Poll: Which Arlington Resident Has the Most Embarrassing Orthodontics Story?

Last month we asked our readers to tell us your most embarrassing orthodontics story.

You responded and… yowza… there were some really embarrassing and weird stories. We’ve whittled the submissions down to four cringe-worthy finalists and now it’s up to readers to vote for your favorite.

The winner will receive professional teeth whitening sessions for two from Rosslyn-based VCO Orthodontics. The runner-up will get a professional teeth whitening session for one.

These stories may be ugly but there is good news: if you or your kids need orthodontic treatment, the modern ortho techniques employed by VCO’s Harvard-educated founder, Dr. Crissy Markova, make for a much better experience than you might have gotten back in the day.

Here are the finalists:

1. Lisa

The scene: middle school in the San Francisco Bay Area in the mid 1970s.

The facts: I will admit that I didn’t wear my headpiece at night like I was supposed to. I was warned but didn’t believe the ortho. He said he would wire it in if I didn’t wear it.

The other fact: our choir was invited to sing on the local TV station, and I had a solo.

Next ortho appt: the ortho wired in my headpiece. I begged him not to. The next day I was in the TV studio in SF singing. With a big lisp. ” I THAW three THIPS come THAILING in on CRETHMATH DAY…..” Yep, lovely.

2. Katie

Once a few years ago I had an accident that required the repair of two broken teeth. While the operation itself, shots of novocaine and all was 100% successful, it was made most unpleasant when the saliva suction tube fell out while I was waiting for the orthodontist and the technician stepped away for a few minutes. I realized it had fallen out after my mouth started swelling up with spit, and I couldn’t swallow it because it built up too quickly that I was worried I would choke. All I could do was sit there and be frustrated that I had to essentially spill like a cup of my own spit onto the floor. Turns out those suction tubes are super important if removed for 5 minutes!

3. Sarah

Back in fifth grade after I had my braces taken off I was given a retainer to wear. It was pizza day for lunch and I discretely took my retainer out, wrapped it in a napkin, and put it on my lunch tray. When I got home from school my mom asked where my retainer was and I realized I had thrown it away with my lunch tray. We hopped in the car, drove to the school, and I got in the dumpster to pull out the lunch trash bags. We sifted through a few bags, and found my retainer! She soaked and cleaned it and I went back to wearing it the next day.

4. Kathy

Well my experience was terrible in the 80s and continues to haunt me. I had an appliance that was supposed to bring my lower jaw forward and it puffed my cheeks like a chipmunk. During my first week of middle school (living in Florida and I am female), someone asked me if I was chewing tobacco. I am now 48. A year ago, I was diagnosed with “short roots” attributed to the fast track method of orthodontia implemented in my early teens. Because of this, I now need to wear a retainer nightly so I don’t lose my front two bottom teeth.

So which embarrassing story has your vote?

Voting closes next week on Wednesday, Oct. 19. Good luck to the entrants!