Braces--as in the kind for your teeth

So, I promised myself that after I paid off my law school loan, I'd literally put my money where my mouth is and get braces. I paid my loan off in June and met with the orthodontist today. While I was secretly hoping that Invisalign would be a viable option, it's not. Instead, he'd like to use something called Damon braces. They look, more or less, like regular braces, although part of the bracket is ceramic, but they work a little differently. They shoudn't be as painful and will likely take a bit less time. It's still going to take about 2 years, however, and will cost me the equivalent of a custom Ti, full Campy Record, bike. Sigh....

Have any of you worn braces as an adult? Any tips, advice, words of wisdom? I'm a little worried about my on-the-bike eating. Bananas will still work, but certain things like nuts and Oreos are now out of the question at SAG stops. What foods worked for you?

I know this is something that I need/want to do, but it will take some adjustment, both emotionally and physically. When I see adults with brackes, I personally don't think anything much of it. I hope that's the way most people respond. I may not have another date for a while though! :o The end result will hopefully be worth it.

K-

Hi there and welcome to the community. Hmmm...I had braces for a year, then jaw surgery, then braces for a year then they were off...and now I am half braced on one side to close up gaps. My freedom was short-lived.

I did not have Damons but I've heard nothing but good things about them. They are less bulky and they work more quickly than traditional braces. They are self-ligating so you don't have ligatures (those colored things on metal braces) either.

I was recently divorced (as a present to myself) when I got them. I remember being uneasy about eating a lot of things. Oreos will be fine! Even nuts though they get stuck. I ate almost everything that I would have eaten before though unsliced apples and corn on the cob were difficult. Pizza is messy because bread and cheese get stuck bigtime! Same with pasta and spinach. You will need a waterpik (or something equivalent) and I know a wonderful source for a "kit" to take with you to work. It comes in a purse-like pouch and contains everything you'd need when you're not at home. Let me know if you want the link, I can send it to you.

I did date. My first dinner date (first time eating in public) I decided to test swishing water to dislodge food in my braces. I was so nervous and as I swished the water, I ended up spitting it out onto my date. I ended up marrying him :o

The things that might be challenging are small things. I always used to open cycling water bottles with my teeth...it's difficult when they're sore. You can't bite off hang nails or scraggly nails though you CAN file them down (a bit) on the wire. Don't ask me how I know. I know it is scary, especially as a single person, but look at it like this. If someone looks at it the right way, they'll see someone with insurance, who has money to spend on braces, and who is concerned about their health. If they can't see beyond that, they aren't worth your time. That isn't to say I didn't have my share of "feeling sorry for myself" days but it gets better.

If I can think of anything else, I'll let you know. Please also ask any questions at all that you might have. Oh as an adult I learned that if my braces hurt (like after a visit to the orthodontist) Patron Tequila is perfect. Works better than advil.

As a postscript, my retainers (until I got half-rebraced) were of the Invisalign sort. To be honest, I don't like them. They feel bulky in my mouth, I drool when I take them out to eat, and I hate putting them back in if I can't clean them. I think you are better off with the Damons.

Teigyr, thanks so much for the advice and words of encouragement. I love, love, love your first date story. The fact that you ended marrying him warms my heart and gives me hope.

I'd love a link for the pouch. If I think of any additional questions, I'll PM you if that's okay. I'm glad to hear that you've heard good things about Damon. I haven't talked to anyone who has used them. The literature I've seen, however, is very promising.

K-

Here's the link:

http://www.dentakit.com/denforad1.html

This woman also has a forum called Archwired (Archwired.com) which is specifically for adults in braces. You can search through there to find out all sorts of info. It was my lifeline when I first got braced and if you look hard enough, you'll see the post I made pleading for information about how to go out for dinner on a date!! That'd be the infamous date now. I've met some of the NW people in RL and they are pretty great.

I think adults in braces is a lot more common now but there is always that internal feeling of being different. By the time I got mine off, I was almost proud of them. I liked them, don't ask me why. I'll post one of my wedding pictures when I get home (if I remember) and they all show me with braces! Everyone wondered if I wanted them photoshopped out and I said no because they were part of who I was when I got married.

Please do PM me if you have any question, no matter how small. There IS hope and keep remembering that even if you are spitting when you talk (a delightful thing that happens when you first get used to them). You know patience from both being a cyclist and going through law school so this is nothing compared to other things you've been through.

