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Original poster

I'm considering having fixed braces

29 replies

frecklesandfun · 20/10/2015 10:50

Has anyone got any advice or stories?

I'm recently single after breakup of long marriage and really want to get my crooked teeth fixed. I've wanted to have it done for years and feel that now is the time. New start and all that.
Orthodentist has recommended ceramic (tooth coloured) fixed braces as my teeth are too crooked for invisalign and the treatment will take a year at least.

But I just can't quite make the final decision. There is such a lot going on in my life I'm concerned it will will give me another thing to worry about. Not least, it will make finding a new man even more difficult than it already is at my age (late 40's)!! Do I just 'bite the bullet' so to speak - or do I live my imperfections? Or is this the time where I do things just for me?

Has anyone out there had any experience?

OP posts:
SparklyTinselTits · 20/10/2015 10:59

Do it!!!
I was in my late teens when I finally got mine, after years of avoiding it. It was recommended that I had them on when I was 11, but was determined not to go through secondary school as a brace face.
I finally gave in when I was 15, and it was the best decision I ever made! I had to have 4 teeth (2 top, 2 bottom) extracted to make space for my crooked teeth to shift, which wasn't the most pleasant experience. But I got my braces fitted a couple of weeks after.
At first it feels really weird, like you mouth is massively crowded and there is a massive amount of pressure on your teeth. But after a few days that subsides and you don't really notice them anymore. Every time you have the wires tightened, the pressure feeling comes back, but again subsides after a couple of days.
I still managed to eat everything I normally would without braces, except toffee and I couldn't bite straight into an apple - had to cut it up toddler style Grin
Having them removed feels even weirder than having them put on! After a year or so of a very crowded mouth, bare, straight beautifully polished teeth felt so weird! But the results were incredible. I had perfectly straight pearly whites Grin

And I met DH while I was still a brace face....must have still fancied me Wink
The braces will do wonders for your confidence when you get the desired results! My teeth are one of the things I'm most proud of now Smile

Barbie1 · 20/10/2015 11:04

I'm sat wearing fixed braces right now.

I was fortunate enough to get the Damon clear system and although horrid at first it has so many benefits...

You lose weight, so fecking painful you won't eat

You save money, you will be so embarrassed you won't leave the house again

You get nice, straight teeth Wink

It took a while to be confident enough to speak in public and 6 months down the line I'm still very aware of it,

But.

The different to my teeth already is amazing Shock

I still have another year but I really don't regret it at all!

LagartijaNick · 20/10/2015 11:23

Had some for several years as a child. Some... er... decades ago, so dentistry might have moved on. They had to be tightened once or twice a month, eating was painful, and I often wondered if I'd do it again. Afterwards my teeth were straight, and I got into a seriously good teethbrushing habit. And I have no fear of dentist, hear me laugh in their faces, ha ha ha haa! The results seem to make it worth it.

LagartijaNick · 20/10/2015 11:23

... dentists...

CherylTunt · 20/10/2015 11:38

I had them a few years ago. Best weight-loss plan ever.

It was worth it; my teeth still aren't perfect but they are 100x better than they used to be (I refused treatment as a teenager). Old habits are ingrained though and I still have to remind myself I can show them now when I smile! After years of closed-mouth smiling and making sure I didn't laugh Smile

It is very freeing. After the braces came off I took loads of smiling selfies just to learn how to do it Grin

Original poster
frecklesandfun · 20/10/2015 11:39

Thanks!
Barbie - do you mind if I ask how old you are. I'm fast approaching 50!!

I did have removable braces as a teenager so I remember the discomfort!
I'm worried about being self conscious ..but I suppose I'm already self conscious about my crooked teeth.
I'm so close to picking up the phone to book myself in...

OP posts:
Barbie1 · 20/10/2015 12:37

Im 35 with three kids....it has scared my 3 and 5 year old into brushing their teeth Wink

The first fortnight is horrendous, I went looking for pliers in the middle of the night, convincing myself that I would yank them off!

Barbie1 · 20/10/2015 12:39

Google the Damon system, much more natural and there take a fraction of the time.

What exactly is wrong with your teeth?

Blueberrymuffint0p · 20/10/2015 12:45

Do it do it do it do it!

I've just had mine off and it's made a crazy difference to my self confidence. Yes,you'll be self conscious of them at first but you soon get used to it. It'll be worth it in the long run-nothing sexier than a confident smile!

You won't regret it.

Cheesybaps · 20/10/2015 12:53

Im 2 weeks into having my fixed braces Smile

It's going fine so far,the pressure on my teeth is easing so I'm only battling the sore mouth at the moment.

I did have braces as a child, but after my wisdom teeth came in the front teeth went slightly crooked as my mouth was overcrowded. I'm having a 6 month treatment as mine aren't too bad.

My sister and her friend recently had the same,their teeth now look amazing so I followed suit! They both say it was well worth the investment. The dentist is also going to file my front teeth down so they are nice and straight across (bugs bunny look atm!), I'm so excited for that!

