Foo - Braces for your teeth at middle age

Has anyone ever done this? I'm 46 and I have good teeth but a couple of them could be straighter. (I know, it's vain as hell. I could probably feed 100 starving kids with the money I'll spend. Sigh...)

Anyway, the dentist said it would take two years and that lots of people my age and older have done this.

Any experiences?

I had'em as a teenager....they hurt like hell when the othodontist tighten them.

They have a new way out now, its called invis-align or something like that. Its a serious of clear retainers that slowly straighten out your teeth. Might be worth looking into.

I had'em as a teenager....they hurt like hell when the othodontist tighten them.

They have a new way out now, its called invis-align or something like that. Its a serious of clear retainers that slowly straighten out your teeth. Might be worth looking into.

I axed about that and it's nearly the same price as regular braces. Also, regular braces are almost as invisible as the Invisalign. Doc recommended regular braces.

Had them twice as the ones in high school (and I had the full monty - top and bottom braces - with a stupid rubber band hooked from top eyetooth to lower molar - and yes they snapped out occasionally usually when talking to someone; had an inside lip "bumper" on the lower teeth AND the freaking "Nightbrace" which I wore ALL DAY. Sooo nice as I was the first kid in High School to have braces - not to mention the dam wire I had around my face all day - not to mention I was VERY shy then)

There's just no way you can look cool with these things on! And I don't know what he's smiling about!

http://www.orthodontics.org/headgear.jpg

And then the teeth started to move and I got them again when I was about 25 - got married with them too. Have more than one picture with a glint on my teeth - from the silver braces (no clear, white or colored braces at that time).

And then the teeth started to move and I got them again when I was about 25 - got married with them too.

Yes, the doc said that all patients should wear their retainer at least one day a week for the rest of their lives. Do you have a retainer now?

Funny you mention....I've recently thought about the same thing. My parents could never afford braces for me when I was a kid. My teeth aren't horrible, but are a bit crooked. According to the dentist they are a lot faster now and most people only have to wear them for about a year.

I've given thought to it. I'd like to hear any opinions too. :)

Like Tude, I also had them twice (before and after military service 18 & 25YO)...as well as jaw surgery to realign. That was over 20 years ago. Obviously there have been major improvemnts...but 2 years?! :(

Has anyone ever done this? I'm 46 and I have good teeth but a couple of them could be straighter. (I know, it's vain as hell. I could probably feed 100 starving kids with the money I'll spend. Sigh...)

Anyway, the dentist said it would take two years and that lots of people my age and older have done this.

Any experiences?

Yeah, I get me dental work done at a teaching school, the instructor said I was a prime candidate for restorative work, or whatever the hell they call it. She asked me how old I was, I told her and laughed. Yeah, I think I'll pass.

Funny you mention....I've recently thought about the same thing. My parents could never afford braces for me when I was a kid. My teeth aren't horrible, but are a bit crooked. According to the dentist they are a lot faster now and most people only have to wear them for about a year.

I've given thought to it. I'd like to hear any opinions too. :)

The dentist told me it would still take two years.

I have an overbite so bad that some idiots in high school called me Bugs... and I don't have nearly enough vanity to go through the pain and expense of braces... But, to each their own.

I did explore it briefly in my young adult days, but I couldn't afford it. Now if someone has an issue with it, or says anything, I know it is more a reflection on them than on me. ;)

The dentist told me it would still take two years.
I don't think *I* would do it if it took longer than a year or maybe slightly more.

I have a gap between my front teeth that is so huge it would put David Letterman to shame.

I knew a lady where I worked in her late 30s who had braces and it made her such a turn on to me... ahhhh....

I have a gap between my front teeth that is so huge it would put David Letterman to shame.

I knew a lady where I worked in her late 30s who had braces and it made her such a turn on to me... ahhhh....

http://weblogs.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/blog/ugly-betty.jpg

Yes, the doc said that all patients should wear their retainer at least one day a week for the rest of their lives. Do you have a retainer now?

At that time this was not said - a couple, maybe 3 years at the most was suggested.

I have an overbite so bad that some idiots in high school called me Bugs... and I don't have nearly enough vanity to go through the pain and expense of braces... But, to each their own.

I did explore it briefly in my young adult days, but I couldn't afford it. Now if someone has an issue with it, or says anything, I know it is more a reflection on them than on me. ;)

I had that - and was constantly picked on. Horribly. Even had the one art teacher make fun of me one day when I was laughing. He can go rot in hell too.

My mom just got hers off. She's about 60. She has survived it.

My wife was told about getting braces and more than one honest Dentist told her that braces are put on thru puberty, after that the body doesn't change enough to make them long term effective.. Her teeth would move but they would also go back the way they were. Both movements would be painful. When asked the original Dentist said they would return to their original positions after a few years... We don't go their anymore.

My mom just got hers off. She's about 60. She has survived it.

Good for her!!

I'm 28, male, and currently wear braces. I've been in them for about 19mo and should have them off by the end of the year. I had a gap between my 2 front teeth that I was always a little self-conscious about so decided to jump in and just do it. I don't remember ever getting picked on about it...I just wanted a nice smile. I'm married, with a child, so I think it was a bit easier to do this, knowing I didn't have to impress anyone and resist dating because I might be judged differently. I work in a facility where I see the same people everyday. I meet new people all the time as well, but never feel uncomfortable facing others. I think people sense that you are comfortable with braces and not ashamed to smile with a mouth full of metal. They're the all-out, standard metal brackets that get the job done quicker than clear braces and they're much stronger. And sure, I'm ready to get them off, but it's not a big deal having them. Time goes by faster than you think!
I took decent care of my teeth before braces, but after $5500, you best believe I've missed *maybe* 10 flossings since I've had these in. I brush after each meal, including after coffee. I keep a toothbrush at my desk at all times too. :thumb:

At 39, I'm thinking about braces. My top front teeth are a bit crooked and I wouldn't mind getting them straightened. I've got one daughter getting hers off in about a month and the next daughter will get hers in about a year so I'll probably do it when hers are paid for.

