My spelling is a bit ruff (get it…) but when I came across the term “orthodontist” I thought they’d genuinely made a mistake. In my ignorance, honed after years of playing hooky with the Australian education system, I felt sure that must be ‘orthodontist’.
Er, no.
The reason for my Internet search a while back was for a reputable dentist for my daughter. Now everyone’s daughter is beautiful, right, but mine – with a Vietnamese mum and an incredibly handsome hunk of a tall Aussie surfer dad (that’s me, he says modestly) was a sight for sore eyes.
Just one problem: she had not only inherited our mutual good looks but my slightly crooked teeth. One of her canine teeth, a word I thought meant something to do with dogs, was protruding. As she developed it became more and more obvious though like all parents, I pretended that a minor imperfection didn’t exist.
Until barely into her teenage years she mentioned it herself.
Now, everyone wants the best for their kids don’t they but I was reassured about the prices when I Googled an orthodontist in Campbelltown (the search engine made the spelling correction!)
We arranged an appointment where a full exam was done on my daughter’s gnashers. I should explain here that we had as a family been a bit lax in visiting the dentist. I’d grown up thinking dentists mean pain and suffering.
It was explained that that was a fallacy these days and that good dental care is as vital as a regular health check-up for adults and children alike. Regular dentist visits can extend your life too, you know.
Well, everything was good but that protruding tooth – the upper left canine – was the problem. The orthodontist explained that correcting the issue would take 18 months to two years and involve things like retainers, braces and bands.
We live near Campbelltown so the monthly trips to readjust the scaffolding in my daughter’s mouth were easy and the staff were super friendly and able to allay my concerns and more importantly those of my daughter.
Of course, she wanted her teeth straight but there was some discomfort and getting used to the contraptions – albeit state-of-the-art ones – as well as the teenage angst about braces and stuff.
Finally when the wires were removed for the last time came a moment neither of us nor my wife were expecting. Correcting mal-positioned teeth, jaws and bite patterns – all arts of an orthodontist – is a gradual process. You don’t really notice a change on a daily or weekly basis.
But we were shown “before and after” pictures and the change was incredible. Gone was the only imperfection on a face that would launch a thousand and one ships.
And you know what?
With my daughter’s newfound confidence in her smile, she landed a modelling contract for a leading cosmetics brand.
Job done dad, and job done professional and superb orthodontist.
And now I can even spell better…..