The “Chen family” most certainly has a hereditary disease called the “ugly teeth disease”. Every-single-one of us has had to wear braces in a stage of our lives (all thanks to Grandpa!). Well, except for those who are still too small to know what braces are 
But despite all of us being on the same boat (or so to speak), we have all had different experiences, and I think my personal experience is somewhat more dramatic than that of my cousins’ (which is against my will, of course) 
You see, I had to surgically remove 2 of my 4 wisdom teeth when I was 19 years old. The procedure was a pretty simple one — I sat on the dentist’s chair, the dentist anaesthetized my mouth and after a while, she started drilling and I could feel that she was cutting my wisdom tooth into four parts. When she was done, she dug each of the parts out one-by-one. And finally she sutured the opening. The entire procedure took between 45 minutes and an hour, depending on how strongly my wisdom teeth were stuck in my gums 
My mouth was swollen after each surgery, which were scheduled a week after the other. I couldn’t eat solid foods, and it was just too painful to talk (which was even more depressing). My Mum treated me like a princess, and the blood scared the sh*t out of my sister 
After removing my wisdom teeth, I had to have 6 of my remaining teeth manually removed, one during each consecutive weekend. And at the end of 2 months, I had 8 teeth less than any adult
And then, began my journey of wearing the braces for the next 4.5 years, which was nothing remotely close to sweet and dandy. I couldn’t eat hard foods, no eating drumstick like the KFC advertisement, no chewing gums. There was once I broke my braces while eating murukku (a kind of Indian snacks).
To put it simply, I had to visit the dentist every month, and she would tighten my braces so that my mal-aligned teeth would budge. At one point, I was even asked to wear a head-gear for 16 hours a day (pic).
I had my braces removed in September 2003, and is it worth all the lost blood and painful and terrifying experience, you ask?
You bet! 
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I wish we had braces back in my days.
Nice entry on braces and crooked teeth.
I remember a girl in my class whom I used to have a crush on. We were 10 and she sat in front of me. She would peer over to see my drawings and whatever I scribbled on my exercise book - and flash the brightest smile I’ll always remember. All because she was the only one with those shiny braces.
And I totally dig novelty and she was the sweetest one I ever laid my eyes upon. Amanda.
Thanks for the reminder, Pelf.
wuching: I’m sure they did, because my paternal aunt (born in 1959) had her braces in her teens..
cynewulf: OMG, that’s just sooo sweet!! So how’s Amanda now? Are you keeping in touch with her?
Wow… Why do you need to remove 2 wisdom teeth Pelf? The Chen family member all so lenglui and lengchai!
*shudder* at your procedure. I’ve known people going under GA (General Anaesthesia) to remove their wisdom teeth. It is a big thing. LOL.
Wa
So charm
I can only imagine the pain you have gone through
But of course, the current pelf is pretty with a stunning smile ^-^
jie…i didnt have braces, i refused to have braces. what happened to me huh?
littlepolaris: I had to have 2 wisdom teeth removed to make way for the braces
helen: Some people have their wisdom teeth removed because they hurt. But I’ve heard that our wisdom teeth could fall out anytime, right?
yenjai: Aww, thanks!
ed: My darling, you’re a LEE, not a CHEN, but we treat you the same
I am thinking of fixing the braces for the third time. I love the steel bars attached to my teeth. It looks cool. Will see what Mom has to say. What do you think?