Blessings and Answers

At the end of September I went to an orthodontist to have my first consultation for braces.  I have wanted to have them for a while now, so Chris and I decided now is as good a time as any to get started on this process.  We went to see Dr. Graf here in Utah county.  He did a quick look at my mouth and gave us a very rough diagnosis on my treatment plan and options that were available to us.  We were not expecting to hear what he had told us.

We were told that I have an open bite.  That is where the top and bottom set of teeth do not touch.  I have a about a 3mm gap from one set of teeth to the other.  In order for me to have a perfect smile, I would have to have oral surgery.  The oral surgeon would have to take out part of my top jaw so everything would work out the way that braces should.  They would have to go in through my soft palette and take out a pie shape cut with the point in the front of my face, and getting into a bigger cut going towards my throat area.  Dr. Graf told us that he was about 95% sure that this was going to be our only treatment option for me.  We were given the price, and it was not cheap.  There was no way that we could come up with $17,000 in order pay for that surgery.  Plus, I would have 6 weeks of recovery time and most of that time I would be on a liquid diet.  

As we got ready to leave he said that he wanted me to come back in in a couple of weeks for x-rays, pictures, and to get a mold of my mouth.  Then I would have an additional consultation meeting with him to have him say for sure what my options were.  We left very worried, and I left in tears, and very defeated that straight teeth was not something that I could have right now in my life, if ever. We would have to wait for a few years so we could get our finances in order.  We did not rule anything out until we had the final consultation with Dr. Graf.

During the 4 weeks of waiting time that we had, I said prayer after prayer pleading that we would know what to do, and that something would happen for us financially when the time was appropriate and we felt it was the time for us to go ahead with the procedure.  I prayed for an answer everyday, and I always had a prayer in my heart.  I know that things would work out how they were supposed to.  Even if it wasn't the way that I wanted them to, they would work out.  Our answer finally came last night.  I had my final consultation, and after looking at my x-rays and pictures Dr. Graf told us that he could fix my teeth to 90% perfect, and with that option there would be no surgery involved.  I would just have to have the braces.  I still have the option of surgery, but it is not my only option.  The cost is no longer $17,000.  I knew at that moment that my prayers had been answered.  This is the time that this is all supposed to happen in my life.  It is a true blessing in my life to know that I have a Heavenly Father who is watching out for me and helping me along this earthly journey.  Knowing what we know now is wonderful news, and we plan on continuing forward with everything in February of next year.