Depressed about your braces?

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#1 Post by **regulering17** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 2:08 am

Am I the only one who gets depressed about having my mouth full of metal all the time? I guess this is not a vent, but more of a wake up call, to all of those who are also depressed.

Ok, so here are some good reasons you should be HAPPY you have braces and not be depressed(please add more guys:D that would be cool):

1) The obious: Your teeth will look better than most people's. When you take them off, you'll look aboslutely stunning and I'm sure it is such a great feeling to get that metal out, as well.

2) Many people don't even have teeth. Give that a thought...

3) The braces only over like a few centimeters of your intire body. Like they're really just a little bit of metal, nothing more really. Remember you still got metal-free hair, skin etc.. As well as taking good care of your teeth, pay a little extra attention to other things about yourself; like your hair, posture, makeup, clothes etc.. so those things will outshine your shine mouth:D

4)

smile, be happy. times goes by fast!
hehe... I couldn't figure out more at the moment.ah I guess I'm sort of depressed again, because I'm back with the elastics:(...sucks..But my teeth are looking grrreat though:D
and I'm past the first year! that's the hardest one I guess? lol, I don't want to pass my 2nd year, ortho said a year to a year and a half. but not my bite has gone back to an overbite, after being told not to wear elastics. So Now im back in. I really hope I can get them off before summer, But I guess that's just wishful thinking.

#2 Post by **KELLYW123** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 5:10 am

I get depressed to at times. Its good to think about the positives though because they usually outweigh the negatives

#3 Post by **DireWire** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 8:27 am

I hope this doesn't come across as sharp or lecturing, but depressed?? Nope. Never. Braces are a nuisance. Eating is less fun, cleaning is more work than before, speaking is impaired, the occasional sore etc etc... but nothing to get depressed about.

In my case, it was a medical necessity. Overjet, overbite, crowding, and severe strain on the jaw joint... resulting in evolving TMJ-like pain, risk of arthritis in the jaw joint in a couple of years, gum reduction... so braces, here I come. I never looked back and wondered, I knew it was the right thing to do.

Since then, I pay more attention ever to my and others' teeth. I look at my progress and that can get me excited. I look much more at others' teeth and often can't help but wonder if they wouldn't benefit from some orthodontic treatment, too. I love to lurk and post in this forum because the braces (still) are a quite dominant topic in my day to day life.

To everybody else, it is kind of boring. Strangers and colleagues don't mention/notice the braces at all. My family and friends are sympathetic, but by now also get somewhat bored.

And guess what: they are right, braces ARE boring! Your teeth move at a speed of fractions of a millimeter per month. Watching grass grow is more exciting!

Yes, you have to adapt some minor aspects of your life and take a couple of downsides... but come on! Depressing? No. BORING. And yes, a nuisance. I'll be glad if it's over, very glad. But keep the eyes trained on what really counts:
- life as such
- love and friendship
- health in general, which includes healthy teeth (and a healthy bite!)
- being happy.

No, 20 cm of wire will not get in my way! It serves a purpose that fits my long-term plan, and when the job is finally done, I will be grateful for (i) the result and (ii) it being over.

Don't worry, be happy... this, too, shall pass, and the future will be all the better for it.

DireWire

#4 Post by **suetemi** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 3:03 pm

Um, no. I find adult responsibility and stress from having to worry about money, the fate of humanity and the environment, the status quo, socio-political conflicts, the Kantian concept of never being able to know my true essence, etc. depressing. I actually like having braces, but then again, I went through a lot to get them (fought w/ my insurance co. for months for approval!!)

added to edit:
You know, I totally didn't mean to undermine your feelings. I feel depressed sometimes not over my braces but over my dental woes in general, resentful that my parents never got me dental care as a kid resulting in a constant mouthful of pain (i.e., bajillion root canals and cavities) as an adult. And it's difficult to stay positive about such things, and trying to put it into perspective by thinking of all the other worse problems you could have doesn't always work. These smaller problems in life can really alter one's daily quality of living, but braces, thankfully, are ephemeral.

#5 Post by **acd** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 9:10 pm

I'm actually happy with my braces and I wish I had gotten them sooner. My teeth look much better with braces on them now than they did before I got them. I'll be even happier when they come off in the next year or so.

