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Original poster

Sad for dd - she'll have braces when she starts Uni

51 replies

Smeeeeeee · 08/01/2019 19:07

Orthodontist today - she was referred 2 years ago - and she's been told she needs braces to correct a cross bite.

She starts Uni this year and was really looking forward to the fresh start instead of being the quiet studious one.

Now she'll have braces and she reckons as she's small people will think she's about 14 Sad She's not the most confident person and she was looking forward to meeting lots of nice young men.

I know it won't matter as much as she thinks it will (not to anyone worth caring about) but I am so sad for her.

OP posts:
Haworthia · 08/01/2019 19:09

I’m sure she won’t necessarily be the only one. It’s really not that big a deal.

“Looking forward to meeting lots of nice young men” - crikey! Grin

Whatabloodymessthisis · 08/01/2019 19:09

I think it’s more common for adults to have them now. I think they look cool.

ReaganSomerset · 08/01/2019 19:10

I get it totally. Any way to delay until after uni? It's waited this long...

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Original poster
Smeeeeeee · 08/01/2019 19:11

Thank you Smile

I'm not sure nice was exactly the word she used 😂

OP posts:
FrenchyQ · 08/01/2019 19:11

I think people care less about braces these days as its so much more common...my daughter is 20 next month and still has hers (shes just had maxillofacial surgery for an underbite) and i dont think anyone has ever commented on them

dementedpixie · 08/01/2019 19:12

I had mine at uni and meet my now dh there while wearing them. Never held me back

Original poster
Smeeeeeee · 08/01/2019 19:12

I did ask her if she wanted to delay but she's very sensible and wants to just get it sorted.

OP posts:
ReaganSomerset · 08/01/2019 19:12

Also, to be fair, I know lots of couples who met at uni (including DH and I). The ones who didn't met through graduate schemes generally, though two were through online dating after uni. She may well be looking for a relationship among other things, nothing wrong with that.

OrchidFlakes · 08/01/2019 19:13

The same happened to me OP and I didn’t go ahead with the braces. I’m now 40 and still regret it! Lots of people had braces at uni Wink

Original poster
Smeeeeeee · 08/01/2019 19:14

Thanks pixie and Frenchie xx

OP posts:
SureIusedtobetaller · 08/01/2019 19:16

Mine has had them 3 years and no sign of the agony being over! She will probably still have them when she starts Uni too. Her teeth are going to look fantastic though so we are focusing on that and we were lucky to get them free.
She won’t be the only one but it’s annoying.

Original poster
Smeeeeeee · 08/01/2019 19:17

Thanks so much for all the reassurance. She's been so stoic about it (but then had a meltdown about something unrelated and fairly unimportant)

OP posts:
Whatabloodymessthisis · 08/01/2019 19:18

Make sure she has strong painkillers available. The first few days are extremely painful!

Aquamarine1029 · 08/01/2019 19:34

Have her get the tooth-colored braces. Both of my children had them and they are honestly almost undetectable unless you are right up close. They are brilliant!

Original poster
Smeeeeeee · 08/01/2019 20:15

Good tip about the painkillers. I'll ask about the tooth coloured ones, thank you.

You lot really are making it better, thank you Flowers

OP posts:
Willbeatjanuaryblues · 08/01/2019 20:19

Wow how long does it take to correct over bites? Seems awful to have to wear braces for years!

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 08/01/2019 20:22

I am a uni fresher and I think maybe a quarter of people are wearing braces?!!

dementedpixie · 08/01/2019 20:22

If it's on the nhs you probably won't get tooth coloured ones. Dd is in her 2nd year of brace wearing

Sparklingbrook · 08/01/2019 20:23

I think it's pretty common now for adults to have braces. I think she will be fine.

She will need to be scrupulous about teeth cleaning and there's a few foods that are out.

Tiredismymiddlename85 · 08/01/2019 20:23

I don't think braces hold the stigma they once did. I would say they're hardly noticeable and much more common in older people.

HundredMilesAnHour · 08/01/2019 20:25

I had metal braces when I started at uni and didn't get rid of them until my final year (of a 4 year degree). It didn't make any difference to me. I met plenty of 'young men', some nice some not so nice, I worked part time in a nightclub during term time, and I had far too much fun. It was less common to have braces as an adult then but it was fine. Only one person ever made a comment to me (a man of course - we dated for 6 months and ironically my braces came off just as we split up).

Please tell your daughter she will be fine.

Sparklingbrook · 08/01/2019 20:25

Is she going away for University? She'll need to sort out an Orthodontist nearby as the adjustments are fairly regular.

planespotting · 08/01/2019 20:30

OP I got braces when I was 17 and it was really good for me.
Also, I wasn't the only one even though most people got them sooner.
And they really suited me! It is all about confidence and a meaningful smile Smile
I find that when people are shy about them it actually makes their smile a bit more awkward.
Embrace them (no pun intended Wink)
Also, maybe not something we want to hear as mums Grin, but I was asked on way more dates with braces 😁
Then my friend (boy) said that I had lost something 🤣
I think because I was positive and confident about them that projected well?
My SIL got them at 30, for her wedding.
Also a lot less breakages when people are older, loads more issues and fixing needed when DC are small

HotelRedFace · 08/01/2019 20:36

I work at a Uni and see students everyday with braces. She won't be unusual at all.

The only issue may be with timings of orthodontist appointments if the Uni is a distance from home.

FrenchyQ · 08/01/2019 20:40

Willbeatjanuaryblues My daughter had her braces fitted March 2016, for her overbite. Her surgery was in September 2018 and her fixed braces will probably be coming off in April this year but then she will have to wear a retainer for awhile afterwards.

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