I think it’s funny what you remember from being a kid.

My first memory was from my third birthday. I remember helping my mom make her bed. And by helping I mean I was standing on one side, probably doing a crappy job of straightening the sheet. We were talking about how it was my birthday.

Whether this actually happened, or my mind created it from stories told or dreams had, I’ll never know. But when people talk about the first thing they remember, that is always what comes to mind.

I remember losing teeth. Not specific teeth, just teeth in general. I would rock them back and forth with my tongue. Spin them around until they were facing the wrong way. I can still remember the taste of raw skin and the little gap that would form between the tooth and my gums. My mom would tell me not to play with it, that it will come out when it’s ready. My dad offered to string my tooth to the handle of an open door and then slam it closed. I didn’t listen to either of them.

What I don’t remember is when my teeth came in. I don’t remember when I realized I had a midget lateral incisor, or when my canine grew in next to my front tooth on the other side, where my lateral incisor was missing. I just remember smiling with a closed mouth because I didn’t want people making fun of my fangs.

When I was 14 I had two teeth pulled: my midget incisor and a baby canine, which had had no tooth above to shove it out of the way. Ironically my mom found them the other day when she was cleaning.

I had braces for two years. All my teeth were moved forward (which allowed my top wisdom teeth to come in, but then they were pulled; that’s a story for another day), and my canines were shaped with composite to look like laterals. Everyone has always said my teeth look normal, but I’ve always been jealous of people with canines. I wasn’t going to complain though, because they looked a bazillionty times better than what I was born with.

After almost 17 years (their lifespan is 2–5) it was time to have the veneers redone. They were thinning and a bit discolored. Also, the gap from the retainers I never wore, which were originally behind my third tooth on each side, ended up behind my second tooth. Because, you know. The whole not wearing retainers and all.

I didn’t know what to expect going in to have them redone because I didn’t really remember my experience from the first time, which I’d hoped meant was because nothing bad had happened. I didn’t expect the Novocain shots, but I barely felt a thing. It was kind of fun, actually.

Not only did I have my incisors redone, but I also had my bicuspids formed to look more like canines.

I won’t ever have perfect model teeth, just like I’ll never be tall or have thick, luscious hair, but I’m extremely happy with the results. It’s been a week, and they still feel kind of fake, like I’m wearing a set of false teeth. I’m only starting to get used to my new canines rubbing against the inside of my lip. I’m still leery of eating because I fear they’ll break off. (Hello! 17 years!)

I wonder how many days it will take until they look and feel like mine again. I don’t remember my adjustment period the first time, but I do recall they felt strange at first. Maybe with the blog and photos, this will be one of those things I remember 17 years from now. (omg I’m gonna be so old by then!)

There is a sad side to having new teeth. I’ll have to throw out my custom fit vampire fangs. Le sigh. I don’t dare remake them, because you’re not supposed to use them on dental work (I read that while the glue was setting). Looks like I’ll need to find a new standard Halloween costume.