Your choice if you have to get braces as an adult

TrainTrack said:

Yes, I do, but only in some cases. If people use colored ligatures or metal wires they are clearly visible. It’s the same if they stain them. But I have had a couple of experiences where I was having troubles distinguishing what the heck was wrong with these people’s teeth. I wasn’t sure if it was tooth discoloration or what. I only realized it was braces after they got elastics! I would also say if a person has larger teeth they are more discreet than a person with tiny teeth.

What I’m saying is in some instances they’re discreet and in others they aren’t, even to the untrained public eye.

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would that apply to metal braces too? Like depending on ligature color and the persons teeth size/tooth show?

Charlie0186 said:

I think that ceramic brackets and Invisalign attachments attract attention because there's something odd about them.  It might be that they make the teeth look discoloured.  Whatever it is, I think it's the same as someone behaving strangely because of new braces.  I think that's why metal braces go unnoticed when people smile and go about their day confidently.

I'm looking forward to hearing your experiences after you get yours fitted, ineedbraces25.  Maybe you'll prove me entirely wrong  :

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Interesting. Yeah, I feel like theres something about trying to make something discreet that might make it more obvious. I mean some with ceramics get colors and smile boldly and dont care about them being seen, but perhaps others try to hide them a bit/want them to be unnoticeable? Same with invisalign. I guess it can look weird then because something different about their teeth but its not obvious its braces/invisalign (most dont know invisalign has all these attachments) ..so then it draws more attention as people try to figure out whats wrong.

But maybe metal, especially if you act confident like you said, are just registered as braces quickly and then ignored after since no one really cares?

I wonder if how obvious they are impacts it. Like when I talk, my upper teeth almost barely show at all unless I was talking super animatedly/smiling with teeth...but if relaxed, my lower show a little more (has to do with my bite..after surgery upper will show much more though). But yeah, because of my lack of tooth show, I wouldnt be surprised if some dont even notice them at all...especially if I dont act like I have something im trying to hide or talk funny.

But I feel like if I smile or talk more animated/make expressions, it will be pretty noticeable? Any friend of mine would probably definitely notice, but we'll see I guess.

The hardest part would be acting like its totally normal/not being embarassed or trying to hide them for me lol. I'll see how confident I feel after they're on I guess...have the weekend to adjust before I see anyone again.

ineedbraces25 said:

would that apply to metal braces too? Like depending on ligature color and the persons teeth size/tooth show?

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For me, no. They are definitely more obvious and I look for them. Ceramics are generally pretty easy to spot, but there are always those cases where they just aren’t. If they have little to no tooth show I think it would be harder to spot, but as soon as they lifted their lip it would be obvious. Again though, they are less obvious depending on if they have huge teeth and for metal braces, where they are placed on the teeth.

interesting. I guess I'll see how many notice mine when I get them. I have little tooth show when I talk (bottom is kinda more visible than upper row) but if I make expressions or anything they'll definitely show.

I kinda dread anyone pointing them out though lol. I think since its a kink for me and was this huge embarrassing thing all my life, having someone casually go 'you got braces?" and draw attention to them is kinda embarassing. If I meet new people with braces, it won't be a big deal at all. But I dont like the idea of some that I know just noticing I got them....

Who knows how I'll feel though. I might be embarassed and wanna hide them at first, or I might just gain confidence and act like they're no big deal. We'll see. Either way, I am getting them haha. No ones opinions and even my own insecurity won't stop me from doing this for my future self!

I have a unique perspective for this survey. The first time I had braces in my teens, they were metal. The second time I had braces in my 30s they were ceramic. The third time I started braces it was supposed to be Invisalign, but I ended up having a miserable allergic reaction to them. I was then given the choice of ceramic or metal braces. I choice metal because I found ceramic braces to be bulkier and they stained. Worst of all, when it’s time to have them removed, the brackets don’t come off easily in one piece. This requires them to be ground off and can (did) cause damage to the enamel. Even if I was allergic to Invisalign, I would not choose it again. The attachments felt uncomfortable like bad nail polish that can’t be picked off soon enough, and the trays very squeaky against each other. Further, my kids and some friends have Invisalign. They have all had trouble getting their teeth in a good finishing alignment. Invisalign did great for the large movements of teeth, but fine detail does not work great. A few of my friends gave up. My daughter is very frustrated with the process. I asked her orthodontist if fixed braces would be easier to take care of the alignment, but she doesn’t want the hassle of restarting with brackets that would “need to be perfectly aligned on the teeth” to straighten them. Sigh.
In the meantime, I’m chugging along with my metal braces with at least a year to year and a half left with the possibility of jaw surgery.

