I just got back from having a new crown put on a tooth. The dentist fiddled with it a few times, saying he was “tightening” it. That reminded me of the period when I had braces, back in high school. Every three months I had to go see Dr. M., the orthodontist. He had an office that was about three miles from my high school, so I had to ride my bike up Backlick Road to the medical building on Little River Turnpike in Annandale, Va. Not so bad during the summer, but not a lot of fun in a Northern Virginia winter. He’d tighten the silver metal bands on my teeth, attach new rubber bands, and I’d hurt like hell. Then I’d get back on my bike and head back down the road in 40&deg weather. If anyone thinks that cold has no impact on metal and teeth, try that on for size.
I was lucky, though. My teeth were straightened out in only 18 months. I’ve known people who had to wear them for years.