Actually, this is a serious (ish) one
When I was born, one side of my jaw was too small. This was made worse by an affect of it, which was my teeth. All through my life I got told that they'd fix it all, give me a Hollywood smile, blahblahblah.

When I was nine I had one of my ribs put in my jaw, which would grow and give me an average sized jaw. This didn't work at all, and I was left with a bit of titanium in my jaw and not much else. I needed a lot of fillings on that side of my jaw's teeth, but thought nowt of it.

Fast forward to 16, they said that they could do this thing called distraction on my jaw. They'd break it, put some pins and stuff in it, then once a week they'd turn the key a little bit, separating my jaw bone and making bone grow to fill that gap. They'd give me braces for 18 months, do the op, then I'd get my braces took off 18 months after that. Sounded FUCKING PAINFUL but I was willing. More waiting.

Aged 19 I decide to go to uni 300 miles away. This meant I was separated from my surgeon and forced to a new department. Turns out I'd stopped growing a while ago and they'd just not done anything. Saw a navy captain who was really eager to get things started on me. He organised a CT scan to be done immediately.

On review of the CT scan, he noticed that my bone density was absolutely pants and that I had a muscle missing as well as half of another one. On looking properly, it turns out that operating will be really risky due to scars there and he isn't happy doing it. This has to be the most disappointing thing in my life.

They've given me braces now, at 21, about 2 days ago. Not even on my bottom teeth, on the top row. It hurts like hell and I can't help but think that if they'd acted sooner in my home town, I might have finished the course by now. To add insult to injury, the reason I needed (and still need) tooth fillings is because of the titanium that's in my jaw. The stuff that's even riskier to take out.

I'm not getting that Hollywood smile.
( Methylene Blue - electrohead, Thu 26 Jun 2008, 15:37, 4 replies)

@Sammi
I have nothing to say except *hugs*
and a nice sympathy *click*
( Boss Keloid Got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm, Thu 26 Jun 2008, 16:13, closed)

@ Keloid
Thanks! I just needed to vent that fucker out, haha
( Methylene Blue - electrohead, Thu 26 Jun 2008, 17:18, closed)

Good luck with it
At least you don't look like this guy
(evil_penguin_17 Robots of Doom... Attack!, Fri 27 Jun 2008, 1:06, closed)

Braces
I had a massive overbite, too many teeth and all sorts of dental anomolies when I grew my adult set, caused me to eat slowly and a few other issues.

I had an 18 month course when I was 15, the first orthodontist buggered them up so badly (made them worse which I deemed an achievement) that they said I needed another 18 months to correct it before restarting the course.

At the age 22 I had my braces out, so I feel some of your pain :(

*huggles*
(Ethelred is watching cheese grow, Fri 27 Jun 2008, 22:33, closed)