17. Buddies
Dr. Johnson tells Marc, "That was a very good job you did. You should really consider becoming an orthodontist. You have a lot of talent." Marc says, "Thanks for letting me do this. It was amazing and I learned a lot." Dr. Johnson then turns to me and says, "Mr. Turner, you can keep the headgear. I am sure Marc can help you with the insertion of your facebow. But please only wear it for a short time. The headgear is not really part of your treatment." As if I wanted to wear the headgear longer, what a strange comment from her.
Then she tells me to come back in four weeks and leave the chair. As I leave the chair, I look in Marc's direction and say, "Now it is your turn.” Marc almost immediately jumps in the chair with a big smile on his face. This is a big day for him because he is getting his braces today. He is getting them at his own request. Marc really wants these perfect teeth for his career as an orthodontist.
Marc made it very clear to me that he wanted braces and that there was no way I could talk him out of it. It is strange given his past aversion to braces, but it fits with his new personality. He has really grown up in the last few weeks. He helped his sister when her mother threatened her. The support he gives me with my braces is also really great. In general, he is acting more like an adult now. And there is his strong desire to get braces.
So now he is in the chair waiting for his braces with a very happy face, "Please start, I can't wait to get my braces on." Dr. Johnson says, "OK - let's get started." First, Dr. Johnson puts a lip spreader in his mouth. I remember this device and it is not a pleasant memory. She has everything ready for his braces. I see a set of brackets, archwires and some light green ligatures. She then cleans his teeth with some liquid and rinses it away.
Then she puts a blue liquid on his teeth. She says it is an etching solution to prepare the surface of his teeth for the brackets. His teeth are rinsed again and then she applies the glue to his teeth. The glue is then activated with a UV light. My son cannot speak, but I can see the happiness in his eyes. He really wants these braces and is excited to get them.
The next step for him is to get his brackets. Dr. Johnson carefully places them on his teeth. She uses a measuring device to check the position of the brackets. It takes a while for her to be satisfied with the position of his brackets. Finally, she uses the UV light again to bond the brackets to his teeth. Fitting him with braces is a quick process.
He wants to smile, but he can't because the lip spreader prevents him from doing so. It is then that Dr. Johnson tries his archwires. She probes them several times and when she is satisfied with the fit, she asks him, "I think you want these light green ligatures. Am I right?" He nods enthusiastically and I smile in his direction, revealing my braces with the same color.
In the final phase of his braces installation, he receives his archwire, which is quickly secured with light green ligatures; it is quite interesting to watch this procedure from the other side. Last time I was the one getting the braces and my son was watching me. Now I am in the spectator seat and it is much more comfortable. Except that I still wear this headgear while watching my son get braces. I must be the first parent to ever do this.
Finally, his lip spreader is removed. He grabs a mirror that Doctor Johnson hands him. As he takes a look at his braces, an expression of happiness appears on his face. Getting his braces really makes him happy. He says to Dr. Johnson, "Thank you very much. I love my new braces. They look great. And getting them was not painful at all. I liked the process. This experience will help me when I become an orthodontist." It is good that he likes his braces. As they are only cosmetic and not covered by insurance. His braces are going to cost me a fortune. So guess what, last week I spoiled him with video games and now I am spoiling him with braces.
To my surprise, and I think to his surprise too, Dr. Johnson pulls out a package of rubber bands. She marks the teeth on the package where he needs to attach his rubber bands. She tells him to apply them in a box pattern. She asks him, "Marc, you are an expert. I think you can apply the rubber bands without any help." This is an appeal to his ambition, and so he quickly applies the rubber bands in the desired pattern using the hand mirror. When he is finished, he says proudly, "That was easy."
Even though he was not expecting the rubber bands, he still looks so happy. It is unbelievable that he enjoys getting braces so much. I really hope he does not regret it when the pain kicks in. His tongue is trying to explore his new braces and that makes him so gleeful. His tongue is also playing with his rubber bands. I hope he does not do this rubber band playing too much. I know it can be quite annoying. Some of my friends at school used to play with their rubber bands and it was so nerve wracking.