Charlie0186 said:

I think that ceramic brackets and Invisalign attachments attract attention because there's something odd about them.  It might be that they make the teeth look discoloured.  Whatever it is, I think it's the same as someone behaving strangely because of new braces.  I think that's why metal braces go unnoticed when people smile and go about their day confidently.

I'm looking forward to hearing your experiences after you get yours fitted, ineedbraces25.  Maybe you'll prove me entirely wrong  :

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I agree with you 100%, that’s why metal was my choice as well.

Having had braces in middle school and vaguely actually remembering having them, I didn’t obviously wear  my retainer and my teeth began to shift. Once college ended the desire to fix them was extremely strong but couldn’t swallow the thought of actually having braces. Fresh out of college hoping to explore my twenties I figured this would hinder this completely so I ultimately went to a dentist who failed to truly explain everything that came with Invisalign. As far as I was concerned it was basically what the commercials made it seem to be. I remember the day I went to get them fitted and figured just get them clicked in and I’d be on my way. I remember laying back as the tech said we’re gonna add the attachments. I asked what they were and she explained little bumps on your teeth to help anchor the trays. Again no idea what these were I asked if there were a lot and she kinda smirked and said it’s definitely on the higher side but again you can hardly notice them. I get them on and finally get sat up. She handed me a mirror and to my surprise they actually were hard to see. Now she puts the trays in and feel tight pressure and the attachments were massive. Giant rectangles on basically every tooth. It looked exactly like ceramic brackets. Needless to say I finished treatment after 44 trays and elastics halfway through and seeing how noticeable and non-invisible I’d certainly go with ceramic braces in todays world if I had to go through the process all over again

I did get braces as an adult. I did have them when i was in high school but i didnt wear my retainer all that often and they moved back fast. Not to where they were before but still pretty annoying. I got metal braces 3 months ago. This time im enjoying them a little bit more. I could have gotten some that weren’t all that noticeable but i went for metal braces and so far so good.

@alicebisa Good for you for taking the dive again! How long is your treatment?

Estimated about 17-18 months

I also got braces as an adult. I have chosen clear ceramic braces. Only the lower teeth in the back were metal braces.

If I have to chose again, I would pick metal braces on all teeth, because they are smaller and easier to take off. My orthodontist told me exactly that in the consultation.

After all the ceramic braces are not as invisible as you think. People can mix up with dirty teeth.

Since my first post in this thread, the idea getting real braces again, is becoming stronger and stronger.
I already hat a first consultation with an orthodontist during corona. Due to the masks I thought, this could help me hiding them in the beginning.
But the orthodontist said that I don`t need them
Thanks to my fake braces, I started to turn the expander a bit, I have got some annoying gaps between some of my teeth.
So I will give it another try in the next weeks and hopefully will get my jaws metalized.
Hopefully full set of brackets on top and bottom, with some bands on the molars.
Headgear, Herbst and/or an expander would be heaven one earth for me…

ceramic for myself, traditional for the wife

An update to my post from february this year.
On October 21st my dream will come true and I will get braces again.
As promised in February, I rejected the offered treatment with Invisalign and chose metal brackets instead. As the ortho said, bands should bot be necessary, but still brackets on top and bottom for 1.5 to 2 years. Can’t wait to get them on ????

Yesterday my dream came true. I got my braces installed.
Damon SL metal brackets with hooks on 3-4-5 and tubes with hooks on the first molars in both jaws.
I am super happy with them and love my new smile.

53 and 2.5 years wearing fixed metal braces upper and lower hoping to get to 3 years. 2nd time in full metal brackets wore them in my 30s. Never had the molar bands though. Had a removable expander this time round. Occasionally go out in public away from home wearing headgear face masks or j hooks.

Lingual!