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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:
Sparklingbrook · 08/01/2019 20:43

Both mine have been told they have to wear the retainer every night for the rest of their lives. DS1 is at Uni, the retainer went with him but can't vouch for the actual wearing.

LurkyMcLurky · 08/01/2019 20:47

DS started uni in September with braces. They've been on 15 months now and it's not held him back. Look like they'll be on for another year at least too thanks to a local NHS orthodontist fuck up

Your DD will be fine and certainly not the only one.

maloofhoof · 08/01/2019 20:48

I had braces for 4 years until I was 21. Met my future husband whilst I had them and married a few months after they were removed, so didn't hinder my love life.

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Dental health
beachyhead · 08/01/2019 20:54

@FrenchyQ my dd is just starting on her overbite correction. She's in her final year of uni and won't have her operation for at least another 18 months.....

On the boy front, she's never had so many dates Grin

Original poster
Smeeeeeee · 09/01/2019 07:05

Honestly thank you all so much. I can now reassure dd that she definitely won't be the only one. Smile

I hadn't even thought about the practical issues about visiting the orthodontist - she hasn't chosen which uni yet but it will be far from home so I'll need to think about that.

OP posts:
TheVanguardSix · 09/01/2019 07:09

I had braces in my late teens. I'm 46 now and my smile has been my best asset. That sounds like a huge boast. It's not. What I'm saying is, it's really not a big deal. You're really giving this waaay too much thought.

Besides, there will be lots of young men with braces too!

Original poster
Smeeeeeee · 09/01/2019 07:21

And I will definitely reassure her on the men front too Grin

OP posts:
planespotting · 09/01/2019 07:31

@Smeeeeeee Grin
You both sound lovely, she will be so fine

Original poster
Smeeeeeee · 09/01/2019 07:45

Thank you Flowers

OP posts:
evaperonspoodle · 09/01/2019 07:49

My ds' orthodontist wears them and she's in her 40's. Honestly OP reserve your sadness for something that actually justifies your time/energy (I mean that in a nice way!) So many adults nowadays have braces.

flumpybear · 09/01/2019 07:58

How about white braces that are a bit more invisible?

proseccoaficionado · 09/01/2019 08:14

I never had braces but I've met a fair amount of people who wore them and no one seemed to blink an eye, it's completely unrelated to social life or any other similar aspect. Also, as far as I've seen braces look so cool nowadays.

I believe teeth are very important and once you take the braces off the teeth look amazing!!! My friend's face/look was so much different when she took her braces off and her teeth were PERFECT

Do take into consideration the practicalities:
Appointments. I remember my friend was going once a month (not sure if this is your dd's case)

Anyway, best of luck at uni!!!

PenelopeFlintstone · 09/01/2019 08:18

Don't worry about her. I had train tracks at uni and it didn't hold me back either. Doesn't affect snogging at all Grin

ImNotKitten · 09/01/2019 08:33

She’ll be fine, although can appreciate why she would feel sad about it too. She definitely won’t be the only one.

I wouldn’t go for tooth coloured brackets, after a while they can look grubby. Metal train tracks look best imo.

PurpleWithRed · 09/01/2019 08:35

DD had this, she was also upset about it but had been waiting for years for them so sucked it up. It wasn’t great but there were plenty of others there with them at various stages.

planespotting · 09/01/2019 08:35

Metal all the way 🙌🏻

AdamNichol · 09/01/2019 09:14

Braces are super-common and no one at uni age will give a shit. If they do, they ain't worth knowing.
You can get ones that are near invisible, or ones that are multi-coloured and all showy about it. It needn't pigeonhole her into the library worm role for the next 3 years.

DW got her braces at 35.

hugoagogo · 09/01/2019 09:35

ds went to uni with braces and was a bit worried about it, but in the end it wasn't really an issue.

Original poster
Smeeeeeee · 09/01/2019 16:28

Thanks all, I'm trying to think of a way to share all your lovely stories with dd without telling her I posted on Mumsnet as she'd be mortified!

@evaperonspoodle I know you meant it kindly but it is ok to be sad about small stuff too (in the last year my dad was diagnosed with cancer and died three weeks later, my mum's been unwell, my friend's daughter/dd's childhood friend died suddenly and tragically, and we've been incredibly skint and dd's had to go without a lot) So yes this isn't on quite the same level but I'm so glad I posted as I'm feeling very reassured Smile

OP posts:
shouldwestayorshouldwego · 09/01/2019 16:34

Although I did hear about an unexpected circumcision involving braces so she will need to be careful with all those men!

Shameful2019 · 09/01/2019 16:36

I met my dh when I had braces had them for 2 years of the relationship. Didn't bother him. It's been 10 years now

Racecardriver · 09/01/2019 16:38

Some people look very charming in braces. I know I did. Lots of people thought it was a shame when I had them removed. University students are by and large quite awkward anyway. I wouldn’t worry too much. Lots of them look like they are 14

marshmallow95 · 09/01/2019 16:55

I got braces about a month before I moved to Uni (5 years ago now), and I was super nervous and thought everyone would notice and it would be a big deal.
Literally no one cared. I made loads of friends, got a boyfriend, went out clubbing all the time and no one ever mentioned my braces unless they were telling me to stop being silly after I moaned about having them!
She'll be fine! Decent people don't give a shit if you've got braces or not.

Original poster
Smeeeeeee · 09/01/2019 16:59

You're a lovely lot Flowers

@shouldwestayorshouldwego yikes! 😂

OP posts:
Chwaraeteg · 09/01/2019 17:04

I had braces when I started uni and didn't give it a second thought. Total non issue. I did a Lot of shagging and also met my current partner.

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