Wearing Braces In College

One of the first physical features people tend to notice about me is the invisible retainer that covers my teeth. The retainer casts a shiny glare that is so noticeable it makes the invisible in its name seem inapposite. Most high schoolers have them as a result of wearing braces. Most high schoolers also tend to just wear theirs at night. Because I am the lucky individual that I just so happen to be, I am required to wear mine during the day, every day. It is crucial that I do this because I have hypodontia, meaning I am missing a lateral incisor. Hypodontia is fairly common but usually affects the wisdom teeth in most people. Since my missing tooth is in an observable location, I have to wear my retainer in public in order to avoid terrifying any children that catch a glimpse of me. As annoying as it is to wear a retainer all the time, I’ve come to appreciate this rather unusual trait of mine. Approximately two percent of the population is missing a lateral incisor, so statistically I consider myself to be a pretty lucky individual. When I was young, I was informed to try my …show more content…
I hated how repulsive my smile appeared and the braces just made the gaps between my teeth more apparent. I thought it was the most embarrassing feature someone could ever be cursed with. Once I got my braces off I received an invisible retainer with a fake tooth inside. I am required to take it out when I eat, so I didn’t talk at all during lunch in an attempt to hide my hideous smile.
I came to realize later in my high school career that my missing tooth is a defining feature. It’s something that makes me different from everyone else. It makes me weird. Everyone has their unique differences which create unique individuals. I became proud of my missing tooth, so I began to confidently yank my retainer out to reveal the spacious gap where a tooth should reside to anyone who wished to