What was your catalyst?

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#16 Post by **purpleteeth** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 4:32 am

My TMJ/ migraines/ double vision was raging out of control... and within a month of being braced, my migraines reduced to the point where I didn't have to wear an eye patch anymore (I had been wearing one since an extraction 6months prior)...

I was literally desperate to fix my headaches that the neurologist wouldn't fix or couldn't seem to find a way to fix. I never knew braces were part of my solution and I am grateful every single day to my orthodontist and his staff for being so incredible in helping me through this journey --- my life has changed dramatically!!!

#17 Post by **Miranbrady20** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 6:41 am

We all have such moving stories! i hope to hear more!... we are all so strong for taking that step to change our lives for the better!

#18 Post by **BoSox2008** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:03 am

I was similar to a lot of people! My teeth were not perfect as far back as I can remember. Until I was about 13 though, I did not "need" braces because my bite was still okay and I did not have much crowding. When it was time that I needed them, I was in 8th grade. I was just coming out of my awkward stage, and when my parents told me I needed to get braces, I was not about to cooperate! There was no way I wanted to spring back into my awkward stage - especially when all my friends were in the process of getting their braces off.

When I was a freshman in college, I decided to get invisilign. Of course, the orthodontist said I was not a candidate, and I was scheduled to get ceramic braces, top only. I wore a palate expander for 4 months, and I hated it. I felt like there was no way I could have braces, especially at a new school with all new friends. When it came time to get the brackets on, I didn't go to the appointment. My parents were very angry with me because they had already paid 1500 dollars for treatment/expander.

2 years later, I had my AH-HA moment. I was scrolling through Archwired and I saw an album - I think the member's name is Belnickry (or something). She was a girl my age, looked normal and pretty and most of all - she didn't mind that she had Damon braces!! I couldn't believe it, before this I did not see one person over the age of 13 with braces. She made it look so fun and easy. I went to my orthodontist and told him I wanted braces. He braced me with Damon braces and I did not need to wear an expander. Time has passed by quickly and I am getting my braces off in 5 weeks!!!

It was much more of a big deal than I made it out to be. No one cared that I had braces, and although it would have been nice to have my teeth magically transform into a perfect smile overnight with no metal, no elastics, no ibuprofen, and no cutting food into tiny pieces -- that would have been impossible! Braces are much more tolerable and after getting them on I have been very involved with my treatment and very excited about my teeth and other people's teeth. Although I just graduated college, everyone tells me I should become an orthodontist. I'm obsessed with teeth!

#19 Post by **Miranbrady20** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:16 am

im trying to make a blog on blog spot just to help others and show them that braces can be fun ... i want to inspire someone like that girl Lora inspired me with her story and pictures... i been told by my friends that they wish they had somthing to read like my story when they were going through it so they knew they werent alone....

This post topic is helping me alot too ... thanks for posting here guys its been amazing to see where everyone got there urge from!!

Keep em coming

#20 Post by **tabbyayn** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 1:32 pm

Mine would have to be breaking my jaw. If it weren't for my bite being so off now, I would have never have entertained doing braces again.

But such is life and everything happens for a reason I suppose.

#21 Post by **markGl** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 8:14 am

Ever since i was a kid, ( im 22 now ) I begged my mom to take me to the ortho to get braces, she did her best and we ended up going to three conc. but the price was always to high and she couldnt afford it.. my best friend was always great at boosting my self estem ( forget over crowding my teeth are a nightmare ) and i became really comfortable with my smile, i figured if i meet people i want them to like me for me.. not just because of my teeth.. and forgot all about the braces idea...
well i started work and at work they cover 1/3rd of adult ortho treatment, i thought GREAT! but i always thought this was still to pricey from me with all my new found bills... so after time goes along i made a friend at work who had braces ( she had them taken off right as i was getting mine put on ) and i saw how beautiful her smile was and just getting out of a pretty bad relationship i thought man, its time for a change, and time to do somthing for me! so, i took the plunge and never thought twice

#22 Post by **iBorg** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:41 am

I think this question is extremely important to remember. WHY did you do this for your self. Note I choose for instead of to because this is something you are doing FOR yourself. Few others will benefit from your braces.

