Hey guys,

I was just wondering if anyone here has had braces in their 20s, or if you currently have braces. I didn't have the privilege of having braces as a kid, and my crooked teeth never bothered me that much. But now that I've graduated and I'm entering the real working world, I feel much more self-conscious about my smile, especially since I'll be teaching and in a profession where I will have to constantly be speaking in front of people and meeting administrators, etc.

I've considered braces, but I am just too self-conscious about the idea of being 21 and with a "metal mouth." What if I can't get any dates?! haha...I've also thought about Invisalign, but I hear it's very painful (and much more $$$ too!)

Anyone have any words of advice or wisdom? It'd also be encouraging to know that others are in the same boat as I am...

i don't have ne but i shurely would like to get some.
but i don't hella **** up teeth but it's kinky & hot.... (:

I'm sorta in the same boat and I'm more worried about how I'll be perceived professionally with metal-mouth than how it will affect my dating life. But I think I'll still go for it.
Invisalign hurts more than braces?!?

i had to wear braces for a year and a half - i was 23 - to correct my dislocated jaw from a car accident.

yes ... being a metal mouth sucked. it was difficult at first ... esp. socially. but you just have to deal with it ... get over the insecurity and live your life normally.

no pain, no gain - right?

i'm sure you'll love your new smile after the treatment. good luck

i'm 20. i'm getting braces in 5 days. wearing them for 2 years give or take.

braces aren't permanent, and you shouldn't be so self conscious (sp?) about them! they're gonna come off... i had braces in high school, and i wasn't ever teased about it. so i guess if high school kids can see past them, so can adults. my cousin was 28 when he got his braces (he had to wait for insurance to cover them). basically it all comes down to either fixing your teeth or not fixing them at all. as for the dating thing? well, do you really want a girl who's so superficial that she can't see past a few brackets that are going to come off eventually? i just don't see the reason to be so self conscious about braces.

i got my braces when i was 18 im still wearing them now (im 20) they coming off real soon. Was 100% worth it even though i felt a bit old getting them. I love my teeth now i dont know how i feel if later on down the track with my horrible crooked teeth

I was never teased about my braces and it has not affected me whatever socially and with dating also. Only problems was just eating foods after tighten the braces. Thats my input

good luck

Yeah I have braces for about 7 months now, at first I was self-conscious but now it dont effect me. The only problem is getting food inbetween and tighting them, I am 21 by the way.

I'm 20 and I wanna get some put in... I think they're so totally hot (that's not the reason why I'm getting them though).

Im planning to get them myself and im 23 years old. See if you are a candidate for Invisalign and go to a dentist who is certified and up to date on the latest techniques.

Fortunately, i am so that is what im planning to get. Its a bit more expensive but i think a very good investment overall. For you mentally, emotionally and physically if you are self conscious about your teeth.

I'm 21 and am wearing braces (and will for the next 2 years). Unfortunately I was not a candidate for Invisalign.

If you're going to be in school during the duration of the adjustment, then braces shouldn't be a problem. If you're working, I would tend to err towards Invisalign (but keep in mind that the results of Invisalign tend to not be as good as braces)

Braces don't look too bad plus there are also ceramic braces and/or ones that can be placed BEHIND your teeth. Look out for the options.

I had braces when I was in 11th grade in high school. I thought it was awkward then.. I'm not very good about wearing my retainer though, so my teeth have shifted. I would definetly recommend looking into having your teeth straightened now rather than later on in life. A straight set of teeth improves your appearance ten fold, and it gave me lots of self-confidence too.

Im planning myself to get braces (20), I had braces back in elementary school but was not good about wearing my retainer...=/ (btw, was it suppse to hurt a bit with that thing on? haha) But Yeah I am planning to get braces within this month, so your not alone.

I got braces in 10th grade and got them removed in 12th and had to wear a retainer for six months. Unfortunately, I should've kept wearing the retainers because the tooth that gave me the most problems has started to shift a little ... even with all the space in my mouth after having four teeth pulled in order to get those braces.

