How common is it for adults to have braces?

[24braceface]

Do you think it's uncommon and off putting to see an adult with braces?

[suseh97]

No. I am the 3rd person in my workplace to have braces fitted. It is a new job and I had already started the process of getting them. I fit in just fine

[DrBlur]

Nah...all of my friends, family, and co-workers aren't even phased by the fact I'm getting them...most can relate because they had them before (mostly as teenagers) anyway

[tsmurfenator]

Uncommmon? I guess so, technically, since probably the majority of adults (at least in most localities) do not have braces. However, being awesome is uncommon, but I don't let that stop me.

Off Putting? No … at least not if you're wearing them properly. An adult with braces carries a certain connotation for me. Maybe someone who couldn't afford a braces as a kid, but now is successful and is now taking care of their healthy by doing their treatment on their own. All of these traits are generally viewed as admirable in most societies.

[suzyscientist]

In the UK it's been very unusual in the past, although I am noticing more adults with braces now (but that might be because I'm checking out everyone's teeth!). I am the second person in my department at work to have them (there are 27 of us) and the third person in the company (around 150).

Also, loads of my co-workers have said their kids are really jealous of friends that have braces. Even moreso if they have glasses too. This is a total difference from my generation - glasses and braces were social suicide at my high school! But that was the 90s...

On the off-putting: in my experience, definitely not! So many people have been asking me about my braces and most of them are seriously jealous. The only ones that aren't had braces when they were younger. I've found it an overwhelmingly positive experience so far.

[Snowglobe32]

While it may be true that some parent's could not afford braces for their kids when they were younger, I didn't need braces when I was younger. I am 33 now but when I was in my mid 20's, I was hit in the face, it loosened up my teeth and over time they starting shifting.

It irks me when people assume adults only have braces now because they were not affordable when they were younger. One of my co workers had braces as a child, she is now 45, but her bottom teeth have crowded together. She doesn't want to spend the money for braces. I actually see this alot with adults, their bottom teeth have crowed together, everything gets crooked.

I don't think adults with braces is uncommon or off putting at all.

[appygirl82]

I think its cool! I started a trend at my work....2 people now have gotten them after me. Who cares if your not a kid....who ever said braces are for kids??? Braces are to make nice teeth...no matter what age!!

[24braceface]

While it may be true that some parent's could not afford braces for their kids when they were younger, I didn't need braces when I was younger. I am 33 now but when I was in my mid 20's, I was hit in the face, it loosened up my teeth and over time they starting shifting.

It irks me when people assume adults only have braces now because they were not affordable when they were younger. One of my co workers had braces as a child, she is now 45, but her bottom teeth have crowded together. She doesn't want to spend the money for braces. I actually see this alot with adults, their bottom teeth have crowed together, everything gets crooked.

I don't think adults with braces is uncommon or off putting at all.

Yeah I didn't need braces when I was younger either. My teeth have always been straight, but I started to have bite issues. So yes I do hate when people assume that too.

[Bekah]

I have seen ALOT of adults in braces in the last 2 years!!! I am amazed every day at how many people I have met that have them.

[DrBlur]

While it may be true that some parent's could not afford braces for their kids when they were younger, I didn't need braces when I was younger. I am 33 now but when I was in my mid 20's, I was hit in the face, it loosened up my teeth and over time they starting shifting.

It irks me when people assume adults only have braces now because they were not affordable when they were younger. One of my co workers had braces as a child, she is now 45, but her bottom teeth have crowded together. She doesn't want to spend the money for braces. I actually see this alot with adults, their bottom teeth have crowed together, everything gets crooked.

I don't think adults with braces is uncommon or off putting at all.

Yeah I didn't need braces when I was younger either. My teeth have always been straight, but I started to have bite issues. So yes I do hate when people assume that too.

Same here

[Bracedmom32]

My teeth were perfectly straight through high school and college...they didn't start to get crooked until i was in my mid 20's....i've only had my braces for a little over a week and i love them and am so pumped i decided to take the plunge and get them...

i think adults in braces is becoming much more common...i know two other adults that have had them and are very happy with the experience...my view is if you love them then who cares what random people think...I would rather have people look at me and think - she has braces and is fixing a problem - than eww look at how crooked that girls teeth are....

[Steph in Sac]

I don't feel like it's that common. If I think of my workplace of approx 75, I am only the third person I know who has braces in the last 5 years--and one is Invisalign. I don't think most people even know I have them since they are just ceramic lowers, but when I do point it out or they do notice them, they think it's cool. I am usually met with "my lower teeth are crowded too!" And, sure enough, they are. I am finding that lower teeth crowding is extremely common. Some people have worse crowding than I did. Perhaps I'll be an inspiration.

[kilikena311]

I've met about 3 adults (other than my sister) who have braces as adults. One of them only had brackets and no wires which I thought was unusual. I've been braced since last April and those are the only ones I've seen, so I'm guessing it isn't really common.

[Mimi31]

I live in Nairobi, and around here braces are not a priority, even for kids/teens. I'm the only person I know with braces, the the only other person I can ever remember having braces was a girl in my highh school dorm. Everyone keeps asking me why I'd have them, esp at my age. I just got tired of hiding my smile behind my hand, and decided to do something about it.

[tsmurfenator]

I live in Nairobi, and around here braces are not a priority, even for kids/teens. I'm the only person I know with braces, the the only other person I can ever remember having braces was a girl in my highh school dorm. Everyone keeps asking me why I'd have them, esp at my age. I just got tired of hiding my smile behind my hand, and decided to do something about it.

@Mimi31 - this is very interesting, Nairobi Kenya is one of the places where I've been where I noticed no people with braces. I'm very happy at least one person does now. I hope you start a whole new trend over there, and show off the power of braces to everybody you can. It must feel amazing to be the only person around with braces. Here braces are so common that nobody even notices them. I would be fascinated to learn about how one would go about getting braces in Nairobi, cost, treatment time etc.. I would imagine you go to a general dentist who has a few orthodontic cases. Are they handling any other braces cases there at the same clinic?