I haven't yet gotten braces and am worried (of course) how I will look in them... I'm supposed to get Ceramic top and metal bottom. Don't know what type of Ceramic though -- are there some brands that are smaller? It seems like people are saying that ceramic have a bigger 3-D profile than metal... Don't know if I'll have a choice yet.
My question is: is there anyway to approximate the way I'd look with braces? If I just puff my lips out, is that an approximation?(that looks goofy, by the way...). I'm too embarrassed to ask the ortho about it..
Thanks...
how will I look in braces?
Moderator: bbsadmin
I think only Photoshop could "approximate" what you would look like 
But really, don't worry about it. And, for what it's worth: I have metal brackets and when my lips are closed I look no different than I did before without braces. You don't need to puff your lips out, it's not that dramatic.
But really, don't worry about it. And, for what it's worth: I have metal brackets and when my lips are closed I look no different than I did before without braces. You don't need to puff your lips out, it's not that dramatic.
All Metal Uppers and Lowers - brackets placed with OrthoCAD
Braces on 2/1/2007, Removed 2/13/2008, now in Essix retainers.
Hi Lisa,
There really is no need to worry how you will look. You will look as though you are doing something very positive for yourself, that's all. I have metal lowers and ceramic uppers on a 13mm overjet, so they won't stick out much more than mine do and mine don't show at all. You will notice that your teeth will move so quickly as well. I've never noticed the metal ones since day 1, and the uppers I am only aware of because I have always been self conscious of these teeth. After a few days you will be well adjusted and just so glad you made the decision to correct whats not right.
Good Luck Lisa, once you've started you're on the road to finishing.
Fitchick
There really is no need to worry how you will look. You will look as though you are doing something very positive for yourself, that's all. I have metal lowers and ceramic uppers on a 13mm overjet, so they won't stick out much more than mine do and mine don't show at all. You will notice that your teeth will move so quickly as well. I've never noticed the metal ones since day 1, and the uppers I am only aware of because I have always been self conscious of these teeth. After a few days you will be well adjusted and just so glad you made the decision to correct whats not right.
Good Luck Lisa, once you've started you're on the road to finishing.
Fitchick
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Jun06 Lower brace on
Aug06 Root Canals completed
Mar07 Upper Brace on
July08 Braces off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello! 
You really aren't able to tell that you have braces on when your lips are closed. I found during the first week my lips and cheeks were irritated from the brackets, therefore my lips were definately a little swollen looking. 
Not to say this happens to everyone. But that soon goes away and you look just as normal as you did before the braces. You can feel them, and that may give you a sense of something being behind your lips. Then again, that's because there is something behind your lips.....the brackets!! lol. One girl I was working with noticed my braces 3 months after I had them put on. (It took her that long). Anyways, at first it's strange to see them on your teeth, but you get used to it so fast. You really made me laugh when you mentioned about puffing your lips out to try to get the effect......lol. It's not that bad. 
You really aren't able to tell that you have braces on when your lips are closed. I found during the first week my lips and cheeks were irritated from the brackets, therefore my lips were definately a little swollen looking. Not to say this happens to everyone. But that soon goes away and you look just as normal as you did before the braces. You can feel them, and that may give you a sense of something being behind your lips. Then again, that's because there is something behind your lips.....the brackets!! lol. One girl I was working with noticed my braces 3 months after I had them put on. (It took her that long). Anyways, at first it's strange to see them on your teeth, but you get used to it so fast. You really made me laugh when you mentioned about puffing your lips out to try to get the effect......lol. It's not that bad. Thanks everyone for you wisdom! I guess I just need to chill out... my kids think I'm obsessing (who, ME?) My daughter is already out of braces; my son is going in after me. Thought it would be a nice bonding experience (ha ha no pun intended). He had an expander 2 years ago which was miraculous. I didn't even think twice about the kids getting braces and asked very few questions. (Of course, if 90% of the people I hung out with had braces like they do in school, maybe I wouldn't be so self-conscious!)
Lisa
Lisa