mark clayson

Monday is gonna be big. Well, in the grand scheme of things, perhaps not. But we all have our little hurdles to overcome and journeys to travel. Big changes - if not, there's going to be serious consequences.

I reckon I know at least as much as the average orthodontist. Granted, they spend 5 or more years at Dental School and many of them have 20+ years of experience. But I have something they don't or didn't use - YouTube.

For me, YouTube teaches you what used to take years to learn. It's great seeing someone demonstrate something and then to go off yourself and complete the task.

I have examples:-

3 years ago I managed to put up a series of shelves after following a video on YouTube. After they came crashing down a few days later I filled in the gaping holes in the wall with a plastering technique learned from a direct video. It's crumbly but the curtain hides most of it.

I have even managed some tricky electrical work via personal internet instruction. Yes, the cat still has a large bald spot as a result of the short circuit that followed but I say he should never have gone behind the bath in the first place.

I am getting more confident and adept. And think of the money I am saving.

Anyway, orthodontics is now my thing. I have seen many young people having their braces put on, their archwire changed, their elastics fitted and powerchains clamped. There can't be much more I don't know.

It is with this spirit that I will attend on Monday. Before my ortho can even speak I will impress him by demanding exactly what he needs to do, how long it will take and when the next visit is. If he gives me a mirror I will even do it myself.

With YouTube around it can't be much longer before we will all do DIY orthodontics at home. I, personally, look forward to it. I have certainly become even more confident of my ability since the shelves and electrics experiences.