Right, the other kind. Do kids even say this anymore? The kind of tracks that will crowd my mouth for twenty months while they do their magic on my misaligned teeth. I must admit that up until recently I viewed adults with braces as pretty vain individuals, I would think, "what is the point?" Now that I have met with a very nice orthodontist who assures that me that I too can have perfect (well close) smile I am interested - and vain is right at the top of the list. If all people see is my perfect smile the extra twenty pounds will seem less obvious right?
There is the jaw pain and crowded teeth and problems my front teeth are giving me since they are wearing down alarmingly fast due to the misalignment. Then there is the prospect of once the braces are off and a little "touching up is done to even out my front teeth" of that perfect, white smile. It is very enticing to think it is possible at all at my age. I mean I am not a freak or anything, but my teeth could definitely be straighter.
My teeth have always been crowded and I had one of my bottom teeth pulled at an early age. My original dentist never really offered up any solutions so I never had braces as a child. Once I switched dentists in Grade Nine I met the most amazing dentist who I still see and now my girls see him too. The back story here is that I bit my dentist. Yup, chomped right on his finger after telling several times what he was doing hurt. He told my Mom to take me away immediately and that I was basically not welcome in his office anymore. I realize dentists get bad raps sometimes and no one likes going unless the pain is unbearable - then the dentist is your best friend. This dentist however, deserved the rap.
My new dentist was young, I mean not that much older than me really and back in the day he was the junior guy under a much older dentist who has since retired. Let me say, I love my dentist and that I am terrified of dentists. Over the years I have weaned myself off of the heavy medication I once needed for fillings and root canals. I only got gas for my most recent root canal and if you knew me you would know that is unbelievable.
So back to the braces...I have not decided if I should go ahead or not. It is a lot of money, none of which is covered until our dental benefits. Hubby says to go for it. I keep wavering and putting it off...maybe in the Spring, maybe after my brother's wedding, the thing is the twenty months won't start until I get the things on.
Any of you wear braces? Any thoughts? I realize this is a trivial little dilemma but, I need a little triviality today.
Metal mouth for me?
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Edited to add maybe some dentists get bad "wraps" too many veggies perhaps...but it was a bad "rap" for most dentists that I was referring to....
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Train Tracks
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16 comments:
At my last visit, my dentist suggested braces - he's doing a course on it and could give me a discount. Aside from that being a kind of frightening way of going about it, 20 months is really just such a long time. My teeth go yellow very easily - they're not going to look like Julia Roberts no matter what I do, so I think I'm going to give it a pass.
My teeth go yellow easily, too. Luckily, very few of them are mine anymore, thanks to some serious capping.
But heck, they're straight!
Hmm...I had braces as a kid. They're not all that fun. I would get a headache for days after they were tightened.
I think it really depends on what needs to be corrected and how badly you want it done.
Let us know what you decide!
Your teeth; my feet. These are hard decisions at this stage in life. I do like to remain open to the possibility of transformation...
You know Tom Cruise had braces a few years ago? Mind you, he's bat sh*t crazy now, so perhaps this is not a ringing endorsement.
I say go for it. Better your husband pay up for braces than new boobs.
Still have to compose a well worded response to your last post (vs. this flippant little one), but it is late and I'm covered in paint (oh, this mini bathroom reno will be my undoing), so it'll have to wait 'til the morrow.
Poor you...
B&P-A discount! Hmmmn. I wish mine offered a discount. From your photos I have seen you look like you have a great smile already.
Beck-I think they mentioned capping my front teeth or something like that after the braces would come off. I feel like I really am too old for this though.
Sage-Thanks for the warning. I have heard you cannot bite/chew for days. Headaches? Doesn't entice me much.
Mad-It was your post on your back and feet that really got me thinking seriously. I meant to mention it in the post and link back, but forgot. Like you I like to think it is not too late....
ADM-Yeah I am not sure Tom C is the best example of anything these days. Sigh. I used to adore him! A big part of me wants to go for it and yeah hubby has also offered all kinds of "improvements". Ha.
Pen-Thanks!
And as you can see from my comments, one minute I think I am too old (Beck) and the next I have optimism (Mad), obviously I have not made up my mind!
Braces will give you headaches. For sure. I had them for years, and now, instead of a serious madonna gap, I have one tooth in front that seriously sticks out ahead of all the rest.
I'm ocntemplating the same thing as you. To brace or not to brace.
I will say: changing the teeth changes the whole face. My mom got hers whitened, and she looked 5 years younger it was amazing.
