New to braces! 27 and getting married next July so hoping to fix that smile

[newsboysgrl777]

Just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Rachel (or Rae) I'm 27 and got my braces put on on July 30 of this year. It's been 4 weeks to the day (Wednesday Aug 27) and I don't know how I'm going to be able to handle having these things on for 23-29 more months!!! Also, I only have the top brackets on right now; my ortho things it's more orthopedic to do them seperately. And if I'm already this annoyed with them and it's ONLY the uppers??? ARGH. LOL

So far I have ceramic uppers (they aren't the sapphire ice ones, they're the other ones I had read about, but I don't remember the name) and am not sure what I'll be getting for the lowers. I have retrognathism (very big overbite due to my lower jaw not growing as much as my upper jaw did) but luckily after 2 opinions, both orthos (and the one I chose to go with) seem to think it can be hidden, though not completely 'cured', without having to go through with orthognathic surgery. (WOO HOO!!! I was NOT looking forward to that AT ALL!!!) However, what gets me is: why didn't any other dentist see that I would need braces? Or see that my overbite was a problem? Or see that my jaws weren't lining up? Why did they wait until I was 27 to say something?? Couldn't they have said something when I was under my parents' insurance?? LOL

So it's been uncomfortable and I find that I'm not talking as much as before (because the little pointy things where the rubber bands will eventually go poke into the inside of my upper lip, and because I kind of have a 'tooth lisp' (that's the best way I know to describe it...LOL)) and it's definitely annoying to eat because I feel like there is ALWAYS something stuck in my braces and I feel like the pressure from the braces just intensifies. :-\

I think I've rambled enough. HA HA. Anyway, I know there are always new people, but if anyone sees my post and has any words of advice on things, I'd welcome them! Thanks!!

[Stephanie]

Hey Rae!

Welcome to the forum, I look forward to reading your blog.

[Janesays]

welcome and congrats on getting married!!!!!

Its never too late and 27 is young.. think of it like this, you will have them off well before 30 and the rest of your life to enjoy those teeth with your hubby!

[newsboysgrl777]

WOO HOO, JANE!! Thanks! It's really hard to think of it like that because I never thought my teeth were particularly BAD before or anything, so it's been really, really hard for me to think of the end result as being anything great or dramatic, you know? (You can see pics of my pre-braces teeth in my photo album, as well as progress pics )

[newsboysgrl777]

Can I ask a question? How come my avatar picture isn't showing up next to my name like your guys' is?

[newsboysgrl777]

never mind. obviously i figured it out. LOL!

[mariahfromchicago]

hope it gets better. Welcome.

[HeadJam]

Man I find I'm lagging in the "welcome" thread. So many people here posting now. There sure are a lot of fellow 27 year olds it seems I know what you mean partly. Having to pay for it myself is sorta annoying, but at the same time it feels great to be accomplishing it alone.

[Sunny]

Great you've started your treatment Rae!

Rinsing your mouth with warm salt water really does help soothe the mouth. Add a pinch of salt to some warm water and rinse whenever you can. Good luck with your mouth adjusting very soon.

Congrats on your wedding ... loads of fun ahead!

[CaitlinC412]

Hi Rae! I am also new to this forum, and to braces (just got them today) and I am also older than the average patient, at 23 I had to stop by and say hi when I saw this post (searched for posts about "lisp", and I know EXACTLY what you mean about the "tooth lisp" - any luck with that??), and then I saw that you are in Buffalo, and that's where I'm from! If you happen to see this, I'd love to know how your lisp is coming along, lol. Cheers

[Zoso]

23's hardly old. An increasing number of adults are opting for orthodontic treatment these days (granted perhaps more in the USA than elsewhere) and a great many are older than you are. There are even people who are into their senior years who are opting to get braces these days. Just think - by the time you're done with this, you'll still be younger than many of us were when we started.

Don't fret the lisping - it probably sounds worse to you than it in actuality is, and it will improve rapidly.

[Adam]

hey welcome

I'm 27 too and getting Invisalign fitted tomorrow!