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If you visit an ortho and say you aren’t happy with your teeth they will probably evaluate and give a treatment plan, even if it is minor or cosmetic.

Definitely metal brackets.
In the case of metal braces, everyone can simple see, that I have braces. Ceramic braces are not so easy visible, but if I see somebody with them, I first think that there is something wrong with the teeth.

radian said:

Is it difficult to talk with the biteplate?

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talking was also a quite difficult in the beginning, but now I can talk quite well(apart from words with the letter S.

radian said:

Good luck for the choice of your braces. It is easy for others but it must be a lot harder for yourself as an adult. How old are you ?

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thanks, I'm 18

Embracer said:

Bionatre,

Thank you for your detailed reply. From your description, it sounds as if yo have both an overjet ( where the top front teeth are too far forward of the bottom front teeth) and an overbite or deepbite ( where the top front teeth almost hide the bottom front teeth when your bite is closed).

The purpose of the biteplate is to keep your back teeth apart so they can grow downwards to meet each other, thereby reducing your deep bite.

The lower arch is supposed to sit just inside the upper arch. Sometimes this is not possible because the upper arch is too narrow and the lower arch gets pushed backwards. I was speculating that this might apply in your case and that the upper arch is being expanded to leave space for the lower arch to be brought forward with elastics.

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thanks for your explanation, as far as I know your speculation is correct

Traditional metal braces, if I was doing it.  I've never really liked the look of ceramic or invisible braces.  As others have said, they're not really invisible.  To me, they've always kind of looked like the person had food or something stuck to their teeth.  With metal braces, people see them and right away they know they're braces.

As an adult, I've known other adults who have gotten braces, and there are usually some comments from others for the first day or two, then everyone just sort of forgets about them.  No one really treats braces as a big deal.

I can answer this one with certainty, since I am currently wearing metal fixed braces, upper and lower.

Like a few posters mentioned, I am doing this for myself. I like braces and decided to go all out with full metal. I've enjoyed choosing various colors on my ligatures.  Sometimes, depending on my mood, I've gotten bright, very visible colors. Other times, gray or white.  I've had braces for almost a year and a half in a professional job where I speak to the public all day.  I've had exactly zero negative comments about my braces, which I know people see because I am not shy about smiling with them.

OtherNotion said:

Is that an option down the road or did they put you in something for a reason?

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My dentist is not a friend of braces, as I recognized last time, when I asked her about it. Only if really necessary.
But when I will decide to do the step, I´m sure to find somebody who will find a reason for a treatment.

I had clear braces when I was young. They were fare away from invisible.
So, when I will get braces next time, I will definetly take metal ones.
And I hopefully will also need some additional devices - at least a headgear.

My braces from the shop are great, but not beeing able to take them off in the morning
And not beeing able to hide them.... - oh what a dream ;-)

I've only ever seen people just get upper braces during like "phase one" when they're young, usually a full set comes during phase 2.

Are you an adult with braces? If so, has the bite plate or braces affected your social or personal life in any way? Thanks!

Definitely Invisalign. I'm too old and too self conscious to have the metal or even the clear -_-

I wanted metal all the way. I lucked out because my ortho didn’t think clear would work for me, which gave me a good excuse

Despite my love of braces, when it came down to getting them I went with clear. Many of the reasons highlighted pushed me to make the decision - work (frequently speaking in front of clients etc), personal (wife would not have been into metal) etc.

For me, personally it was more about the sensations and feeling of braces. And I got that.

If your choice is because of how it will look, think about why you are getting braces. Is it because to want and/or like braces? People will see the braces even if they are clear/ceramic. Ceramic is more costly. I have been told that ceramic is thicker because of the materials used. You will have metal archwires which will show anyways. Even the white archwires do show because they are coated and can flake off over time.

