As I posted in the other thread, I had teeth too big and a jaw that's too narrow. For those who have "been there, done that" the orthodontist had to bend his narrowest tray even more narrow in order to take impressions of my teeth!

I had braces for about 2 years, 3 months and 15 days. I have 8 fewer teeth than a normal adult - had my 4 first bicuspids (premolars) taken out, and then my 4 wisdom teeth taken out. I wore my retainers until the orthodontist said I didn't have to any more - if you don't you risk having to have braces all over again as an adult. I do not have a "permanent" bottom retainer, though my sister does. She had braces for 4 years, starting just after she turned 9. Her teeth were so messed up (one eyetooth, the orthodontist asked my parents if he could use her impressions and x-rays as a teaching aid, so they got a discount on her braces.

Then when it was my turn, my parents got a "second kid in the family" discount. Dr. Morin was great. He had stuffed animals with either glasses or night braces on them in his office, cool abstract modern art (real, not reproductions) on his walls, and one hot pink chair, one purple one, and one lighter pink one. We each got a plaque with our braces mounted on it as a "job over" present, and a smiley-button (with straight teeth showing) that said "construction completed" on it.

My brothers lucked out - they have wider jaws, so just needed their wisdom teeth removed, no braces.