My dad had to get braces in his 70s! He was having headaches, so he was referred to an ortho. The ortho said that his teeth were shifting and crowding the front teeth and if he didn't get braces, his teeth would probably crack. Of course, he didn't enjoy it, but everyone else in the family thought it was hilarious.

My mum got braces when she was 45. Had the clear plastic kind that wasn't too noticeable. Her teeth turned out great!

It's worked for u all these years... why change now?
Don't fix what ain't broke.

I wore braces for 5.5 years and have no regrets. Had them removed when I was 24. I had a big gap between my front teeth and an overbite due to sucking my thumb at night. I had a thumb appliance installed which worked overnight. The braces were to be on for two years but were on longer because I travelled a lot and would miss appointments. That was many years ago and I have no regrets for wearing them for so long. My teeth are relatively straight and receive many compliments. I almost forget how I looked before braces. I did not wear a retainer for some years because it broke. I got a new one that is adjustable and wear it religiously. It is worn not so much for vanity sake but because it is important for me to keep my back teeth aligned so that I don't get headaches or have problems chewing later in life.
All of my fathers children have worn braces. My mother had braces when she was in her late 30s and wore them with pride. Her teeth look nice and will probably serve her until she dies. I think if one can afford to have them do it. I am a bit shallow when it comes to a smile as I like a straight and well taken care of grill but I don't dismiss those with anything less than. No matter what the age of a person is, if health is important, take care of yourself. Teeth are very important for speech and chewing so go for it.

anyone mind sharing a ballpark for what braces cost these days?

Yes, the doc said that all patients should wear their retainer at least one day a week for the rest of their lives. Do you have a retainer now?I had braces in my teens- lost my bottom retainer in college, and those teeth nearly moved back within 6 months- at which point, it was too late. I still wear my top one 1x probably every other week, its snug going in when its been awhile, so yes, they do continue to shift.

Should have gone in right away to have a new retainer molded before my teeth moved. :mad:

I will consider fixing the bottom ones at some point- and asking about built-in retainers (permanently glued to the back of your teeth).

$3600 for my daughters and her teeth weren't that bad. It included wearing some spreader thing she had to wear for about 3 months prior to getting the braces. I think that price might have included a discount through my health insurance so it may be on the pessimistic side.
Btw, love the avatar pic. :)

For someone your age I'd recommend invisalign. And you can only start wearing your retainer once a week after you wear it everyday for a few months. Trust me, I know things. I live with this business surrounding me. And if you only have a few crooked teeth I probably wouldn't do it unless you religiously wear the retainer.

at that age, at least you won't be teased by other kids.

You could always wait until you endo and need to have the chiclets realigned. :bike2: :D

Kevin

(..`course, now it'll happen to me, first!)

never wore them through high school, got them on between 20-22 cost between 3-4000$ and my teeth are amazing now =). I wear my retainer once every couple of weeks, and have a perm bottom retainer.

I had a Frankel around the time I was 11, and then braces between the ages of 15 and 17. I have to wear a top retainer at least one night per week and have a bottom retainer bonded to my lower front teeth.

My mother had braces at one point in her early 30s and still wears retainers. She recently told me that she had them in her teens as well. My wife's grandmother had braces in her 50s and was satisfied with the results.

What are retainers? And do you have to wear them permanently after the braces are taken out? I've also heard of the Invisilign braces, but someone told me that they aren't as effective as traditional braces. Anyone know?

What are retainers? And do you have to wear them permanently after the braces are taken out? I've also heard of the Invisilign braces, but someone told me that they aren't as effective as traditional braces. Anyone know?

About the time your braces treatment is getting complete, the orthodontist will take a mold of your teeth and use that mold to make retainers. They are usually made out of plastic and wire, though there are other types, like Invisalign, available. The retainers are designed to keep your teeth from moving back into their pre-braces positions. After I got my braces off when I was around 17, I had to wear the upper retainer all the time unless I was eating for a pretty good while. Then, over time, I was able to wear it only at night and then at night once or twice per week.

But yeah, you'll probably have to wear some form of retainer for the rest of your life cause your teeth will try to return to their previous state.

I don't want to shell out the hundreds for a crown I need...braces? LOL. My teeth are screwed anyway, my top teeth are wearing away little by little my front teeth. I think it would require surgery to fix that, no thanks.

My teeth were wicked crooked when I was a kid, I had EXTRA teeth that I had removed, so I had big gaps by my two front teeth, which eventually closed.

About the time your braces treatment is getting complete, the orthodontist will take a mold of your teeth and use that mold to make retainers. They are usually made out of plastic and wire, though there are other types, like Invisalign, available. The retainers are designed to keep your teeth from moving back into their pre-braces positions. After I got my braces off when I was around 17, I had to wear the upper retainer all the time unless I was eating for a pretty good while. Then, over time, I was able to wear it only at night and then at night once or twice per week.

But yeah, you'll probably have to wear some form of retainer for the rest of your life cause your teeth will try to return to their previous state.


Why is it that some people will have to wear retainers the rest of their life and not others?

I've considered getting braces lately. I had my wisdom teeth out, but only on one side, so now my teeth are kinda slanted that way 10 years later. My GF thinks I'm out of my mind (but that's true on any given day anyway hehe)..