I've had braces twice, once in the latter part of high school and now as I approach 50. The first time was spurred by a girl looking at me on a moonlight night and screaming that she was with a vampire. NO JOKE. Braces couldn't happen so enough after that experience.

This time the reason isn't clear cut. There were three main factors.

Prior to braces I suffered major TMJ and took NSAIDs in such large amounts that my lower intestines were at serious risk. I was bluntly told either to quit taking them which meant either narcotics, trying to deal with a pain that prevented me from driving or at times even walking, or eliminating the source for the pain.

My then dentist was really gung-ho to bond all my visible teeth at a cost near what I paid for braces. This was a temporary fix that would need repair within three-five years. I just didn't see this as a way to cure my TMJ.

My wife was very supportive. Basically she said if it could help, go for it.

I did and really can't say I've regretted it.

Mike

#23 Post by **Nervous** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:58 am

Someone I knew had braces. I always knew I needed them, but I never thought about it much. After the person I knew had them, it festered in my mind for about a year until I finally gave in and got them!

#24 Post by **Devushka** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:19 pm

I hope you guys will let me join in even though I am an "invisaligner"

When I was young I never thought about my teeth at all or my large gap in between my two front teeth. I had a few cavities but never had any problems that required any real work. It wasn't until I was about in grade 6-7 that I started to realize that my teeth weren't being fixed like other kids. It still never really bothered me as I wasn't teased for my teeth in school but because of my name(Robin). Then in grade 8 is when it hit. I was hitting that age that kids hit, my friends were starting to go out and generally grow up and it is when I started to be a girl rather than just a tomboy. You know, where your hair, clothes, makeup and just general appearance start to mean something(Especially since at that age boys are starting to look mighty attractive). I started to hate my teeth, among other things and my self esteem plummeted(still working on it to this day. It is getting better bit by bit). I was always scared to ask my parents about braces since my dentist never mentioned it at any appointments. My brother had gotten braces when I was about 7(he was 14) and I was wondering when it would be my turn. Thing was though we had different dentists. Two different offices conjoined so that it would be easier for my parents to book appointments for my brother and I at the same time. His dentist was braces happy and would slap them on anyone whereas mine is more "if there is noting really wrong, then let it be." I was told by friends of the family that when my wisdom teeth came in that my two front teeth would come together as that is what happened for their daughter. So for 4 years I just kept thinking that that would happen for me as well but then I found out that I would not be getting my wisdom teeth until I was 24(6 years from then) and so I did nothing and tried to just think that it would turn out okay. Then when I got in university my confidence was even worse. I had to leave my small town where I knew all my classmates who were used to the way and didn't stare to go to a city, to university with a population of 30,000 students and start over friends-wise. I began to look up my teeth problems online and found out that one of the reasons for midline gaps is that the frenum stops the teeth from moving in and I realized that was my problem. So I realized even if my wisdom teeth came in(and who is to say they were going to come in right(they are actually impacted)) my gap likely wouldn't close. Not only that but as my major requires me to speak a lot in public and I am told I am quiet(mostly because I don't like to open my mouth) I felt like I could do myself a favor in two areas in life and decided to make an appointment with a cosmetic dental office. I was told about veneers but the thought scared the hell out of me so I went to a different office and looked at braces and decided on invisalin after I found out I was a candidate. I have hit the half way mark in treatment a little while ago and I am already feeling a lot better about myself.

#25 Post by **HeatherS** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:24 pm

I've been needing to get braces since I was a kid but never wanted to have them. All of my older sisters got braces at the ages of about 12, but my mom couldn't afford mine until I was about 14. By then I was about to start highschool and braces were out of the question. My mom made several ortho appointments but I refused to go to them. She said I would regret it; she was right. In elementary school/jr high I was really self conscious about my teeth. I'd do the "cover your face with your hand" move any time I smiled. I got a lot of comments from people in class about me never smiling. In high school my teeth didn't bother me so much. My first boyfriend did nickname me "fangy" (due to my protruding canines) but I kind of got used to my teeth by then. Anyway, last year I went to Vegas for my 21st birthday. After I got the pictures back I was disgusted. My teeth normally don't look very good in pictures, but they looked HORRIBLE in these due to red stains caused by an abundance of strawberry daiquiris. I was completely embarrassed. I started to look at other pictures and I noticed how much my teeth affected the way I looked. I know it's vain, but that's when I decided to get braces.

