Chapter 2
At exactly 10am I entered the dentist, I checked in and was quickly shown back to the exam room.
As I entered, the dentist was there but so was another man.
I was shocked that he was so young – probably only a few years older than me. I was 30.
He stood up immediately to greet me, shaking my hand. There was a genuine smile on his face “thank you for coming Rachel, it’s lovely to meet you. I’m Ben”
I smiled awkwardly “thank you for having me”
They pointed to the chair in unison “take a seat”
I did as instructed and looked at them, they were both staring at me. I realised they were waiting for my opinion “I am interested – I just don’t know how it would work…”
The dentist nodded “understandable. So we would treat you as a real patient. You would receive any necessary dental work then we would get started on an orthodontic treatment. It would last a couple of years – like usual. But of course this could be extended…”
I nodded “and for the pay, all I would have to do is go along with it?”
Ben nodded “I would pay for all treatment, it would be done properly and safely so there would be no damage to your teeth. The caveat is that I would control the treatment – you couldn’t refuse…”
I nodded, gulping slightly “I’d have no say?”
He shook his head “but of course – if at any time you want it to stop, you say the word and it stops. This isn’t against your will…you are just handing me the control here”
I looked down, face burning “and it’s £5000 a month?!”
He nodded “yes, every month – for the duration of the treatment. I would ask that you would come back to my house, where I have my own dental chair – just to role play, whenever you get new appliances”
This made my heart beat quicker and he could clearly see my apprehension “I could show you around first. There is no risk though – they have all my details here.”
I nodded.
Ben spoke up again though “I would need an answer today…”
I gulped but surprised myself “yes – I’ll go ahead”. Ben’s face was shocked and I am sure mine was too but I was desperate for cash and I had no other way. So what if I had to wear braces for a couple of years?!
The dentist snapped into action, reclining the chair and having me open wide. Ben sat there, a relaxed smile on his face as he watched me. The dentist prodded and poked. Finally he was done and he spoke up again “I see no decay or concerns, so you are ready for treatments…”
I nodded “ok so what happens?”
He smiled “I will take some impressions today, then you return in 3 days to collect the appliance.”
I nodded “do I get to know what it is?”
Ben shook his head, a smirk on his face “not until it’s in your mouth…”
I smiled and nodded, nerves bubbling up “well, how bad can it be?”
Ben grinned “orthodontia is never bad – it’s always a treat”
I laughed loudly but nodded at him “well, let’s get going?”
The dentist laid me down again and took the impressions. I was gagging loudly throughout and felt embarrassed but there was nothing I could do.
After another 10 minutes or so, I was ready to leave and had an appointment scheduled for a few days.
The time passed quickly and before I knew it, I was standing outside. I took a deep breath and walked in slowly – trying to delay the inevitable.
I didn’t even have to check in today – as I walked through the door, Ben was there waiting for me. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw me “I wasn’t entirely sure you’d come today”
I smiled “I said I would – I don’t break my promises”
He smiled widely “good to know”
He led me through to the exam room, and swept his arm out, signalling for me to sit. I could see no evidence of any braces and relaxed slightly.
A few seconds later, the dentist came in, holding a tray covered with a drape. I craned my neck to see but it was no use.
He popped a bib round my neck, put dark glasses on my face then laid the chair down.
He put a plastic lip spreader in my mouth – it help both my lips and tongue back. I felt immediately ridiculous and could feel myself blushing slightly.
The dentist prodded and poked then hummed “ok it looks great. I am going to get started now. He began tapping around in my mouth before putting something in my upper jaw. I couldn’t feel anything though. He took it in and out, telling Ben he was making adjustments but none of it made sense to me. After what felt like an age, he invited Ben over to look. I couldn’t see his reaction but having him stood over me made me nervous – the reality of the situation kicking in.
When he voiced his acceptance, the dentist took the lip spreader out. I closed my mouth and felt my eyes widen slightly.
I had a large plastic plate in my upper jaw. It covered all my palate and had wires running across the front of all my teeth. It had little holes in the middle but the plastic seemed to come down low – nearly as low as my teeth. As I sat there, feeling around with my tongue I could feel my saliva building up “whaaa eee iiiit”
Ben smiled widely, nodding his approval and the dentist asked “what is it?”
I nodded, confusion on my face “it’s a removable expander…”
I nodded, not really knowing what that was. The dentist smiled “you have a key, you will turn it every night and it will widen your upper jaw – it will hopefully save us from having to remove any of those teeth of yours”
I nodded, speaking slowly “when do I wear it?”
Ben frowned slightly and the dentist spoke up “you don’t take it out…not unless you are brushing your teeth”
I gasped “I wear it all the time?!”
They both smiled widely “yes, you do”
I nodded numbly, doubting what I had got myself into.
They made me practice taking it in and out, spit dribbing down my chin each time I did before they let me leave. As soon as I was outside, I took out my phone – shocked by my reflection. Tears welled in my eyes, feeling sorry for myself but I quickly pulled myself together. I was earning over £150 a day for this…I needed to suck it up. How bad could it be?