#6 Post by **Beckster** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 12:12 am

I agree - in one sense, braces are indeed boring. Course, I find the science and what can be achieved perfectly fascinating, but that's just because I'm a geek!

Couldn't agree with you more, Meryaten! Geeks like us who are fascinated by orthodontics are the best though, right!

#7 Post by **4113n** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 2:31 am

i get depressed, but would be more depressed without braces =/

#8 Post by **KellyO** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:15 am

I do get down when I look in the mirror and see a mouth full of metal. I just keep telling my self that this will come to an end and I'll have a beautiful smile.
I totally get what you're saying though regulering

#9 Post by **ilovemacs** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:22 am

Meryaten wrote:I agree - in one sense, braces are indeed boring. Course, I find the science and what can be achieved perfectly fascinating, but that's just because I'm a geek!

I'm a geek too! I find the science behind it very intersting too! I always ask lots of scientific questions when I'm there. I'll always remember on Oct.11/07 I got my tops on I said "Are they being applied by indirect bonding?" - they said they sure are and wondering how I knew that... I replied "I found out from archwired.com!!"

#10 Post by **cybersiren** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 11:33 am

The only time I really get concerned about my braces is when other people make a big deal out of them. I got turned down for a date the other day because the guy, whom I know well, had recently gotten dumped and wasn't ready to date again yet. I was telling my mom about it and all she could think to say was,

"Don't worry honey, when your braces come off you'll be so pretty you'll get all kinds of dates!"

WHAT?!

First of all, I'm pretty sure that my getting turned down had NOTHING to do with my braces. If the guy was actually that shallow I wouldn't have wanted to date him in the first place. *Sigh* Although I know that a better smile can drastically affect a person's appearance and self esteem, I am doing this for health reasons and not so much for looks. I never really had a problem with they way my teeth LOOKED. It was more the fact that they didn't function the way I needed them to.

So anyways...that comment made me a little upset cause I started to wonder how many other people had that big of a problem with braces? The way I see it, braces means that a person is taking the necessary steps to take good care of themselves. If a person is making a conscious effort to do that, then that tells me that they have self respect , which is a very attractive trait. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

#11 Post by **cybersiren** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 11:34 am

Deleted. Sorry Double Post.

#12 Post by **Lisa65** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 3:30 pm

Can I join the geek crowd too?

I agree braces are boring to the majority of the world, but I actually enjoy having them. I find the whole process of change and remodelling fascinating.

I've got a bit down in the short term about aspects of my treatment when there have been setbacks, but to say I was depressed about them would be a vast overstatement.

#13 Post by **idolfan4** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 8:45 pm

You're not alone. When I had braces, I was depressed about them all the time. I thought I looked ugly and had doubts that I would get them off on time for my high school graduation. I had them off for almost a year now. A lot of people get depressed about having braces. When you get them off, it will pass.

#14 Post by **Spanner** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 11:42 am

I can't say that I'm enjoying wearing them but I'm certainly enjoying the results. I suffer from depression a great deal but my braces are definately not one of the causes.

#15 Post by **allisonh** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 12:24 pm

I was very depressed about getting them on as I have really low self esteem anyways. I have been teased and ridiculed so many times by people who felt compelled to let me know just how bad my teeth are, that the thought of adding metal onto them and making it even more obvious, was really overwhelming.

I still feel very self-conscious of my braces, especially since it has exacerbated my overbite and now have a dropping lip and cant close my mouth, or smile "normally". In addition, I have to have my lower jaw broken and my jaw joint reconstructed, and it will not be covered by insurance and will cost 20k. So, I get really depressed thinking about how much money it is going to cost just so that I can eat for the rest of my life, and the insurance denial only makes me feel less validated.

I feel I have learned a lot through this experience though. I have learned that its actually pretty funny when people treat you differently. I get carded for alcohol and hit on my teenage guys. I have learned that I am tougher than I thought.

The positive:

I have a loving husband who is supporting me through all of it!

Once I get this done, I will be able to eat solid food again!

I will be able to smile for the first time in my life!

A couple week ago, one of my clients daughters looked at me in awe and said, "Where did you get that mouth jewlery!?!?!?" I said that I got it from someone called an orthodontist and that its fixing my teeth. Her eyes widened and she said "Wow! I want mouth jewelry too!"