Brace Face At 48.....Am I crazy or what??

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#1 Post by **BraceFaceAt48** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 7:41 pm

I must admit, eight weeks ago I didn't even know I needed braces. I'm scheduled for ceramic uppers on Thursday, 1/22/09.

Am I doing the right thing?? Please tell me your opinions. Those closest to me don't think I have an issue and are in awe that I am going to the expense.

Here's my story.

My teeth have always been pretty straight but I recently found out that my bite is way too deep and my midline is way off kilter, not to mention that my alignment is 'right on' on one side and 'way off ' on the other....

This all came about when I went to my dentist because the tops of my lower front teeth were worn at an angle and the upper front tooth which had some sort of bonding on it to lengthen it was chipped off. I went in with the mistaken assumption that the bonding would be replaced and put on the lower 4 front teeth also.

Before I realized what was being done, they were all being filed. I stopped the doc and told him that I wanted to keep what I had for the rest of my days.

He said that the wearing down issue (due to my clenching both day and night) could be fixed with about 9 months of braces (& some behavior modification).......which turned into 18 after I got up with the ortho. With the ortho, I also became aware that the backs of my upper teeth were wearing thin and literally had groves where my lowers conveniently fit into them.

Enough already....sorry for the length, hope someone is still with me...

Does anyone out there think that I am doing the right thing or am I just a hopefull optimist?

Thanks for your thoughts on the subject.

#2 Post by **sdawdy** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 8:03 pm

My opinion is: GO FOR IT!!!! ok, well I am only 29....but if you have issues with your bite, it does not matter how straight your teeth are. If you want to keep your teeth healthy and for the rest of your life then do what you are lined up to do.

#3 Post by **Wobblydeb** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 6:14 am

Of COURSE you are doing the right thing! By fixing the cause, rather than just the symptoms, you are setting yourself up to keep your teeth into your old age.

18 months will fly by and then once you're done, you will have nice looking teeth, and more importantly a good bite

That will stop you chipping and wearing your teeth away.

#4 Post by **TumbleDryLow** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 7:50 am

I'm 35 and have had my braces 14 months (out of and estimated 30). You are absolutely doing the right thing. You want to keep your teeth for the rest of your life, so correcting them now to stop the wear is a very good thing. And as the previous posters have mentioned, the time will go by quickly, and looking back, you will be so glad you made this choice.

#5 Post by **suzeeq22** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:39 am

I know what you mean!! I am going to be 42 in a couple of weeks and I just got braces last Nov. I'm so glad I did. I can already see imporvement! We are never too old. I wish I had done this years ago!!

Good luck!

YouTube · #6 Post by **retainerjoe** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 3:57 pm

welcome to our group , i too was a deep overbite , the backs of my upper teeth were worn , from hitting the front tops of my lowers ,wich have wear on them at an angle now,

#7 Post by **switchblades** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 7:17 pm

I have the same problem, but also pretty bad crowding. Now, I knew all along I needed braces a second time, and I'm only 22, but I grind my teeth like mad, and my lower molars are smooth and flat on the left side. I decided to go all the way too, and have my teeth and bite corrected now, rather than having a worse time of it later on. I say, go for it! If it will improve your overall quality of life down the road, what's a year and a half now? You'll keep your own teeth for years longer than if you put it off!

#8 Post by **BraceFaceAt48** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 9:07 pm

Thanks so much for your positive input to my issues. I started reading this board while it was down and was afraid that I wouldn't have the privilege of your knowledge to get me through this.

I am so thankful for all of you being out there who have been through this before. Your input and experiences and willingness to share make the journey a lot less scary. I'm sure I'll be back for more shoulders to lean on in the "very" near future.

You guys are the best!

THANKS!

#9 Post by **almost50** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:08 am

47 here. My teeth were only slightly crooked as a teen, but have been gradually getting worse. Decided to do something about it when I was 38 but told I would probably need jaw surgery to do it correctly. Braces I could deal with, but the surgery caused way more complications. Lots of life stuff happened inbetween then and now.

