The Older Crowd
Moderator: bbsadmin
The Older Crowd
Greetings,
Are you your orthodontist's oldest patient? They tell me that I'm not, but I've never seen anyone else in the office older who wasn't a parent of a patient. I'm 43 and just got my second go-'round with metal-mouth on 12/6.
My son has had braces for nearly a year and I had braces when I was in Jr. High, way back when braces involved enormous bands around every tooth and lots of foul cement to hold them on. My treatment never closed the gap between my front teeth (think of the Governator) and I've been self-consious of it all of my adult life. So finally, I did something about it.
When I go to the orthodontist, I feel so odd because the place is set-up for the younger set with SPAMS and teen magazines (except for Trailer Boat magazine which I thusly read a lot of)
So far, my peers' outward reaction has only been mild amusement and some curiosity except for my brother (who could use some realignment himself) who thinks that it's hilarious. I guess that brothers are always 10 years old.
So, how are you old-enough-to-have-kids-in-braces folks doing with your newfound tinsel-teeth?
Mickey
CA
Are you your orthodontist's oldest patient? They tell me that I'm not, but I've never seen anyone else in the office older who wasn't a parent of a patient. I'm 43 and just got my second go-'round with metal-mouth on 12/6.
My son has had braces for nearly a year and I had braces when I was in Jr. High, way back when braces involved enormous bands around every tooth and lots of foul cement to hold them on. My treatment never closed the gap between my front teeth (think of the Governator) and I've been self-consious of it all of my adult life. So finally, I did something about it.
When I go to the orthodontist, I feel so odd because the place is set-up for the younger set with SPAMS and teen magazines (except for Trailer Boat magazine which I thusly read a lot of)
So far, my peers' outward reaction has only been mild amusement and some curiosity except for my brother (who could use some realignment himself) who thinks that it's hilarious. I guess that brothers are always 10 years old.
So, how are you old-enough-to-have-kids-in-braces folks doing with your newfound tinsel-teeth?
Mickey
CA
-
- Posts: 741
- Joined: Mon Dec 05, 2005 9:41 pm
- Location: Washington
- jennielee81
- Posts: 2144
- Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2005 2:31 pm
- Location: The Old Line State
Doing great here! Click on my signature to see my before and current pix.
I have 3 kids and the youngest just got her brackets last week. The other two are older and their teeth are finished.
I use a different ortho than they do. I wanted self-ligating (no ligs) and they wanted to have colors to show off their metal.
I am not the oldest (I'm 42) at my ortho's office. I have seen older men and women there. The assistant said they'd had a woman who was almost 80 as a patient a few years before!
Best of luck to you (and your son)!!
I have 3 kids and the youngest just got her brackets last week. The other two are older and their teeth are finished.
I use a different ortho than they do. I wanted self-ligating (no ligs) and they wanted to have colors to show off their metal.
I am not the oldest (I'm 42) at my ortho's office. I have seen older men and women there. The assistant said they'd had a woman who was almost 80 as a patient a few years before!
Best of luck to you (and your son)!!
"Life is an occasion; RISE TO IT!" --Mr. Magorium
I wore Damon 3's and Opals for 20 months at age 42. Braces off January 2007
http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=3535 a little more about me here: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/co ... 961130.htm
I wore Damon 3's and Opals for 20 months at age 42. Braces off January 2007
http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=3535 a little more about me here: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/co ... 961130.htm
-
- Posts: 134
- Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2005 4:25 pm
- Location: San Francisco, CA
- Contact:
I am 40 and am definitely not the oldest patient in my orthos' (there are two) office. I would guess that the adults I have seen range in age from early 30s to late 50s. I have been in for several meetings there and so far haven't seen any children in the waiting area, though one was in the back getting work done while I was in the consultation room (I could hear them trying to convince him to open his mouth for photographs).