I just recently finished 18 months with Invisalign; I had regular braces as a kid, obviously they didn't work (what did they know back in the olden days?). This was a present to myself when i finished paying the college tuition and it cost slightly more than my Kuota! They worked really well, but were a pain for riding, since you cannot eat or drink anything but water with them in and I was not going to bring a toothbrush on rides. I would take them out at the first nutrition stop. So, I complained, but they worked and I mostly did as I was told. I now have Invisalign retainers and where them only when I go to bed, sometimes i put them in after dinner if I am home.
So, if you put your mind to it, you can put up with the hassles. I hated having to cut my lunch short to brush my teeth at work and at the end of last year I didn't do such a good job. This has resulted in some problems which I am now taking care of. So, take care of your teeth when you have the braces and I am sure you will be satisfied.

Hah re Invisalign...when I first got my retainers, I was at work and was starving. I didn't want to take them out and go through the whole teeth cleaning thing after (had brushed my teeth not all that long ago) so I took a small piece of chocolate and sucked on it with my retainers in.

What I didn't realize is the chocolately stuff seeped into the retainers and when I went into the bathroom I saw my teeth were BROWN :eek:

With the retainer my intentions were initially good but they are a pain. I think metal braces aren't so bad especially when you think about eating on the go, etc.

I am an orthodontic assistant and have been for many years now. The Damon brackets are good. They are made by Ormco. I personally like the Inovation brackets by GAC. The difference between these and 'regular' brackets are that they are self-ligating. They have a door that opens & closes to hold the wire in place. The main advantages are there is less friction on the wire and they are more hygienic.

The big difference in having braces as an adult is that we are generally less tolerable to them. It will take a bit longer to adjust. Once you're used to them it shouldn't be a big deal. However, eveyone is different.

My recommendations would be to take Advil before your appointment and follow with that every 4-6 hours for the first day or two. You won't feel the discomfort on your teeth for a couple of hours. You want the Advil in your system before you feel it.

I don't have any specific food suggestions other than to avoid hard, sticky, chewy foods. You're right about the Oreo's they would leave a bit of a mess. Swishing with water is certainly a good option, for when you can't brush.

Good Luck,
Kerry

I had braces as an adult. I'm so glad I did it. My teeth were pretty crowded, and it made a big difference in the way I looked, ate, smiled and felt about myself. Here's me now :D

Foods to avoid for me were broccoli and baguettes. Broccoli was just messy, and baguettes, or anything too hard and crusty for that matter, would break my brackets, but that was probably due to bonding issues with my particular teeth. It wasn't painful, just annoying, as it meant another visit to the orthodontist.

If your brackets rub the inside of your cheek, get dental wax and cover the offending area with it. This may not happen with your kind of braces. I had the old fashioned metal ones, and the wax was a godsend. Also, since your musculature is already fully developed, your teeth are going to want to slip back to the way they were, so it's important to wear your retainer. I still wear mine almost every night.

I also met my BF while in braces. We've been together for 16 years now! I never spit at him (ha! teigyr, that's too funny!). True love will overlook a lot!

Wow, that website and message board have a wealth of information. I wish I'd found it before my consult. I've read some pros and cons about the Damon braces and have some additional questions to ask my ortho. Despite the cons, I still like them as an option though because they address one of my bigger issues--narrow arches. Widening my arch will do the most to improve not just the appearance of my teeth, but my overall appearance.

Anyway, thanks for the advice, gang. I'm ready for the journey to begin.....

K-

I had braces in 9th and 10th grade. I needed a wider upper arch to make more room for my teeth. They cemented in this retainer sort of thing that criss crossed the roof of my mouth. My mother had to use a key and turn something in the middle of the contraption that slowly widened out the top of my mouth. It sounds quite awful now! I'm sure they do things different now as that was about 16 years ago.

I can say for sure that having braces was worth it!

Quote:

---

My recommendations would be to take Advil before your appointment and follow with that every 4-6 hours for the first day or two. You won't feel the discomfort on your teeth for a couple of hours. You want the Advil in your system before you feel it.

---

+1 for the Advil.

I've never had braces, but I've gone through it with two of my teens. We load this last one up with Advil the morning of his appointments, because there is quite a bit of pressure as the day goes on.