Just so you know, getting braces as you get older is more painful and may take longer because your teeth won't be as "sensitive" as when you were young. And, I also heard that Invisalign is painful. It's like wearing a mouth guard without first molding it.

Hi, I am way over 20, and I have braces. At first I was worried about it professionally too, but once I had the braces done, everybody else got use to it and they still treat me the same at work.

Actually, some of my friends and coworkers are thinking about getting braces too!

Actually, I wouldn't mind having braces.
I would rather have pretty teeth and go through pain. =D
I would do it if I have money..o_o

You should get Invisilign....they're almost transparent. You won't have to worry about people staring at you or anything like that.
And no, straightening your teeth at any age is ok, as long as you still have them!

I got braces kinda late, when I was 19. I had them on for a little under 2 years. At first I felt a little self-conscious but as I got used to them, I didn't seem like such a big deal. No one really gave me any flack about them either. In hindsight, I'm glad I got them. I say go for it. It will be weird at first but it's worth it.

The bad things about braces are ...
1. not being able to eat crunchy foods (although I disobeyed that rule ... no bracket loosage there!),
2. tightening of braces each month, and
3. those damn metal rings that around the molars ... I hated those.

don't worry!
i'm in the same field as you are and i have braces
kids love it
they really have good eyes because they would notice if you changed your color
the only problem is that since you and I are in our early 20s, with braces we will look more like teenagers.

I'm 26 and I just have braces on abt 4 mths ago. Have to wear it for 2 yrs. It was quite tough during the first 2 mths, with the tightening and frictions. But got used to it eventually..... The only problem now is that I have to keep checking it after meals, just in case some food stuck in between the metals....

Oh man, you think being 20+ and still wearing braces is bad – imagine being in such bad shape as me, where even my dentures need braces!

I guess I should never trust dentists named "Guido" as my primary dental provider.

(And what's worse, my dental insurance won't help cover it. Go figure.)

i got my braces in the first week of january...i just turned 21 in march...


feeling self-conscious is dumb in my opinion....

i know people who have braces right now...my neurologist has braces and he hasd to be in his 30's....people at my church have them and they are married with kids...it doesnt matter what age you are

i wanna get braces and have them grilled in gold ;]

INTRUDER ALERT!

.......................................................

I had braces and got them off about a month after I turned 20. It might feel uncomfortable to speak in public when you have braces but I think it is worth it in the long run. As for dates, if someone turns you down because you have braces then they're probably not worth dating. It's not like braces are permanent. After they are removed you will look and feel even better!

About Invisalign, I hear only certain people can have them and yes they are more expensive. Like maybe those with teeth that don't need TOO much fixing

crap... i need to get braces too...

I've been putting off braces for years and I am way over 20
I seriously think I am going to do it now though. I spend too much time angsting over my teeth and there is a solution to it (braces) so why angst?
I just need to find out what insurance can cover and what is out of pocket *sigh*...

i'm just waiting for my company to expand

pretty soon

i'll be getting an assistant by then i wouldn't need to talk to my customers all the time

i was 20 when i got my braces! (now i'm 21)

dude...it's totally worth it! you only go through 2 years max with braces and then you'll have perfect smile for the rest of your life...!

i dunno about that...i basically had to deal with an orthodontist from when i was in junior high until college.(lots of things happened and i had a serious jaw problem. i won't get into it).

hell, today i just had my last orthodontist visit ever. i cried tears of happiness.

i am almost 20 and i think that is ok to have them!they are cute.<3

^ Intruder Alert o_O


Well the worst case scenario ive seen was someone who had them for about 5 years and when they came off... well I thought they looked pretty ordinary. The row of teeth actually kind of sloped because the each tooth was a different size... I suppose that couldn't be helped.

But every single person Ive talked to says it was definately worth every bit of money, time and pain. For me I was extremely lucky, I was supposed to have them for 2 years but it actually went surprisingly faster and I ended up only wearing them for 10 months

Please read the rules. This forum is only for 20+ ppl.

