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I had braces for YEARS as a teen and at the start I wasn't keen, but they are SO worth it! They do hurt a little at first, and also when they get tightened, but other than that not much at all! Now my teeth look great, people always seem to notice them.
Plus if you wear them with confidence braces really aren't so bad, I promise!
Any bee's have or had braces either as teen's or adults? How was your experience? Having adult braces did you find people stared? I had braces my freshman and sophomore years of school (so teen, not really adult, but since everyone in my area gets them in 4-7th grade, I was 'old'). I was uncomfortable with them at first because I was older, but that quickly went away. People don't notice them as much as you think they do, and they're a dental device - most people who do notice will only notice once and think "good for you!"
Would BF find me unattractive? My mom was kind enough to scrape up the little bit of extra $$ to get me ceramic (tooth colored) braces rather than traditional metal. Mr.ND didn't notice them until FIVE MONTHS later...he only ever noticed the one metal wire and thought I had retainers. They also have braces that go inside your mouth now, so they're not even visible to others. You can always ask about those 2 different alternatives to traditional braces. They're temporary, and they're for your benefit, so he should be supportive :-)
Would they make me look less professional in my job? I've worked with various professionals who have metal braces, and it didn't affect my view of them at all. Just keep them clean, don't go crazy with colored bands (I'm sure you won't do sports colors like tweens do), and you'll be fine.
Are they going to hurt all the time? Mine only hurt a few days after each tightening, but taking a few tylenol before and the day after was all I needed. Keeping them brushed and flossed helps too, keeps your teeth clean and movable.
I had braces for 4.5 years. It was a struggle at times, but so worth it in the end. I had a lot of orthodontic obstacles so mine took longer than most people. I'm sure by now they are able to fix things a lot more efficiently! My aunt had braces in her 40's and always talks about how glad she is that she go them, even as an adult!
I had braces as an adult. The reality is that you will be two years older in two years- with or without straight teeth. Get it done! I have never regretted it.
So many adults have braces these days that no one will think anything of it.
Uh. I am contemplating getting braces as well, and it totally stresses me out.
As for your wedding photos, I had a co-worker that had braces while she got married. I don't know what it costs or anything like that but she had them removed for the month of her wedding and then put back on after. Something to look into if you can afford it.
I had braces put on in March of this year. I had them for about 3 years as a teenager because I had a really bad bite. My teeth were straight when the braces came off, but my bite was still terrible. So now I have them again as an adult (I'm 23).
No one EVER says anything to me about my braces! I'm betting that most people don't even notice them, I have clear brackets on my top teeth. AND -- I had braces on my wedding day. It wasn't ideal and wasn't something that I necessarily would have chosen, but that is the way it worked out and I really didn't even think about them all day. They are 100% not noticeable in my wedding photos since they are clear.
I've only had my braces on for about 9 months and my teeth are SO MUCH straighter. I have so much more confidence. It is seriously one of the best decisions I have ever made.
My husband doesn't care about my braces at all. When I first started treatment in 2010 I had to have an expander in the roof of my mouth and bone anchors (screws) in my jaw. If that didn't drive him away, nothing will! LOL!
They only hurt for a few days after you get them on, and maybe a day or two after each appointment. It's nothing that can't be handled with an ibuprofen.
To make a VERY long story short, my braces have not affected me negatively at all in my professional or social life. Absolutely go for it, you will not regret it!
ETA: One reason I love my braces so much is because they are so clear. My orthodontist uses a brand called "Damon" that doesn't use ligatures (the little bands around each bracket that some people get in different colors), and if your ortho offers Damon Clear they are definitely worth it (it just cost me an extra $100 to get clear). This is a picture I found from Google (not my teeth):
@Miss Sorbet: wow! I know I'm not the OP, but I just have to say that is SO refreshing to hear! I'm 23 as well and need them for my bite and a bit of straightening. I'm very hesitant on getting them.
I currently have braces for the first time as an adult (late twenties) and get them off tomorrow after 15 months! Woohoo! I used Invisalign instead of traditional braces and they were annoying, but not enough to affect my social life. I originally purchased Invisalign before we got engaged, but it's a definite plus to have straight white teeth for our upcoming engagement and wedding photos! I say go for it and keep reminding yourself of your end result...straight teeth and a beautiful smile!
One of my college roommates used Invisalign, and she was 23 when she did it. Is that an option for you?
I have invisalign right now. It was pretty hard at first, but I've gotten more used to them now. But I don't think other people can see them or have noticed them at all. If you want more info, I'm happy to answer questions.
I've known several adults (including one in her 60's) who made the decision to get braces as adults, and they have all had overwhelmingly positive experiences. One of them had the clear brackets and quite honestly if she hadn't posted all over Facebook "LOOK! I have braces!!!" I probably never would have noticed!
They do hurt a bit here and there, and your teeth will feel alarmingly loose after each tightening, but when I look at the way my teeth used to be (overbite with a huge gap between my top front teeth that you could fit a cocktail straw through) and the way they are now, it was well worth a few days of mild discomfort here and there.