I'd say go for it OP! My sister's friend in particular had very wonky teeth, her confidence is now through the roof which is lovely to see. Smile

Original poster
frecklesandfun · 20/10/2015 13:45

Barbie - they are just generally crooked. The front 2 turn inwards and overlap the ones behind. They did improve after teenage treatment but back in those days they didn't recommend retainers, so that and development of my wisdoms has just pushed everything over the years. Bottom teeth are only sightly out of alignment but orthodentist recommends having them done too for a better bite and profile.

I'm starting a new job on Monday. Half of me thinks this is a good as no-one will have seen me without braces. But if I get them put on tomorrow (I know ortho has space to do it) I will only have 4/5 days to get used to them. Am I overthinking this? Confused

OP posts:
Cheesybaps · 20/10/2015 13:47

Yes you are Grin

Braceface2015 · 20/10/2015 14:17

Hi I'm a bit of a lurker here but wanted to tell you that you should do it, the thinking about it is a lot worse than the reality, I had a system called 6 month smile , I had them put on in may and they come off next week, I had quite bad crooked overlapped front teeth and now they are totally straight and beautiful, the 1st 2 wks were rubbish but now I don't even notice them, they are a white/ clear system and most people don't notice, I'm almost 38 if that helps

Original poster
frecklesandfun · 20/10/2015 14:30

Thanks Braceface. I looked into 6 month smile with my local dentist but he just didn't fill me with confidence as he'd only been doing it for a short while so I found a local orthodentist with loads of experience.

I have the added complication of veneers on my front teeth due to an enamel deformity as a child. I think I am dreading having the veneers removed more than anything and will need new ones at the end of the treatment. It'll cost a fortune Shock but I know it will be worth it when I pluck up the courage!

OP posts:
Braceface2015 · 20/10/2015 14:36

Would u consider going to another dentist with more experience? I was quoted 5k for orthodontic braces where as this was less than 3k

Original poster
frecklesandfun · 20/10/2015 14:42

I think I've been given a fair price - 3500 for top and bottom fixed braces + the tooth preparation after removal of veneers. New veneers at the end of treatment will be extra so 5k for total work. Eeek!

OP posts:
Original poster
frecklesandfun · 20/10/2015 14:47

Right - I've done it!!!

Booked in for tomorrow at 11.15....Grin

OP posts:
Blueberrymuffint0p · 20/10/2015 15:35

4-5 days is plenty of time to get used to them.

Blueberrymuffint0p · 20/10/2015 15:36

Go for it!

Barbie1 · 20/10/2015 18:10

Well done! Now get yourself stocked upon soup, dental wax and the inter dental brushes..oh and painkillers.

One of my bottom teeth was completely rotated 90 degrees before the brace, it took only two weeks to turn it completely...the changes are so satisfying to see.

Wish you well

divere · 20/10/2015 19:24

Freckles, do you mind me asking - are you having the braces on top of veneers? And then having them re-done after treatment? Or are they taking the veneers off now and leaving them off while you have the braces on?

Hubnut · 20/10/2015 19:29

I got them in my late twenties. Had them for nearly two years. I'm so pleased I did it. I had a rogue front tooth that popped out uninvited! I was so self conscious about smiling. Teeth look fab now and the time I wore braces just seems like a short blip.

Like others when I first got them I had a terrible panic (seeing if I could pull them off with my fingers!). But I got used to them. Dramatic weight loss as there was a few weeks where the brace meant my molars didn't meet so had to live on weetabix and other soft food. I didn't have any bad reactions from people, quite a bit of interest from people who hated their own teeth.

Good luck x

Original poster
frecklesandfun · 20/10/2015 20:10

Divere - no the veneers are coming off to get the best results. I'm really apprehensive because some tooth was shaved off for the veneers to be put on 20 years ago but ortho has assured me she will put a temporary covering on which, because my veneers are so old now, will probably look better. Then at the end of the straightening treatment I will have new proper ones put on.

The dentist who does the 6 month smiles option (As I mentioned earlier) said he could do it with current veneers on but the bonding process would damage the enamel and they would never look smooth again - in other words I would need new veneers anyway.

If anyone's interested I will post tomorrow after the deed is done. Wish me luck!

OP posts:
divere · 20/10/2015 21:05

Ah okay, makes sense. I have a temporary covering on my teeth at the mo and I was wondering if braces could go over the top (deciding between braces and veneers at the mo) so that's good to know.
Please do post a pic! Hope it goes okay!

Blueberrymuffint0p · 21/10/2015 08:00

Good luck today! They'll feel so strange to start with-like giant Lego bricks stuck to your teeth but you soon get used to them.

The pain will kick in a couple of hours later. My top tip is to warm the wax with a hair dryer before applying-the pressure of putting hard wax on was too much and fully wax all your brackets tonight so you can lie with your head to the side.