* Give somus $2.99 *

I want them too. Was concern about my age for having braces late.. >__<

no...one in five people with braces are an adult...if you think baout it...that's alot of adults...

anyhow...

just becuas ethe majority of people with braces are little...doesnt mean that they are for little kids..

of course there's nothing wrong with it
i knw nowadays even those in their 40s hav braces on
just wear it, and carry urself with confidence with everyday.hehe
i'm 21 and plan to wear one also but that will hav to wait
so i'll be ooooveerrrrrr 20 by the time i hav it on

i'm 25 and considering it...but i wanna see if i qualify for getting some veneers 1st instead.

i'm 22 & i'm actually thinking of getting them.
i want the invisilign, but the dentist says i cant get
them for some reason. =___= which totally sucks.

I have a severe overbite, I think I'm going to get braces pretty soon....

but it would suck if I have to get my wisdom teeth taken out first

I got my braces after my University and I must admit it was really painful and there are a lot of foods that you can't eat for 2 yrs. Braces also cost an arm and it didn't look good (got the metal ones). But from my point of view it was totally worth it. I got a better smile. And think of it people live longer these days and you get to enjoy your smile for at least another 50 yrs. From the looks point of view a great smile beat crooked teeth. Besides a lot of people in their 40's + get braces these days.

I always thought, "Why bother going through the financial and physical pains of getting and wearing braces when eventually, you can eventually own a set of perfectly straight false teeth"?

i'm not sure if i want to get braces or not, mostly because of the pain rather than how it looks. i used to be really self concious about my teeth, but lately i've realized that it's not so bad. however, it could definitely use adjusting.

i heard that invisalign takes a bit longer than regular braces, but i'm not sure. i just checked the "before and after" pictures on their website invisialign.com and i was like WTH! some of the pictures look almost exactly the same, sooo... it seems like you can only get them if you have minor adjustments. kinda lame.

question: for those of u who had braces, how damn painful was it?

Well I was totally opposite to your thinking, I was prepared to go through pain, but was worried how it would look more than anything else

For me, I remember the most painful bit was when they put the spacing elastics in between my teeth. Hurt for about 5 days, couldn't chew a banana without it hurting. Thats the worst bit, but the first few months were still hell because you had to get used to speaking, eating and the formation of mouth ulcers. Tightening hurts a lot too in the beginning. But after those months pass you get used to it and may even look forward to appointments like I did. Every tightening meant one step closer to finishing.

Depending on whether your teeth are too crowded or not, you might have to take a few teeth out. If you have to take teeth out, it will take ~6 months longer for the whole treatment + extra pain and discomfort.

But one thing is for sure. Every bit of pain was worth it and everyone who has had braces will tell you exactly the same thing.

I have the behind the teeth braces, it's not that bad except I have to get regular braces in a few months. I don't see anything wrong with having braces when your 20+. I won't be bracefree until i'm 24, so I have 4 years left to go

psh. i had em when i was in high school and i need em again for like 6 months. i dun care wut ppl think i'm getting my teeth straight....plus we should have all matured to understand that. if ur friends don't. well. they suck. LOL.

I'm 24 and I got braces awhile ago and honestly they aren't bad at all. I paid a little more and have the clear braces and although people notice my braces it's not like they look bad or anything. I might be one of the lucky few but my braces don't really bother me too much or cause me a lot of pain when i had the spacers put on my teeth that hurt like a mofo but now i hardly notice my braces. Get the braces your teeth and smile are important.

I had this whole story written about my braces, the teeth extractions, how much pain I had etc.. And like a week ago Soompi crashed and my reply got lost .

Anyway, in short. I'm 20 and have braces now for a few weeks.
My advice: if you are thinking about braces, think fast and make sure to get as much info you can (ortho costs, which ortho, insurance etc..), because it might take a long while.
Maybe it's because I'm in the Netherlands (and because of the 4 teeth extractions), but I made my first appointment in february and still had to wait for the first appointment until april (which apparantly is pretty fast). In september I finally got the braces.

I had my braces remove just before i turned 20 but my treatment is still going on and it's going to be 10 year since it started I'm only waiting for my lower jaw to stop growing so that i can have surgery to pull it back