Newbie here and am I glad I found you guys!!!

Message

#1 Post by **-Michael-** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 11:35 pm

Hi Everyone!

I'm male, 32 years of age, and I'm about to get braces! I couldn't take the fact that my teeth are crooked anymore. I want a perfect smile!

So I went to ortho today. I'm feeling apprehensive about being single, 32 and barely getting braces now in life. Plus, I teach at a CSU and have to lecture too so I am in front of people all the time!

The doc had this to say. I have narrow upper and lower jaws and I'm because of this, my rear teeth are mis-aligned and I'm grinding flat my rear teeth. Also I have crowding in upper and lower, but mostly lower.

He said I'll have to wear bands for about 6 months or so? Oh great!

The type of braces I'm getting are DAMON2/3's and they will cost 5.4k unless I pay up front, which would knock it down to about 5k, which I'll probably do. (his practice is in Fresno, CA).

My official DOD (Day of Depression) is March 6th. He estimates it will take about 2 years, but could be shorter or longer depending on my teeth reaction. I asked him if there was anything he could do to speed up the process regardless of any pain/discomfort (because that part I really don't care about) and he sort of chuckled at first and said that's not the way the process works unfortunately.

When I walked in there, I sat down with about 10 kids staring me down. Not one of them could have been older than 15! I'm not self-conscious at all, but damn, what is with the staring. Luckilly I still get the 'you can't be older than 25 comment' a lot so I find a little confort in that but I felt..um....OLD!

So all this apprehensiveness I built up over the course of today as led me here! I've looked all over the net and somehow FINALLY found this site and already I'm feeling a little better. So to whomever started this site, and to all those who are on here sharing experiences...THANK YOU!!!

Also, I'm into photography, so I plan to set up my camera and take a pic every week during the entire process. I want to see in Photoshop just how much teeth are moving and over what period of time! I'm going to become my own science experiment. Has anyone else done this?

Alright I'm through complaining. Thanks for listening.

-Michael-

#2 Post by **ema27** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 12:36 am

hi there glad youv found this site it really is great for finding out all sorts of stuff and id recommend reading other peoples stories-very interesting and great to know your not the only one wearing braces as an adult.
Im 28 next and have had braces on for just under 2 weeks and due to have braces for1 year then lower jaw surgery then another year in braces.It is a little daunting but take one day at a time and remember why your doing this In 2 years time you will be so glad you did!
Good look with everything
EMA

#3 Post by **JoviFan** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 9:00 am

Welcome Michael!!! This is a great place for information, help, and sympathy !

#4 Post by **Danielle** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 2:58 pm

Hi and welcome... I've been braced since August and I take and keep photos after each adjustment (every month). You'll be amazed at just how quick everything starts to fall into place. And, don't look at it as a day of anything bad, because only (at least mostly) good things are to come!

#5 Post by **ladylee** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 10:02 am

Hi Michael, it's always good hearing from new members. You think that preteens are obnoxious? Try them older, my son is 26 and a brat. He likes to eat things that I really love, but in no way can eat. Really, I think he just likes to pick on me for revenge of things I made him do for his own good when he was younger, he's really a nice guy.