Experiences of adult braces/orthodontics?

[nothingeverhappensinstmarymead]

I have terrible teeth - crooked and with a bit of an overbite - and have been considering finally having it fixed. My dentist (who does general dentistry and cosmetic orthodontics - I have a lot of confidence in him after multiple root canals/crowns etc) said he recommends fixed clear braces and that he thinks I could see a huge transformation in 6-9 months.

I am considering it but worried about feeling self-conscious with braces (I do a lot of public speaking), about the endless dental appointments that will be needed, about pain/discomfort while it's being done, and about whether the transformation at the end will really be that significant. I'm in my mid-40s, and it feels ridiculous to wear braces at my age. It's also not going to be cheap. The fixed braces are cheaper than invasalign but it will still be nearly £5k. For that investment I really want it to make a huge difference!

If anyone reading this has had adult braces, did it work for you? What was your experience and was it worth it? Many thanks in advance!

I had fixed train tracks at aged 47.. 10 months @nhs cost. £1500..paid 400 deposit and payments at every appointment.. Happy with the results!

That's great to hear @Coldinscotland - what was it like wearing the braces? Did you feel self-conscious? Was it painful? I'm keen to hear all the gory details!

I'm doing progressive aligners (just another brand like Invisalign) at the moment - 6 weeks in to a 9-12 month programme. At first I was a bit self conscious of a small lisp, but this has stopped now and I spent last week talking to hundreds of people.
Its brilliant for breaking my caffeine and snacking habit!
I was inspired after my colleague did fixed braces in her 60's and seeing the difference it made to her. Not cheap at £5k, but my dentist does 2 weekly appointments for the first 6 sets and it includes all the post treatment retainers and whitening at the end.

I've just started week 2 of invisalign. I'm 35 and after 3 pregnancies, my teeth have moved so much and I was really unhappy with them. It's costing me £3.5k, which was the best deal I could find near me (with good reviews).

It's an annoying process, having to take them in and out and not being able to eat what I want when I want - but tbh it's probably good for me to stop the coffee and snack habit! I do like the flexibility though that I CAN take them out if I have a big presentation etc if I need to. I do think it'll be worth it in the end.

I've had my fixed clear braces off for almost a year now OP. Best thing I ever did. £3.5k cost with 6 composite bonds after on my top front teeth to improve the shape.

Yes a little uncomfortable after an adjustment and a pain to clean but worth it, ibuprofen helps the first couple days then you get used to it and it doesn't ache anymore.

Very few people commented on them but I'm sure they saw them. Bear in mind you'll have to wear retainers likely full time for up to a year after they're off and then at night for the rest of your life. I also have fixed permanent retainers behind my front top and bottom 6 teeth. Keeping my teeth clean is now super easy. I'm 36 BTW.

I had fixed braces when I was mid 30’s and a fixed retainer on the back of my teeth to hold them in place since then.

Yes, it was worth it but it was very uncomfortable to start with as I had to have spacers between my back teeth to allow space for the brace to be fitted - I found it difficult to chew for a couple of weeks. I was slightly self conscious about speaking in public to large groups of people but got over myself. I didn’t have a lisp but I know I didn’t smile as much as normal with people I didn’t know well. I brushed my teeth and flossed after everything I ate which was a bit of a faff. Unless you really want to make a feature of them with bright colours, go for the grey elastic bands rather than white as the white get stained virtually immediately.

It’s only a few months and well worth it if you can afford it.

Everyone is being very consistent in saying it's worth it.... Secretly I wanted people to say don't be silly, you've lived with your teeth this long, why bother spending so much money! Waiting in the hope that others will come along to talk me out of it :)

I had train tracks at age 39 - not invisible or clear.

The first week was not easy to either eat or talk, but once that was over they were fine. I didn't have a lot of pain after tightenings. My teeth basically straightened up in that first week.

If you are not happy with your smile, then I think it is worth doing.

I had fixed braces in my 30s and it was absolutely worth it. Nearly 2 years, €4000 (in Ireland).
It didn't hurt that much, I don't think I needed painkillers at all. If I remember correctly, later adjustments hurt even less than initial ones.
I was very self conscious before braces, but not once I started wearing them. I felt that people could now see that I was taking care of my teeth.
The worst thing about it was all the faff of cleaning the braces, brushing after every meal etc.
I didn't have a lisp.
Now I have a bonded retainer (little wire behind the front teeth, easy to get used to and can't be seen), and clear plastic retainers for nights (I don't have to wear them every night anymore).

I had fixed clear braces at 54. It is uncomfortable when they are adjusted but only for a couple of days. It was worth every penny. Most people don't comment or they might just be interested in knowing more. The clear ones are pretty invisible anyway. Go for it.

I paid £7000 for incognito braces 8 years ago. They are fixed braces on the back of your teeth so totally invisible

thanks for the suggestion of incognito braces @35and3 I didn't know they were an option (probably because my dentist doesn't offer them ...) I think that might be exactly what I need so I might try and make an appointment with an orthodontist and see if they would be suitable in my case.

It's really encouraging that all of you who have done this have no regrets but my gut feeling is that this isn't the right time for me to start it. I think I'm going to get my teeth whitened as a short term cosmetic improvement, and plan/save towards the incognito/lingual braces in a year's time maybe.

Did it in my 50s. Best money I ever spent. It genuinely changed my life.

I had terrible teeth and a large overbite at about 26...I'm 24 now I was given full metal braces on the NHS. I also had jaw surgery to break my lower jaw and move it forward. Best decision I ever made. I was working at a law firm at the time. I also got ID a lot! But wouldn't change it and now I have lovely teeth. DO IT. you won't regret it I promise. Also if your overbite is big enough and you've never had NHS braces you may qualify for free treatment via a hospital that has an orthodontics department.

Had Invisalign and even though my teeth were not hugely crooked, they had definitely moved since my brace in my teens and were continuing to move. It was more to stop jaw and bite problems as I got older than cosmetic

Fixed braces with clear brackets in later 30's/early 40's. Monthly appointments, sometimes painful but did what it needed to do. Realised when given a night guard after removal that Invisalign and the like would not work for me as the retainer makes me gag (as did the brace moulds & x rays for back teeth) so Invisalign would not work for everyone. Did it for the good of overall teeth/jaw health. If teeth don't knit correctly, you only eat on one side due to gaps in teeth etc etc it can have long term consequences on you health rather than just having teeth that look nice and straight.

Fixed train tracks at 42. Best thing I ever spent money on!

In my 30s got train tracks, the silver ones. Professional job, regularly hold important meetings. Noone bats an eyelid and when I have been asked, its by people who want to get them and admire that I have! Do it op! 2 years will fly by