Also, my other son is now 22 and his bottom teeth are no longer straight, because he stopped wearing his retainer at some point. Don't waste your money by not wearing the retainer.

It will take longer for you to see changes because you don't grow fast like kids do.

Those Damon brackets sound lovely--wonder why they didn't offer them to my son? (He got his done at a place that is almost like a factory, heavily advertised and churning out the pearly white smiles--but the price is right!)

I think you should do it, if it will make you feel better about your smile. Good luck!

Karen

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cindyloo

I had braces in 9th and 10th grade. I needed a wider upper arch to make more room for my teeth. They cemented in this retainer sort of thing that criss crossed the roof of my mouth. My mother had to use a key and turn something in the middle of the contraption that slowly widened out the top of my mouth. It sounds quite awful now! I'm sure they do things different now as that was about 16 years ago.

I can say for sure that having braces was worth it!

---

No, they don't do it differently! We split Will's palate every day for weeks. It does seem rather like putting him on a rack, but his teeth are so beautifully straight now.

Karen

I was a senior when I got my braces. I also had an expander. My mom freaked the first time we had to turn it (she was a single mom), fortunatly, a friend in school had one and knew exactly what to do. Mom had turned it about halfway. I went to my friend and she finished turning it and showed me how to do it. Mom never had to do it again after that. It made a huge difference in my personality is what most people noticed.

The Advil is a great idea, and the wax. The wax is made by Gum and is found with the dental floss.

Do it. You will be glad you did.

Indy,

I was almost 50 yrs. old when I finally got my braces. They estimated I'd wear them for 2 years. It was 3 1/2 years before they were removed, and then I was in retainers for another year. I am just now graduated to retainers 12/7 instead of 24/7. I have the retainers for the rest of my life, or risk my teeth moving back to where they were. And I would choose to do it again. I have NO regrets. I hated my teeth most of my life. Could not afford to do anything about it. When I could, I did. I NEVER smiled with my mouth open. I do now, all the time. I did, even with the braces, as soon as my teeth started to straighten out. I did not mind the braces, or the pain, or not being able to eat certain foods. I even gave up my beloved popcorn! I would second everything Teigyr said. She gave you some awesome advice. Don't worry too much about eating while on the bike. There's always the goo/gels. They go down easily. No advice about dating, as I am married. But I can tell you that the braces were never a problem. Honestly. Just be careful, if needed.

Annie

p.s. Do feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by crazybikinchic

I was a senior when I got my braces. I also had an expander. My mom freaked the first time we had to turn it (she was a single mom), fortunatly, a friend in school had one and knew exactly what to do. Mom had turned it about halfway. I went to my friend and she finished turning it and showed me how to do it. Mom never had to do it again after that. It made a huge difference in my personality is what most people noticed.

The Advil is a great idea, and the wax. The wax is made by Gum and is found with the dental floss.

Do it. You will be glad you did.

---

Oh man... I had one of the palatal spreading devices also... that was NOT fun! The worst part was the day they put all my braces on, and the spreading device, they turned it once to show my Mom how to do it, and them made her do it also, so the first day they turned it TWICE in 15 minutes!!! :eek:

Good luck with the braces! It sounds like they have made a lot of improvements since I had them!

I had braces back in the late 1980s. After I got out of high school and got a job I went to see about getting them. I paid for them myself (a down payment and $85/mo). I had them for almost 3 yrs, then I had two bridges put in by my dentist, which I also made payments on. $5000 and 15 yrs later I'm still very happy that I went through all that.

I had upper and lower braces put on all in the same day and my teeth hurt a lot for a week. I got them adjusted every month and it hurt for a few days. The insides of my lips got cut up. Some foods were impossible or annoying to eat. But it was all worth it. I don't recall ever complaining about them.

I stopped wearing a retainer years ago and my teeth have stayed straight. My upper wisdom teeth came in several years after I had all this done and my dentist freaked out and wanted to pull them, but they didn't affect my other teeth any and are still there.

Best of luck!! You won't regret it for a minute!!!

I also had braces as an adult and just got them off about 4 years ago. I guess I was lucky because, for the most part, I didn't really have much pain or soreness other than when they put the spacers in.

As others have mentioned, I ate pretty much everything that I had before the braces were on without trouble - I also had the metal kind. I found that it became more of an issue when the braces came off & I had to wear the retainers 24/7. That was a bit of a problem on long bike rides, but workable.

