Please take a moment to take the September Braces Poll on the main site, www.ArchWired.com.
This month's question is: Adults: At What Age Did You Start Your Orthodontic Treatment? (this is obviously a question for people ages 18 and over).
You can add a comment about this topic either at the poll (after you vote there is an opportunity to make a comment), or if you want to say something about the topic here in this thread, that's OK, too.
BTW, comments you make at the poll page should be limited to the age issue, please.
September Braces Poll
Moderator: bbsadmin
September Braces Poll
I'm the owner/admin of this site. Had ceramic uppers, metal lowers ~3 years in my early 40's. Now in Hawley retainers at night!
I'm finding it interesting that several people have posted something similar to my own experience: I had consultations earlier in life and then totally chickened out -- before finally getting braced at age 41. I guess it's more common then I thought. And I spent years beating myself up for being such a chicken!
I'm the owner/admin of this site. Had ceramic uppers, metal lowers ~3 years in my early 40's. Now in Hawley retainers at night!
My main purpose was to stop pain and damage being caused by my TMJ. I knew I needed braces to correct my teeth as a child, but it was never a financial possibility growing up. Enough people had said "your teeth aren't that bad," so I just learned to be self conscious about them and assumed I would never fix them.
Once the pain and complications started, I figured I had to nip it all in the but before it got worse and I wish I had done it sooner. I can't wait to have straight teeth and the pain reduction will just be a benefit that goes along with it!
Once the pain and complications started, I figured I had to nip it all in the but before it got worse and I wish I had done it sooner. I can't wait to have straight teeth and the pain reduction will just be a benefit that goes along with it!
I beat myself up for 35 years. It took me that long to recover from the trauma of my first consultation.I'm finding it interesting that several people have posted something similar to my own experience: I had consultations earlier in life and then totally chickened out -- before finally getting braced at age 41. I guess it's more common then I thought. And I spent years beating myself up for being such a chicken!
I'm far enough into treatment to see what my bite will end up looking like, and I like what I see. It will definitely be worth it.
I was told over and over again throughout my teens that I needed braces desperately. My parents tried to get me to get them, but never forced me. I resisted.
Then after I came of age, I started to feel very self conscious and I gave in. I got braced a few months before my 23rd birthday.
Then after I came of age, I started to feel very self conscious and I gave in. I got braced a few months before my 23rd birthday.
Spacers: 1/26/05; 2/6/06; 3/15/06; 4/24/06
4 First Bicuspids removed: 2/2005
Metal Braces, top and bottom: 3/1/05; Debanded 7/26/07
Hawley retainers top and bottom
4 First Bicuspids removed: 2/2005
Metal Braces, top and bottom: 3/1/05; Debanded 7/26/07
Hawley retainers top and bottom
Well I never had the option as a child. Nobody told me that my bite was messed up. My parents contend that my childhood dentist never mentioned it to them.
But as I got older, my dentists (I had a few different ones because we moved around) would often mention braces. As time went on, I noticed my teeth getting more crooked. Finally I got the courage to look into it and I didn't like what I heard (extractions, tongue thrust problem, etc). It took 10 years of hedging in my 30s for me to realize that it was time to put this issue to bed, and either do it already or forget about it forever.
My main motivation was that I had known 2 other adults who had braces. One was a guy I worked with when I was in my early 30s. Another was a mom I'd known since our kids were babies. She sat next to me at a Girl Scout Volunteer dinner, wearing braces. We had a conversation about it and she referred me to the guy who ultimately became my treating ortho.
I think that knowing a few other adults with braces helped, because I knew that a least a few others were in my position. It helped me feel less "weird" and isolated about it. And that's the main reason I began this website.
But as I got older, my dentists (I had a few different ones because we moved around) would often mention braces. As time went on, I noticed my teeth getting more crooked. Finally I got the courage to look into it and I didn't like what I heard (extractions, tongue thrust problem, etc). It took 10 years of hedging in my 30s for me to realize that it was time to put this issue to bed, and either do it already or forget about it forever.
My main motivation was that I had known 2 other adults who had braces. One was a guy I worked with when I was in my early 30s. Another was a mom I'd known since our kids were babies. She sat next to me at a Girl Scout Volunteer dinner, wearing braces. We had a conversation about it and she referred me to the guy who ultimately became my treating ortho.
I think that knowing a few other adults with braces helped, because I knew that a least a few others were in my position. It helped me feel less "weird" and isolated about it. And that's the main reason I began this website.
I'm the owner/admin of this site. Had ceramic uppers, metal lowers ~3 years in my early 40's. Now in Hawley retainers at night!
My braces went on at age 70. Reasons;
1 I had had no comfortable bite since an ortho finished with me 55years before.
2. My jumbled teeth made cleaning almost imposible. Flossing was impossible because the teeth were jammed so tightly.
3. My incisors ere wearing one another too much.
The most difficult part was screwing my courage to the sticking point to ask my dentist whether something could or should be done. I expected to be laughed out of the surgery. She referred me to an ortho without any surprise and he accepted me as a perfectly ordinary patient. After 15 months in braces, I now have a comfortable bite and can clean without problems. My friends and family accepted what I was doing, almost without comment.
Huon
1 I had had no comfortable bite since an ortho finished with me 55years before.
2. My jumbled teeth made cleaning almost imposible. Flossing was impossible because the teeth were jammed so tightly.
3. My incisors ere wearing one another too much.
The most difficult part was screwing my courage to the sticking point to ask my dentist whether something could or should be done. I expected to be laughed out of the surgery. She referred me to an ortho without any surprise and he accepted me as a perfectly ordinary patient. After 15 months in braces, I now have a comfortable bite and can clean without problems. My friends and family accepted what I was doing, almost without comment.
Huon
Sorry, didn't know to elaborate. I got braces at 51, because my dentist recommended them, after we found out I needed gum grafting over 7 of my roots. My Mother told me (maybe ten years ago, that our dentist had told her braces might be beneficial for me - this was back when I was probably 10 years old. To Mom, that meant, not needed). Anyway, what brought me to this point, was that my top incisors were pushing, one into my mouth and the other out of my mouth. (besides the laterals have always overlapped the incisors a bit). The leverage action of the incisors had become painful when I bit into anything, and was only getting worse. I also have always had a lopsided jaw -one side met while the other side met only by shifting the jaw muscles - I am sure this added to my TMJ.
To look at my teeth straight on, you would think there was nothing wrong and I was doing all this for cosmetic reasons - nothing farther from the truth. (My orthodontist wouldn't touch my teeth until the gum grafting was done and healed, BTW.)
To anyone experiencing some gum recession, get it checked out by a periodontist. My dentist never referred me to one - I went because of some bleeding gums. The gums were ok, but that was when I found out I needed the gum grafts over my roots. I think that the stretching that my gums had to do over these roots probably added to the recession. (A heavy hand with the tooth brush did the rest).
To look at my teeth straight on, you would think there was nothing wrong and I was doing all this for cosmetic reasons - nothing farther from the truth. (My orthodontist wouldn't touch my teeth until the gum grafting was done and healed, BTW.)
To anyone experiencing some gum recession, get it checked out by a periodontist. My dentist never referred me to one - I went because of some bleeding gums. The gums were ok, but that was when I found out I needed the gum grafts over my roots. I think that the stretching that my gums had to do over these roots probably added to the recession. (A heavy hand with the tooth brush did the rest).
Had Damon 3 / Smart Clips for almost 2 years
Now in Hawley upper 10 hours/day, permanent lower retainers
Now in Hawley upper 10 hours/day, permanent lower retainers
