Your choice if you have to get braces as an adult

What would you choose if you have to get an orthodontic treatment IN YOUR REAL LIFE ?

  • fixed metal braces

    Votes: 191 69.0%

  • clear braces

    Votes: 15 5.4%

  • clear on top / metal on bottom

    Votes: 28 10.1%

  • lingual braces

    Votes: 11 4.0%

  • invisalign

    Votes: 13 4.7%

  • other

    Votes: 15 5.4%

  • do not know

    Votes: 4 1.4%
  • Total voters
    277
I have been considering a treatment on and off for the last few years.
The initial quotes I got were way too high for me and most suggested Invisalign therapy, which I do not want (obviously).

Now I found a new dentist and orthodontist and decided to give it a go.
Treatment plan will be discussed soon  ;D In the back of my mind I’m still in doubt, but I think I’ll go with it this time.
 
Metal braces all the way! Ceramic and clear brackets somehow don’t look right on most people. I’ve been told metal brackets are stronger and more versatile. Personally I like the metal mouth look. It is strangely alluring!
 
I personally believe that if I had to put braces on my teeth I would prefer the metal one. It is true that you can see clearly, but the transparent ones often end up being yellowed and it seems to have stained teeth. In addition, the transparent one then ends up having elastic, thick thread and in the end it is even more noticeable in my opinion.

Of course, invisalign is a nice solution but in reality now you notice the same ... I say: if you wear the braces, patience, you will see and it is better not to try to hide it, because you will notice more the strange expressions that braces
 
henkbyblos link=topic=11626.msg136665#msg136665 date=1642678743 said:
I have been considering a treatment on and off for the last few years.
The initial quotes I got were way too high for me and most suggested Invisalign therapy, which I do not want (obviously).

Now I found a new dentist and orthodontist and decided to give it a go.
Treatment plan will be discussed soon  ;D In the back of my mind I’m still in doubt, but I think I’ll go with it this time.
Click to expand...

So I went through with it. Metal brackets it is  ;D
 
Honestly, besides any "fantasy", I think I would coose either invisalign or metal fixed braces.

Invisalign I have heard they are pretty good, and really barely noticeable.

Clear braces are less noticeable, but you can see them anyway, so they are almost useless, and lingual... well, they are probably a pain for myself, so I would not change my personal discomfort with braces in full sight. After all, why shoud I be shy?

IMHO




radian said:
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 !
Click to expand...
 
I am actually wearing braces myself as an adult I choose clear damon on top and metal damon on bottom
I appreciate wearing them
 
I’d love to say full metal. The more gear in my mouth the better! But I’d probably chicken out. I had the option of getting braces as a kid to correct a slight overbite and never went though with it. Even though I love the idea of big bulky braces as an adult, I’m in no rush to tell my dentist.  :-[
 
I mean, I have full metal, but there are reasons other than looks that went into the decision. To rule out Invisalign, which I think would have been my choice, is my ortho said I am a “borderline case”, which means that I would probably work with Invisalign, but it’s not a guarantee and I may need braces afterwards. At least, that is what my ortho says. According to the reviews, she says that to everyone. I don’t really like the look of ceramics, and my ortho only does the top arch with an additional charge of 300 USD. That is essentially $22 for a tooth, which isn’t worth it for me. Lingual seems like it would cut up the tongue, so that wasn’t even in the question.

If you do end up doing metal, do colored ligatures. Everyone can see that you have them, so you might as well embrace the look!

Just for reference, I have an edge-to-edge bite and my teeth are wearing away at my molars, which is the main reason for treatment. There is also some minor crookedness, but it isn’t that bad.  I didn’t even have to press or go to a different ortho!

I know this is a really detailed reason, but that is what happened in real life, and that’s what this question was about.
 
Hi. I had my fixed metal upper arch fitted today and 2 bite blocks or turbos. Bit disappointed I didn’t get the lower one done today and was close to cancelling it altogether. Got to wait another 2 months to get my lowers. Don’t know what they will think of me at work tomorrow. It feels strang not being able to bite my teeth together. Had to make do with a milkshake for lunch and same again for tea tonight.

I had fixed metal uppers and lowers last time. Had problems with my retainers and the orthodontist I used previously were unable to help. I was left without my fixed retainer and my hawley retainer for about 6 months so went ahead for a second time. Tried a face mask with elastics earlier but my teeth are still a bit too sore to leave it in more than a few minutes & I don’t think I have the right elastics.
 
The current discussion on the "Last two days before braces!!!" thread started by ineedbraces25 refers too.

We "see" with our brains.  I think that most people would agree that vision is an active process, involving a huge amount of information processing.  Fewer people think about the implications.

