Want to get braces, but there's been fears...

T

tommorowdies

Gold Member
Hey people!

I'm about to pull the trigger to get metal braces. I'm a 37 year old adult male. I had a few limiting beliefs about getting metal braces but I've been slowly working through them.

I never had braces, but it's always been my dream to get them. Especially metal ones. The beliefs that came up were:

My teeth are fairly "straight", people sometimes complement my teeth. I felt afraid that my case "Wasn't bad enough" and people would ask "why did you get them, you don't need them!". Together with just general fears about what friends and family will think.

Also, that it seems like more adult woman wear them than adult men.

I am a teacher to adults, and I worried that people were not going to take me as seriously anymore, and my business as a result, would be negatively affected.

However, I have a unilateral posterior crossbite, and it has made my face a little asymmetrical, slightly twisted jaw. Crossbites are documented to cause this in the literature. So it is something that would be good to get done, and prevent future problems.

I also feel so overwhelmed by the idea of getting them. It's so incredibly exciting it sends the nervous system into overdrive.

What do you think? Guys: Did you fear how people would react? How'd you get on?
 
Don't fear how people will react.  I am about to do my second time and the first time most people were like "Oh, you got braces" and moved on.  I had presenters at a recent conference with braces and nobody cared.

You are doing this for you, not anyone else.  Remember that and you will be fine.
 
Thanks jester,

What about embarrassment around people? I guess people who feel it are fearing about nothing?

I could probably get them tomorrow if I wanted. My ortho is ready and waiting to put them on. I just have to book the appointment. But my heart is pounding so much haha
 
I also had donuts before getting my braces for the second time.
What will coworkers think, what will friends say, also because I have a job in which I have a lot of contacts with international colleagues and customers.

But it turned out all to be in my head. Some mentioned it, but just like “good for you”, some only noticed after weeks or so. In general there was no real reaction at all, definitely not to the extend I expected.

So I’d say go for it!
 
Go for it! I got braces for the first time in my early 20's and I rarely smiled ad overed them up because I was very self-conscious. I regret that and wish I would've embraced them and just smiled. My treatment fixed my smile quite a bit but I think they could be a little more perfect so I'm considering getting them again and I'm in my early 30's. I look forward to you sharing your treatment and progress!
 
I'm a 37-year-old male, too, who just got metal braces (just on the top so far) back in June.

I'm married so I haven't been concerned about braces affecting dating, but I have been worried about how other people would react or what they might say. My teeth also looked pretty straight when smiling and talking, but I have a deep bite and a class 2 bite. So I worried that people would tell me I didn't need braces, or would judge me in some way or tease me or something. I also had braces as a kid, so I wondered what my family would say.

So far, though, every reaction as been neutral or positive. Some people, who I'm sure have seen my braces while I've talked, have said absolutely nothing and reacted in no way at all; makes everything feel normal. One person, just this past week, asked when I got braces; I told him June and that was the end of the conversation (I'm surprised more people haven't asked that, or how long I'll have them for). One person said they looked good, and had commented that he wished he had gotten braces. Saw an uncle of mine that I haven't seen in three years, and all he said is he asked "How are the braces?", no no questioning it or any other kinds of comments.

Overall, people are supportive, or really don't care either way and just ignore the braces.

I know it's hard to read this and know this and then actually believe it deep down and not act embarrassed or worried. But other people will not think less of your or react negatively. Still to be seen how people react once I get elastics, or anything that might give me a lisp.
 
Thanks everyone for your replies and support so far!

I have read every one in detail and appreciate it. I almost can't believe I'm going to pull the trigger and do it. I want to do it now.

I am just in a slight income dip in my business and I need to get paid by someone soon! As soon as I get paid a decent sum I'm gonna book it and do it.

So excited! Like a childhood dream come true!

I will keep people updated.
 
@tomorrowdies Congrats on going for it! What braces did you get? Are you going to share your progress?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top