Uppers placed 2/8/06--Inspire ICE ceramics
Lower (stainless) placed 2/23/06
Treatment time: 17 months (estimated was 12-18 months)
Debonded: July 11th, 2007
Next appointment: June 2008 for retainer & nightguard check
Lower (stainless) placed 2/23/06
Treatment time: 17 months (estimated was 12-18 months)
Debonded: July 11th, 2007
Next appointment: June 2008 for retainer & nightguard check
-
- Posts: 668
- Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2005 11:23 am
Well everyone keeps telling me that I'm not the oldest one at the orthodontist OR here, but no one has spoken up on these pages that is older than me at 52 ....will be 53 in Feb.
I feel like I live at the orthodontist because I have to go every other week to have my impacted canine re-tied so I have learned to go in the morning. That seems to be when the older crowd goes. The younger ones go after school I guess. I did see someone there that looked older than me once but he was getting his braces off that day. I just feel so whiny if I complain about a problem in front of the kids. I have never heard one of the kids complain. Makes me feel like a big baby.!
I feel like I live at the orthodontist because I have to go every other week to have my impacted canine re-tied so I have learned to go in the morning. That seems to be when the older crowd goes. The younger ones go after school I guess. I did see someone there that looked older than me once but he was getting his braces off that day. I just feel so whiny if I complain about a problem in front of the kids. I have never heard one of the kids complain. Makes me feel like a big baby.!
Wired on Sep 16, 2005, left canine exposed on Oct 5, 2005, at 52 years old.
-
- Posts: 741
- Joined: Mon Dec 05, 2005 9:41 pm
- Location: Washington
I have a saying for you. Old is between the ears. Your only as old as you act. I've met young persons that act old and vice versa. I don't even plan to get old, remaining mentally youthful.
So go ahead, ride the grocery store cart, buy the goofy toy for your desk / work area, be funny and witty with the comments you make with others.
** Warning, others may think you are younger than you are **
// Ride grocery cart at your own risk
So go ahead, ride the grocery store cart, buy the goofy toy for your desk / work area, be funny and witty with the comments you make with others.
** Warning, others may think you are younger than you are **
// Ride grocery cart at your own risk
Way too old for this,
I've got you beat - I'm 53. I wasn't responding because I was waiting for the steam to stop coming out from my ears!
If it makes you feel better to think that you aren't the oldest person at your ortho, then go ahead and think it. Hopefully, you aren't going to go up to the oldest person there, dance around and and sing "I'm younger than you are!"
We all have feelings - about our braces and about ourselves. If you want to feel better at someone else's expense, that's your perogative. But us "old folks" have feelings, too.
I've got you beat - I'm 53. I wasn't responding because I was waiting for the steam to stop coming out from my ears!
If it makes you feel better to think that you aren't the oldest person at your ortho, then go ahead and think it. Hopefully, you aren't going to go up to the oldest person there, dance around and and sing "I'm younger than you are!"
We all have feelings - about our braces and about ourselves. If you want to feel better at someone else's expense, that's your perogative. But us "old folks" have feelings, too.
-
- Posts: 95
- Joined: Mon Jan 16, 2006 9:22 am
- Location: Indianapolis
My ortho shares the same office building with a dental surgeon. When I had my first adjustment I was running a bit early and had to wait outside and wait for them to open. They were other patients waiting: Two obvious school girls and a lady in her fifties. I was 100% sure the lady was waiting for the surgeon until she sported a ceramics smile... There ARE definitely adult patients! A friend of my husbands granny did it at age 65. It's never to late to feel better about yourself!
Nov 2 05 braced, 1/1/07 debanded & got positioner
I was 70 when I got my braces and they came off 15 months later, which was 9 months ago. I have a normal -feeling bite for the first time since my adult teeth came down, despite ortho treatment when I was about 14 and about which, the less said the better. I didn't encounter any other adults in my ortho's rooms, although he tells me that he has a number of adult patients.
Yes, my family told me that I was mad but I know how dissatisfied I was with my crowded teeth and uncomfortable bite. When I look at old photos, I see how much I kept my teeth hidden. Now, I grin at everyone.
Huon.
Yes, my family told me that I was mad but I know how dissatisfied I was with my crowded teeth and uncomfortable bite. When I look at old photos, I see how much I kept my teeth hidden. Now, I grin at everyone.
Huon.