I also have the retainers that are the Invisalign sort -- I don't know how they compare to the traditional ones, but I ended up needing a crown on one of my teeth and then the retainer no longer fit properly. Fortunately, the crown went on a tooth in the back of my mouth, so my dentist was able to trim the retainer to fit.

As the others have said, it greatly improved my smile and I'd do it again in a heartbeat - good luck to you!

I had braces a couple of years ago (when I was around 45), but just on my bottom teeth. My bottom teeth were extremely crooked and I was very self-concious about them. I had the braces for about 13 months, and now I wear a retainer on my bottom teeth about 10 hrs a day.

A couple of added benefits of the braces that I hadn't counted on:

Before the braces I had a terrible nail-biting habit. But, after over a year of not being able to bite my nails, I was cured. It's so nice to have nails now.

I had to chew veerryy slowly, so slowly that I would actually get bored of eating! Plus, it was such a hassle to clean my braces after snacking, I simply wouldn't snack. The combination of the smaller meals & no snacking made me lose a LOT of weight (about 15-20 pounds) pretty quickly - some thought too quickly. People actually asked me if I had been sick, and my GYN even suggested I put a few pounds back on, something I never thought I'd hear in my lifetime. :D As she put it, "Honey, when you get to be our age, it comes off our faces first".

Alas, once the braces came off I managed to put some (but not quite all) of that weight back on. :rolleyes:

I got braces when I was 35 or so -- soon after I finished law school and had the bucks. I was very happy! Be diligent about your hygiene at night and it will be ok. I got an oral-b electric toothbrush--one for home and the other at the office.

*and* I dated with braces. In fact, my partner and I got together soon after I started wearing them--we've been together 14+ years now.

Every adult I know who has had braces has been happy with the outcome.

K,

I had braces just a few years ago (early 40's). I was always so embarrased about my teeth and my folks couldn't afford braces. So as soon as I could afford them I did it. I am so glad that I did!! There are so many adults with braces these days that nobody even thinks twice about it. Do it...you'll be glad you did. A couple of years of discomfort and inconvenience is a small price to pay for what you'll have in the end.

J.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by li10up

K,

I had braces just a few years ago (early 40's). I was always so embarrased about my teeth and my folks couldn't afford braces. So as soon as I could afford them I did it. I am so glad that I did!! There are so many adults with braces these days that nobody even thinks twice about it. Do it...you'll be glad you did. A couple of years of discomfort and inconvenience is a small price to pay for what you'll have in the end.

J.

---

Thanks J. :) I'm glad you benefited from the experience. I hope I feel the same way. I've been surfing the website referenced by Teigyr and learning a lot. I have a lot more questions for my ortho. I'm a little overwhelmed at the moment by just how many devices, techniques, processes, go into it. I'm encouraged, however, by the before, during and after pics. It's amazing what they can do.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by indysteel

I'm a little overwhelmed at the moment by just how many devices, techniques, processes, go into it. I'm encouraged, however, by the before, during and after pics. It's amazing what they can do.

---

You know, please don't put more into it than what it is. Being informed is good and you should know what questions to ask but also realize that there are people on websites (that one included) who obsess. I know/knew people who, during their braces treatment, got worked up over every little thing. Kind of look at the person posting and get a feel for if they are into the drama or if they have genuine concerns or questions. I've learned nothing is ever as bad as how it seems.

When I first got braces, I did read a LOT. I spent almost every waking moment looking at braces types and what to expect and so many people talk about negative things. I got braces and honestly they didn't even hurt that much. Before my surgery I read SO much about jaw surgery. I saw horrifying stories and I was so scared. I did it and yeah...I was eating liquified food through a plastic baggie and my husband was dropping liquid demoral into my mouth but again, no big deal in retrospect.

With braces (or a lot of things) sometimes happy people don't post but unhappy people sure as heck write tons.

Did you get a second opinion? How extensive is the treatment they think you will have?

It IS amazing what they can do! I don't think you will regret this one little bit. I didn't mean to imply that you didn't know all the above-mentioned stuff, I just know how I got and I didn't want you to have inner-turmoil.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by teigyr

You know, please don't put more into it than what it is. Being informed is good and you should know what questions to ask but also realize that there are people on websites (that one included) who obsess. I know/knew people who, during their braces treatment, got worked up over every little thing. Kind of look at the person posting and get a feel for if they are into the drama or if they have genuine concerns or questions. I've learned nothing is ever as bad as how it seems.