I also know plenty of people who have had their braces taken off for special events and put back on afterward, so talk to your ortho and see if that's an option for you.
My best advice would be to focus on the positive from the get-go and really own this decision. If you're the one making jokes about railroad tracks and grinning away instead of trying to shield your mouth in case anyone else cracks a joke at your expense, you'll have a much better experience.
I'm getting my bottom braces on in 10 days. (I'm 28) I'm getting the clear ones like Miss Sorbet's pic. I'll get my top ones on in January, I think.
They have the braces that go inside your mouth so it's hidden but it is really expensive. It's an addition $3k to have them. I couldn't afford it so I went with the clear ones.
I have been using Invisalign for the 3 months for my top teeth. Although, I don't wear it for the 22 hours, I'm suppose to. It's only temporary to correct my bite. It is an adjustment to have them in. When I get braces, I will have to get used to the talking since I can't remove it like I can with invisalign.
@Demarca11: Be prepared to smile like a fool and lick your teeth for the next 2 weeks :-) Hehe. Congrats!
@Miss Sorbet: That's the style I had, but I had ligatures. Your style is even less visable. Braces have sure come a long way!
I had simple aligners (Invisialign's generic and cheaper cousin) last year. And, it was a pain but it was worth it! You can also look it as a way to curb appetite and help you lose a few lbs. lol I hated brushing every every meal or snack so I ended up eating less. I didn't lose a lot of weight but I was able to control my snacking. // My bf has braces as an adult. So, does his female friend...and one of my guy friends... It seems like quite a few of us have them because after the wisdom extraction most of our teeth shifted.
I currently have top braces (ceramic). I did Invisalign for a year+, but they could never move one of my teeth. We decided to put traditional braces on for a couple of months to get that one tooth straight.
That said, I thought Invisalign was annoying. I'm just going to be truthful and tell you that I am miserable. I have no idea how people wear these damn things for years. They cut my lips all of the time, I constantly have to pack them full of wax because I have so many sores, and they are just overall a pain in the ass. I really really hate them.
But they are the only way I am going to have the straight teeth I want, so they're pretty much the only choice I have. I'm hoping once they are off and my smile rocks, I will be thankful for them. Right now, I keep debating if it was worth it, though. We'll see.
I have Damon Braces as well, and for me it was a great decision. I get them off in April which is 16 months. I couldn't have invisalign because of the placement of a few of my teeth.
I don't have many problems with them- right after an appointment I'm sore, the appointment itself is usually pretty painless except for a couple times (trying to speed up the process can be painful!), and rubberbands suck. I never use wax. I am slightly allergic to latex so the rubberbands did cause sores- I probably should have mentioned this to my orthrodontist but I just want this process done as soon as possible.
Almost no one notices I have braces, several people noticed after I got rubberbands but that was more because all of the sudden I couldn't speak properly and couldn't open my mouth very far.
My one big disappointment is that I switched orthrodontists due to a 6 hour move and the new one didn't have colored rubber bands :( Yes, I know, I'm a child.
On that note switching orthrodontists is a pain and can be expensive. And I may be moving back, so I'll have to drive 6 hours for my appointments...at least it will only be 3 times.
FI thought he would hate them but now says he doesn't even notice them.
I just got mine off last week (I'm 34). It was a pain but totally worth it. I too had many of the same worries, particularly about my job. But it was fine...I just made sure to avoid lunch/dinner meetings if possible!
@bree72: I feel the same way. I'm slightly more used to them now, but overall I just can not wait to get these things out of my mouth for good. I seem to get mostly used to them by the end of 2 weeks, but then I have to change them again. And I get cuts and sores and headaches again. Ugh.
I did this for my wedding, but my ortho wants to go far past that. I'm not sure I'll make it, I may call it good enough in May. I'd actually be mostly find with the way look now, except that my bite is way off. I can't imagine in another 6 months that I'm not going that they're not 1000% perfect.
I had them as a young teen then again at 19-20 on my bottom teeth.
For me the first day of getting them on hurt the worst. Getting them tightened hurt especially when they put thicker wires on. Getting them off didn't hurt at all.
When I had to get them on my bottom teeth again people kept thinking I was super young, I get that anyway but it was worse with them on.
It's really not that bad. They are annoying more than anything else. I had them when I was 17-20 and just got them again at 25 (this September) to prep for jaw surgery. I chose the clear braces both times, and people barely noticed. The only time someone balantly asked about them was when a bartender did a doubletake and said "I'm going to have see your ID definitely" whatever that meant lol
When I was getting my braces on this time around, there was a woman who was in her 50s getting them off. More and more adults are getting them, so it's not as uncommon as it used to be. When they off, it is sooo worth it. Good Luck!
@bree72: The sores and pain stop after about a year. I still have callouses on my lips and cheeks on the inside from mine.
I want to get braces (I'm 26). I had Invisalign when I was 20-22 and it took my teeth from like a 1/10 to an 8/10. I'm hoping braces would only be a few months to get what Invisalign couldn't fix, but I'm not sure. I say get them--it's like what one of the PPs said, two years is going to go by whether you have braces or not. You're going to be kicking yourself two years from now if you don't do it.
