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Zoe Raymond|Fitness & Yoga|Beauty & Fashion

En route to a perfect smile.

Today's post marks 1 year into having braces! Yippedoo! 
I realized I haven't really done up a post on my braces so here's it! :D

I vividly remember Zonia and I making our very first visit to Toothangels, Central- Clarke Quay. The Orthodontist on duty that afternoon was Dr Chia. An x-ray was done, to check if we have got any wisdom tooth and teeth structure. Zonia was very lucky cause she didn't have any wisdom tooth, yes! Not 1 at all. And her sister, me, has got all 4! Omgzz! The unfortunate thing was non of the wisdom tooth grew out and causing any problems, so I had to have surgery to slice the gums to remove the wisdom tooth- all for braces.

Dr. Chia went on to further explain the benefits to remove wisdom tooth since we now know they existed. Some wisdom teeth should be removed due to complications with tooth decay. This decay might either be found on the wisdom tooth itself, or else the wisdom tooth's neighboring tooth (the adjacent 2nd molar). Dr. Chia happened to have a patient who faced wisdom tooth complications just before me! So he showed me the x-ray of this patient which clearly showed that the teeth beside the wisdom tooth were all decayed all because he didn't have his wisdom tooth removed. That is, a total of 8 to be extracted now!

So, after the x-ray was done, we had a short consultation with Dr. Chia where he told us what "work" is to be done, how many months we would need. We then had our teeth moulds done, appointments for extractions were also made on the same day. Zonia had her extractions done on the evening itself while mine was a week later cause of work commitments. (I have just started work at Abacus so I scheduled my dental appointments so not to affect work.) I remember there was a public holiday on a Friday that April, so I had my appointment for wisdom tooth extractions scheduled on Thursday Night. I remember the process being very terrifying at the start, my palms were perspiring, my heart was beating too fast, Dr. Chia had to hold the surgery back for a little while! I wasn't on full anesthesia so I could feel tugging and pulling. Time to time, i could feel pain and i would hold my fingers up to let the nurses know the pain level and they will jab in more anesthetic! The first wisdom tooth was the worst, I was scared and all but slowly, it got quite annoying! I had really strong, stubborn tooth so it took quite awhile to extract! Argh! In my mind, it was "Is it out? Is it out?!??" LOL!

I had to bite gauze when the surgery was done for about 2 hours so to stop bleeding. Was advised not to remove the gauze, not to spit any blood. Spitting causes more blood flow! I popped the strong pain killers after soya milk (very much on liquid diet) and went to sleep after some teevee. By the time I headed to bed, I was already off the gauze but still bleeding. I could taste blood that night when I slept. Definitely very uncomfortable, but just have got to sleep it off and swallow any blood. 

So, headed down alone after work that evening, went into the dental clinic alone and took a bus back home alone. How independent? HEHEHEHE! :D :D

Exactly 1 week after my wisdom tooth extractions, I went back for my 4 molar extractions to create some space for my braces! I have got over-crowding, you see! And another 1 week later, it was time for braces to be up! Yay!

I took sometime collating the pictures of my braces journey, ahh so excited!
So let's start with some pictures before braces!

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super bunny! 

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So what do you think?
If you have been following me since years back, these pictures got to be familiar much to you! But if you just started reading "metal mouth's" blog, you would be quite surprised.. i would say!

Its just 1 year into braces, and no more bunny! Teehee! I remember the critics I always received from 3-4 years back. There were readers who would comment how did i get selected for jobs with such teeth and probably much meaner stuff which I obviously can't remember now since its donkey years back already.

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APRIL 2010

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First few days with braces on!
Large gaps still visible! Bo-ge people say. Reminds me of a little girl who lost her milk teeth and can't say F properly. F...... *saliva everywhere. lolol!

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MAY 2010

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There's not much of a difference 1 month later. The gaps were still huge, the bunny teeth are still there. I remember looking into the mirror rather often and pushing my finger into those gaps to gauge the size of the gaps, if its now tighter! I also remember the gaps were SO HUGE, when I had one finger in, there's still ample space. omg.





JUNE 2010

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Initially I was rather upset that I had to have my 21st birthday with braces, but months into braces, i thought its no big deal and that i look just the same. Heee!

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with grandparents love

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at tns!

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Slowly into June, here's a side view to show that my front teeth are already pushing back in! We don't see the bunny teeth so much now! Heee! (:




JULY 2010

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after hair appointment with von!

By the month of July, I see that my teeth has straightened heaps and bounds! The bunny teeth were pushed in in in! 

