33 Year Old Lawyer, Should Get Out in 18 to 24

Message

#1 Post by **HeatherJ** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 3:30 pm

Long time reader, first time poster. Here's my story:

Like many, I've always wanted pearly white, impeccably straight teeth. I would have probably been satisfied with eggshell-hued, not-so-noticeably-crooked teeth that hadn't started to decay seemingly while I was still in utero. Heck, I'd even take my own damaged, distorted teeth so long as I could magically correct the upside-down vampire fangs that periodically caused me to bite myself yet, to their credit, did save me money on Halloween costumes.

I am grateful that, when I was eight, my parents had enough sense to get me a removable appliance to correct a horrific underbite, but they couldn't afford braces by the time I was old enough to know to ask for them. So, I subconsciously learned to talk without revealing what lay beneath. Needless to say, very few people have any photos of me smiling.

Fast forward a few years, I had to work full-time to put myself through college, and by the end, it didn't seem sensible to spend my meager savings just to feel Marcia Brady "ugly, ugly, ugly" during my early twenties. Since then, my standard of living steadily improved, and I even had several orthodontic consultations each time I felt that enough was finally enough.

Unfortunately, I never seemed to possess the optimal level of time, money, and courage to bite the B-word bullet. Instead, I researched veneers. I lusted after Invisalign. I fantasized about implants. In reality, most practitioners told me that yes, I really would need braces, extractions, and possibly jaw surgery. Jaw. Surgery. It all seemed so vain. Once, however, I did go so far as to have my sad teeth professionally whitened, if only to give the illusion of beauty from a very far distance.

Now, I am a 33-year old attorney with somewhat more money and a lot more courage. Time, however, is a funny commodity. Every year, I feel a growing sense of regret for not fixing what I always knew was wrong, and an equally growing dread of spending the rest of my career with a face I don't care to recognize, not to mention a TMJ that has been known to click while I eat. A few months ago, I finally made moderate peace with time's irreversible, unstoppable depletion, so I picked up the phone once more and called, of course, an orthodontist.

To make a long story a little less long, I got my braces on this morning! I am grateful to the people who have posted here; if it hadn't been for the inspiring stories on this forum, I suspect I might never have had the guts. So, many thanks.

#2 Post by **daffodil** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 7:17 pm

Congratulations! I got my upper braces on last month, two extractions and a lower lingual arch this month, and my lower braces on this week.

#3 Post by **cmone** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 9:40 pm

Welcome Heather3! Congrats on getting braced!

Keep us posted & give us some pics. Hope things aren't too painful for you over the next couple of days. I plan to ask for some very powerful pain relievers.

#4 Post by **Maggie Brace** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 2:23 am

Hi Heather. welcome
I too am a newbie to posting on this site but it s been such a great help reading everyone else's stories.

My story is very similar to yours. I m 31 and have spent at least 10 ten years wanting to have my teeth fixed. Getting Braced on March 25th and i cant wait.

There are no pictures of me smiling open mouthed but hopefully in two years that will change completely!!!

Good Luck

Maggie

#5 Post by **Laney'sBraces** » Sun Feb 28, 2010 11:03 am

Yeah, I'm 30 and halfway through my estimated treatment time. I don't regret the decision at all, awkward as it may have been at first. 2 yrs in braces spanning my 30th birthday followed by a lifetime in straight teeth! small price to pay.

#6 Post by **Snowglobe32** » Sun Feb 28, 2010 11:55 am

Hello and Welcome~

If you can get through law school and the successful passing of the bar, braces will be a piece of cake!

Give yourself about a month and you will wonder why you didn't do it sooner. I got braces at 32, only had them for 5 months now but this is the best thing I have ever done.

Congratulations! Enjoy the life changing journey!

#7 Post by **rhomboid** » Sun Aug 01, 2010 7:45 pm

Keep us posted as to your progress.

#8 Post by **alinghi** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 2:54 am

Congrats too.

I was 33 when I had my braces and its been just about 3yrs and I'm on the home run to getting them removed later this year.

Good luck...

One is never too late to have braces...