I know it's silly but I've been kind of in shock about it all weekend. At first the extra space felt nice, biting my tongue and cheeks less. But then the reality set in, they're not coming back. I think I should have fought harder to keep them. I can't help but wonder if those teeth were the main reason I don't have TMD while most people with steep mandibular inclines do.
On the flip side, three of them had fillings already and they're all worn and need crowns. I banked them so I have some stem cells now. Whatever problems they reportedly cause in old age, I won't have. The pockets were good but they did tend to inflame and they were bleeding a lot with braces. And chances are good whatever surgeon I'd have picked would have wanted them out.