Saturday, January 4, 2014

Acclaims from on high

I've wanted to get braces for a very long time, 15+ years. I'm in my mid-thirties. It's been a challenge having braces at this age. It's not as bad as I expected but it's not pleasant. In a way, I'm lucky to have waited.

I asked my old dentist for a recommendation for an orthodontist about two and a half years ago. That seems like forever ago now. I got two names and I called them both. The first number she gave me, they didn't answer the phone. I think they were at lunch. I called the second number and they answered. I got lucky because I really like my orthodontists. (Yes plural, I have two of them. Father and daughter.)

As it turns out, the father is a world-renown orthodontist. His daughter is on her way to being world-renown, I'm sure of it. I didn't know this, I didn't expect it. Today was just another reminder. In fact, today is where I heard him actually called "world renown". Dr. Ben told me this. He said that if you look at the literature, my orthodontist is all over it. I had an appliance that I can't remember what it's called now. It shoved my lower teeth down into my gums to level them. It turns out that Dr. Jim invented that appliance.

I was at a bar one night early in my braces. A dental hygienist grabbed and shook me. She said urgently, "Are you having the surgery?!" I still hadn't decided to yet. She insisted. In fact, she said, "Don't get a girlfriend until after you have it. The caliber of girl you'll get is so much more than you could get now!" OK, that was funny in many ways. I'm laughing thinking about it.

She asked who my orthodontist is. I told her and she said, "You're lucky. You're in really good hands! That's who we send our patients to."

My new dentist, Dr. Ben's sister, was looking at my x-rays on my first appointment at their practice. She was concerned about something or another and looked at me in that way. She asked, "Who's your orthodontist?" and waited on the edge of her seat with a concerned look in her eye. I told her who it was. All of a sudden, she relaxed and her body language turned very comfortable. She said, "Oh wow, OK. I'm not worried about you. You're in good hands."

I was once in his office. A Brazilian super-model orthodontists dressed like a Hollywood hottie in a lab coat was there. I asked why. It turns out that some Brazilian orthodontists came to his practice to learn from him.

I actually can't remember all the times I've heard how amazing my orthodontists are from dental pros. Every dental type I meet says the same thing. My father and daughter team is top notch, maybe the best in the world. Can you imagine? I feel rich!

My surgeon is very well respected too. I feel like I have the world leaders in medical mouth torture working my case. I couldn't be happier about that. Who wouldn't be?

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