When I first got braces, I did read a LOT. I spent almost every waking moment looking at braces types and what to expect and so many people talk about negative things. I got braces and honestly they didn't even hurt that much. Before my surgery I read SO much about jaw surgery. I saw horrifying stories and I was so scared. I did it and yeah...I was eating liquified food through a plastic baggie and my husband was dropping liquid demoral into my mouth but again, no big deal in retrospect.

With braces (or a lot of things) sometimes happy people don't post but unhappy people sure as heck write tons.

Did you get a second opinion? How extensive is the treatment they think you will have?

It IS amazing what they can do! I don't think you will regret this one little bit. I didn't mean to imply that you didn't know all the above-mentioned stuff, I just know how I got and I didn't want you to have inner-turmoil.

---

I had a "back away from the computer" and no one will get hurt moment earlier today. I tend to research things to death. I'm a lawyer; I like to be informed, but I felt myself falling into a blackhole regarding the braces. I haven't sought a second opinion yet, but I know that I probably should. When I get back from my cycling trip to TN, I have another appointment with the ortho and will decide from there whether I think I need a second opinion.

So far, he's outlined braces for two years to widen my arches, fix overcrowding on the bottom, an overbite and a minor jet on the top (I unfortunately sucked my thumb until I was a tween). My bite is a bit off on the right side of my mouth too. He said he'd have a better idea of whether an extraction on the upper right was needed once we were a few months into treatment. He explained that he didn't think that it would negatively impact my appearance if he had to do that.

While I'd really like straighter teeth, I am also hoping to improve by facial structure. One of the bigger "issues" I was researching on that website was what to expect in that regard. My face is a bit flat from the front (b/c of the narrow arches?) and my profile is a bit wonky because of the overbite. He described my case as "hard" although to be honest, my untrained eye has seen far worse.

I couldn't get braces as a kid, cuz my brother's teeth were worse. As it was, the ortho had to take his braces off halfway thru the treatment cuz my single and desperately poor mom couldn't afford to continue. (damm for-profit-US-healthcare)

By the time I could afford to get braces myself I had SKnot. And, continuing in the poor-single-mom tradition, SKnot needed braces more than I do.

The difference braces have made in his mouth and face are extraordinary. I'd say they are definitely worth it!

Advil and the Oral B mechanical toothbrush and Listerine Rinse and GUM wax are popular at our house. Good stuff. As is Carnation Instant Breakfast for those sore mouth days.

Go for the braces. I doubt you'll regret it.

I got braces as an adult...a gift to myself on my 27th birthday a gazillion years ago. I was fortunate at the time to be working for an agency that offered dental insurance that covered orthodontic work. I thought having the spacers put in between my teeth before the braces went on to be far more uncomfortable than actually having the wires on. My dentist had to pull only one tooth. It was a lower front tooth that had come in behind the rest of my teeth. I only got one comment from someone I worked with when they noticed the gap...at the time I worked with severely developmentally delayed boys and one of them would periodically "catch" people with a powerful right hook. My co-worker thought that he had smacked me in the mouth and knocked out the tooth.

The only foods I avoided were sticky items (cleaning pizza cheese off of my braces was a massive pain in the butt!) Anything else was just cut up so I wouldn't have to bite into anything. My orthodontist recommended having a WaterPic & rotating toothbrush to really keep my teeth clean. Got 'em off on my 29th birthday. :D

Indysteel, happy birthday btw :D

It sounds like there's a lot of work to do. I'd get a second opinion or maybe even third and fourth. I had lopsidedness that had to be corrected with surgery but my case was extreme. The only problem with extraction (depending) is that then they pull teeth back in a bit and it can lead to what my ortho's said was a "sunken face". Maybe that's just for my type of problem though.

No matter what you go with and how much they can improve, it'll be better than it is now, right? I know adult teeth have challenges that the younger ones don't have.

It's exciting, you know?

