New to the club!

[Rae]

Hi! I'm gonna be 35 in 3 weeks time & I'm having my braces fitted in 2 weeks time - good timing hey?!! Certainly no hiding away for me!! I am absolutely terrified. firstly I have to have an extraction next week & this scares me to death! I'm a complete dentist phobe & am having nightmares already.
I had a check up last week and all was good but ever since I have had constant toothache, in what feels like all of my teeth, I'm wondering if i'm stressing in my sleep & maybe grinding my teeth or something???
I am having ceramic brackets both top & bottom with a metal wire. I need a brace as I have crowded teeth, but inparticular my upper, front left tooth protudes quite badly. (I work with kids & about 3 years ago one of them kindly said to me 'you look like Nanny McPhee',even though it's not quite as bad as that, ever since that comment I have been looking into and plucking up the courage to get braces! )
My main concern is how I am going to look - silly I know but we all must have a certain degree of vainess to be doing this in the first place!! I'm worried that my top lip will really stick out or that I won't be able to close my mouth over the brace!! I think it would be great if you could buy fake braces, just so you could test them for size!!!!
Anyway, I'll leave my intro at that. I have read a few of your stories & it has reassured me to know that there are lots of people out there on the same mission!!
Take Care & Keep Smiling Rae xx

[Sandpiper]

Hi Rae,

Welcome to the club. I am 43 and have been in braces nearly 8 months now - it is amazing how the time goes. Whilst I tolerate my braces, and can see the good work they're doing, I stlll hate them and can't wait for them to be gone. I'm still not really free with my smiles in company. Still, never mind - just a few more months to go! Good luck with your journey - I shall look forward to following your progress.

[noveldevice]

Hi Rae!

I'm 35 and got my braces on December 9th. I experience a *lot* of pain, but apparently that's not actually normal, I'm just one of the lucky ones.

I had to have three extractions before having my braces on, and while the first week post-extraction was brutal, after that it was no big deal. Although if you have an existing dentist phobia, do yourself a favour and have them knock you out for it. You'll be glad, because honestly, you're so numb the actual extraction doesn't hurt, but the terror of having someone yank around on your teeth like that is pretty horrifying.

I have gold brackets, which I am really *really* happy with, much more so than I would have been with sapphire or ceramic brackets. I get compliments on them, actually--"like jewellery on your teeth" is what people say most often. I find that I am a lot more willing to smile now than I was!

It is totally survivable. Try not to freak out. And you'll be so happy when you're done!

[wiredmouth]

Hi Rae!

Firstly, welcome to the world of braces! You, like all of us, will look very 'braceful' once the braces are on! I thought the Nanny McPhee comment was hilarious! Secondly, I just turned 25 and had my braces put on my top teeth in early February! It's never too late to want something / achieve a goal! Of course looking silly is something that is a given. however, unlike having braces in teenage years, having braces later in life helps provide a conversation topic with friends - especially if you are eating with them!
"Quick...look at that hot guy....wait....do I still have that piece of chicken stuck in between my incisors?" "no? chicken...good"

Hope all is well. Big hello and warm welcome from Canada!

if you want to follow my journey here's the link to my blog:
http://letstalkaboutteeth.blogspot.com/

yurs in smiles,

S

[Rae]

Thanks Guys! I must say that since being on this website I have started to feel alot more positive about the whole thing, and, dare I say, a little excited now!! Still scared about having the tooth out (3 more sleeps!!) but I am a tough girl and have given birth twice so surely I can handle it!! Being 'knocked out' for it isn't an option here with our NHS dentists, else I would opt for that!
Any way Thank you all for your supportive replies, will let you know how the extraction goes!!

Rae x

[belenov]

hi. im 38,male and i work with the public. i need to get various things done. braces top and bottom with elastics. i get them on on friday. i believe im in shock, but it has to be done if im going to be able to chew in comfort. good luck on the journey. my fiance had braces recently and said the time flies, so heres hoping.

[Rae]

Good Luck for Friday Belenov, let me know how you get on. I keep switching from absolute fear & terror to a 'I can do this' attitude - it's fear & terror today!!!

[belenov]

i understand. one minute im exited then i want to hide behind myself. i just want them on now as i think the waiting is worse as all the various thoughts,which are rarely nice, go through my head. i need to stop obsessing. but there is no chance of that. keep strong and good luck with your treatment.

[Buddysmom]

First day in braces. It's been two and a half hours only
and I'm wondering if I've made the right decision. Never
needed braces as a child but now at the ripe
old age of 40+, my teeth have shifted. My teeth are not
crooked just want to close up some gaps.
Wondering if it's worth the money and aggravation
just for a couple of spaces between teeth. .
Trying to eat Cup of Noodles soup but can't without scraping my tongue on the metal.
Seems the joy of eating is gone at least for the next year.
Hope it gets better.

[lunadali]

First day in braces. It's been two and a half hours only
and I'm wondering if I've made the right decision. Never
needed braces as a child but now at the ripe
old age of 40+, my teeth have shifted. My teeth are not
crooked just want to close up some gaps.
Wondering if it's worth the money and aggravation
just for a couple of spaces between teeth. .
Trying to eat Cup of Noodles soup but can't without scraping my tongue on the metal.
Seems the joy of eating is gone at least for the next year.
Hope it gets better.

I think you and I were both in the ortho's chair at the exact same time!!! I am feeling exactly the same as you! I am trying to eat and my toungue is beginning to hurt and get tired of pressing my food up and out. My bite changed and it effectively rendered me unable to chew. Can you imagine? I'm gonna have to swallow my food whole or starve, I don't know. Take some solace that you aren't alone, we'll suffer together! How long is your sentence? Mine is 18 months.

[Buddysmom]

Glad to hear I'm not alone. Ibuprofen might help ease
the pain your having. I took two after I was finished just in case. I
think the true test will be tonight! Believe it or not,
my Orthodintist didn't say anything about how long unwound
have to wear them other than at my first consultation
and I think he said 1 year then. I have to go back in 2 weeks to have
my bite checked. A month right now seems like
an eternity. Good luck with your treatment. Hope
all goes well. I am going to attempt to eat dinner. It make
take me an hour to eat and probably equally as long
to clean my teeth afterwards.

[mavis]

hey!

im getting my extractions of 2 teeth on 9th march at the same time they are putting on the brackets right after extracting them. Not sure if they are gonna put the wire on the same day.
and im super freaked out !

but for the end results should be worth it right?

urgh!

[Buddysmom]

Mavis - Enjoy all the food you can get your hands on before
the big day. Good luck with the extractions; I think
that will be the easy part.

[mavis]

and here i am thinking that extractions are the worst.

[stepher7]

[quote="belenov"]i understand. one minute im exited then i want to hide behind myself. i just want them on now as i think the waiting is worse as all the various thoughts,which are rarely nice, go through my head. i need to stop obsessing. but there is no chance of that. keep strong and good luck with your treatment.[/quote]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one feeling like this!! My braces go on on March 7 and I too keep going between being excited and then being terrified of having to live with them for what will seem like forever. Trying to talk to other people who haven't had them before is pointless because they don't understand the apprehension that comes along with it, especially being an adult and getting them. I'm so glad this site exists!