Hi, as a newbie to the site I thought I'd share my current orthodontic treatment with you all.
I began the treatment two years ago, after being referred by my dentist who noticed that I had numerous issues - crowding, underbite and tongue thrust. With my interest in braces I was happy to comply, I knew this was not just going to be standard braces.
So my first appointment was quick, just to take impressions, X-Ray's and add spacers for the upcoming fitting. My next appointment was around 8 weeks later, where I was fitted with full braces (and molar bands), along with a tongue crib and expander on my upper jaw. To finish the internal appliances I gained a herbst. Much to my surprise I was fitted with a high pull headgear.

I've got another year left of all of this, and then a further year of braces and elastics to set everything in place, so as you can tell my treatment is relatively extensive.

Thanks for viewing!

haha I agree longer than a year would've been great but I suppose I have been lucky with all those appliances!

Was it difficult to hide your interest when you found out you needed this treatment or when the appliances and braces were being applied? What were your first few days like with the expander and tongue crib?

It was difficult to hide my interest and excitement in getting the braces and appliances, but I managed to hide that by expressing willing to actually get the problems fixed, so I think I handled that situation relatively well, I've just got to keep it up for the remainder of my treatment.
I'm sort of sad that I've only got two years of my treatment left, but I remember the first few days with the expander and tongue crib well. It affected my speech a lot. I have quite a small mouth which means that those two appliances plus the headgear wires, braces and herbst filled up a lot of space, which also made eating difficult, but quite fun at the same time.

Wow, that sounds like an awesome treatment plan, especially with an interest in orthodontics! Would love to see pics and updates!

I don't have any pictures at the moment, I'll try and get some sorted in the near future. I believe that the headgear is being used to hold my upper jaw back whilst the herbst pushes my lower jaw forwards - I have/had a significant underbite so that's what they're used for.

That's interesting. Wouldn't you usually do the exact opposite to fix an underbite? E.g. hold the lower jaw back and pull the upper jaw forward with something like a facemask?

but cool story bro

Yeah I didn't want to put it this bluntly