To get braces or not to get braces?

Question

Let me tell you my story. I am 17, and will be turning 18 in April. The orthodontist said I need to get braces, and I am not sure if I should. He said I need them for two reasons - 1. My teeth hit evenly and I am very close to having an underbite but for now its just even. 2. I speak with a slight lisp sometimes and its kind of hard for me to pronounce some things, although everyone I know says its extremely far from noticeable.

Anyways I don't know if I should get them. I feel like if i get them now I will have two of my most important years of my life with braces when I probably dont NEED them, but if I don't get them I will always know how I could have had perfect teeth and it will bother me forever.

What should I do?

Also- how much of a pain in the butt are braces? And do girls really care if a guy has braces? Does it take away from attractiveness that much?

http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/6834/nonamewa9.jpg


there is a picture of what I am dealing with....

i look totally normal mind you...everyone thinks I have very nice teeth and cant even notice a problem...but I notice it...

Answer 1

Ok your teeth really arnt that bad.. but if your dentist reccomends it then it might be best. Especially if you have a lisp because of your teeth. Your still young.. so those two years will fly by. You dont want to be 25 and later on decide you want to have braces.. At least your pretty young getting them. You will have beautiful straight teeth, and you wont have any overbite problems. I would say if you can prevent something then do it early.. before something gets worst and you gotta pay more money. Braces arnt that bad, they hurt when you first get them in but its not pain you cant use tylenol to get rid of.

Answer 2

I`m 24 and i have had braces on for a year now. Their not that bad but, what bothers me most is food getting stuck in them and sometimes the wire/brackets dig into my cheeks. Other than that the braces are not really a problem for me but, i wish i had gotten them at an earlier age. If you really need braces you may or may not. Try getting a second opinion on the situation it helps. And don`t worry people will still like you. lol

Answer 3

I should have gotten braces as a young adult, but did not. I was not happy with my smile, so I went to an orthdontist and got them when I was 25. It was a personal decision. Remember tho, that orthodontics is not about cosmetics, but also serves to keep your teeth in alignment, resulting in healthy chewing and talking functions. I would highly recommend NOT doing any treatment of your own as suggested by another poster. I would say, get 2nd opinion to help you decide. Orthodontic plans may vary from one orthodontist to another. ALso, you may be a candidate for Invisalign- a type of treatment where you wear a series of clear "retainers" throughout your treatment instead of traditional metal brackets. Good Luck!

Answer 4

I was told I needed braces because I had a permanent tooth grow on the outside of the baby tooth. I refused AND I fixed it myself...
Here's how... They pulled the baby tooth. I then slept on my stomach and place my mouth where the tooth was on my hand. The constant pressure all night pushed the tooth into place.
For you...Can you sleep on your stomach? You have an even bite? Two things...One, you can get a retainer that is placed on the roof of your mouth to slightly push your front teeth out. or..Two..Sleep on your stomach and place your hand under your chin. Make sure your front teeth are offset. This will be uncomfortable for a while but it will do roughly the same as braces and rubber bands that they want to do.
Your thing...You shouldn't need the full front grille to correct your even bite.

Answer 5

It's probably smart to get them now. You won't like them, I'll say that, but it will pay off in the long run. I had braces for 3 years! Yep! That's a long time! The only advice I"m going to give you, is....WEAR YOUR RETAINER! If you don't, your teeth will go back to the way they were and it will be a waste of money and all that time you spent wearing the braces. I'm living proof! If I could go back I would've worn my retainer everyday! Good Luck!

Answer 6

im a girl, 18, and i just ot braces in november, you should get them. girls wont care unless theyre cruel, some girls think its cute, i personally dont mind either way. but you should get them now so you wont have to deal with them when you get older.

the only thing thats a pain in the butt is eash month when u go to your appt, whatever they change will b sore for about a week or less. and sometimes in between the months, as your teeth change, the brackets and/or wire may cut the inside of your cheeks but its nothing a little bit of wax wont help.

i say definitly get them

Answer 7

i am 16 and was just told i need braces. i think i am going to go for it because i dont want them in college or when i am older you know? i thought these would be the two most important years, but now that i think about it, you might want to have them now and not later on in life.