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SEPTEMBER 2010

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Half a year into braces! :D
Dr. Chia changed the wires thicker on our 3 weeks-a-visit appointment. The gaps are much smaller now! Used to be able to stick a finger into the gap and still have space! LOL! That's how I measure the size of the gaps lolol! :D



JANUARY 2011

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Dr Chia is delighted that my teeth have not straightened well and now gave me rubber bands to hook a rubber band on one upper bracket and hooks it to the lower bracket, so the rubber band goes vertically or diagonally from one bracket to another. The tension of the rubber band produces pressure on the bracket, which causes the teeth to move and straighten. This tension is also sufficient to correct an overbite.

And I am given a packet of these rubber bands to change every night before i sleep!

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such huge teeth omgzzz


MARCH 2011

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Very very straight already right! :D D: Ahhh so happy! LOL!
Zonia commented that my teeth in this picture looks perfect already! Yippeee doo!





APRIL 2011

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And its APRIL! Marks 1 year with Braces on! :D :D :D 
I have overestimated the pain that braces bring, so if you have been unhappy with your set of teeth. I would definitely urge you to have it further beautified! I mean, its always better to start earlier when the teeth is still not too stubborn! The older you are, the longer it would take you to complete your braces journey (:

I have heard from family and friends that the prices went up again and is at $4500 min.? Been going up quite a bit cause my cousie who did hers 1 year before us spent only $3000? I have paid the min. figure of $3800 (1 year ago price) for them while Zonia's about $5000 cause of the complexity of the teeth. So at every visit, it's $200 until I finish paying $3800! I'm down to my last 2 paying visits! :D

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Hope you guys enjoy this post!
I had quite some fun myself digging through past pictures and see how much my teeth shifted! And with this post done, 5 years or 10 years down the road, I could still refer to this post and drool at how young and tender I was. LOL! Gross max. Please leave comments on this post itself so your questions could benefit the other readers as well. And I will try my best to reply them quick!

P/s: I think i've addressed every possible question so please read the post well before spamming me questions okay dokey? Thank you!

There's 5 of us cousins who visit Dr. Chia and we managed to get the clan package price of $3800 HAHA! You could tell Dr. Chia you read my post and ask for discounts! lololol! I cant be sure if it will work, but no harm trying. You can head down for an appointment to further consult Dr. Chia before finalising on braces. (:

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CONVERSATION

28 comments :

Jenny said...

HEy Zoe thanks for the interesting post on ur amazing journey! Can I ask if there is a way of accelerating the braces journey to like 1yr or so instead of 1.5yrs and will it be more ex??? I see that you wear metal braces. DO u recommend those ceramic or any other kind that you know which will make it less visible?? I really want to adjust my teeth to be a perfect one But 1 yr down the road it will be a crucial period becos I need to go for job interviews before grad..in your opinion will it affect job interviews/ work??

p/s: But for u so pretty and sweet definitely it wouldnt affect ur job intervies or work i guess:)

Thankss!!!

Anonymous said...

In one of the photos pre-braces where you're holding up your hair, are you naked?! It's quite gross

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the post! :)
Would like to hear a little more from you..

How did the extraction of molar teeth and wearing of braces affect your daily life?
How long did it take for you to get used to it?
Also, what are the food you take?
Any personal advices for beginners?

Anonymous said...

Hi..

How much did u pay for the 1st visit??..do u have to pay alot for the 1st instalment?

she:D said...

Hello! :D
Thanks for posting this. I just had my braces on too! Barely on my first month. :( But i can totally relate to the pain you have described so far. And omgoodness, i m so scared of the thicker wires and rubber band at the back that will occur in the later stage. Still i really enjoy reading this post, it provides me with insight to what to expect in future. And you are right, all the pain is worth it for the end product, beautiful smiles. :D

Joanne said...

Oh gosh I was wondering why you look prettier than last year. Finally some revelation haha! You look really good! =))

xd said...

Braces are actually getting cheaper... Now private doctors charge as low as 3.8k still instead of 8k+ last time when my friend did hers. And it's comparable to the government subsidies price of 3k+ as well.

jacq said...

hi.. do u mean u pay $200 for each visit that sum up to $3.8k or..?

Anonymous said...

thank you for posting about your experience on braces! :) i just extracted my tooth few days back and i had spacers put on. even the spacers hurts :( did u have to put on spacers and was it painful for you?

Ver said...

Hey babe! I still think you look cuter/sweeter before braces!

Nevertheless, you are still one pretty babe! Love reading your blog. (:

Anonymous said...

hi dear, do u mind giving me ur dental clinic?

Anonymous said...

