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Right I know this is going to sound silly because well it's his job and he sees crooked teeth everyday, but I'm so self concious of my crooked (although well looked after) teeth, that I'm even kind of embaressed to have the ortho look in my mouth at my first appointment in a few weeks. I just think that all the nurses there will be looking too and wondering why I didn't get it done when I was younger and couldve got it free on nhs and look down at me for putting it off til I'm 22.
Anyone else had these concerns.... Probably not, I think I'm just over thinking things again!! One things for sure though, I'm definetly not gonna back out of this thing, I want my White healthy teeth to be perfect so I can smile without being self concious!!
I'm yet to be braced too and just waiting for a letter from an orthodontist to start arranging things (saw my dentist and although i can't get in on the nhs, he's sending a referral through).
I do feel slightly self conscious even when visiting the dentist so I'm sure I will when i see the orthodontist but this is our chance to get what we want and yes there will be moments of discomfort along the way but keep focussed on the end goal! Plus, it is there career, I'm guessing that it's like a child in a sweet shop and as soon as they see our teeth they're concocting ideas with glee
I can understand where you're coming from (because I've been embarrassed of my crooked teeth since a young teen), but I am not experiencing the same right now, which I am surprised about.
I think I have actually gone the total opposite. When I had my first consultation it never even entered my head about being shy of the Orthodontist and assistant seeing my wonky teeth. But back in November last year when I went to see the oral surgeon to have my wisdom teeth removed I felt totally uncomfortable and thought he'd be judging me by my crooked teeth .
I think because I want this SO bad, I really am just going with it. It's really strange because I'm even not embarrassed to show my mum, brother and other people my teeth how they are now and telling them I want a brace, yet years ago I wouldn't have even dreamed of showing people my teeth problems.
I highly doubt anyone will be thinking anything like you mentioned in your post and you'll be fine. I actually think it makes us look good in that we are taking an interest in our teeth and wanting to correct them. I say better late than never!
I'm really quite excited about getting a brace, so in a few years time no more crooked teeth! Yeah bring it on! lol
Braces: Metal fixed upper and lower Estimated treatment time: 18-24 months Braces Removed: August 2013 (after 33 months in braces) Retainers: Upper & lower essix and lower bonded My Story / Before & After photos
I would not be embarrassed at all to go see an orthodontist. I say this because the ortho's (and their staff) that I have been involved with, love their jobs, they love what they do, they are there to help you and it really shows! Iif this isn't apparent when you go in for a consultation, then I would not go back.
Even my general dentist and his staff make me feel the same way. There is a reason why people work in the dental field, they are not there to judge you, they are there to help. I have had my braces for almost a year. When I go in for adjustments, most of the time, the ortho/dental assistants are more excited about the movement or changes than I am.
By going in for a consultation you are showing that you care about your teeth. They want you there so they can help you improve your smile and bite. Most offices have patients ranging from very young to older, and there are many reasons why people did not go the ortho route earlier in life. I have never heard of any ortho asking someone why they didn't do this earlier.
You said you have good oral hygiene, this is great! It makes the ortho's job easier. When you think about it, in the mind of the ortho, he can "perfect" crooked teeth, but he really can't do anything about unhealthy teeth. That part is up to you.
Yea you are all right!! And in fact I'm pretty sure that they're gonna be very happy too see me, considering they shall be getting a hell of a lot of money outta me!
I'm also really excited to just get started, I just want these things put on now, I'm so impatient!
I am also waiting for my letter from orthodontist after just having had my dentist refer me, although it's going to be a while still before I have them fitted I believe, due to the fact that I think I'm going to have to save a little longer for the down payment and extractions. I'm even strangely lookin forward to those as it signals the start of the journey!
Its perfectly normal to be self conscious about our teeth in front of the orthodontics.
It being self conscious didnt stop me from seeing the orthodontists. I need them to help my smile and make it better. As I am self conscious around other people.
I even told them "I bet you have never seen teeth like mine" and they have seen teeth like mine and worse. They are used to it.
Remember they are in the business in beautifying your smile so that way you will no longer be self conscious and can smile freely without bondage.
