I started out my treatment over 6 years ago when the orthodontist placed a blue bonded expander on my upper arch. (A bonded expander means it fully covers your molars). I also had a lingual holding arch that had tiny springs to push out and make room for my erupting baby teeth in my lower jaw. Those tiny springs hurt like heck and I eventually got them removed after they broke off a bunch of times. I got four brackets on my upper front teeth and they helped a lot. After about 2 years in those appliances, they were all removed and I had an upper Hawley retainer that also broke many times before I stopped using it. (I used to put it in and out with my tongue hundreds of times before it came loose. Looking back now I miss the feeling of the expander and the small lisp it gave me.
Fast forward two years after I stopped wearing the retainer, I got full braces this time to fix my bite and minor imperfections in straightening them. After two appointments, I got the FORSUS Appliance to fix my bad overbite and crossbite. They are very unnoticeable and I am able to smile, talk, and eat without them showing. In fact nobody but my doctor, family, and orthodontist know I even have them which helps in social situations. I currently have about a year of treatment left and I am glad to have at least some appliances other than just braces but I always wished I had something more.