Male Adult getting braces - impact on single life??

[beth1966]

I'm really interested to hear what others say about linguals being offered in the USA.

I've asked about them at every consult I've been on - - over the past year I've met with about 10 orthos.

I live about 20 miles from NYC and believe a large # of the orthos I have met with are basically using cutting edge technology.

Every ortho told me linguals are really not used much anymore, they are incredibly uncomfortable, take much longer to move teeth, are not as effective and cost a lot more. One ortho told me about $14,000 for linguals - regular braces' quotes have ranged from $4500-$8000.

From an aestethic point of view they certainly appeal - it is good to hear the individual from Norway has such positive things to say about them, perhaps its just a matter of your finding an ortho who uses them. Maybe some just don't like to use them. There is also a board dedicated exclusively to linguals on here and I'll bet the folks on there are a wealth of knowledge on the success of this form of treatment.

[jonathon003]

Hey man, being a 23 yo single male who just got braces I think I can relate.

For me, I'm not gonna lie, it definitely has impacted my confidence. I already had a young looking face (which is totally fine, just go after the 'youngins' ha) and now with the braces, and my lips kind of puffed out, and not being able to close my mouth well (this is also part of my problem PRE-braces, lip incompetence, and i'm having jaw surgery to correct this next year), it all factors into my lack of confidence. Maybe it's all in my head, and maybe it's because my buddies are of the ruthless type at times, but I just haven't gone out of my way to hit on girls as much as pre-braces. Also my speech has been altered and when I'm talking a lot it becomes more noticable. I've had them on for about just over 3 months now, so it's still pretty early to make conclusions. But yeah I'm not gonna lie, when you're at a bar with guys around your age, and you have braces on (ps. mine are the metal ones, cheapest option for me) there's a chance you sort of feel a little inferior.

In saying all of that i'm still absolutely ecstatic I'm getting this over with. My problems went beyond just braces considering i'm having jaw surgery, and it's been sooo annoying not being able to relax my lips comfortably with my mouth closed, so I know i'm on the long road to ending that. And I know that later next year I'll have all the confidence in the world and I'll just be turning 25, so it's not so bad.

I'd say assess your situation and how much it annoys you right now. If it constantly stresses you and it's something you think will drasticly improve your confidence (not just with women obviously, but out in the real world), then by all means go for it. But if not, and you're fine getting by as is, maybe wait till you settle down.

[acd]

When I was single and in my twenties I had several friends who got braces and they didn't slow them down. Actually I should have gotten them as well but was too afraid. I never told them but back then I really wanted to get them too. I finally got braces after turning 39 and I just got them off a few months ago at age 41 and never regretted having them for a minute. If I had gotten them in my twenties I would have had almost an additional twenty years with great looking, functional teeth instead of hiding my smile and hating the way my teeth looked.

After getting my braces I was surprised how many people told me that they had braces in their twenties and thirties. I finally realized that they were a much bigger deal to me than anyone else--most people rarely said anything about them. Good luck with whatever you decide.

[danish]

hi Stew Bear,

Like you I was also wondering before getting braces whether it would impact my single life. I was at the time quite outgoing frequently going to bars and dating a lot. I was scared that all this would end, so I made a decision when embarking on my orthodontic journey that I wouldn't allow the fact that I wear braces to interfere negatively on my social life. However, not long into my treatment I realized that it did impact on my social behavior.

I live in country where you don't see adults with dental braces. Kids and teenagers in my country get their teeth fixed when in school for free, so being an adult with crooked teeth is quite unusual. Adults with braces are therefore even more unusual, as most people with a dental problem would have sorted this out in their teens.

So eventhough my teeth in braces have never looked better from an aesthetic point of view I must admit that I often feel like a sort of freak. Now the really interesting part is that although having braces - as was having crooked teeth before the braces - is an issue of enormous proportions at least for me, people don't really seem to care. Yes, they occasionally comment on it. But apparently mostly out of curiosity and I suspect out of pity if they have themselves undergone dental treatment as teenagers. Yes, I have heard an insulting remark a couple of times, but the world will always have its share of idiots no matter what you do...

