Here's Joshua and his new braces just put in last Tuesday. He has an expander in his mouth that rapidly expands his palette. It's a metal contraption in the roof of his mouth where I have to insert a tiny key and turn everyday for 4 weeks. He has 3 brackets (braces) on his top 3 adult teeth (the orthodontist will add one more bracket once his 4 top adult tooth comes in). At the end of the month, he'll begin another treatment where he'll have to wear a face mask at bedtime only. It has a pad at his jaw and forehead with a metal bar running vertically down his face. This is to push his lower jaw back since he has a class III underbite. I don't think I'll be able to post a photo of the face mask...Joshua will probably not allow it!

He's doing well considering all these new changes. He has a hard time speaking clearly, chewing and swallowing, but he is adjusting and getting better each day. The estimated time for the braces is 9 months. So far so good. No pain, he just complains of the awkwardness.

Here's to a rapid and successful treatment!