Decided to get adult orthodontic braces. Will people laugh

[JKDcot]

I am 42 and decided to get adult braces. They recommend the train track brackets stuck on my teeth. I want the treatment done but it will take 2 years or more.

i am worried I will be laughed at and feel super self conscious. Anyone else done it and it’s been ok? Does it affect your speech and eating?

Same here, and no, all secure,

Do it, that time will pass whether you have braces and nobody will laugh,

I work in a school and was worried about the older kids saying things but not a peep!

I got them in mid 20s and managed a guy in his early 30s who was thinking about getting them and I talked him into it 😅

I tried everything to avoid braces -
Invisalign weren't going to do what I needed and lingual ones cost a fortune and are horribly uncomfortable - my orthodontist strongly advised against them.

Honestly...Best. Decision. Ever.

Once they are on within a week you just won't care.

It is SO worth it.
No one is particularly interested or raises an eyebrow I worked in a professional office with an external facing role. It was absolutely fine....

Speaking is fine.
Eating is fine too - you learn to eat tricky foods in specific ways so it doesn't catch on the brace.
When they adjust them it's a bit tender

Well done OP - I'm kind of jealous!

Thank you all for such positive comments and advice! I am going to go for it!!!

Katie Holmes, Angelina Jolie, Tom Cruise and Niall Horan all had braces as adults.
Gwen Stefani had hers at 30.
Nicholas Cage at 39.
Tom Cruise again at 40.
Faith Hill at 45.
Faye Dunaway at 61.

I live in the USA and it's quite common to see adults with braces. In the US it can be that their parents couldn't afford for them to have braces as teens, this was the case with DHs step-mum who had them in her 40s. Her teeth were very healthy looking so since braces her smile has been amazing.

I think it's the No.1 straightforward way to improve your looks because of course healthy, straight teeth are linked to health and health = attractiveness. I think people look much better as they age too as their face has more structure. It can change how the lips and facial tissues drap and enable people to smile wider.
https://www.realself.com/photos/braces#page=1&tags=8094&location=819

do it you won't regret it.

I had adult braces and the white brackets. weirdly many people didn't notice - only people who knew me well. as it turns out if youare self conscious about your teeth, its' only you obsessing about them!

I wish I'd done it before.

Red flag straight away. Orthodontist should have referred you to a periodontist, not made you sign a form sayinf it's your fault if you loose you teeth. I'd be seeing a periodontist and getting a second Ortho opinion. I used to work in an orthodontic practice and majority of our patients were adults!

I would never laugh, I’d be impressed with your bravery! I’d be curious in how much it’s costing you, if it hurts and your progression with it, but unless we had that sort of relationship I’d never dream of asking. I’d love nice teeth, but am too scared of dentistry to get them done.

A grown adult who laughs at braces can get to feck.

I got invisiline at 50. A lady at work had train tracks.

Now if I was dating I'd probably not get train tracks but would do invisibles.

I don't think anyone would laugh at all. But it may put people off kissing you.

💯% agree with @lioneggs definitely see a periodontist asap.

Can I please ask you to do a down-the-rabbit hole Google of adult braces and gum recession. I recently followed an influencer who was a holistic therapist or something and she ended up having to have her four bottom teeth removed off the back of adult braces causing terrible problems to her teeth. She had root canals on them and then had to have them pulled. I’d heard of gum recession as a result of braces before, but her story shocked me so much it’s stuck in my head.

Im not trying to frighten you, just make sure you are fully informed of the potential before you go ahead. Sometimes in the pursuit of perfection we can cause a whole world of trouble and we look back and wish we’d left things alone.

I had adult braces in my late 40s-early 50s and was teaching at the time. My teeth were still on the move and I could hear interference in my speech. I never had negative comments of any kind, either from adults or children. Often, pupils who were going to have braces on/off would chat to me about it.

Be prepared for how the rest of your lips/face will change. My correction was for protruding upper front teeth and my God I had a lovely pout - sadly gone now.

Still worth, it though. Good luck, @JKDcot

I had lingual braces, they go at the back so nobody can see them but they do still take around 2 years and hurt the same as the train track type!

Exactly this. One of my kids had train tracks in their teens-never a word said or laughed…a couple of my friends have had train tracks as adults, again no one bats an eyelid

This sounds like an incompetent clinician who put them on. In some countries dentists as well as orthodontists can install braces.
Always go to a fully qualified Orthodontist with a strong practice and plenty of positive (recent) word of mouth.
I definitely wouldn't use the one off experience of an influencer as my guide.
With gum disease and recession a visit to a periodontist is in order.

I had Invisalign to correct my mild-moderate overbite!

Was so worth doing but if it wasn't an option I probably wouldn't have had train tracks and I'm in my 20s. Not because they're embarrassing, but they seem like a faff with lots of visits to get them tightened and the elastic bands etc.

Another vote for lingual braces. I wore them for two years to fix my overbite and overcrowding. My speech was affected for a couple of weeks initially - but after I got used to the wires and brackets it was fine. No one could tell I was wearing braces apart from during a short spell when I was wearing elastics too. Lingual braces are more expensive and you have to find a specialist orthodontist, but maybe worth looking into.

Don't do Invisalign. It's limited in what it can achieve. If you've seen an orthodontist and they've recommended based and a fair interest free payment plan go for it - you will have beautiful teeth at the end.
If they offer fixed retainers - go for it - no one wear retainers after braces and movement occurs with fixed retainers.

Once braces are off - whiten if required and enjoy the new confidence a fabulous teeth.

Buy lots of ortho wax and dab sensitive toothpaste and painkillers as required after adjustments and you'll be fine. Remember to eat before appointments 👍

NO ONE will be laughing I promise!!! Good for you - it will be worth it 2 years from now :)

I had this done at age 35. Invisalign wasn’t an option. I had two teeth removed at a dentist, then orthodontist fitted traintrack braces, white at front, metal at back. Took about 14 months. Wished that I done it sooner.

do it OP

I don’t understand why you care what people will think.

A lot of people will be impressed. I'd love to get it done.

To be honest I'd be more inclined to (privately , to myself) be impressed with your bravery
I don’t get why you think it’s brave.
I'm 59 and having my done. I never gave it a thought that people may laugh or think I’m ‘brave’

I’m going to get them at some point! The difference they’ve made to my 16 year old in his confidence is amazing! He had terribly wonky teeth but he’s only just finished his first year and now has the most beautiful straight teeth! I’m very jealous

I don't think people will laugh

They will notice

Your teeth will be amazing afterwards