Chapter 14.
 He just got up, did his usual routine, had breakfast, brushed his braces, and went to the office.
 I: Hello.
 A: Hello, good to see you, Dr. is waiting for you with not so good news.
 I: Why do you say that?
 A: Better that she tell you, I didn't understand very well, but it seems that your treatment may last longer than expected.
 E: Well, I'll talk to her.
 A: Well, she stops by her office, and luck, you'll need it.
 Surprised Eduardo enters the office.
 E: Good morning, what is happening? Because they are scaring me.
 D: Sit down.
 D: Ok, where do I start? You see, since you started the treatment, I haven't seen any progress.
 E: Believe me, I've done my part.
 D: I know, now I know, look, when I saw that there was no progress, I thought it was because you didn't cooperate, but even with patients who don't cooperate, their teeth move, a little but they do, but yours didn't start to move. move until I put the Headgear on you, and that, they moved very little.  On our last appointment, I decided to ask my colleagues, my university professors, to find out what was happening, no one knew what to answer me, so I searched the internet with colleagues from abroad, no one from this side of the world could give me an idea, until I entered an orthodontist forum, and found a doctor from Breda, a very good person, who also offered himself, I sent him your entire file, and he told me that you had cement jaw syndrome, which in In simpler terms, your jaw is harder than stone, moving your teeth is too complicated, and creating space is much more, Extractions? Impossible, the only way to remove a tooth is if you are in a coma, the only way is with expanders and with the Headgear, but we are not talking about 18 or 20 hours, no, they are connected 24 hours a day, and not because you cannot comply, but because if you take them off, the work is lost, and you can no longer use Traditional braces, you would have to wear bands, like the ones you have in  n the molars, but in all the teeth, and it is because the glue will not hold so much force, and in economic terms, we are talking about a very expensive treatment, especially since I cannot do this treatment alone and Dr. from Breda will help me but not will be free.
 Now I want to ask you, are you willing to do this treatment? Nothing is easy and your life will change forever, think about it, and let me know.
 E: Can you lend me your bathroom? I want to think about it and make the decision now.
 D: Ok, but you don't need to take it now.
 And well.
 The bathroom thing was practically a distraction, Eduardo was crying with happiness, he would finally get the treatment of his dreams, complaining for so many years because his teeth were not crooked enough, and now he will have a really strong treatment, something unthinkable for him, then After being told by many orthodontists that he was a perfect candidate for invisalign, he splashed water on his face and left the bathroom.
 I: I accept.
 D: What, I'm sorry, well, when do you want to start?
 E: Today, but I want to talk to Sara first if there is no problem.
 D: No, no problem.
 Eduardo immediately called Sara.
 I: Hello.
 S: Hello love, how are you?
 E: I need you to come immediately to the dental clinic.
 S: Why?
 E: I have to tell you something very important.
 S: Eduardo, I'm working, what's more, I'm talking to you because there's no one in line, otherwise I wouldn't even have answered you.
 E: I need you to come, it's about my treatment.
 S: And that's why you call me? Let's see, just because I have the same tastes as you, doesn't mean I have to quit my job at the first opportunity.
 E: Sara, I need you.
 S: And what do I do to leave earlier?
 E: Mmmmm, have you already paid for the university semester?
 S: No, I have to pay it after I leave.
 E: Tell your boss that the university has not received your payment and that you have to go to solve it.
 S: I just hope it's important, because if not, I'll put the Headgear on you 29 hours a day, oh no, you'll like that, then I'll remove your braces with a drill, got it?
 I: I love you.
 He hangs up and he goes to the office.
 E: Done, he's coming here.
 D: Do you want me to explain how the treatment will be?
 E: Yes, please.
 D: Well, right now we are talking about metal bands, it was an old method of orthodontics, it's like the bands you have on your molars, but instead of it being on your molars, it will be on all your teeth, I can't put you in traditional braces because the force with which we will do your treatment will be such that they would simply come off instantly, you will have to use an expander in each jaw, I know you don't have that problem, but we have to take advantage of the maximum space we can gain, and we will have to connect you a Headgear in each jaw, not because you can't comply, but because we need constant and sustained progress, a tongue cradle, I know that in your case, it would not be so necessary because the tongue does not have any effect on your teeth but, it will help not to delay progress, and you would have to put elastics on the canines, obviously the strong ones.
 E: I'm already using them
 D: In fact, there are stronger ones, but they are used only for masks, and these are special because they are smaller, oh, and a herbst, you have to use all possible solutions, do you really want to do this?, It's too much metal for your mouth
 E: Yes, I'm sure.
 D: Ok, I estimate that it will be at least 1 year like this, although due to your case, it could be much more, okay?
 I: okay.
 D: Good.
 Sara arrives at the office asking for Eduardo.
 I: Hello love.
 S: I hope it's really important.
 I: Let's go to the car.