Mine, yellow and crooked. Sigh.
My sister did the braces thing when she was 30. We have (I should say had) the same overlap on our two front teeth. I still have it. Her dentist did it for free when he realized it was he who screwed up 15 years ago with her retainers. So he just charged her a minimal fee for the materials. She's got a gorgeous smile now and I am envious. I don't mind my own smile, but if you can do it - why not? It will be better in the long run, worth 20 months of ick. Right? We do so little for ourselves as mommies, it would be so nice to have a nice, healthy smile. I say go for it!
As you know I did the braces thing during my early teenage years. Even though there is the wire tightening, cut up gums, constant teeth brushing among other things the feeling of having straight teeth is irreplacable and makes the 20 months of frustration worth it. Especially when you start to notice the difference behind the metal brackets.
It's definitely a committment but in my opinion, a worthwhile one. And if the girls ever need braces you'd be the perfect role model to subdue their fears. I'd say go for it if you want to!!
DON'T GET THE BRACES! You'll have to look like the biggest LOO evah for, like, 2-3 YEARS if you do! Interesting teeth give character -- look at Victoria on Y&R and her spaces...love it!
Can you, in the worst case, get them on the back of your teeth? I've seen people with that. It's not perfect, but it's better than looking uggers for two years!
I got my braces on when I was 35--off when i was 37 and I am SO glad that i did it! I don't feel the need to hide my teeth anymore when I smile. Personally, I think that if you want to do it, go for it! Just do it ASAP! The time goes by quickly.
http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/randi/
yer gettin a brace is so worth it ive just had mine off- (traintracks)and the diffrence is so great im 14 and at school before i had my brace on i was called beaver by this boy in my class because my front ones stuck out and there was a big gap now i have see through retainers if i were you id definatly go for it your teeth ache quite a bit after the tightning but that wears off also my teeth were complytley stain free by brushing really well and using mouthwash and i ate loadsa a sweets and fizzy drinks so as long as u wash them well ull b fine. I'd say go 4 it the result changes ur life i can smile so much more now onli wif ma see through retainers people keep sayin i luks like ive got glue on my teeth coz it makes them shiny also mine were free cause im a child i no there expensive but so worth it=] love rachel
Hi, thanks for the post. Here is a useful directory of orthodontists by state/city for anyone looking for an orthodontist.
Orthodontist Directory
I think you should go for the brace. I'm still a child, just turning into a teenager in a year or so, but I will get my fixed brace (train tracks) in 3 months. I'm getting all of this for free because I had an appointment just to check on my teeth, and they said my jaw was about 10 cms underbite and my teeth weren't straight at all. Obviously I knew that. They said I could get the appointments for free because of how bad my jaw and teeth were. My teeth are very healthy and very white so all I need to do now is just straighten them. I have read a lot about these braces. I've had the braces to fix my underbite, and it's been 9 or 10 months now since I got them. Believe me, out of 10 cms it has turned to about 1-2mm. At first it did hurt, I won't lie, but then I didn't realise I had them! They caused me no trouble at all, just taking care that they won't go all dirty and smelly. Today my orthodontist told me I will get these braces. I was so happy! In 3 months! Seems to be so long. Anyway, I found out all about those braces now. It's surely different reading about them than having them, but I get an insight of what it's like. It's a great diet too really, having them! You said you are about 20 pounds overweight? I'm overweight too. When you will have these braces, you cannot eat junk food, drink fizzy drinks, eat chewy toffees and pizzas or hard things. Just soft food, that's all. For the first week of having train tracks (fixed brace) you should eat soup only, it's less painful. The first day is the worst. The week is painful too. So to prevent having more pain, do not eat food that you have to chew. Just soup. And if you eat an apple, cut it to pieces and chew gently. So isn't it a good diet? Avoid sweets etc. And if you really feel the need to drink something fizzy, drink through a straw. Fizzy drinks contain acid that can cause decay especially when you have these braces. And by drinking them through a straw, you stop the acids from coming onto your teeth. That doesn't mean you can drink that sort of drink after drink and everyday! Also, after every single meal you should wash your brace and your teeth. Look up videos on youtube how to do it. But personally, they wash it without using a toothpaste which I think is completely unhygienic. But instead of following my advice, talk to your dentist. Really, tell him/her all your fears and ask him/her for his/her opinion. He/She can really help you! Good luck and I hope you will get the braces with no troubles on your way :D I hope that helped you. Take care.
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