Braces--as in the kind for your teeth

[DrBadger]

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!!!

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

[maryellen]

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.

[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.

[indysteel]

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.

[teigyr]

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.

[indysteel]

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.

[KnottedYet]

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.

[nancielle]

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.