AIBU to just really wish I could smile?

[legolegolego]

I have horrible teeth. I hate opening my mouth. I'm on the road to getting them healthier but they still look shit, just with pink gums instead of red

People keep commenting about how self conscious I am, and how much I hide my mouth with my hands. It's made me realise that I've never felt comfortable enough to just smile

Any miraculous teeth makeover stories to give me some hope?!

No temporary crowns at all. He filed my teeth down and built up the composite veneer on top there and then.

There are pros and cons to both types. We decided composite were right for me, before looking at the cost. Fortunately they were the cheaper option!

I think ideally I would like veneers on my front 6 teeth (maybe) and then a brace and whitening for the bottom. The bottom ones are actually okay but no one bloody sees them! One of my 6 front ones is set high up in the gum though so I'm not sure whether I'd have to have that one taken out and a false tooth in place lower down. Or a brace after I've had veneers on the other 5.

The original problem was, big teeth and small mouth. I had a tooth extracted from the bottom and they straightened themselves out quite well, but for some unknown reason, a dentist painted white filling material on my top front teeth as a teen rather than giving me a brace. Where I haven't looked after my teeth, my gums have swelled and gone down and repeat, so dirt has got in between the white filling material and my actual teeth, which means that my front teeth underneath are probably completely rotted. (My own fault for not visiting the dentist for 10 years). Decay shows on x-Ray but obviously we don't know what they will look like until the dentist chips off the filling material. I'm imagining two black teeth :(

I'm trying to pluck up the courage to show a pic!

I always hated my teeth (gaps between the front two, and the next two were very narrow, so more gaps) and I have always smiled with my mouth shut. Before I got married I had two veneers done, on the peggy teeth, with a side effect that the gap between the front teeth also closed.

After it had been done I was less self conscious about them, but I still don't show my teeth when I smile, because it doesn't look like me!

Glad I had it done, though, and a friend said 'I never noticed how nice your teeth are!' when it was newly done, which made me think that I noticed my bad teeth more than other people did.

Cost £350 per tooth 12 years ago, but one broke and had to be replaced this year and it was £680 for ONE.

That's a really interesting perspective barbie - I also wonder whether I would ever get out of the habit of covering my mouth too.

I'm a dentist. Porcelain veneers are more expensive but a better long term option than composite. With composite you'll find they pick up stains where porcelain won't. Composite ones are said to last from 5 years, porcelain from 15. You need to consider exactly what it is you don't like though. Just colour - go for whitening; colour and position - whitening and ortho; shape of actual teeth/deep pits in enamel, decay etc then go for veneers.

It sounds from your last post that you've also experienced gum disease. So be aware that whatever option you take will need regular hygienist visits to maintain the gums. The last thing you want to do is fork out for expensive treatment then not maintain and end up losing teeth.

Oh I feel for you so much. I've had several rounds of work, but with out implants or veneers on my two front upper teeth, I'll never get a really great smile. :(

I think people don't appreciate how devastating it can be.

armani that's really useful information. I would love to have braces and whitening but I really don't think that will cut it, for my front top teeth anyway. I'm much more at ease now I've found a lovely dentist so hygiene and check ups are not the same problem as they were before, so I will definitely be sure to keep up the maintenance. The dentist said 'I'm not gonna waste hours of my time if you can't be bothered to spend a few minutes a day on them' and that was exactly what I needed to be told.

new it just effects so much doesn't it. Sorry you are going through it too :(

1 veneer, 1 implant and whitening. Changed my life. Cost about £600 in total. Just do it, you deserve to feel confident about smiling.

Friend has "lost her smile" because of a nervous system disorder. Bothers her hugely, too.

lljkk that must be so much worse, to have something and then it to go. At least I don't know any different!

We spent 3k on DHs smile and it was worth every last penny. His teeth has suffered from a mixture of poor dental hygiene and terrible dentistry. He had several missing teeth and a very discloured ill fitting crown on one of his front teeth which had a black bit at the top. He also had terrible gums and several chronic abscesses. He was in a lot of pain and spent the year before he got them fix absolutely miserable :(

Getting his teeth sorted changed all our lives. Dh is so much more confident and isn't in any pain any more.

I had to overcome a mental block type situation and I found hypnosis really useful. It might be worth looking in to if you find yourself getting anxious about it.

Forgot to mention he now spends a good ten minutes a day flossing and tepeing.. On top of his brushing regime.

I had a complete breakdown in 2013 and after counselling, it transpired that everything stemmed from how I felt about my teeth. So that was kind of the motivation I needed to get going on it and thankfully I know longer stress about the dentist, just get the odd butterfly in my tummy in the waiting room. I never thought I'd get to this point so I guess I should look at the next hurdle in the same way. I just wish it was already done.

Sorry I know this is a bit old but just wanted to say good look op. I am just starting on the road of orthodontics and jaw surgery to get my perfect smile at age 29.

fecketyfeck I am having my over bite corrected on the NHS, it might be worth speaking to your dentist about your underbite.