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Capturing Metal Mouth Memories
Being an orthodontic assistant, I constantly come into contact with people of all ages who wear braces. It's obvious from the conversations I have with them that this is a huge part of their lives. Still, you'd be surprised how many times I hear patients or their parents say, "I wish I'd remembered to bring my camera!" Recording the everyday moments in life - including trips to the orthodontist - is an important part of preserving your memories. So, take your camera to your next check-up and use these ideas to start scrapping that special "brace face" in your life.
 Appointments
Take your camera chair-side and get a few shots of the doctor or assistant working on your child. This is especially fun at the initial "banding" appointment when the braces are put on or at the end of treatment when they're removed. So many children are nervous about both of these procedures going in, but when it's over, they say it was no big deal. Take a few notes about their feelings to use for your journaling.
The "No-No" List
One thing everyone with braces has in common is a no-no list. There are certain foods that are just not allowed during treatment. Things like ice, popcorn, and suckers are at the top of the list of things most people miss. What foods does your child wish he could eat? Does he cheat anyway? Has he broken brackets as a result? What was the first food that he wanted to eat when the braces finally came off?
The Orthodontist
Many orthodontists have a very fun clinic that is designed to appeal to their young patients. Why not ask the doctor if you could take a few pictures of the office during one of your visits? Don't forget to snap one of your child with the doctor or her favorite assistant while you're at it.
 Before/After Shots
Before treatment begins, the doctor will make a set of orthodontic records. This includes "before" photos with a smiling pose, a profile shot, and close-ups of the teeth. You can make your own set of records for your scrapbook. The camera settings will vary, but try shooting with the macro mode in order to zoom in closely for those "teeth shots." Repeat this at the end of treatment to see how far he has come.
Cost
It's a fact of life... braces are not cheap. But the cost of braces changes over time just like everything else. Jotting down this little detail now will provide a meaningful record for future generations.
Color Choices
One of the most difficult decisions for most of our patients is what color they want on their braces (these are called "elastics," "ligatures," or "colors"). From school colors to holiday themes, everyone has a reason for choosing what they do. Does your child get the same color every time? Is he one who prefers silver so that it blends with the brackets? Maybe she likes to try a different shade of pink at each visit. Take a few pictures of her various color choices for a layout. (This is also a great way to document progress.)
I hope you can use some or all of these ideas for recording this very exciting time in your child's life. Consider putting all of these pages together in a mini album. I guarantee it will be treasured for years to come! Supplies (No More Brace Face) - patterned paper - Phosphorescent by Peta Stokes at Pickleberrypop.com
- alphabet - Big Adventure By Fee Jardine at SweetShoppeDesigns.com
- fonts: Staccato222, Plastique, Pea Katie, and P22 Typewriter
- Traci Murphy drop shadows from tracimurphydesigns.com
Supplies (Braces - Day 1) - Phosphorescent kit by Peta Stokes at Pickleberrypop.com
- template - Launch Pads Horizontals #1 by Bree Clarkson at ScrapbookGraphics.com
- flowers - Those Bloomin' Flowers by Christy Lyle at SweetShoppeDesigns.com
- photo corner - Audrey Neal at audreyneal.com
- fonts - 4990810, BlackJack, and Pea Kate
I'd like to extend a special thank you to Sharon Court for allowing me to use her photographs for the sample layouts in this article.
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