Right from the start of my treatment, I have always gone with colored powerchains and ligatures. They last few times I have told the assistants to surprise me with what colors to put on. I have told them that I do like bright colors and that I have had every color that they have during my treatment. I haven't had white or clear, but I have had all the others. I have said that it is unfortunate that they don't have rainbow powerchains 8)

My advice is you are going to have braces, make them a part of who you are. Enjoy them for as long as you have them. If you go around trying to hide them, you will just make it more obvious that you have them. The only person it will matter to is you.

If you feel that you need to keep your look professional, go with silver, grey,white or clear ligatures and powerchains. Otherwise have fun with it, go with the colors.

Your teen family members would probably enjoy the colors on the metal brackets. Ask your wife what she thinks you should do, after all she is the one who is going to be seeing them the most. You will only see them in the mirror.


Braceface2015

I do not know how to make a poll but I simply ask the question.

You have to get a real orthodontic treatment tomorrow in your everyday life.

Honestly, considering advantage and disadvantage of all type of braces, what would you choose ?
- metal fixed braces
- clear fixed braces
- lingual braces
- Invisalign

Please, the question is not to know what would you prefer as a fantasy but in your real life, with your wife, children, family friends, colleagues, work etc.

I ask the question because I am not sure for the answer for myself (After a very long reflection, I will start an orthodontic treatment this year).

For plenty of reason (probably most of us share), I would really like fixed metal braces but despite a good amount of self confidence, I am not sure I could assume them in my everyday life, in front of my wife, my family (I have teen nieces with metal braces) and my friends. Furthermore, my job requires to speak in front of a public and everyone would see the metal braces.

That's why I would probably choose clear braces on top and metal on bottom. Lingual braces and invisalign are too expensive.

What would you do or what did you choose if you were in a similar situation ?

EDIT : I could make a poll but still very interested in your comments !

Bionatre,

Thank you for your detailed reply. From your description, it sounds as if yo have both an overjet ( where the top front teeth are too far forward of the bottom front teeth) and an overbite or deepbite ( where the top front teeth almost hide the bottom front teeth when your bite is closed).

The purpose of the biteplate is to keep your back teeth apart so they can grow downwards to meet each other, thereby reducing your deep bite.

The lower arch is supposed to sit just inside the upper arch. Sometimes this is not possible because the upper arch is too narrow and the lower arch gets pushed backwards. I was speculating that this might apply in your case and that the upper arch is being expanded to leave space for the lower arch to be brought forward with elastics.

Is it difficult to talk with the biteplate ?

Good luck for the choice of your braces. It is easy for others but it must be a lot harder for yourself as an adult. How old are you ?

Embracer said:

From the photo, your top front teeth look nicely aligned.

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thanks

Embracer said:

So I guess your orthodontic treatment is mainly about fixing your bite?

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yes, but also to fix crowding in my bottom teeth

Embracer said:

Has the bite plate made much difference to your bite yet?

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I don't really know, I would hope so

Embracer said:

Will you need expansion of your bottom arch too,

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as far as I know not

Embracer said:

or is the expansion of the upper arch being done to enable your lower arch to move forward?

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I think so, could you please explain how that works

Embracer said:

Good luck with the bottom brace this week.

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thanks

Embracer said:

Are you getting metal or ceramic?

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I don't know, I think metal (I don't even know if I will get the choice)

From the photo, your top front teeth look nicely aligned. So I guess your orthodontic treatment is mainly about fixing your bite?

Has the bite plate made much difference to your bite yet? I see that it is also an expander. Will you need expansion of your bottom arch too, or is the expansion of the upper arch being done to enable your lower arch to move forward?

Good luck with the bottom brace this week. Are you getting metal or ceramic?

OtherNotion said:

How's eating with the bite plate been? I found it difficult and I didn't even have an expander.

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In the beginning I also found it very difficult to eat with it in my mouth, but as i got used to it it got easier. nowadays I can eat at normal speed with my bite plate.

OtherNotion said:

Also are you ever getting braces on your upper arch?

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yes
When I have both upper and lower braces, i will also get elastics to correct my overbite.

That's great. Do you have pictures of your setup?