We are not alone

[plugnickel69]

I went to a professional meeting this week, a group of about 50-60 people, and sitting at my table were three of us with braces. I was there with my ceramics, another male, in his fifties, with full metal, and a female in her mid twenties who just got gold braces--her third braces experience. I can count at least four others in the group who have had adult braces. One forty-something male got his full metal off last year. Who knows who had linguals, or invisalign, or had adult braces before I met them?

[Kipepeo]

It's like an underground secret society!

[Metal Mickey]

I know it's weird when you start talking to people about your braces the things you find out/see.

I was at a wedding at the weekend and talking to another guest I was 'moaning' that I miss wearing lipstick as I find it goes all over my braces (clear) and that sometimes I felt like a kid again with my braces. She told me to stop being silly, she has a friend who has the exact same braces as me and that she is older than me (I am 41). She also admitted she was considering getting braces again as she was unhappy with her orthodontic treatment as a child.

There are a lot of us out there even though sometimes we feel we are on our own!

[Ashybear]

I saw a girl around my age the other night who had clear ceramics. I was so excited hahaha I feel like the only person my age who has braces!

[Kipepeo]

Just yesterday, one of my coworkers pulled me aside and started asking me all kinds of quenstions about my braces. She wants to get her teeth fixed and doesn't know where to start. Funny thing was, she had mentioned her desire to someone else, who then advised her to ask me because I have braces. She didn't even realize I have braces!!

[Onanan]

Two people I know just got braces. Also, since I've started telling people I'm going to get braces, another two or three people have told me they are thinking about it. It seems like it's snowballing- now that adult braces are more common, even more people are open to doing it.

[jem]

Hi Onanan,

"now that adult braces are more common, even more people are open to doing it"

I think that sums it up really well. People on this site have varying levels of self consciousness about their braces and it worried me a lot before I got them. If adult braces became as everyday as wearing spectacles, I am sure that would take a lot of the stress out of getting braces. Might it also reduce the demand for invisalign?

Jem

[Ciara]

I haven't seen many adults in Japan (1 to date - a doctor in his late 40s) with braces but 2 of my colleagues are now considering it. On has already made and appointment for a consultation with an orthodontist and the other is going to her son's next appointment and asking a few questions for herself (she hope to make an appointment for herself at the same time). One of my colleagues is in her early 50s and the other in her late 50s.

[MindMess]

I'm gonna get my braces in few weeks, and in the last time I started to notice a lot of people with braces. I didn't notice them since i didn't start to think about getting braces on my one.

[Big Tex]

There's a secretary in my office with braces. And I see a woman at Starbucks that has braces. So I occasionally see another adult with braces, but not many. Although when I do, we usually give each other the knowing nod.

[plugnickel69]

Saw two 20-something women with metal braces in an emergency room the other day, one a young mother and the other a security guard. Then another adult woman with ceramics took my order in a fast food restaurant. We're everywhere!

[Tin Tooth]

I love this post. So true.