen. Fortunately, some family members were a few steps ahead of us, and helped us find a good doctor. We love our doctor....... Dr. Timothy Wheeler He is great with Beatrice, and is very good at explaining everything that he is doing. He is at the University of Florida School of Orthodontics.

Before she got the braces on, we wanted to take pics of her teeth

This pic was actually a while before, but you get the idea...

She has had her braces for months and we were gonna see how all of the teeth were coming in (or out) and decide what to do next. Two visits ago, Dr. Wheeler decided that she could have them taken off, and would fit her for a retainer.

The day we went to have them off

I know that it probably seems weird, but I was kinda sad to see them go! I think that she looked cute with them, and made me feel like she was still a little girl.

So, after he took them off, she said that they felt slick and weird! She is trying to adjust to the retainer, and has a hard time saying some words, but is getting used to the different feeling.

She has lost another tooth since Tuesday, so she has 2 big gaps now! We have told her that we could put a chicklet in the space to fill it.......she is not too keen on that!

This is with the retainer..........

This is without the retainer.......

So, now all we have to do is allow some teeth to come in. She may have to get braces again, but we will have to wait and see.

She had these taken off on Tuesday and boy, was that a day!!!! I will explain in a later post. Here's a hint: 3 sick kids, a hospital visit and a spanning of 3 counties!!

Blessings,

Kim