Metal Mouth Message Board

25-year-old female here, recent college grad, recently entered the work world. Started making some money, which means it's time to finally fix mah teeth!

I decided to go with the "Empower Clear" ones (ceramic upper, metal lower), because this ortho said extractions weren't necessarily, and that's what I cared about most.

Got them put on six hours ago; wasn't too bad. Not a whole lot of discomfort, but I'm bracing (hurr) for it to get worse.

I was told you usually get buyer's remorse on the day you get them, and boy howdy am I. I keep looking at my teeth in the mirror and cringing. It would be a lot better if both top and bottom were ceramic, because the bottom ones are genuinely hideous (A coworker compared them to some obscure horror movie; I didn't quite understand, but I got the point). Folks, don't believe those ads. Those hot models who have braces are still hot because they're hot.

Words of encouragement would be appreciated! I'm concerned that, in the prime years of my life, I'm undateable. Not that I was getting around too much before, but...you know what I mean. Maybe it's time I got over my appearance-consciousness, banned mirrors, and worked on growing a winning personality or something.

Also, please feel free to talk trash about Invisalign. Remember, JUST trash, because I can't go back now, so don't say anything good about Invisalign.

Happy to join your lovely forum,

Val

Many will chime in here, but suffice to say they are a much bigger deal to you than to others. It has been previously documented by one of the females on the forum that we guys don't notice anything above the chest anyhow, so it's no big deal.(Disclaimer: not that I agree with that sentiment, but it did make me laugh. About those other guys. Not me of course).

I don't think braces make women look less attractive by any means, and I speak for all men on the subject . I have a friend with braces and she is absolutely beautiful.

Best of luck to you!

I was told Invisalign "is not very good" by someone who is an expert in the field.

isthistaken wrote:I was told Invisalign "is not very good" by someone who is an expert in the field.

My ortho actually said something along the lines of, "So you're not one of the ones I have to talk out of Invisalign, right?"

He also offers Invisalign

My dentist told me if I was set on Invisalign...it would be frustrating for me. I have teeth that need rotated. Invisalign doesn't work too well to rotate. But if i was set on it...He would do it..but in about 2 to 3 months..everything would stop and we would have to start over. That would happen more than once. He asked if I would consider brackets and wires. When I said yes...he sent me to the orthodontist across the street. Dentist said that I would be alot happier going that route. The money will not be going to his office...but he wanted what would work best for me. So when it is time (had to be off a medication 2 months before braces), I will have clear on top and metal on bottom. Seems to be a popular pair on this forum.

I am 40 .. married.. not really worried about prospective dates lol .. that being said .. I don't really think anyone notices em but me .. or cares about them. I get bright colors and have fun with them and I think I smile more now and am more engaged and talkative with others because I feel my smile is getting better and I am not self conscious like I was about my teeth before getting braces .. if that makes any sense at all? I have had my braces since this feb and invisalign was not an option for me with my over crowding and overbite.

anyways all that being said.. you are investing a small part of your lifetime to improving your health and your smile.. any person that you might date that can't see around your braces.. you don't need

Hey Valiere! *waves*

I completely understand how you feel...I'm in the same boat as you! My ceramic braces were just put on last thursday and I'm still adjusting as well. I don't have much advice to offer as I'm leaning on this board for encouragement myself, but hang in there! I've found this board to be very supportive and informative and the main thing I keep hearing is that we will get used to our metal mouths and things get better as time goes on. Good luck! :-)

Although I am just starting the process (spacers currently in, braces on Thursday) I can tell you two things... First, I am going into this as a 48 year old business women with the confidence that it doesn't matter that i will have braces in my mouth I am successful anyway, and two that my well respected orthodontist who sells Invisalign strongly recommended that I not go that way. One reason was that if your teeth don't move the way that the mold makers anticipate then all new molds must be made... That means delays in treatments and no control by your trusted orthodontist.

You will get used to them in time. I had people around me who didn't even notice them for weeks when they were very obvious to me.

I agree with the previous poster. It is your personal confidence that others notice, not just the braces. Your confidence in yourself is what shines through.

You are certainly not undatable. Remember, you chose the braces because you are doing something good for yourself. Those around you should respect that.

Mine have been on 3 months today !

The day I got them on, I think I was in shock as I didn't expect them to feel so much like ghastly
hardware in my mouth - all rough and bumpy ! Ahhhh!
BUT

within a week or two I started to see changes !

Now three months down the track - huge changes and people going
"OMG" what a difference !!

So all going well, you will see things happening and within a couple of months or more, you will
be feeling pleased you have taken this step !!

Everyone here is right! It's a really big shock to the system at first. I got clear upper and lower and still went through massive buyers remorse. Wondered if I should have gone invisalign. My ortho offered it to me but told me that he recommended the braces because they have better control and you get a better result at the end. He said a number of patients end up in braces after invisalign to fix the last little things, or aren't happy with the end result full stop.


Plus you don't have to deal with pulling them in and out all day, you can drink a coffee without worrying, you don't have to worry about the manky smell that the aligners can get Hang in there! The confidence crisis does pass!

It really is amazing what our bodies can get used to. I thought mine were huge when I first got them on and thought I'd never be able to close my lips over them but within a week to 10 days, I was no longer aware of them. They really are not that bad and as others have said, they are a much bigger deal to us than to anyone else. Hang in there...it gets better very quickly.

Hi everyone! Wow such a supportive forum this is! Val's feelings on her vanity is obviously a common issue amongst us all. I haven't been braced yet (day 2 of 7 spacers) and already I'm feeling doubt about doing this. Reading all these comments make me feel like I can do it, and if I can Val so can you.

Val - are u in any pain at all, how is the diet / eating? Did u get spacers and how did that compare to the pain / eating now?

This has been a rough year for me, but this forum has been one of the bright spots. Everyone is so nice.

Not knowing any adults with braces, I don't know how I would survive this ordeal without this forum.

Before braces, I used to think I must be pretty today when people looked at me. (I could be vain.) Now if anyone looks at me, it must be my ugly braces, I think.