inspired by Steppdaddy adults with braces

[binny]

So how many people have had braces as adults and how long did you have them on?
How old were you when they went on?
Im 32 now and just got mine on, my brother told me the other day how much he admired me for doing it and that he didnt think he could do it. That made me feel really good about it. Ive needed to do it for a long time and dont know why I put it off.


Im glad Im doing it now. Between that and the weight loss I will be a whole new person in 17 months!

 

[GlennandAnn]

I am 32 and my dentist has spent about the last 2 years telling me that I need to get braces. For some reason, I have resisted. It's not that I don't want to have straight teeth, I just think I'll feel weird with the braces on. How did you decide to do it?


Ann

 

[phillybeth]

I had braces as a teen but never wore my retainers, so my teeth moved (although the retainers wouldn't have done too much even if I wore them, I found out later). So I got braces again as an adult at 25. I had them on for 3 years, I had the 'clear' ones on top- they are not really clear but ceramic that matches your natural tooth enamel color. I did have to have two teeth extracted, my adult OD told me that even if I had worn my retainers my teeth would have moved anyway, as my mouth was too small. One downside to braces as an adult is that your teeth are much more likely to revert back to their original positions, so I need to wear my retainers every night for the rest of my life. Small price to pay for straight healthy teeth!

 

[binny]

Hi ann

To tell you the truth I just did it. I went in about a year ago and had the initial stuff done but always found a reason to put it off. When I finally decided to do it I was still aprehensive but went in and they scheduled me right away so I didnt really have time to think about it anymore.

Im very glad I did it. After the initial soreness wore off it isnt bad at all.
I just think about how nice it will be when theyre finally straight! Besides, I lost 6 pounds the first week!
LOL
I should get mine off right before Christmas next year so that will be nice!

 

[sissybells]

I would like to say that I feel sooo special to have inspired a post. I have never done that before.

I was 30 when I got mine on. I have had them for exactly 1 year and a little over 1 month. My husband had braces when he was younger and told me the whole time how he wished he would have had them later in life. He said it is because you are more likely to really listen to how to take care of them and are grown up enough to do exactly what you need to do like floss and brush for the full 6 minutes and stuff like that. I can already see a total difference even with my braces still on and cannot wait to get them off. I would totally do it again in a heart beat just to be more confident in my smile.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I HAVE THEM TOO!!!!!!!

I got mine put on when I was 22... I think... for about 4 years now, gosh, I can't believe it's been that long!!!!!!

Evidentally I have really stubborn teeth, he is trying to fix a right alignment, or overbite, or something. I also had 4 teeth pulled that had to be filled in... he won't give me a timeframe, right now, and in his defense, I usually forget to wear my bands, AND, because I've moved 1.5 hours away, I don't see him every 6 weeks like I'm supposed to... for awhile there, I was so sick and couldn't leave home, that I went 6 months without a visit. I know i can transfer, but I REALLY like him, and I always have a reason to go "home" anyways.

My parents could not afford them, and I decided to get them because I was getting married and wanted to be confident in my pics - and smiling on my big day. Shallow reasoning, I know, but it was important at the time. I have clear on top, as well, and they don't show up in most pics. My photographer brushed them out of closeup pics, but at least when they did that, the teeth behind them were already straight!

my confidence has SKYROCKETED since getting them. I am proud of myself for paying them off, too! Not a cheap investment, in anyway!

I forget I have them now... sometimes someone will mention them, and I have to remind myself what they're talking about! The first few months were hard, as my mouth was building up callouses to deal with it. I had this plastic thing glued to the back of my two front teeth and couldn't chew for a week or so, but now i'm used to that too. I figured out real quick that mashed potatos and oatmeal TRULY IS a well balanced meal =) =)

Only thing I CANT do is eat ribs, which I miss, and hamburgers/sandwiches/etc are more trouble then they are worth. I eat them in private if I must =)

 

[chichihoney]

i had braces on when i'm 21
i wore them for 1 1/2 years i got them in end of june early jluy can't wait

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Aimeedyan - I relate so much to your post - especially the mashed potatoes part!!!

I am 34, and got braces 15 month ago when I was 33. I was given an estimate of 30 months, but it will probably be three years as my ortho has a very unagressive approach, it seems. Like others here, I also put off getting braces for years. I known since I was a teen that my teeth were very unattractive (mid-line shift, fangs, overbite, crowding, overlapping, you name it!) but when I was younger I thought braces were ugly and unecessary. My bad teeth did not bother me until I graduated from college and had to present myself well, and I realized how awful my smile was. Hard to perform well at an interview when you won't dare open your mouth so wide that crooked teeth would show through!! Needless to say, my self-esteem was virtually nil. I even quit a part-time job when I found out catty co-workers were getting their jollies by making fun of my bad appearance.

So now I sport a full mouth of ceramics braces, and no regrets! I am 100% convinced that in this day and age, everyone who wants to work in a professional environment needs an attractive smile, and that means paying your dues to the orthodontist.

Unfortunately, straight teeth are really becoming a "class" thing, and I didn't want to feel "second-class" anymore. Anyone else here on the fence about braces, PLEASE GET THEM!!!! Straight teeth are worth it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[binny]

Needless to say, my self-esteem was virtually nil.


Unfortunately, straight teeth are really becoming a "class" thing, and I didn't want to feel "second-class" anymore. Anyone else here on the fence about braces, PLEASE GET THEM!!!! Straight teeth are worth it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [/B]

I agree with you.
I always thought " if only my teeth were straight I would be prettier...more popular... you name it". Its been a constant source of embarrasment in my life

Im so glad to be able to make these positive changes in my life.

My parents werent able to afford it for me and while its a stretch for me, I have to do it. I promised myself I would do it and now I have


As for the second class citizen I can relate to that too. But I always try to remember " No one can make you feel inferior without your consent"
I think it has so much to do with our self confidence. When we have straight teeth we just feel that much better about ourselves and that much more confident. You know whats funny?
I thought I would be so self consience about actually WEARING the braces but IM NOT at all!! Im proud of them lol I smile so much more now. My kids and their friends all think its " cool" that I have them on. I love it. I wish I had done it sooner!