 A: What did he say?
 D: Yes.
 A: I knew it, my pay.
 D: Why do you always beat me at bets?
 A: Good luck, I guess.
 In the car.
 S: Well, talk.
 E: Well Sara, I have a condition known as a cement jaw, which in simpler words, my teeth do not move, at least with the current treatment, it is a very strange condition, so strange that they had to consult a doctor in Europe to discuss my treatment, and now I will have to wear bands on all my teeth.
 S: Like the old braces?
 E: Yes, and a double headgear, elastics, a tongue cradle, a herbst and expanders, for at least 1 year.
 S: Sure, and since you hate braces so much, you accepted.
 I: It is correct.
 S: Is it a joke?
 I: No, of course not.
 S: I know you and I know that you are capable of lying and showing a false forecast.
 E: I didn't ask for it, the doctor did it behind my back, and I'm grateful.  Love, I lived my whole life with the image that my treatment would suck, and now, I have the opportunity to have the treatment of my dreams.
 S: I don't know whether to hit you, kiss you, or faint?
 E: Love, calm down.
 S: Don't tell me to calm down, let me process it… yeah, well, it's your mouth, do whatever you want with it, so do it, but on one condition.
 E: Whatever you want.
 S: Don't do it today, I know you're excited about the idea, and I am too, even if it doesn't seem like it, but I would like to be with you for the last time, like this, seeing us as normal, our life is going to change for the next few years, and I wouldn't want to see each other and say "we could have done something that we can't now because of the metal we have in our mouths", if you understand me?
 E: Yes, and you're right, come on, tell the doctor that I'll put them on tomorrow and we'll do whatever you want
 S: I love you
 E: And I to you crazy.
 S: Look who says it.
 They got out of the car and entered the office to say goodbye.
 D: Well, let's start at once, the process is long and I have some patients in the next few hours, so it's better to start now.
 E: Doctor, I spoke with Sara, and I would like to start tomorrow, if there is no problem?
 D: No, no problem, but do you want me to adjust your braces?
 I: Will it help?
 D: No, not really, well, I have time for 3 in the afternoon, okay? It's perfect.
 E: Well, see you tomorrow, bye.
 D: bye
 S: Bye.
 A: Bye.

Chapter 15.
 After they left the office they went to eat what they found, as soon as they finished in one place, they went to another, and they talked, although not much, since Eduardo had to take advantage of the fact that it would be the last time he would eat something without being cut, liquid. or ground.
 After finishing with half the city's food reserves, they went to Eduardo's house and now they did talk much calmer.
 I: I have a question.
 S: Tell me.
 E: Did you plan this today, or did you do it beforehand?
 S: Since before I confessed this fetish, true, when I knew that I was going to have a mouth full of metal, I wanted to spend a special moment with you, I even considered the possibility of a trip, I wanted you to see me beautiful, to see me now and that you keep this image, because you were not going to see it again, until several years later.
 E: Love, you are beautiful with or without braces, and the fact that you have a face mask is not going to change my perception of your beauty one bit, in fact, it would only intensify it, and now I will be the one who will have my mouth full of metal.
 S: I understand why you do it, but don't you think it's too much? To be honest, I would also like a treatment like yours, but this change is very intense, don't you really think it's too much?
 E: Believe it or not, I did think about it, but this is something I want, and I know it won't be easy, but for that I have you, who will be my support.
 S: And you mine.
 After they talked about more things for hours (without touching the subject of braces), they simply lay down and hugged each other, until they fell asleep and Eduardo woke up after Sara.
 S: Hello love, I made you egg arepas, well, actually I bought them, you know I'm an expert when it comes to cooking.
 E: Sure, mmm, you have good taste in restaurants.
 S: Hehehe, by the way, I made a reservation at a steakhouse before going to the office, it's the last time in years that you'll eat whole meat.
 I: Sarah.
 S: Yes.
 I: Thank you.
 After that, they kissed, got dressed and went to eat at the steakhouse, the braces cooperated and the meat practically didn't get stuck in Eduardo's teeth, Sara wasn't so lucky but she enjoyed it.
 They arrived at the office with a different atmosphere, it was not happy or sad, it was just different.
 A: Hello guys, how are you?
 E and S: Fine, thank you.
 A: Eduardo, ready to go to the slaughterhouse?
 I'm e.
 A: Just kidding.
 E: Yes I'm ready.
 A: Good, the doctor is waiting for you.
 D: Good afternoon, well, you know the routine, so come to the chair.
 They started taking off Eduardo's braces, it hurt, not physically, but emotionally because he loved them, she asked if he could take them and they said yes.
 He started with a very detailed dental cleaning, his teeth were white and beautiful, a very different sight than what they would end up with.
 They started by placing the expanders with the tongue crib, it was something simple but it took a while for them to go into the teeth but nothing out of the ordinary, and then they placed the herbst, that cost a little more because that part of the mouth already had a lot of metal , but it was done.
