Teeth straightened in fifties?

[BiteToEat]

I’m in my mid fifties and have an opportunity to have braces. I have to have one tooth anyway, but could get four out, then real braces. Or Invisalign, with no extra teeth out.

Is this silly? Has anyone else had this done? Any advice??

Did it at 50. Teeth get more crooked as you get older. It's great and worth it. Better for cleaning and hygiene too. Go for Invisalign if you don't have to get braces.

My friend has Invisalign at 57 ( when she got her nhs lump sum) …..it’s made a proper difference to her teeth…..she says it’s given her more confidence …..I would say do it

I’m thinking of this too, so can I tag on?
im wondering if it makes your teeth sensitive?

Three teeth out and Invisalign. Should have done it sooner. Can neatly bite through a sandwich and leave a pretty teeth pattern in it

Ooh. Thanks all. I’d like to be able to smile without hiding my teeth.

I’ve been advised that I could get Invisalign and just fix the front teeth, or the extra extractions and real braces and fix the lot

Tag along @DustyLee123 !

I'm 51 and finished my braces 2 weeks ago - I did clear aligners with no teeth out, then fixed retainers behind my teeth. I'm delighted and wish I'd done it years ago

You absolutely should get your teeth fixed! My grandmother did when she was 52 and this was in the 70s. She lived to be 101 and she always said getting her teeth fixed was one of the best decisions of her life.

Dentist here. So many women of our age are getting their smiles refreshed for a fresh healthy look, rather than the brash block white look.
I'd say go for the Invisalign- teeth are precious so keep the ones you have.

I did smile direct a few years ago (clear aligners cheaper than Invisalign) and not great so planning to get train tracks soon 😁

I’m intrigued to know why you’ve been told that you’d need extractions with fixed braces and not with Invisalign? I recently had Damon braces (fixed but brackets allowed to slide on wires rather than fastened on with elastics) for 18 months and I was told that one of the benefits of Damon braces that they would require no extractions because they help to widen the palette and get all the teeth and bite into their correct arches. I was also told that Invisalign wouldn’t have been as effective as fixed braces. My orthodontist said that you should never have extractions if you can possibly help it.

… But anyway, definitely go for it - you’re not too young. I love my teeth now and to have the confidence to smile freely is priceless. 😄

My uncle is in his sixties and has Invisalign. He’s actually a dentist who’s retiring so may as well do it before he’d need to pay!

@CocoDolphin my teeth are really overcrowded and they could do “slendering” to fit the Invisalign in but that would just move the front teeth, not the back

quite right 😂

I’m in my 40s and I’m nearing the end of clear aligner treatment. It’s cost about £4k and I get whitening as well soon included in the price. Best money I’ve spent.

It takes commitment, you have to wear the trays 22 out of 24 hours but I like that you can remove them and floss.

So many people have them now. Some of my closest friends hadn’t realised I have them.

I had fixed braces when I was 46. Still love the look of my teeth now a few years later.

How do you find a good place to do them? Dentist referral or not? I'm late 50's and also want to do this

@Haveyougotallnight my partner works in theatres in the nhs and asked for recommendations for a dentist for me: im very anxious about the dentist

I had proper track braces. It took 3 years, cost £7k and I have both permanent retainers and wear removable retainers.
Worth it? Yes. But it was very painful.

Oh.. I do not want permanent retainers. I’ll ask about that

I'm currently 12 months in to having had Damon fixed braces fitted. I had to have two extractions in order to give my front teeth room to move back. I was advised Damon braces would give a better result than Invisalign, given the severity of my overjet.

Some dentists will tell you what you want to hear in terms of what you should/can have so shop around and speak to a few to get opinions.

My aim is to have lovely teeth by the time I hit 50!

Why not? They are amazing and keep your teeth where they belong. After all of the time and money invested, they are well worth it.

I'm 56 and started Invisalign in Nov 22. Initially I had 35 trays for two weeks each, but I'm now on the second phase and have a further 15 trays for ten days each. It's not just that it straightens your teeth, it's changed the shape of my mouth (more rainbow than horseshoe?!), my lips look fuller, my smile is wider as I have much more confidence. The initial reason was to reposition my teeth because my bite was very deep and my front bottom teeth were at risk of damage - but the outcome goes far beyond that. While I roll my eyes at the prospect of the whole programme taking two years, it's absolutely worth it.