Hi! newbie here- getting braces in 1 week

[Olive]

Hi all, I'm new here!

I'm 26 and will be getting my braces on in exactly one week. I'm so nervous, and considering backing out, but I know I have to go through with it (already spent $500 on consultations, molds, and x-rays, for one thing). Also, I've been thinking about it for a while. I started treatment as a teen, but didn't get very far for a few reasons. Then I thought about it a bit in my early 20s, but thought I'd be "too old" by the time I got them off (I'd already have them off by now... oh well, that's why I'm doing it now, I'll have them off by 30, which I've realized is NOT old!).

I have an open bite and some crowding on both the top and bottom. I've always been a bit self-conscious of my teeth and also my jaw (my lower jaw is small and "weak"... though not extremely). I'm excited for a change in my appearance but I'm also a little scared, not knowing exactly what I'll look like after. Also, I'm used to the way I look and sometimes I think I actually look cute with my crooked teeth. Some people don't even understand why I'm getting them... I guess my teeth look worse to me than to others. But my reasons are functional as well as aesthetic... I can only bite with my back teeth, an it's putting strain on my jaw... I'm exhibiting early signs of TMJ and I started getting migraines a few years ago. So it's really a combination of functional and aesthetic benefits that motivated me to go to all this trouble, finally.

I'm getting Damon braces and will need them for 24-30 months. I will also be getting jaw surgery in about a year from now. The surgery definitely scares me a lot, but my immediate concern is the braces and how they'll look and feel. I'm worried that I'll look really geeky, and that my boyfriend won't be as attracted to me... he says he's more worried about whether I'll be in pain, and about the surgery, but I know he's also very curious about how I'll look. Also, I work with the public, so I'll probably be really self-conscious at first.

I'm not sure whether to tell my co-workers that I'm getting them, so they won't be surprised, which could make me more self-conscious. Any advice?

[scorr77]

Hi! I wouldn't worry so much about how you are going to look. Eventually you will get use to them and want even notice them. And there is really nothing unattractive about modern day braces! It will be well worth it on down the road! Good luck!

[scorr77]

Also about the coworker part, I've had mine for 2 months now and alot of people havent even noticed them. So I wouldnt worry about that either. And if they do then let it be. I would though go ahead and tell the ones you work the closest to.

[Olive]

Thanks for your replies! I have already told 2 coworkers who I'm close to, will probably tell a few more within the next week. I find it hard to believe that they won't be noticeable (metal on both top and bottom, and my top teeth are prominent), but I've been trying to convince myself that I'll look cute anyway. I've also started imagining other people I know with braces... I find it helpful, because in my head they look only a bit different with braces on, not in a bad way, and they still look like themselves.

[keeponsmiling]

Hey Olive,
Congratulations for making the decision to go ahead with treatment. Like you I knew in my teens that my teeth weren't quite right and was very much aware that my bite was getting more and more open. Unlike you I stuck my head in the sand until I was 30 and now it looks like I'll have braces until I'm almost 33. I told a couple of close friends that I was getting braces and surgery, but it was a bit strange when people I don't really know either commented or, even worse, pretended not to notice. And sometimes random strangers will ask a question or make a comment which depending on my mood is either ok or mildly annoying - if I had a huge scar on my face they wouldn't ask how I got it would they? I've gotten quite good at making it known that I need surgery - that way people are either sympathetic and/or put off asking any more questions! So yes they will be noticeable, and people will comment, but probably not as much as you think. I just figure that anyone who matters to me won't mind, and anyone who does mind doesn't matter. Good luck with it!

