Metal Mouth Message Board

How observant do people have to be in order to notice that you're wearing lower ceramics? My orthodontist says that I don't show my teeth much when I talk, but I know that I do a bit!

If I went for a job interview, would the average interviewer be likely to notice them? How about my parents (assuming that they are neither particularly observant or non-observant)? My boss in a one-to-one meeting? You get the idea...

I'm contemplating upper linguals and lower ceramics. It would be a lot cheaper in comparison to upper and lower linguals.

I believe that lower ceramics (for MOST people) aren't easily detected - particularly once you've adjusted to them (as your profile changes a wee bit with your lower lip - depending on your particular face shape).

I have upper and lower ceramics and most people I talk to about them had no idea I even have braces (and some of them I've stood about 30cm away from and grinned like a cheshire cat). I think it would be pretty tough to notice someone had lowers on unless you're sitting right beside them and paying a lot of attention (which surprisingly people don't).

I don't think most people even notice my metal lowers. I've got lingual uppers.

I dont think most people notice my metal lowers either lol i have ceramic upper 6's all the rest are metal. You adjust really quickly to them, I'm hardly aware of them now unless meeting new people i am a bit aware of them still at those times.

I've got upper linguals and lower ceramics and people don't notice them at all.

My own sister didn't even notice I'd got them til I pointed them out, in fact no one has noticed unless I've shown them.

I think it's just people like us with braces who notice other people's braces, most folks aren't as teeth obsessed as us!

Well, this is encouraging! Glad to know that they're very discreet.

I may need to have elastics further down the line - I understand that this will increase visibility. My potential orthodontist has said that he's quite realistic about how much people actually wear their elastics, though. I've told him that it's something I'm worried about, particularly for work.

I think I read somewhere that black elastics are the least visible when it comes time for them. I guess that makes sense, as when you look inside your mouth it's typically pretty dark... unless you're shining a light in there. Sorry, I just had a quick look around the internet and I can't find the post / video that I got that recommendation from. And there's no telling if your ortho will give you a choice. But it might be worth a try when the time comes.

Elegra wrote:I've got upper linguals and lower ceramics and people don't notice them at all.

My own sister didn't even notice I'd got them til I pointed them out, in fact no one has noticed unless I've shown them.

I think it's just people like us with braces who notice other people's braces, most folks aren't as teeth obsessed as us!

Agree with this. I've had ceramics on the bottom for 6 months now and I think only one person has noticed without being told. I have had white coated wires mostly but the last 6 weeks have been with a fairly thick shiny metal coloured wire and still no one notices.

Edited to add, even no one in my family has noticed yet!

I've got upper linguals and lower ceramics too and I have found people really don't notice them. I was more concerned at first with the lisp from the linguals but after a couple of months this really calmed down. I may have to have elastics later in my treatment too so I'm interested as to how noticeable they will be.

Ive been wondering the exact same thing, I am also getting Lingual on top and ceramic on bottom (saves 700 bucks) and im so excited to get my teeth fixed

Upper and lower ceramics. Nobody notices and nobody cares.

Depends on your smile.
Generally no one notices tbh though.

I also have lingual on top and ceramic bottoms.

The ceramics weren't noticeable at all at first...but after my first week, I had to get molar build ups put in (because my lower teeth were hitting the upper lingual brackets) and now they're VERY noticeable because I can't close my mouth all the way. I know as you progress in treatment, teeth move around, but I was not pleasantly surprised by this change. :/

Regardless, I'm glad they don't show when I smile, or in photos!