What was your primary reason for orthodontic treatment?

[starfish88]

Cosmetic! I had a rotated lateral that was really annoying me! It was only when I went to the ortho that I realised I had loads of functional problems that needed to be fixed. Who knew 12mm of overjet wasn't normal!

[missblu3]

Class III: Mesiocclusion, labially erupted canines, and overcrowding of teeth have given me a strong desire mostly for the cosmetic aspect to be fixed, then the functionality. I am so ecstatic to start this journey!

[peppy]

Cosmetic for me. It's my second time in braces!

I had a bit of a punch to the stomach when told my teeth were stopping me getting work as a singer... so I'm trying to give myself the best possible chance in auditions!

[WiredJon]

Partly cosmetic (they do look pretty awful) and partly functional (there's a gap of about 1cm between top and bottom at the front, which makes biting things a mess).

[kennyandrew85]

100% cosmetic... but I am now seeing the health benefits also and having a good bite certainly helps...

[batwing]

Both!

When I was younger I wanted them for cosmetic reasons but as an adult they became a necessity. I have a cross-bite and the right side wasn't really touching at all, so I overcompensated with my left. Now as an adult I have bone loss on my right side and TMJ on my left from favoring my left side.

I wish I would've done it years ago!

[bmueller]

I had braces as a child but the orthodontist didn't correct all my problems by addressing the skeletal discrepancy, rather just camouflaged it. Turns out at 26 my jaw joints were grinding down, my front teeth didn't meet and my mouth didn't want to open wide like normal peoples. Though I like the aesthetic improvements, the function and health of my jaws were top priority.

[xanidu2012]

Both. Front teeth were overlapping and pushing outward. Bottom teeth overlapping with crowding. Plus I never smiled because of it. My mom said enough was enough. This is my 2nd go round with braces and I'm 50 years old. Thanks mom love you.

[belistic10]

definately appearance, suffered poor self esteem throughout school and never liked to smile in photos or laugh without covering my mouth. I just want to be happy with my smile and have straight teeth! function was second as lower crowding could have been a problem along the way.

[NikNakRN]

Totally a functional necessity for me. My TMD symptoms and jaw misalignment were causing me to not be able to eat, laugh, or even cry without extreme pain. I don't think i would ever have been brave enough to do it just for cosmetic reasons. I don't like dentists! (or orthodontists, or anyone else that wants to put electrical tools in my mouth!) LOL.

[dobiegil]

Appearance and then function. Bottom teeth were so crowded that cleaning them were hard.

[anxiousgirl]

Appearance for sure, I have always been very embarrassed by my smile and teeth so did it for confidence.
But now that I am almost finished with my treatment I have to say that I can see that function is very important as well.

[Jamie83]

ummm functionality -jaw problem and keep biting on my top teeth with the lower ones.
How they look bothers me a bit but not enough to get braces, but glad they will look better when i'm done :)

[furious george]

Vanity. I could give a crap about function.

I probably shouldn't say that, and if my bite was all messed up from the get go, I might feel differently. But seriously, I mostly care about how it looks.

[PeaCat]

I got wired because my upper left central incisor was shifting backwards and to the right and in some photos it looked like I had NO front left central incisor! My lower teeth are also shifting badly and will be dealt with later this year. Here is a link to a "before" photo.....the one that sent me running to the orthodontist.

http://gizathecat.blogspot.com/2013/02/ ... html#links