So I'm now 3 months braced. Already see huge improvements in the way my teeth look. And this Friday I get to have all 4 impacted wisdom teeth removed.

I'm glad I"m finally doing it. I have the rest of my life to feel good about my smile and the health of my teeth.

#10 Post by **roost22** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:29 am

46 here and got wired 2 months ago, don't regret it a bit, wife is 45 and got wired 1 year ago and couldn't be happier.

#11 Post by **beth1966** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 11:47 am

Hi there - I'm almost 43 and in a similiar situation. I have reasonably straight teeth and had braces as a kid. But my bite has shifted significantly as an adult - why no one knows. I have an open bite infront, I can only chew on my back teeth. NO one can tell this but me - some foods I can't bite into because I can't get a grip infront, so if you were really watching you might notice that.

I also clench - though I think most of that is stress related but a bad bite does not make it any better.

I do not want braces - I really don't but I worry about the future health of my teeth, and the wearing down of them in back because those are the only teeth I use.

I almost went ahead with braces last Spring but chickened out. My treatment time is approximately 18 months - I need top and bottom braces, Invisalign is not an option for me.

I have begun consulting with orthos again - want to be sure I find the right one, and though I know the type of bracket isn't as important as a qualified and skilled ortho I like - - I want a say in the kind of brackets and the treatment used, so I am doing my research and meeting with several different orthos in my area.

Your not alone!

#12 Post by **BraceFaceAt48** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 5:57 pm

Never in my life have I given as much attention to my mouth!

.

When I got my second son through braces (Nov. last year), I thought my monthly visits to the ortho were over and done with. This is still a shock to me even though my appointment is tomorrow a.m. at 9:30. Who knew your teeth do all of this moving as you age...not me.

My ortho told me that my teeth are "too straight" and that they should be at more of an angle, so the first thing we will do is to make my teeth angle out so they won't be touching the lower teeth. After X amount of time, brackets will be placed on my lower teeth. I guess they can be brought forward??

It's like my teeth are back too far in my mouth and the more I clench, the further the bottom ones go back.......that draws a pretty scary picture of myself in your eyes I'm sure. Like I said, I didn't even know I had such problems! Where have I been?

That brings me to a question I haven't been able to find while researching... What does the "Ideal" set of teeth look like?? I would love to see a photo of "properly positioned" teeth.....from all angles. Is there such a beast out there

I'd love to see it.

Anyway, tomorrow I'm "Off to see the Wizzard".

Thanks again for your comments.

#13 Post by **Jethro** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:41 pm

I am about your age and was told in September 08 that my bite and TMJ had become so bad that I needed orthodontic treatment...I was not expecting that diagnosis (although I knew something had gone very wrong with my bite and jaw). Eight weeks later I had ceramic uppers and metal lowers. Go for it, it will be worth it in the end.

As stated here many times, that first week or two can be tricky...sore teeth, gum/lip irritation, dry mouth, etc., and the many inquiries from friends and co-workers about "why did you get braces at your age??". Trust me, it will all pass quickly. Stay hydrated, eat soft foods, use the wax and most importantly, keep a sense of humor. Let us know how it goes on Thursday.

P.S. An adult beverage now and then can help take the edge off!

#14 Post by **PatJ** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:46 pm

No, you're not crazy. Good on you for wanting to improve your teeth. You've still go a lot of years ahead when you'll need them so they may as well be in the best shape possible. I ummed and ahed about getting my teeth straightened and sorted out and the more I thought about it, the more I saw people who were not much older than me who had either lost all their teeth or their teeth were crooked and ugly looking. So I finally got braced in October 2007 when I was 55. I'm now 15 months down the track and I can see the finish line (about another 6-7 months). It has been worth it and even though my teeth have taken on some peculiar looks over the 15 months, I know at the end of it they will all be where they need to be and looking good.

#15 Post by **PatJ** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:47 pm

P.S. Good luck for the 22nd!