I suggest for discussion that one of those implications may be that our obviously overwhelming preference for fixed metal bracket appliances may be because there's little real-world cosmetic benefit in the other options.  This seems paradoxical.  On the one hand, we see all the marketing hype about discreet or "practically invisible" assistive devices such as orthodontic appliances, hearing aids and, until recently, eyeglasses.  Photographic images would seem to make a compelling argument in favour of the aesthetic option.  On the other hand, we see orthodontic patients requesting colourful ligatures on ceramic brackets, we see hearing aid wearers decorating behind-the-ear instruments or requesting black in-the-ear instruments, and bold eyewear has become a fashion statement.

Some of this almost certainly relates to stigma.  I argue that it also has to do with visual information processing.

We "see" what our brains are predisposed to seeing, what we've built the neuronal mechanism for seeing, and what attracts our attention.  We sometimes hunt for objects that were right in front of us all the time.  A police officer will see something dodgy long before anyone else.  The baseball star will read the movement of the ball in what most people will see as a blur.  The nature guide in the safari vehicle will spot the camouflaged animal long before anyone else.  And we spot braces that most people wouldn't.  Case in point:  https://flic.kr/p/2ovgo1h

I honestly think that most people have become "blind" to orthodontic appliances in much the same way that we've become "blind" to eyeglasses.

Your thoughts?
 
This is an interesting concept that requires a lot of thinking to figure out.

I would agree with you in our obviously overwhelming preference for fixed metal bracket appliances may be because there's little real-world cosmetic benefit compared with the other options. I believe that we as a group think there’s little cosmetic difference, but if I were a normy, I would assume that ceramics are pretty much invisible, exactly because of the point Charlie1086 made, they don’t look for them but we do.

I am thinking that people choosing colorful and bulky glasses or colorful ceramic braces has something to do with the fact that they only realize after they get them that they are very much visible, not pretty much invisible as they once believed.

The social stigma that has come with having braces has came down a long way than the 70s, at least from stories I’ve heard (I wasn’t around back then) which has definitely helped with more metal braces and freakishly large glasses.

Alternatively, I would argue with the fact that we’ve become “blind” to other things. At least for me, I don’t actively look for glasses, or hearing aids, but I see them anyway even if they aren’t Iris Apfel glasses. I would agree though that we see things that we are used to seeing, such as the baseball or police officer examples you gave. Pretty much what I’m saying is I don’t believe we go entirely blind to stuff, but we aren’t as perceptive to it as we are to braces.

These are just my thoughts on the matter, but I have no scientific evidence that these are correct. Feel free to contradict me.
 
Interesting thread. I definitely am now trained to notice braces, invisalign, and in general, other peoples teeths/bites from my interest in it all and own treatment. So it's quite surprising when an overwhelming majority of comments on reddit posts about "I'm insecure what people will think about my braces" are this: most didn't notice them at all. How could people not notice braces?? The shiny glint of metal in someones mouth? I suppose how visible your teeth are may affect it slightly. But its interesting to think about braces becoming 'blind' to the public like glasses are....you're right, I never think about peoples glasses unless theyre unusual. I honestly can't remember who that I know does or doesn't wear them sometimes.

I kinda want to test how many people even notice I have braces when I get them....just like don't mention them, and talk normally, and see if anyone notices. Would be interesting to see...since in my head I assume people will notice right away and comment/care.

Wouldn't the advance of invisalign start to make metal braces stand out a little more, though, as less adults chose to get full metal braces now? That I am a bit confused on.

I'm too tired to think of anything else to add, but yeah, this is an interesting subject.
 
TrainTrack said:
This is an interesting concept that requires a lot of thinking to figure out.

I would agree with you in our obviously overwhelming preference for fixed metal bracket appliances may be because there's little real-world cosmetic benefit compared with the other options. I believe that we as a group think there’s little cosmetic difference, but if I were a normy, I would assume that ceramics are pretty much invisible, exactly because of the point Charlie1086 made, they don’t look for them but we do.

I am thinking that people choosing colorful and bulky glasses or colorful ceramic braces has something to do with the fact that they only realize after they get them that they are very much visible, not pretty much invisible as they once believed.

The social stigma that has come with having braces has came down a long way than the 70s, at least from stories I’ve heard (I wasn’t around back then) which has definitely helped with more metal braces and freakishly large glasses.

Alternatively, I would argue with the fact that we’ve become “blind” to other things. At least for me, I don’t actively look for glasses, or hearing aids, but I see them anyway even if they aren’t Iris Apfel glasses. I would agree though that we see things that we are used to seeing, such as the baseball or police officer examples you gave. Pretty much what I’m saying is I don’t believe we go entirely blind to stuff, but we aren’t as perceptive to it as we are to braces.

These are just my thoughts on the matter, but I have no scientific evidence that these are correct. Feel free to contradict me.
Click to expand...


So do you think ceramics actually ARE pretty discreet/unnoticeable to the untrained general eye, but only look pretty visible to us who are interested in braces/have them ourselves because we look for them?

interesting
 
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.
 
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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