Braces: A Pain In The Ass :: essays research papers

Braces: A Pain In The Ass One out of three children or teenagers will have to live through their "rites of passage years" as a prisoner of their own orthodonist. Puberty is burdened enough by zit and acne battles, awkward growth spurts, and raging evil hormones. Braces add additional torture to this already hellish time to both parent and child. A life with braces is far more humilating, painful, and expensive than living with buck teeth, gaps, or a snarled tooth. Mental scars remain long after cuts and bloody sores in the mouth have healed. These platinum-colored shackles come with a factory full of degrading insults and nicknames. All through school one can expect to be called brace-face, tractor teeth, and metal mouth. The orthadontically challenged are always the butt of electricity and lip-locking jokes. The orthodontist's office is also a source of embarrassment. Most offices are open-air, filled with other patients. This means an audience as the nurse stretches and pulls patient's mouths in Jim Carrey-like expressions. If one should forget to brush their teeth before their visit, they will regrettably become immortal as the doctor announces the left- over remains of Taco Bell in-between molars.Braces become a constant source of embarrassment. Braces are three years of physical torture beginning with the very first office visit. The application of the brackets itself is long, tedious, and uncomfortable. First, cold, polydent flavored clay is thrust into the crevices of the mouth, forcing imprints. Jagged metal squares are glued to the enamel, forcing hot, burning, glue to drip down the pink of the gums. Braces also cause everyday aches and pains in the mouth. Metal spokes, guiding teeth to a new shape, stab the inside of the mouth causing cuts, sores,and tearing each time a person's mouth opens. Rubber bands placed on top of brackets pull and stretch teeth until gums are tender and sore. Being born with unperfect teeth can be painful! Braces hurt parents' wallets well after the metal is scraped and chiseled off. Payments while braces are being worn are very overwhelming. The average cost of braces today is around 3,000 dollars, more for specialty kinds. Patients must also pay for damages they ininflic ii inflict upon their orthodontic work. There are also other expenses after the metal inflict upon their orthodontic work. Molar bands that are pryed off can cost as much as