#26 Post by **Mimmy** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 2:16 am

I had extremely crooked and crowded teeth and a very large overbite (or overjet? I'm not really sure which is which

) with teeth too large for my small jaw (although some would disagree with me having a small mouth

). I wanted braces when I was 13/14 but never got up the courage to ask about them.

When I turned 16 the dentist bought it up and I ended up having 5 teeth out under general anaesthetic. Got my braces on the month after and two years later, shortly after my 18th birthday, they were removed.

My teeth were PERFECT (well, to me anyway) and for the first time ever I could smile without a hand in front of my mouth. Anyway, I wasn't properly informed about wearing my retainer and they have moved back

They're nowhere near as bad as they were - I will give the biggest grin ever to someone facing me but the overbite/jet is back with a vengeance and so is the hand over the smile if there's ANY chance of someone seeing me from the side.

I'm fed up of being a chipmunk so it's braces again!

#27 Post by **allisun** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 10:48 am

I had one botched attempt at getting braces when I was 16 (long story, I got the bands needed for headgear but couldn't stand wearing it, pitched a fit and got it all taken off.) My teeth weren't great cosmetically, but I was OK with them. When I was 25 and going to a new dentist, he mentioned that the crowding was causing me to have cavities, and I would continue to get cavities if I didn't get things straightened out. When I got the consultation at the ortho, I saw how the ball joint of my TMJ was worn down from biting wrong all these years. And I had insurance which would pay 20% of my treatment--not great, but better than nothing. It seemed like the time to do it! I went into it for health reasons, but the improved look will be nice too

#28 Post by **florencegal** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 2:01 pm

For me, braces has always been primarily about appearance but also a couple of other factors at play. I felt very self-conscious about my teeth since my wisdom teeth came through and messed everything up - I hated having my photo taken and tried to smile with my mouth closed to avoid anyone seeing them. I wanted braces since I was about 19 but then studying languages at university and all the study/work abroad sessions that required meant I didn't have to really confront the possibility of doing it until a couple of years ago.

The final catalysts that found me making the appointment were
- getting a generous scholarship that made it financially possible, and
- realising (and this is a little embarrassing to admit!) that I would never want to get married and have wedding photos with my teeth the way they were! Even though I was single and marriage wasn't even on the very far horizon, I just knew I would never be able to do that if I wasn't able to grin happily from ear to ear without a care in the world.

So now that I'm nearly done, all I need now is a proposal

#29 Post by **shan*rock** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 7:02 am

I've always been pretty self-conscious about my smile. I have nice teeth as far as being pretty white and never having cavities (until about a year ago when I got my first one), but they are crowded and my incisors are prominent, which has always bugged me the most.

Once in college when I was working at Target a little boy (maybe 5) asked his mommy why my teeth were different from his mommy's as I was ringing them out. This always bugged me, even though he was a kid and didn't know any better.

So for years I wanted them, my grandmother was also persistent in saying I really should get braces. But I always had a reason not to. Single mom couldn't afford it when I was young, when she finally could I didn't want them in my senior high school pictures, I didn't want to start college with them, then there were boyfriend issues, then I got engaged and didn't want to have braces in my wedding pictures (very stupid of me). Not I look back at those pictures and really wish I had straightened my teeth beforehand. Then I just started to feel like I missed the appropriate time.

But once invisalign became more popular, I started thinking about it alot more. But of course, I wasn't a candidate. At this point though, I had given it so much thought that I really didn't want to go back to accepting my crooked teeth and decided to just go ahead with the braces at the age of 27...July 24 is brace day.

#30 Post by **Miranbrady20** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 10:47 am

i'll be sending you good luck vibes on the 24th!!