A side note: I actually think Invisalign was more awkward than braces in some ways because my aligner did not fit on my teeth all the way, so people were always looking at my teeth wondering what was wrong with them. By the end of my 2 years with Invisalign, I wished I had just gotten regular braces. I can't imagine it having a negative impact on your private or professional life!
I had braces as an adult and it was definitely worth it. It's a lot more common now for people to get braces when they are adults so I don't think anyone would think it was strange. If anything, a lot of people see it as something very positive. My FI's sister also had braces as an adult.
Sometimes I pull out my before and after photos from my orthodontist and it reminds me of how thankful I am that I invested the time and money into braces. Before having them I was very self conscious about my smile. It's easily one of the best decisions I've ever made.
FYI, I had the regular metal kind of braces...not invasalign or anything fancy. Two reasons for that - they would have been more expensive and also the orthodontist said they wouldn't work as well as the regular metal braces because of the way my teeth were. I'm sure everyone is different though.
I had braces for seven years...all the way from being a teenager to an adult. I hated it after about 4 years, but am very happy to have straight teeth. A couple of people talked about having confidence with them and it is so true. After a couple of years I completely forgot I even had them...and people I met/people I knew for years would sometimes say, "Wait, you have braces?!" after knowing me for so long! I also had a lot of guys tell me that they thought that they were attractive...no idea why lol.
I assume you won't be having them for 7 years...and even if you have them on for a couple of years you will be so happy afterward! The pain is not bad at all...whenever I went to get them tightened it hurt for a day or two and it was uncomfortable but nothing serious. I didn't get many cuts either, only when someone would squeeze my cheeks or kiss my lips too hard lol.
I'm still not completely happy with my teeth, but it is for reasons other than not being straight...so my hatred for my teeth still continues :/ They are yellow, and I can't whiten them because they are so completely and ridiculously sensitive, and I got my braces off two years ago!!!! grrr
My husband just got his spacers put in to get his adult braces. I do not think you will regret it. It will be painful at times, yes, but so worth it. Take some medicine before you go in and get them put on, and before each appointment for tightenings and such and you will be golden. I don't think your SO will find you unattractive, he knows it's for a good cause in the end! :) Imagine that beautiful smile you'll have when you get them off!
I had Invisalign done last year, and I love the results. It was pretty much pain free for me, and some people never even knew that I had it. Those that did ask about it were pretty much curious, no negative reactions at all.
Something that surprized me: the consensus these days seems to be that after braces retainers of some sort should be worn for life. Teeth have a habit of going back to where they used to be. Mine did, after having had braces as a teen. I wear retainers overnight and plan on doing so for the forseeable future.
I hemmed and hawed about having orthodontics done, but in the end I was so glad I did it. If you keep thinking about it, just jump in and get it done, then it will be over before you know it! Mine was finished before the wedding and I loved not worrying about my smile.
@Dolcebabe: I got braces put on before my wedding because my crooked teeth were always my biggest worry. I am 29 (will be 30 in 3 months) and even though I'm still in the process I'm completely happy with the results! Best money I've ever spent! I'm anxiously waiting for the day when they are removed and I finally have a perfect smile! I say definately do it if you can. They don't really hurt except for a day or two after they are first put on and when they are adjusted but some Ibprofen helped with that.
My FI has been super supportive! He says he doesn't even really notice them. If fact I think I make more a big deal about them than him or my friends. I mostly smile closed lips now because I'm a bit self consious about them, but I truely don't notice any difference at work. People just made comments when I first got them on like "Oh did you just get braces?". Then that was it. I think it's kinda like a new hair cut. People notice right away but then don't really pay attention because it's just apart of who you are. I don't think at any point I felt less professional (I'm a nurse).
I know this isn't encouraging but yes occasionally I do notice people looking at my braces but it's usually little kids and maybe one or two random person my own age. And it truely doesn't happen as often as you think. Honestly once I got them on I started to notice a lot more adults have them on than I realized. But don't let this discourage you about getting them. They are definately worth it!
I hope this helps! I was sooo nervous about having mine put on at 29 years old and looking like a "nerd" ha. But my fears were far worse than reality. It has been worth it so far and I'm sure even more worth it when they come off and I have a perfect smile for my wedding (and for life)! Good luck!!
BRACES ARE THE BEST THING I HAVE EVER DONE. Period. It was worth every ounce of humiliation (which was far less than I was imagining).
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Hi Bee's
tommorow I am going for my consultation for Braces. This has been a long decision. I had so many fears. would BF find me unattractive? would they make me look less professional in my job? Are they going to hurt all the time?
any bee's have or had braces either as teen's or adults? how was your experience? having adult braces did you find people stared?
I really want straight teeth.... I am the only person I know with a crooked smile and didnt get braces as a teen. I want to get them off before our future wedding. I would dread wedding photo's where im too self consious to smile.