Fast forward 19 months in braces. Well, at this point my social life is on sort of stand-by. I have postponed dating and any romantic stuff until after debonding. I have tried it but I simply don't feel comfortable in these situations. Debonding is within a few months so waiting is bearable.

Back to your question: will braces impact your single life and more importantly if wearing braces does impact your single life negatively, will it be worth it when finished?. Ask me in a couple of months and I will let you know..! Well, although my own orthodontic treatment has taken a somewhat different path that I anticipated I still see it as an opportunity to learn something about myself and my surroundings. What I have learned so far is that people tend to be their own worst critic and that other people are less shallow than one thinks...

As someone wrote before. If you need to have your teeth fixed whether it's for aesthetic or functional (bite etc) reasons better do it now than later. It's doesn't get easier and there is a right time for braces.

God luck

Danish

[danish]

I meant to write:

there is no right time for braces.

Danish

[Princess123]

I cant lie to you, it does affect your confidence quite a bit and even being in braces myself Im always surprised to see smn in their mid or late 20s wearing braces. I still feel pretty even though as i mentioned in another post my face looks a little skinnier but i wouldnt see myself dating right now. Luckily i have been with my bf for many years.
A good friend of mine is dating a guy who wears braces and the first time I met him (i wasnt wearing braces then) I thought omg, she didnt mention he had braces!!! I was really surprised. But she didnt mind at all!

If you really need them go for it & good luck!

[Zeppguy73]

I won't lie here either. I got my clear ceramic braces on last year at age 20 to fix a minor jaw issue (my actual teeth were still straight from braces as a kid). and I've pretty much had to give up on dating for a year. I've asked girls out and have had a couple of times "you're cute, but I don't date guys w/ braces" or they'll say something about being busy, and all the while they're staring at my mouth. I have had a few dates with them on, but still, a lot less luck since getting them on. Fortunately, I'll either be getting them off in a week or in June. Plus, keep in mind I live in shallow SoCal, and unless you look like Brad Pitt or have his money, you're going to have a tough time as a guy in the dating scene regardless. But hey, the straight teeth should help in the long run.

[switchblades]

I know that I feel MORE confident with mine, because I've had so many issues with my crooked teeth - teasing, etc from a very young age. I am more careful when I eat in public, make sure I have a toothbrush, stick to thinks that don't get stuck under wires, but it hasn't been an issue for me yet. Though I do get a lot of 17 year old guys hitting on me haha (I'm 23).

I am discovering the insanity that is the dating world for the first time in my adult life, braces or not! So maybe I've got nothing to compare it to, as I've been in long-term relationships one after the other since I was about 18 (I'm 23 now). I've not had any problems thus far, but I haven't had any dates either

This rambling is likely unhelpful, but it's the best I can do for now!

[Eric805]

It has had a negative impact for me as well. I am a 26 male and with these braces, I feel like I look about 20 or 21. As a result of the looking younger, I feel a little less respected from time to time. Some other stuff that sucks is that having braces makes it a little more physically difficult to speak well and I am less likely to smile which ain't good for dating obviously. It has been a rough year-plus so far in braces for me but hopefully either my luck will change or I will get debanded soon! Good luck.

[Stew Bear]

Wow so many responses, thank you all for sharing your experiences. All of your different experiences are giving me insight into what I may face, and how I can respond to it.

I’ll try to respond to you all here, but sorry if I don't respond to you directly!

@catfish, @lingualita, @beth1966 – I’m not too sure on the linguals personally, the ortho I picked doesn’t think they’d really achieve what I want. The other factor is time and $$$. Great idea if the money isn’t really an issue, though I’ve heard much the same as beth1966. I think I’ll pass on the linguals for now, worst comes to worst I can handle the less discreet normal ones for a shorter period of time with cheaper cost.

