Poll: At What Age Did You Get Your Braces?

[agreene433834]

I Got my braces first put on when I was 12 and wore them for a year but had them removed due to an car accident. I am now 23 and I just had my braces put back on today.

[slippery]

23 years old. I would have done it in high school, but they were too expensive. Now that I have a job with benefits, I figured I shouldn't delay it any longer.

[retainerjoe]

i was 42 i think when i got my first set of braces and headgear , just finished up with my last sent of braces an a zygomatic facemask on nov 23 2012, i now in bonded retainers upper an lower along with hawley removable upper and lowers , guess i'll be a metalmouth for life , but all worth it

[Slack]

Hi all,

I'm 35, and just started with Damon braces (metal version) 4 days ago, both upper and lower. So far so good, I can say it hasn't been too painfull. Not even on first day, it just felt funny to have something different in my mouth, and my teeth felt somewhat sore, but it didn't quite ache that much - well, if I didn't touch them, that is. My cheeks also felt sore on second day, but it's fine now (had to get some wax/silicone on a sharp end of the wire, though).

I took a painkiller right on day one, before having any pain at all, my wife warned me that it would ache a LOT and insisted I should start right away (she went through this experience about 10y ago) so I decided to prepare myself. As it wore off, the pain level was acceptable for me, maybe 2 or 3 on a 10 scale, so I stopped the meds. It's still a bit sore, mainly the front teeth, but I've been eating almost-normal food since day one. No steaks, but simple soft food that doesn't envolve ripping or cutting with the front teeth - pasta, mash potatoes, pizza (sliced in small pieces...).

According to the doctor, I should be wearing this for the next 12months or so... hope it turns out ok, after all this trouble :)

Btw, I'm from Portugal.

[skinky]

I'm 31 and will be getting my braces on next Friday. I'm embarrassed that I waited so long to do it, but I'm excited at the prospect of not putting my hand in front of my mouth every time I laugh. Bring it!

[junglejulie]

I am 28. Currently have *8* spacers in place and I am in a world of PAIN. Getting braced in exactly a week. This is not going to be fun, but hey I want a nice smile for the rest of my life...

[BracesChick]

I'm so happy to see so many people in my age group with braces!!!! I'm 27 and getting mine tomorrow. I was a bit ticked when I went in to sign all the papers and they were all directed toward the parent. I had to sign a paper saying I would make my child brush their teeth and understand that I might have to take my child out of school for adjustments. Ugh! lol

[Midlifebraces]

I am 42 (wow) and I have had my braces for 3 days. I was so excited about taking this step. All my life I have been self conscious of my mouth...but too scared to do anything about it. A few months ago someone close to me made fun of my front teeth. Right then and there I swore I was not going to live the rest of my life this way. I moved fast, and 3 months later I am in a full set of braces. Clear on top and metal on bottom. I already have elastics, and the pain has been bad for me, but one foot in front of the other.

[tiana]

I am 36 now and soon i will put my braces for the first time in my life.

I am not at all concerned about other people opinion, but i am concerned about the money (sig) and the pain.
I was a teenager full of panic at the see of a dentist, so i always refused to put braces.
But i am ok with that: now that i have endured life, i think i will cope with braces in a more conscious and mature way. Now, it is all a decision on my own.

[dw3]

I had my braces put on Tuesday February 19, 2013 at the age of 27!

[Anna5]

I am 37 and I am going to get braces in one week time!

[Sashii]

I am 45 and just got my braces on a few weeks ago.

[isthistaken]

I am 55 and just got full metal braces 4 days ago. I have always been self-conscious of my crooked teeth, but strangely, no dentist I have been to in the last 20 years had ever referred me, even though I had brought it up several times. My orthodontist was aghast when I told him that, because my case is not even borderline--severe crowding with excessive wear, overbite, overjet, many problems. Now I have about 25 per cent crowns which was a challenge for adhering brackets but they are all good so far. It is possible I could have prevented damage to my teeth if I had only been referred to orthodontics earlier. One character gave me a veneers hardsell and never even mentioned braces as an option. The rest of them said nothing, must have thought I am over the hill and wouldn't be interested? It's sad how unprofessional my contacts in this field have been. I wish I had taken it upon myself to contact the orthodontist directly, but I surmised I wasn't a candidate if my dentists wouldn't encourage it. I finally found a dentist who was extremely enthusiastic and within about a month my dream of having braces has come true!

[Jabbed]

I'm 19 and I'll hopefully get mine on shortly after i turn 20(month or so to go!). My initial appointment is on Friday so I'll hopefully find out some information and the many questions I have to ask, should be hopefully answered!.

I've had differing opinions of the dentists I've seen previously such as yes surgery will be required as you have an underdeveloped jaw to braces should be fine as your facial profile is very good. But we'll see how things progress on Friday!. Whilst 19/20 is deemed old compared to all the teenagers with them at 13/14 I just think to myself at least I'm doing something about it NOW rather than live with it for the rest of my life!. If people aged 50+ can get their teeth sorted then so can I! :P

[isthistaken]

Absolutely, do not wait if you can help it. Problems with your bite and alignment can cause permanent damage!!! I wish I had known this!!!!!!!