Feel too old for this

[LisainTX]

Ahh! I love this thread! I am older than all of ya!! LOL! LOL!
I am not telling my ripe old age because I am "seasoned", not old.
I had the same concerns about what people would think and then I thought...I am doing this for ME because I DESERVE IT.
I realized this. Some people's parents couldn't afford to get them braces. Later when you are a young adult you might not be able to afford them. Then you may have your own kids and you get braces on them and not yourself. But THEN, when you are "seasoned" maybe there is a way you can finally afford them. Perhaps you've paid your car off or something. Whatever. Its no ones business because YOU are WORTH IT. And whomever is not happy along with you is not worth worrying about. LIke they said above- Embrace those braces!!!
Now, ligature colors. I got my first bands last week and got mint green. I like that color and they are kinda pretty. But, I am with someone else above in that I think I may go with the most obnoxious colors I can in the future. Maybe change according to holidays even. OR.....I think that they make glow-in-the dark!
HAVE FUN! Heck, we may as well. We're all stuck with 'em for awhile, right?
I am trying to figure out how I can get lights on mine for Christmas. If I invent a way, I will share with you......

[Beckett]

So who is watching the Olympics? Who is being weird and diagnosing all those winning smiles? I'm finding myself saying "Oo, Michael Phelps should get that open bite fixed." And some runner..."wow, he's got quite a case of vertical maxillary excess". Terms I never knew before I joined this site. I'm trying not to be judgmental, but you just *notice* now!

[oldfart]

I play armchair ortho all the time! Although not very good as I hit maybe 20% of my own appts correct when guessing what was going to be happening at them.

[Lorimac]

Hi! Im 41 with braces for a year now....I also have 4 teen sons with braces (i used to feel the need to explain that my kids were paid for from an inheritance when my husband died but now i don't care what anyone thinks of how we paid for it....i like to let their imaginations just go crazy lol)
At first I was worried how it would change my appearance because I'm a twin. We don't look as much alike anymore but if Im honest time and life has done a bunch of the work to make us look less alike. Then I was worried about looking like a hillbilly missing a canine (impacted) while they made space but on the whole id say most of those thoughts are gone. Im doing something for me and i have earned it. The biggest thing that sucks about doing this while I'm older is that I'm busy,...I'm finding it hard to manage work and appts...or days where my teeth just hurt. My kids are busy too but it doesn't matter if they need a day to sleep off their latest adjustment....I've got places to be lol.
Lori

[cocomacd]

I understand! I am 38 and getting mine on this Tuesday! I'm excited. Its hard to feel like people are going to be starting constantly at our mouths...but then I think, I never stare at people with braces, or even care, they are so common. I hope by now you have been having a good experience so far and the worrying has been worth it!

[EntrancedBoar91]

I'm right there with all of you! I'm 35 and had Invisalign for 3 years - was out of them for a year before I finally bit the bullet and went to an ortho to fix my wonky bite (my general dentist did my Invisalign and didn't address my bite issues at all). I'm now in my second week in braces. Ceramic on top and metal on back teeth and bottom teeth. I have elastics I wear in an upside down triangle shape... He had me start those the day my braces were on...

I think the first week or two are the worst. Seeing everyone you know... Just awkward. But now I'm working on not caring! I want a healthy, functional mouth and this is the way to get there! My best to you all!