The last part of our appointment is Dr. Johnson telling us both to come back in four weeks for a check-up. She also gives Marc a brochure with tips for new braces wearers and some tooth cleaning utilities. He takes the brochure, but I know he knows more than it says. So we go home with our new braces. Me with new molar bands for my braces and him with his shiny new braces. Of course, before leaving the office, I finally took off the headgear and put it in my purse. I have had enough of wearing headgear, it is so annoying.
On the way home, Marc has a video call with his girlfriend. She is a little sick and cannot visit him, but he wants to show her his new braces. So he tells her all the details about getting his braces. What he leaves out is me getting headgear fitted, and I am very grateful for that. He shows her many close-ups of his braces, making sure she sees every detail. I don't know why he's so thrilled about his braces, but he is.
Sandrine is waiting for us when we get home. Marc and I cover our mouths so she cannot see our braces. With a friendly but slightly impatient voice, she asks me: "Dad, show me your braces.” I slowly remove the hand covering my mouth. At first I only show her the braces on my upper jaw with the new color. She says, "Wow, that color looks so good on you. But let me see your molar bands." I then open my mouth completely to give her a good look at my braces.
She inspects my braces thoroughly and tells me again, "Dad, you are so brave. I hope you are not in pain from those molar bands." I quickly shake my head, "No. I am fine. The bands are much better than those separators, like you told me. You were absolutely right." Marc stands aside, still covering his mouth. He looks a little disappointed, I guess he wanted to show off his braces first. But Sandrine has her own way of doing things.
She is still fascinated that I have braces as an adult. She really admires me for it, but it is more important for her to tease Marc by making him wait a little. Then she jokingly says, "Marc, why are you covering your mouth?" Still covering his mouth, I see a smile on his face, "I don't know. I was just copying Dad." And then he removes his cover. At first there is no sign of the braces as he slowly opens his mouth. Before long, his braces are on full display and he has the most jovial smile I have ever seen.
"Marc, you look fantastic. Those braces really suit you and I love your smile. It is so cool to see you happy," Sandrine tells him. Marc bursts out, "I'm so happy! I really like them. It was so interesting to have them put on. And the best part was that I got to assist when Dad got his molar bands. I learned so much today." Sandrine looks at him and says, "I'm so glad your wish came true."
Marc then looks in my direction, as if to get my approval. I know what he wants to tell to Sandrine and I just nod in his direction. Marc says, "I haven't told you the best part yet. Dr. Johnson allowed me to test fit a headgear on Dad. He told us that he wanted to experience what you are going through and his new molar bands allow him to do so." Sandrine interrupts him, "Dad, you really did that? This is amazing. Thank you so much."
I reply, "Yes, I have, and I admire you. I have learned that headgear is really a big deal, and you are doing so well with it." She asks me enthusiastically, "Can you show me the headgear?" I wasn't looking forward to that part of the reveal. I slowly take the headgear out of my purse and start to put it on. It is not easy to get the ends of the facebow into the tubes on my molars, but after a while it is in. The easier part is to attach the neck strap, while Marc and especially Sandrine watch closely. Sandrine has a big, sympathetic smile on her face.
Then Sandrine starts to hug me and in her enthusiastic approach our two facebows collide. For a moment, the collision exerts a lot of force on my molars. I really hope that nothing is damaged. But the next moment I enjoy my daughter's embrace. Wearing my braces has deepened our relationship, but sharing the experience of wearing headgear is the next level. I can feel deeply how much she likes me trying to be close to her and share the same experiences.
Marc is a little disappointed, I guess he thought he would be the big star of the evening with his new braces. But now all the attention is on me wearing the headgear. I would rather Marc's braces get the attention. His braces are real and he has to deal with them until the end of his treatment. My headgear is just fake and I can take it off at any time.