I hope you're doing something fun today! And here is me in all my braced glory. I have NO shame, I tell you :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by teigyr

Indysteel, happy birthday btw :D

It sounds like there's a lot of work to do. I'd get a second opinion or maybe even third and fourth. I had lopsidedness that had to be corrected with surgery but my case was extreme. The only problem with extraction (depending) is that then they pull teeth back in a bit and it can lead to what my ortho's said was a "sunken face". Maybe that's just for my type of problem though.

No matter what you go with and how much they can improve, it'll be better than it is now, right? I know adult teeth have challenges that the younger ones don't have.

It's exciting, you know?

I hope you're doing something fun today! And here is me in all my braced glory. I have NO shame, I tell you :D

---

Teigyr, You look very pretty and very happy in that picture. Thank you for sharing.

I guess the only reason why I posted that was to show that really they are no big deal. I know people who were shocked AND there are people from the other msg board who refused to get married until the braces were off just because of the pictures. There were also people who got them removed just for the DAY. I really value individuality and I think sometimes to get braces (especially as a dating adult) is a huge act of bravery. All you can do is go out there and be proud of it, goofy as that sounds.

When do yours go on? Or how is the timeline looking? You'll go through stages, like anything. My first thought was "they look and feel HUGE!" though your damons will be smaller than my traditional ones. I'm kind of jealous of the damons, actually.

I don't know too much about braces, but I sure do know about law school debt. Congrats on paying it off! Maybe someday I'll know what it feels like, too.

I have somewhat funky teeth (kind of like Kirsten Dunst's), and thought long and hard about braces. In the end, I think my teeth suit me and I actually get the occasional compliment on them. Since there aren't really any medical issues at this point, I'm not likely to get braces unless I start hurting or something. Also, I have many other things I really, really want to spend my money on right now.

I've always sort of liked braces on adults. To me, they make a person seem a little bit more fun.

Teigyr-I love that wedding picture. You look great- braces and all- and your dress is soooo pretty!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by aly

Teigyr-I love that wedding picture. You look great- braces and all- and your dress is soooo pretty!

---

I agree...you're way too hard on yourself in how you've described yourself in some of your posts...

Thank you all and no, I'm a realist. I know what people get worked up about and I battle against it. As a single woman (no matter what the age) there is stigma. When I met DH (or rather when I was fixed up), he was warned "oh, she has braces". He said he didn't care. I know a lot of people here (Mr. Silver included) are individuals who think beyond that. There are a lot of people who go beyond boundaries and roles but you still get your share of (sorry for the bash here) idiots. Braces test a lot -- in the beginning I felt a lot less feminine and as far as being elegant and stuff, forget it. I had been able to fake it enough before but when you get food stuck in braces, that's pretty much it.

Dunno. I've known a lot of people who have been so worked up over it that it's a "life is over until they're off" thing. I chose to live differently. I've always gone against tradition if tradition is bad and that is what I did here.

So no, I'm not hard on myself but thank you :D I'm totally goofy. Sometimes it's rewarded and sometimes I'm just a spaz but I'm ok with it.

And indysteel? It will go very ok. It goes by so fast and in the scheme of things it is so minor. The bad thing (I think it's karma) is I have a friend who obsesses over gaps. She obsessed and her debracing was delayed. I didn't obsess and it was delayed a wee bit but now I am half braced...I think it's cause I laughed at her obsession. Really. She and I both realize the fates are now laughing at me :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by aly

I've always sort of liked braces on adults. To me, they make a person seem a little bit more fun.

Teigyr-I love that wedding picture. You look great- braces and all- and your dress is soooo pretty!

---

Thanks! I like braces on adults too. It's also a very interesting bonding experience, you'd be amazed at the conversations I've had just about "oh...how long do yours have to be on?".

The dress is so funny! I am tall and therefore most things I found in magazines didn't look good on. We went to a shop (DH insisted on being my shopping partner) that allowed me to choose what I wanted to try on but also brought that dress stating it would be perfect. Go figure, it was! Is a lesson to allow experts to do what they do. Even DH, in the beginning, said it was bad but after it was on, that was it. It was purchased!

Teigyr, I really appreciate your point of view and attitude. Granted, I don't think I'll know how I'll react to them until they're on, but I'm going to do my best to stay positive. I feel like I already have a bit of a stigma in a far less than perfect smile, so I have faith that it will be well worth it in the long run. My sense of self worth is based, at least on part, in taking good care of myself emotionally and physically. This is part of that and, from that standpoint, makes me feel good.