Don't worry they have seen it all and don't care. They don't see the mess you think but they try to envision the end result and what needs to be done to get there. Trust me they seen worse. Good luck.
Braces on July 31, 2010
Braces off November 1, 2011
This is fairly common. Many pts think they are the WORST case you have ever seen. It often stems from poor self-esteem from their smile. this is totally normal. Most often when a pt tells me that and we take a look they arent even the worst person I have seen that day and I explain how we can help them and usually this hope really seems to help them.
FWIW, the most rewarding cases for me are the ones that start like this and then really get a fantastic dose of self esteem 7 self confidence. It is great to watch the transformation!!!
If possible, see an ortho who has a lot of experience with adult patients. When I was looking for one, I had 3 consultations. At 2 of the offices, the receptionist didn't ask for me, but asked for my parent ("who is here with MES?"... )I was very put off by that since I had called for the appointment and told them I was 30.
The staff at the orthodontist I am seeing told me at my consultation that 20% of their patients are adults and the office itself is not too kid-oriented. I don't feel out of place there.
I highly doubt the ortho cares. It's his job to work on perfecting smiles, bites etc. I was embarrassed for the simple thought of him wondering why the heck didn't I fix my teeth earlier afterall I am in my 30's.
I have finished with braces - on retainers now but I saw on my notes 'fixing the lower midline will be a challenge'! So I stopped worrying about how the orthodontist viewed my teeth.
It seems to me that the work of an orthodontist is a like an engineering project or trying to solve Rubiks Cube where you have to get the right combination of moves.
If you wonder what the orthodontist thinks, do you wonder what other people think? I mean just random people you pass on the subway, in the store? They are probably wondering why you do NOT put braces. Nobody cares why you didn't put them a long time ago, but when you have the chance now, why not do it now? The past is irrelevant.
True story: a previous girlfriend (with braces) had a co-worker (without braces) who had really crooked teeth. We always used to make fun of her because her teeth with so crooked but she didn't do anything about it. She knew, and everybody knew, that she needed braces but she just didn't get them, and nobody knew why. One day we were walking to the dentist office and who is stepping out of it (by complete coincidence) but the girlfriend's co-worker. Just in for her first consult and was in braces like about a week later. Our opinion of her got a lot stronger and we became friends. Nobody ever made fun of her for crooked teeth again.
34 y/o guy with full metal brackets and molar bands since 12/16/2009.
1st Adjustment + secondary molar bands 1/23/2010.
2nd Adjustment 3/27/2010.
3rd Adjustment 5/1/2010.
4th Adjustment 6/11/2010.
5th Adjustment 9/29/2010.
6th Adjustment 2/8/2011.
I thought my young daughter's teeth looked crooked and when I took her to the ortho he said "her teeth look great." I questioned him and he said he sees all kinds of teeth and so, to him, hers are minor in comparison. My point is, orthos have seen it all. They're in the business of fixing teeth--not judging you for yours and your lack of fixing them thus far.
tsmurfenator wrote:We always used to make fun of her because her teeth with so crooked but she didn't do anything about it. She knew, and everybody knew, that she needed braces but she just didn't get them, and nobody knew why.
Well why didn't you just ask, rather than make fun? No one knows the facts until they ask... maybe she simply just couldn't afford the cost of a brace.
tsmurfenator wrote:Just in for her first consult and was in braces like about a week later. Our opinion of her got a lot stronger and we became friends. Nobody ever made fun of her for crooked teeth again.
Why would you judge someone just because they didn't get a brace? And why would you make fun in the first place? That's rather cruel in my opinion.
No offense tsmurfenator, but from reading what you just put, I fee it's people like you and your previous girlfriend who make people really upset if they haven't got perfect teeth . I am sure if someone has an issue with what an Orthodontist thinks they will naturally worry what others think too, the least anyone needs with or without a brace is made to be made fun out of.
Just my opinion.
Braces: Metal fixed upper and lower Estimated treatment time: 18-24 months Braces Removed: August 2013 (after 33 months in braces) Retainers: Upper & lower essix and lower bonded My Story / Before & After photos
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. I am sure if someone has an issue with what an Orthodontist thinks they will naturally worry what others think too, the least anyone needs with or without a brace is made to be made fun out of.