[stepher7]

Hey Olive! Wow, your story sounds pretty similar to mine, except the surgery part. I'm 25, almost 26, and also put off braces when I was 19 or 20 because I thought I was "too old" hahaha if only we could go back and tell our younger selves a thing or two, huh? I've had mine for almost 2 weeks now, and a lot of people at work haven't even noticed! I do have the clear Damon brackets on top, so they're less noticeable, but I find that when I talk they don't really show that much. People who do notice though will probably be supportive and think it's awesome that you're doing this for yourself. I too, like you, was very concerned about what my boyfriend was going to think. We've only been together for a few months, so I was pretty unsure of it lol the worrying was all in vain though. He said you can barely notice them, and he doesn't care anyway. Just think, they're going to have girlfriends (well maybe a fiancee or wife by the time they're off! lol) with a beautiful, healthy smile...why wouldn't they want that??? And if they loved us BEFORE braces, with what we felt were not so great teeth, it only makes sense that they'd be ok with the braces, right? I hope the next week doesn't drag by for you...I'm sure your brace day will be here before you know it!! Eat as much sticky, crunchy, bad for braces food as you can now because it takes a bit to adjust to having them in your mouth and you'll probably be stuck with boring food for a bit! (Unless you're one of the lucky ones!!)

[web]

Hi Olive,
Definitely not old. I am 51 and getting braced tomorrow. Ceramic uppers and metal bottoms. Just got over pneumonia for the last 2 weeks so at least I am used to soft, mellow food,,,,good luck with everything.

[Olive]

Hi Web, how are your braces so far? My Mom is about your age and told me that she wishes she'd had them. I wanted to say "it's not too late!" but I know she doesn't have the money so I just said she has a lovely smile (which she does- we're our own worst critics).

I'm getting mine on TODAY! I'm actually more excited and less nervous than I thought I would be. Excited to start the process. Luckily I have a pretty good network of people supporting my decision. I can't even imagine what it'll feel like. And I probably WILL freak out when I see how I'm gonna look for the next 2+ years

[sunnylocks]

Hi Olive!

Just wanted to say welcome and good luck with your journey. You've already received some great advice and I agree with the responses. I was in your position, well kind of, and anyway just made the plunge at 24. I was quite surprised by how many people didn't notice, and that they thought they looked natural on me. It does scare me a bit that my face will look totally different with them off, but hey, I'm in it for the long haul now so why worry about the past, right?

I hope all goes with the installation...one piece of advice that really helped me was to take Aleve before my appointment. I took them for the first 2-3 days, but I'm getting used to them now, and definitely don't have much pain at all. Now I'm just waiting on my first tightening appointment...

[Olive]

Thanks, Sunnylocks. I've had them for almost a day now... it's been kind of a rollercoaster already. I left the office excited that it didn't hurt. I was sort of having fun experimenting with how to hold my mouth. Looking in the mirror was a shock but I decided it wasn't so bad. But then I saw my boyfriend and became really self-conscious. He is supportive, but at first he couldn't stop staring. And trying to figure out how to talk and smile was difficult. I had the "what have I done" moment and cried most of the afternoon. And then eating: even eating a soft small chunk of mango was painful and awkward. Then some lasagne, that wasn't so bad except half of it got stuck in the wires and all around the brackets, I couldn't even enjoy eating at all. And then the pain set in. I miss my naked teeth!

Today I have to go to work and face everyone. Luckily a lot of the people know already, but I'm sure I'll get some comments. Hopefully I'm in the right frame of mind to deal.

[peacefrog]

Olive-Congrats on taking the plunge! The first few days are the worse. In no time you'll be able to eat just fine without too many morsels getting stuck. In my experience I have found that I am much more obsessed with my braces than anyone around me. You'll also find that your definitely not alone. Since being braced I pay attention to everybody's teeth. There are so many adults out there with braces. Way more than I had ever imagined(until I started paying attention) Hang in there-it'll get better.

[sunnylocks]

Hey Olive!

I'm just checking in, seeing how work went? I've recently noticed some movement, and some pain due to that movement when I accidentally bite down but other than that things are swell. I'm eating most things I want and chewing gum!

I hope work went well...I know how anxious I was after getting braced and going back to work. I actually just had one coworker tell me today they hadn't noticed...almost two weeks later...ha!

Anyways...wishing you well Olive...I'm just sure things are going great for you...and your non-naked teeth