@jonathon003 – Thanks for the young male adult perspective here. I can certainly get by without having braces, it’s more of a choice (though I would need some jaw surgery too). And I don’t have confidence issues right now, but braces may change this – and the fact that I’m worrying is what is worrying me, if that makes sense. If I’m worrying about it now, then maybe it’s a good chance I’ll let it be a problem to my confidence.

This is why I have been debating whether to go ahead or not, or to delay... Never is a right time to do it I guess.

I am certainly getting a lot of conflicting views on here, which probably makes sense. Some people it impacts, others it doesn’t, and all in different ways!

@danish, @Zeppguy73, @Eric805– Ta for being upfront! You’re describing exactly how I fear I will feel. What I am asking myself is whether I will be scared to approach someone for fear of being shutdown? Will I be naturally more “reservedâ€

[Zeppguy73]

the only issue I would have with linguals is the fact that they protrude and may inhibit the tongue. I assume it would take quite a while to be able to speak even somewhat normally with those. I say go with ceramic or clear braces. They look more adult and brackets like the Inovation-C are self-ligating (no color ties around the bracket)

[MrMetalMouth1029]

Hey, I'm a 26-year old male, but I'm in a relationship of 3 years, so my input may not help quite as much. Braces have helped my self-confidence. My teeth aren't perfect yet, but they'll be there one day. If I hadn't gotten braced, that perfection would never have been reached. I got braced at the most convenient time for me since I knew no one would help me to pay for them. As far as attention/love, my partner doesn't really pay attention to them. They've not caused us to kiss any more or less. He's actually told me that my face has reshaped itself as a result of the braces and that I look even better. Impressed, I was! Matter of fact, I've heard more "You're cute"s than I did without the braces, so if anything, they may cause you to gain more attention That's just my experience, but it could differ with others. Hope that helps!

[Aviv16]

As many others have said, there is no right time to get braces!! I will celebrate my 30th birthday in braces I got braced just after I turned 29. But, on the other hand, I should be all done by the time of my PhD graduation So it just depends really, whenever you get them there will be events where you'll be braced and photos to remind you of that fact: weddings, birthdays, other milestones.

If you wait until you meet Miss Right to get braces, at what point will you get them? Do you want to have braces on for your wedding (assuming you want to get married)? Or would you get married with your teeth as they are? If the answer's no to both those questions, then you'll have to factor in an engagement long enough to get your teeth fixed!

Hope you see what I mean! There is no right time to get braces on, but many right times to get them off

[Stew Bear]

So I'm back after 18 months of indecision, some travel, and now I am finally just getting it done and stopping the "thinking about it". Investigated Invisalign, sadly wouldn't quite work for me.

Am having SAME surgery on Monday and had an RPE put in today. Wow 4 hours in there and already over it, with thousands of hours of wearing the thing to go. Braces on in a few months!

Wish me luck!

Will report back here on my original question on how this affects me, someone will have the same question in future!

[ITALIANNYC]

I was going through old threads and just had to bump this one up.

I cant believe some people said they put there dating life and social life on hold because of braces. I will continue doing the same things I have always done and go on dates like I always do.

If you needed braces and still got people, then obviously with braces and actually bettering yourself will continue getting you people. So having braces shouldnt effect anything you do or feel. In the end, its all in your head. You dont come off as confident if you dont FEEL CONFIDENT. If you just smiled huge with the braces and acted like you normally would, Im sure 90 percent of the time, you will come off as even more attractive. If a playboy playmate came up to me and had a beautiful face and personality, you think I would care about her having braces? lol , comeon guys.


I barely open my mouth to smile now because of my teeth and thats never stopped me from dating and having relationships. Usually just smile with my mouth closed. When there actually getting fixed, I cant wait to be able to actually laugh and smile like crazy.

Point is, dont put your dating life on hold because of this. Thats insane. Live life like you dont even have them. You'll feel even more pimp knowing you got women with braces then without ;], which in the end, will make you EVEN MORE CONFIDENT.

We only life once and I will not let 2 years go by without living up the dating scene and social life. Esp in my 20s.