Part 12: Anything to Help
*ATTN: I am experimenting with a new format for this story. I hope you all like it.
Elise's hands worked the tear soaked tissue that sat in her hands. She took a week off of work to practice her speech and get a handle on her new appliances, but it was hard. By the end of the week she got to the point where she could speak just as good as her first adjustment, so when she went to school she was sure that she could make it to her next appointment just fine.
What had her in tears this afternoon was the realization that she would need to get a staff picture of herself the next day. There was already a gap in her front teeth on the top and bottom, showing that her expanders were indeed working. She just hated how big the gap was, and how the profile of her face was changing due to her herbst. She made a note to ask Dr. Brandt about how far her jaw was supposed to move.
Cora's first six weeks was a nightmare for her. She prided herself on looks, and was often a trophy that Jared loved to show off at work events. When she looked into the mirror or caught her reflection now, her teeth looked silver with metal. There was hardly any enamel to be seen, and her lips constantly puffed out over her banded teeth. She hated it.
Now every day she would sit on the bathroom counter after brushing as her husband gently held her chin and made the turns in her appliances. She begged him every time to let her do it, but every time he said no, and that they were going to do exactly what Dr. Brandt ordered him them to do. This was for their health, after all.
What he didn't tell her, was that he was so adamant about this treatment because he felt his wife needed to be reigned in some. She was a spoiled brat thanks to her parents; one that never had consequences, or did anything that made her uncomfortable. If he was going to spend the money to take care of her, then they were going to do it his way, and she would learn that not everything is easy. His niece Kara had to learn the same lesson, sadly.
Six weeks later, it was another Saturday and Kara was sitting at reception looking at her new elastics pattern in her phone's camera. Dr. Brandt had created a pattern that would hopefully close the open bite caused by her older appliances. She put her phone down as Cora and Jared checked in. "Hi, Uncle Jared. Aunt Cora. I hope that your first six weeks wasn't so bad."
Cora shrugged as she signed in. "I guess it could've been worse." She sat down in an empty seat, and bounced her knee nervously as she waited for her turn to be called.
In the back Elise sat playing with the hem of her shirt as Hannah removed her wires. She was nervous about speaking with Dr. Brandt about her lower jaw which seemed to pass her upper one now. When she looked up her orthodontist was aiming the light to his liking then pulled on gloves.
"Elise, Hannah said you were worried about your jaw alignment?" Elise nervously nodded as he looked making her open and close numerous times.
"It looks like I'm getting an underbite." Dr. Brandt shook his head no as he placed a retractor in her mouth.
"It just looks different is all, I promise. You'll see how nicely everything is lining up in the next few months. Hannah, I'd like to slow down her jaw movement, actually. I don't like how fast this is going, and it can make things off causing headaches again. Have those been better at all, dear?" He removes the herbst as he talks, and without warning he pulls out metal springs. This upsets her and she shakes her head no, beginning to try to get up.
Hannah pushes her back gently and strokes her cheek as she keeps her hand on Elise's shoulder. "Now Elise, this is for your own good. Can you answer the Dr? How are your headaches?"
Elise sniffed back tears and spoke as the retractor was widened. "They're better. Dr. I promise I'll be good with rubberbands."
The doctor smiled behind his mask as the springs were placed into a visibly running from her premolars on top to her back lower molars on each side. "Elise, I told you that we work complete compliance here. I will use whatever means necessary to get rid of the headaches and give you a perfect smile. Had you worn your retainer, I'd have no problem being a bit more lenient. Now, let's give those expanders an extra few turns."
Cora was lead back alone and put into the chair across from Elise. She could see that she was getting a major adjustment, and also that Elise's feet squirming at the end of the chair indicated it was uncomfortable. She gripped the arms of the cool green leather chair as covered tray was placed in front of her.
Next, Hannah reclined her chair and smiled down at her. "Cora dear, have you ever had gas? Today will be a bit intense and it will help."
