Is it OK to settle for less than perfect?

[SkizzyD]

I believe some imperfection is perfection! It makes you unique. As long as you are comfortable with it.

[Matilda]

I believe some imperfection is perfection! It makes you unique. As long as you are comfortable with it.

I absolutely agree! True perfection has to be imperfect!

[Anna5]

Beautifully said!

[Anna5]

My ortho said I don't need surgery anymore for my crossbite! It is great news, but now I also know that my teeth/ jaw will never be perfect. My upper jaw will always stay narrow, but my ortho is ok with that and so should I I think.... Sometimes, I feel depressed over this, sometimes I think it is a life lesson for me to accept myself the way I am, that I don't need to be perfect.... Nobody is expecting perfection from me, so why should I?

Anyone else who is going into treatment knowing the results will never be 100% perfect, but is ok with this?

[djspeece]

I just always assumed that the result would not be 100% perfect. Frankly I am not sure what "perfect" even means. I have so many imperfections that I am not sure how I would deal with "perfect!" I find imperfections endearing.

[Anna5]

Thank you very much for your beautiful words of wisdom, djspeece!

[Anna5]

Anyone else who is settling for less than perfect???

[kribbo]

Anyone else who is settling for less than perfect???

Hi Anna, yes I will be settling for less than "perfect" in terms of the "Hollywood" smile when my braces are off. I've got 2 completely rotated upper premolars, they face the wrong way with the two prongs facing outwards rather than inwards as they should. Believe it or not, I actually quite like them like that, I think it makes my smile unique.

I've got braces to fix my front teeth on my upper and lower arches as they annoy me when I see them in photos. It's strange how we focus so much on some things but not others isn't it? I could've fixed the premolars, but it would have taken a lot longer and I was worried about them being turned so much - thought it would throw my bite off (though I know it could've been sorted). Basically I'm looking for a smile that I am happy with it, not other people. Maybe that's bad for my arches/bite in the long run, but I'm taking the risk and am pleased that my smile will not be too "processed" looking - I think it's nice for people to have little quirks like that, it makes them human.

That's great news for you about the surgery - I'm certain your teeth look fantastic and there's no need to feel down about them, think about the huge improvements! I'm sure that you will be the only person to think that your teeth are not "perfect" but try to judge yourself as you would other people - be kind to yourself!

[JohnsonSon]

Maybe I'm nuts, but I want as close to perfect as possible. I shaved my front incisors down (they were getting too close to the opposite teeth anyway) and now my teeth are all uniform length. It looks a lot better. I don't think I'd be ok with spending all this money and then not having my bite be exactly how I want it.

I'm also pretty anal about symmetry and alignment, it would drive me nuts if it wasn't the same on both sides.

[Anna5]

Thank you for your very kind and encouraging reply, Kribbo. I am happy to hear that you are not chasing after a Hollywood smile, but after a smile that makes you YOU.

You are right that I should not be so hard on myself.... My smile is surely not as bad as I think, otherwise the ortho and surgeon would definitely told me to have surgery I think.....

Also thanks for your message, Johnsonson. Are you happy with how your teeth are now? I hope you will get the results you want without surgery, or do you still think about surgery to get it all 100% perfect? What does your ortho think about your progress?

I wish you both all the very best!