peRfectionist oR get it oveR with?

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#1 Post by **stRaighteR** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:40 am

Would you prefer to have an orthodontist who is a perfectionist or would you just want one that will fix all your *major* problems and forget the *minor* ones so you can get the treatment over and done with? Personally I would prefer a erfectionist...hmmm...unless they were taking 3+ years to be perfect...

#2 Post by **jcdamon3** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:46 am

Well I don't know if my teeth will ever be perfect anyway. I guess it depends though. If he said, jdcamon3, we can tweak this one last imperfection and it will take two months, then maybe I would be able to weigh my options and decdie if I care about that particular imperfection. I am pretty anxious to get these things off though and move on with my life.

Again - this would depend on if those fixes were the minor cosmetic ones, not the major functional ones.

#3 Post by **jennielee81** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 11:31 am

At first I was all about getting this over with. When my teeth looked good I felt like I was done.

Now that I'm so close to the end, I want them perfect.

Go figure!

#4 Post by **Joanna20** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 11:35 am

Hey, I would prefer a doctor does the best he can with what he is given, no matter how long it takes!

Joe

#5 Post by **iBorg** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 11:37 am

Let's see.... six months more for perfection or a life time to wonder why you didn't keep them another six months? I'll admit I'm a newbie but I think I'd keep them a bit loger.

Of course in 18 months that opinion might change.

Mike

#6 Post by **Jillianleab** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 11:58 am

I think it's really hard to say. For me it would depend on what it would take to achieve "perfection". I think if I had to keep my braces on for another 6 months to correct say, 1mm, I'd probably say no. When I had my consult, I told my ortho I'm looking for improvement, not perfection. I still feel that way, but that's mostly because I don't think I can achieve "perfection" without surgery, and I REALLY don't want surgery!

#7 Post by **Chris** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:34 pm

After 2 years, I will settle for less than perfect.

I want them off !!!!

#8 Post by **JaneBy** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 1:28 pm

After two years in braces, the ortho and I had a discussion at my last appointment. I'm going for as close to ideal as possible (which is not the same as perfect). At this point, another four weeks really isn't that long in the whole time frame. First of all, it took me 41 years to take the steps to getting braces. In the end, will it really matter if the treatment was 24 months or 25 or 26?

And I know this might extend four more weeks at my next adjustment next week.

For $5,500, I want better than just good enough!

#9 Post by **hannah164** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 3:55 pm

Man, I wish I could have perfection even if it took forever! But even my ortho has told me that I will not have a perfect smile even after 3-4 years!

Since I'm missing my lateral incisors, my canines are right next to my front teeth! I think it looks horrible!

But even after years that really can't be fixed!

My bite will never be absolutely perfect but pretty functional I guess!

I guess I've got to settle for what I can get right? STill, it makes me kind of jealous, seeing all of these people with perfectly straight and white teeth!

~hAnnah

Top braces: 4/28/04
Bottom braces: 11/16/05

#10 Post by **lionfish** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 4:44 pm

I went into this for better function and cosmetic improvement. I don't care if I don't get 100%. What I've got now at 7 months is a whole heap better than what I started with.

This will probably sound pathetic, but yesterday my greatest joy was to find that I can now tear sticky tape with my front teeth. I said it was pathetic.

#11 Post by **Gennel** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 7:42 pm

Right now I'm just starting in my treatment and I prefer for my ortho to just fix the major issues like the crowding. I think that when I've been wearing the braces for 2yrs , I will probably want them as perfect as my teeth could be. I am not expecting the Hollywood Smile. I guess I can't really imagine my teeth looking so great!

I think my ortho is a mix of both things.He's a perfectionist or he might consider taking my braces off if I feel "this is as far as I can go" I think I will stick it out though!

Gennel

#12 Post by **lionfish** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 8:56 pm

KK wrote:
This will probably sound pathetic, but yesterday my greatest joy was to find that I can now tear sticky tape with my front teeth. I said it was pathetic.
Not pathetic at all ... I'd so love to be able to do that...

And you will, KK, you will!

#13 Post by **jenstrom** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 11:33 pm

"This will probably sound pathetic, but yesterday my greatest joy was to find that I can now tear sticky tape with my front teeth. I said it was pathetic."
Not pathetic at all...I'll tell you pathetic. When I bite into a kraft cheese single I love the fact that my 2 front teeth aren't sticking out in the impression...my impression left in the cheese is looking good! Like I said...that's almost embarassing to tell!!

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peRfectionist oR get it oveR with?

peRfectionist oR get it oveR with?

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