 They began by placing glue on each tooth, this is to make it more difficult for the tooth to come out of the ring, something curious was that the glue was also placed on the back, as a country they were going to install some lingual braces, and they began with the molars that they would have the Headgear tubes, and he began by placing each bracket on each tooth, it was difficult due to the space, but it could be done, to later place the archwire, when he finished, they chose the power chain, silver was the chosen color, since they wanted to show the metal, and they had finished, and they passed the mirror to Eduardo and he was shocked by the result.
 The braces weren't like those old huge braces where you barely showed the tooth, from a distance if it was just the braces they would look like huge braces but no one would think they were bands until you got up close and looked at them, another curiosity is the hooks, there were hooks on all the teeth except the front teeth, but with a couple of larger hooks on the canines, those would be for the J-hooks, and the others for elastics, the herbst made the tubes Little of the Headgear was visible, but the installation was done so well, that they had the perfect space for the herbst and the Headgear to combine perfectly.
 Eduardo could not close his mouth completely, when he closed it as much as possible, his 2 front teeth were noticeable, as if his two front teeth were like those of a rabbit, when they are only very slightly advanced, and they had not connected him The Headgears stopped there so I could see what's in his mouth.
 After finishing examining his new reality, they placed 4 elastics on him, these are special elastics, they have the strength that would be used for a face mask, but they are much smaller, and thicker, the color was cream, but between thick cream and beige, something that contrasted too much with all the metallic color of his mouth, they connected a Headgear to each jaw and put the straps on him, and besides, they installed the J-hooks on the canines, and voila, he was done and he looked at the mirror, she almost cried with emotion, but she contained herself, Sara was shocked to see so much metal together, she also knew how to contain herself but it cost her more.
 He couldn't shut his mouth, the metal could be seen up to a kilometer away, until now, Eduardo hadn't said a single word, but they began to explain everything to him.
 D: Well Eduardo, this is a much more special treatment than your original treatment, it is so special that it needs your full cooperation or there may be a delay.  Dental hygiene is fundamental, I know that it is much more complicated to maintain it with so much metal, but it is essential that you be very neat.  The elastics are almost as always, but you will have to eat with them, it is not easy either, but it is essential that you keep them in your mouth, what's more, if you can brush with them, it would be wonderful.  Almost all the devices depend on themselves except the elastics and the Headgear, the Headgear is connected but you can remove the straps, here I give you some waterproof straps for the bathroom, they are special straps with which you will maintain constant pressure during the bath, and you can wash your hair with them, the J-hooks are not connected, mainly because the bracket did not have that possibility, but also, you have to wear them 24 hours a day, and little else, how do you feel?
 E: Nho phuedho habhaar than bhieeen.
 D: I would tell you that you get used to talking with all that metal, but I would lie to you, it's too much to get used to.
 E: Mhirha Sharha, mhe vheo lhihhhdoohhh.
 S: The truth yes, hehe.
 D: Do you feel pain?
 E: Mhee dhuelhhee mhuchhhooo.
 D: That means it works, here I give you medicine to control the pain, but to be honest, I find it difficult for you to live without pain.
 E: Grrhhhasshiiiiasss.
 D: Regarding food, you will have to eat something that can be cut into small, very small pieces, and if possible, liquid diets, I know it is not the best, but it is necessary.
 E: Bhieeen.
 D: Well, without anything else to say, see you next week.
 E: Chhhhaaaaaoooo *spitting*.
 They came to the reception to pay for the torture.
 A: Just look, you just needed to put a cage on your face, how are you?
 E: Cohhhn dooolohh and mushhaa presssionnn.
 A: Well, but by far the most painful part of the treatment is the bill.
 Eduardo just showed the card and paid the amount of the consultation, and the devices, and they went to his house.
 Along the way, Eduardo thought that the best way to communicate would be via WhatsApp, it's not ideal, but better than drooling with every word, however, he would talk.
 They arrived at his house and sat down to talk by message.
 S: Good, now tell me, how do you feel?
 E: I'm happy, I can't believe that I'm using all this metal, and best of all, that I need it, as for my mouth, it hurts, a lot, I endure the pain, but it hurts, more when I move it, but my happiness is greater, and my head and neck feel sweaty from the straps, and my cheeks ache from the hooks from being so attached to my face.
 S: Stick out your tongue.
 I: Ahhhh.
 S: You can barely get it out, try touching your braces with it.
 E: Mmmmmmmm, mheee caaaaleeeeeeee.
 S: Me too.
 E: Mhheee shientoo sheexxii.
 S: Open and close your mouth.
 E: Aiiiiii.
 S: Slower.
 E: Ahhhhhhiiii.
 S: Slower.
 E: Ahhhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiiiii.
 S: Slower
 S: more
 S: Ahh