"Dr Chia is delighted that my teeth have NOT straightened well."

?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?

J. Venecia Lim WZ. said...

Is there any ways to not let the sharp part of the braces rubbing against the inner part of ur mouth that will cause ulcers? And can u comsume sweet stuffs like coke or ice cream when the braces is up for only about 1 week?

Anonymous said...

Yup(: Zoe, can we know the exact address that you've went to do the braces?

ZOE RAYMOND said...

Jenny said...
HEy Zoe thanks for the interesting post on ur amazing journey! Can I ask if there is a way of accelerating the braces journey to like 1yr or so instead of 1.5yrs and will it be more ex??? I see that you wear metal braces. DO u recommend those ceramic or any other kind that you know which will make it less visible?? I really want to adjust my teeth to be a perfect one But 1 yr down the road it will be a crucial period becos I need to go for job interviews before grad..in your opinion will it affect job interviews/ work??

p/s: But for u so pretty and sweet definitely it wouldnt affect ur job intervies or work i guess:)

Thankss!!!


♥ ZOE RAYMOND:
Hey! some things can be rushed! If you want a good job, be patient ((:

ZOE RAYMOND said...

Anonymous said...
In one of the photos pre-braces where you're holding up your hair, are you naked?! It's quite gross


♥ ZOE RAYMOND:
lol heard of tube tops? (:

ZOE RAYMOND said...

Anonymous said...
Thanks for the post! :)
Would like to hear a little more from you..

How did the extraction of molar teeth and wearing of braces affect your daily life?
How long did it take for you to get used to it?
Also, what are the food you take?
Any personal advices for beginners?


♥ ZOE RAYMOND:
I guess it varies person to person! I didnt have much problem eating after extractions. Braces was considered a breeze for my sister and I so i guess we were pretty lucky!

ZOE RAYMOND said...

Anonymous said...
Hi..

How much did u pay for the 1st visit??..do u have to pay alot for the 1st instalment?


♥ ZOE RAYMOND:
Nope! Just $200. Aint too sure now (:

ZOE RAYMOND said...

she:D said...
Hello! :D
Thanks for posting this. I just had my braces on too! Barely on my first month. :( But i can totally relate to the pain you have described so far. And omgoodness, i m so scared of the thicker wires and rubber band at the back that will occur in the later stage. Still i really enjoy reading this post, it provides me with insight to what to expect in future. And you are right, all the pain is worth it for the end product, beautiful smiles. :D


♥ ZOE RAYMOND:
:D :D

ZOE RAYMOND said...

Joanne said...
Oh gosh I was wondering why you look prettier than last year. Finally some revelation haha! You look really good! =))


♥ ZOE RAYMOND:
Teeheee! (: thanks!

ZOE RAYMOND said...

xd said...
Braces are actually getting cheaper... Now private doctors charge as low as 3.8k still instead of 8k+ last time when my friend did hers. And it's comparable to the government subsidies price of 3k+ as well.


♥ ZOE RAYMOND:
Wow thats steep!

ZOE RAYMOND said...

jacq said...
hi.. do u mean u pay $200 for each visit that sum up to $3.8k or..?


♥ ZOE RAYMOND:
Yeap! Aint too sure if it's e same now though! (:

ZOE RAYMOND said...

Anonymous said...
thank you for posting about your experience on braces! :) i just extracted my tooth few days back and i had spacers put on. even the spacers hurts :( did u have to put on spacers and was it painful for you?


♥ ZOE RAYMOND:
Hello! It was pretty uncomfortable but was bearable! I guess it's very much on individual!

ZOE RAYMOND said...

Ver said...
Hey babe! I still think you look cuter/sweeter before braces!

Nevertheless, you are still one pretty babe! Love reading your blog. (:


♥ ZOE RAYMOND:
thanks! ((:

ZOE RAYMOND said...

Anonymous said...
hi dear, do u mind giving me ur dental clinic?


♥ ZOE RAYMOND:
Yes i did lol! In the post, toothangels!

ZOE RAYMOND said...

J. Venecia Lim WZ. said...
Is there any ways to not let the sharp part of the braces rubbing against the inner part of ur mouth that will cause ulcers? And can u comsume sweet stuffs like coke or ice cream when the braces is up for only about 1 week?


♥ ZOE RAYMOND:
There's wax given by the orthodontist! (: And, Yes i can!

Anonymous said...

Hi Zoe,
I just read your blog about braces, I'm planing to do braces this year. Can you recommend the dentist who done a good job for your braces. :)

wynn

Anonymous said...

Hi! How much did your wisdom tooth extraction cost?
Thanks!