Braces Wednesday - the nerves are kicking in!

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#1 Post by **cathykay** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:45 am

I got my spacers put in last Wednesday and now this Wednesday, I'm getting my braces on. I can't believe the day is SOO close! When I realized how soon it is, I felt my stomach twist into a knot of nerves. I have so many ridiculous questions coming to mind... What if I completely hate the way I look with braces? How will I deal with that for 18-24 months? What if my boyfriend doesn't find me attractive anymore? Will kissing be uncomfortable? How the heck will my thin top lip cover the brackets? What if I feel so self-conscious that the braces start to affect my life in a negative way? What if I don't like the outcome (how ridiculous, I KNOW!)? When I start student teaching, will my braces affect my chance of getting a job there? etc etc. I'm just so nervous all of a sudden.

I have wanted braces for a while and I know that when the treatment is done, I will most likely be happy that I did it, but that thought alone can't seem to shake off the nervousness. Did anyone else experience this sudden overwhelming amount of (some weird) questions? Is anyone else feeling this way? Any experiences, advice, and kind words welcome. I would really appreciate it. I feel so overwhelmed that I feel like I might CRY! How pathetic.

Cathy

#2 Post by **megs29** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 10:27 am

Don't worry, Its natural to feel that way before something as life changing as getting braces. Remember, you're doing this for a reason..whether your teeth are crooked, you might have jaw surgery down the road, whatever..

Before I got braces I briefly thought the same things you did.. but when I had got them on..oddly enough I felt more confident than before!! 18-24 months may seem like a long time now, but its a drop in the bucket, really.

And if you were up for a job and they turned you down because of something as silly as your braces..would you really want to work there? I wouldn't!!

Just think positively about it. Id have adjustments sometimes where nothing would really get changed, or there wasn't too big of a difference..but you can't let things like that get you down at all.

Good luck!!!

#3 Post by **pegasus2425** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 1:26 pm

Hopefully everything goes well for you today. I'll be praying for you.

#4 Post by **cathykay** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 2:17 pm

Well... I DID IT!

Megs: You're right about the jobs. I guess the thing is, I already look young and I feel like if I look even younger (now with braces), people might not take me seriously. It ties into my insecurities I suppose. I know that looking young should be a good thing but I'm 20 so I'd rather look my age - if not a bit older - than look younger! But anyway, thank you for your reply. It helped to know that my thoughts are normal concerns.

Pegasus: Thank you for the kind thoughts and prayers!

I'm considering making a journal on "Our Braces Stories" sometime soon.

#5 Post by **magster** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 8:32 pm

If it makes you feel any better... I'm 22 and look like I am 18

hahah

now that + braces makes me probably 16

oh well.... Im going to enjoy this looking young thing while it lasts

#6 Post by **Andromeda** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 7:04 am

Yea I hear ya magster - when I started a new job last year at age 23 and with braces, I had a guy tell me he thought someone had brought their kid to work when he first saw me because he guessed I was around 14 years old...

I thought that was kind of rude to say to a grown woman. I mean most 14 year olds have bearely gone through puberty yet and Id like to think I look a BIT more mature

But that has happened to me several times where Im mistaken for a mid-teen... I try to keep my mouth closed around bouncers at bars, haha.

#7 Post by **magster** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 7:17 am

Hmm ya that was rude

I'm sorry.

and I completely understand "keeping your mouth close around bouncers"
the good thing, I didnt smile (showing my teeth) in my drivers license/ID picture so they cant be like OHH smile

HAHAHAH and if they did they would probably ask for 2-3 more forms of identification.

but like I said.. oh well? By the time I'm 30 maybe I'll look like Im 25 and Im sure that will make me happy

#8 Post by **Andromeda** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 7:48 am

That's true. Everyone always tells me that Ill appreciate looking young when Im older... my mom said she continued to get carded into her 30s so apparently looking young runs in the family. I think its because we are small by genetics and I have a thin face that's not very filled out. Oh well, Ill just wait a decade or 2 and hopefully will be able to take comments like that as a compliment

#9 Post by **hal2me** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 10:45 am

Hi Cathy,

I had braces put on at the age of 34. Like you, I was a bundle of nerves. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought. It took 45 minutes to put ceramic braces on the upper and lower teeth. The pain was minimal. Just be sure to take a pain reliever before you go. Your teeth are going to be sensitive for a week or so. Be careful eating. You will have some minor irritation from them, but it's not bad. My experience was good and so will yours. Wishing you the best of luck!! Welcome to the club! Keep us posted!!

Erin

#10 Post by **kirjax** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 10:54 am

The first day I got braces put on my teeth I so regretted it. I just thought I looked hideous. But the feeling goes away and I couldn't believe how fast and easy the whole process was! I now have no regrets and looking back I would do it all over again......(maybe) lol.