Fiorella's Teeth

Fiorella can remember the tenth grade, when it seemed like everyone in high school was wearing metal bands across their teeth. Everyone but her, that is. Fio was the girl who was so self-conscious about her teeth that she tried never to smile, especially if there was a photographer in range.

She had an overbite, a gap between her two front teeth, and undersized laterals (her father's line), but there was no convincing her parents that she needed braces. Good, healthy teeth were all that mattered.

But when Fiorella married (her bridal picture shows a closed-mouth, solemn-looking young woman), her mother-in-law graciously volunteered to pay for dental work. Four caps and a year of braces later,  Fiorella began to smile again.

Needless to say,, when Daughter developed an under-bite (her great-grandmother on Husband's side), Fio immediately signed her up for orthodontics.

Better Tomorrow than Today

Fiorella likes to fix things, especially herself.  Yes, Fiorella is the self-improvement queen.  Born with Haverlock teeth, she went through orthodontics as as adult, later acquired a couple of caps, and recently had the last of her silver fillings replaced with porcelain.  Currently she's considering Invisalign.

And then there's the cosmetic surgery--the upper eyelids, the lower eyelids, the lower face and neck lift, not to mention the botox, lasering, and electrolysis.  It's a wonder Husband and kids still recognize her.

Fio also gets her hair highlighted semi-regularly and strives to maintain the forty-pound weight loss she achieved last year.  And if there's any medical problem, she signs up immediately for the appropriate treatment.

You could say that Fio is insecure in her own skin, but she thinks of it as presenting her best face to the world.  Smile--you're on Candid Camera!