June Braces Poll

fluffybottom · **Posted:** Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:40 pm

I decided to get braces predominately for cosmetic reasons but there are functional considerations as well.

Whenever the lottery gets really large, it inevitably brings up the 'after paying off bills and all that stuff, what's the first thing you'd do if you won the jackpot?' question amongst friends and co-workers. My answer has always been: fix my teeth. I have been ashamed of and embarrassed by my teeth for the longest time. I avoid smiling with my mouth open. I laugh behind my hand. Being able to smile and laugh without worrying about how awful my teeth look seemed like a dream to me. So yeah, cosmetic reasons played a big part.

However! There are also functional issues -- deep bite, baby tooth, impacted canine. I also get frequent migraines and I always wondered if my teeth played a part in that. So while the cosmetic reasons made me want braces, I'd say the functional issues are what kind of sealed the deal for me.

XXNECRAXX · **Posted:** Fri Jun 06, 2008 8:17 am

It took me so long to work up the courage to go ahead and get braces. I been nagged by mom and dad... dentists... friends you name it but I wasn't getting em! I was just scared and I regret not getting them as a child but better late then never!!!

2nd go Jo · **Posted:** Sat Jun 07, 2008 1:23 pm

I'm another one for the mainly cosmetic reasons, although it will be a lot easier to keep my teeth clean once they're straight. I can hardly get floss between my bottom teeth and then it gets stuck or cuts my gum.

kaycee · **Posted:** Sun Jun 08, 2008 5:17 pm

Initially it was purely cosmetic. When I was a kid, your dentist had to refer you to an orthodontist, you couldn't just call up and make an appointment like you can now. So it was never brought up, and I think also that my dentist knew my parents couldn't afford it. Later, in my mid-twenties, the same dentist admitted that he wished he had referred me to an orthodontist when I was younger.

This had always been in the back of my mind through the next twenty years. Two years ago at an ortho appt for one of my daughters, I mentioned that I had been thinking about braces. Well, before I knew it, I had an appointment for a consultation within a few weeks. Little did I know that the orthodontist would point out how surgery could correct my overbite, gummy smile and recessed chin. I guess I had no idea those things could be corrected. Most of the women in my family have the same jaw problems so I thought it was just something we all had, period, the end. And now I am having upper and lower jaw surgery in less than a month! Yikes!

kaycee

Daisy · **Posted:** Sun Jun 08, 2008 7:03 pm

I am getting "braced" Thursday. Due to my deep bite (the ortho called it a "significantly excessive vertical overlap"). (I said overbite in my last post but I just reread the letter she sent.) Anyway, this problem has caused my to chip one of my teeth and this prompted me to see the orthodontist after the dentist said the problem would only worsen. :cry:

This site is very encouraging and I love the idea of taking polls to see what everyone else's motivations and opinons are.

Good luck to everyone!

jkl2 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 10, 2008 4:09 pm

Functional reasons. I clench/grind in my sleep (as well as during the day when I'm not paying attention) and have worn a night guard for 20+ years. My first night guard had to be replaced after I bit the thing in half after 10 years, my latest one is completely chewed... teeth marks all over it even though it is hard acrylic. I often wake up with my mouth sore, due to all the overnight clenching. When I go for dental cleanings, I can't even hold my mouth open due to TMJ pain.

My dentist finally told me that my clenching and grinding would cause jawbone deterioration (osteoporosis of the jaw?) as well as gum recession. I visited an orthodontist who said that even though my teeth were straightened 30 years ago as a child, they've gotten out of alignment, molars don't meet, front teeth are pushed out into a gigantic overbite, and bottom row is crowded together. He hopes that re-aligning everything will address the clenching issues.

In general the roots are all lined up correctly due to the childhood braces (which included extraction of 8 permanent teeth) so the doc estimates only 18 months of treatment necessary. The braces were put on: May 13, 2008 and I'm still figuring out how to keep goo from being stuck everywhere after I eat!

I love the colored ligatures. Blue ones now, thinking of teal or purple at my June 19 first-adjustment. I have all metal, both top and bottom row. I wasn't willing to shell out another $400 for the "invisible" brackets.

Glad to have found this website, I hope to get some good information from the rest of you during the next year and a half.

- Jennifer

loulou123 · **Posted:** Wed Jun 11, 2008 4:18 am

Function reasons for me too. Orginally i had overjet, openbite and my alignment was very off causing grinding, clenching, cavities, absesses etc etc.

The cosmetic results are a huge benefit tho and im certininly happy with those as well.

lilypea · **Posted:** Wed Jun 11, 2008 8:46 pm

I'd gotten used to my crooked teeth and smiling in a manner that would not give away my secret. But after different dentists all recommended that I get braces to prevent gingivitis and other problems in the future (my teeth are so crowded that I can't floss properly), I started to consider it more seriously. I love food, and the thought of having problems with my teeth/gums that could prevent me from enjoying it in the future made me re-think orthodontics.

Now, however, in addition to not having as much to worry about in terms of the health of my teeth, I'm extremely exciting about the cosmetic benefits as well!

nellen · **Joined:** Sun May 18, 2008 2:21 pm **Posts:** 24

I got mine for functional and cosmetic reasons. My teeth looked fine, but my jaw is crooked, so I'll be having surgery to fix that and a cross bite.

seaweede · **Joined:** Thu Jun 12, 2008 1:10 pm **Posts:** 1

Both cosmetic and (hopefully) medical. (TMJ/Headaches)

Bracefacegal · **Joined:** Sun Jun 15, 2008 7:50 pm **Posts:** 55

Got my braces for bite issues.

jeichblatt · **Joined:** Wed Jun 04, 2008 8:05 pm **Posts:** 4

I got braces 2 weeks ago - for the second time around. I'm 54 now, and will end up with jaw surgery as well. It's not fun, and I'm miserable so far, but has to be done so I don't end up with a full mouth of dentures when i'm 60. :roll:

eh to zed · **Posted:** Mon Jun 16, 2008 8:48 pm

Cosmetic reasons...
(Crowding, overbite)

John37 · **Joined:** Wed Mar 12, 2008 3:38 am **Posts:** 327

I initially looked into it for cosmetic reasons. That's what got me in to ask. I had a crossbite and gum problems also, so that also was a consideration. I didn't have any jaw problems from not having a good bite though.

Athena · **Posted:** Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:25 am

My hubby had been trying to convince me for the past 10-12 years to have something done to my teeth but i thought that once you are over 30, braces are not for you. Then it was my periodontist who spoke to me at length, explaining that since my gums were healthy, braces would do wonders for my teeth... so i went ahead and now i think that is one of the wisest decisions i took in my life..... wish i had done so earlier but anyways, am already almost a year into them and i have probably another 10-12 months to go.....

Cheers to all metal mouthed people out there........ smile, smile, smile

Athy

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