The start of my Braces journey

I have finally made up my mine to get braces done after many years of consideration. Saw a couple of my friends getting their braces and their journey seemed so short and easy. Thought that mine might be the same but oh well, different people have different problems.

Went for my first consultation on 18 April 2013 where they got a mould of my teeth, did Xrays and inserted separators (spacers) between my teeth to make space for the metal rings. The separators felt ok for the first few hours but after which, it hurt so bad! I could not eat anything the next day because every bite that I took was so painful. My teeth felt so weak. I was so helpless because it hurts to even bite on soft fries.

Was quite afraid when the dentist told me that I had to remove a wisdom tooth and also do a filling. I also had to get palatal expanders because my upper teeth was too narrow to cover my bottom jaw. I was afraid of pain and discomfort because the separators already hurt like mad. Kept googling on wisdom tooth removal and also palatal expanders. The more I searched online, the more frightened I got :X

To get the palatal expanders, after a week of putting on the separators, the dentist have to take a mold of my upper teeth with the metal rings to make the expanders. After the mold was taken, the separators were inserted back in. The expanders will be ready in 10 days (7 May 2013). My braces and expanders will be up on the same day. All the horror stories that I have read online about palatal expanders are killing me! Anyone who has done it has any advice for me? I'm just hoping that it will not be on for too long as it will affect the way I speak :(

Got my wisdom tooth and filling done yesterday (27 April 2013). To be honest, I was REALLY REALLY scared and nervous because I don't think my pain tolerance is that good. I went to 'The Oral Maxillofacial practice' at Mount elizabeth hospital for this. The total of S$1215 for wisdom tooth removal can be claimed via my medisave so phew! Filling was a separate S$74.90. My nervousness was soothed by the friendliness of the doctors and nurses there! I was really really impressed I must say. They have the friendliest doctors I have ever met.

I removed the tooth on the bottom right. The one on the top right was not affecting me yet so it remained.

The first doctor that I met gave me an initial analysis and explanation of what was going to happen. He could sense my fear/ anxiety and he kept ensuring me that it's all going to be alright. He did the local anesthetics jab for me which was painless as he applied a numbing gel before that. Next up was the filling. This female doctor was also so so so nice! This was the easiest filling I have done because I could not feel anything! Made her job much easier also because I could not feel the pain  :P
The last doctor that I met was to remove my wisdom tooth. I have to make a note not to wear shorts and slippers there next time and it was really cold. I wonder why doctors like to talk to their patients in the middle of a dental surgery. Don't they realise that I can't reply because you are working on my mouth? The scariest part of this surgery is the drilling and also knowing what was happening.
After the surgery, my mouth stayed numb for another 5 hours. After care is really important so do follow the instructions given. It's the second day after the surgery and I'm feeling alright :) Here's a gross picture of my tooth to end off!