https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 23 Apr 2026 21:49:45 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/adult-braces-wwyd#post-2872988 Wed, 20 Feb 2019 03:03:29 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2872988@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wore braces as a young adult- just out of college- and loved it! Seeing an adult with braces is such a novelty that it was a nice conversation starter. </p> <p>My ortho office set me up on a payment plan- larger down pay, but I paid $100/mo during my expected course of treatment. $3k sounds about right for total out of pocket expenses including extractions.</p> <p>I really had fun with my braces and chose different color bands each month and sometimes coordinated with the holidays/ seasons. Changing out the bands that go from top to bottom of your teeth to facilitate movement was no big deal. I don’t remember having to do that multiple times a day, but likely I would have to eat.</p> <p>A couple things I wish I understood more before starting treatment. 1. your teeth will shift and leave you with smaller roots. This means you have little opportunity for additional cosmetic changes. 2. your teeth may become sensitive due to the root shift. I now use a sensitive toothpaste in order to eat cold foods and I barely drink anything with ice in it. 3a. braces may not be your total oral care solution. For instance, after my braces came off I did some other work to perfect my smile/ profile and now per that doctor’s order I get my teeth cleaned 4x/ year. 3b. Your teeth may shift. I also have permanent braces attached to the interior of my teeth because wearing a permanent retainer wasn’t good for my teeth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/adult-braces-wwyd#post-2872950 Tue, 19 Feb 2019 19:31:32 +0000 Mrsbells 2872950@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ajsmommy: ouch that was rotten luck especially after all the years of orthodontic work! </p> <p>@Foodnerd81: Yeah I've definitely heard that teeth will usually always revert back to their original position </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/adult-braces-wwyd#post-2872941 Tue, 19 Feb 2019 19:03:25 +0000 Foodnerd81 2872941@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: @Meso: my husband had a permanent retainer put on when he got his braces off in high school, on the back of his front upper teeth. It popped off literally almost 20 years later, and within a year his teeth had shifted slightly. He did Smile Direct club for about 6 months and got them fixed again and a new retainer and it’s fine now. But I was shocked that after that long they still shifted again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/adult-braces-wwyd#post-2872937 Tue, 19 Feb 2019 18:45:31 +0000 Ajsmommy 2872937@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: yes... I had a 4 inch cut on my forehead, a cut on the bridge of my nose and my 4 front teeth were knocked loose...two of them chipped. It was the worst pain. I wore retainers but they never went back the "right" way....one of my front two is set back a little and the one next to it curves out and I HATE IT. I have even considered having it pulled and getting a fake one!! :shocked: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/adult-braces-wwyd#post-2872924 Tue, 19 Feb 2019 16:56:56 +0000 Mrsbells 2872924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: Ah ok that makes sense. Yeah it is a bummer I was already envisioning myself with beautiful straight teeth! I'll have to live that dream through my DH and kiddos</p> <p>@Meso: wow thats impressive getting it done in a year. Oh thats right I have heard of the permanent retainers. I thought only certain situations called for them but thats good to know about. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/adult-braces-wwyd#post-2872921 Tue, 19 Feb 2019 16:44:58 +0000 Meso 2872921@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my husband had braces as an adult, and had a lot of issues with his teeth and was able to get them done in a year. he told his orthodontist that they had to come off in a year and have straight teeth for our wedding LOL. </p> <p>his front tooth was so crooked that it didn't line up with his other teeth at all. and his mouth was too small that he had a bar across the top of his mouth and i had to put a little key in it twice a day and turn it to make his mouth wider. it was aggressive and hurt a lot to do it in a year, but they were able to do it and his teeth were perfectly straight in time for our wedding. </p> <p>also, if you're not good at remember to put your retainer in after your braces are off, my husband has a permanent retainer in the back of his teeth, it's a thin wire and he doesn't notice it at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/adult-braces-wwyd#post-2872913 Tue, 19 Feb 2019 16:16:53 +0000 Foodnerd81 2872913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: as far as I understood Invisalign is better for people who need to shift their teeth sideways, not up and down. Like when I had braces as a kid I had lots to pull down in my top as well as adjusting the space. But, you WOULD get used to putting them back in, ifthat was your biggest concern. Just like you remember to brush your teeth, it’s something you get used to doing. I’m sorry it sounds like now it isn’t going to work out. That is such a bummer after you got all excited and prepared for it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/adult-braces-wwyd#post-2872891 Tue, 19 Feb 2019 14:50:19 +0000 Mrsbells 2872891@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>UPDATE: I went in today for my impressions, photos, xrays etc and it turns out I cant proceed with braces right now without have some additional teeth removed! Very frustrated since I just had oral surgery in December! The additonal teeth the ortho wants removed are in the front below the roots of my front teeth but two separate oral surgeons told me they didn't need to be removed and wouldnt touch them because they aren't bothering me and would be risky to remove.<br /> I have crowded teeth and a crossbite but have grown used to them and not felt that self conscious but after having the intial consult for braces they pointed out so many things wrong with my bite and smile that I had never noticed before so now I feel terrible about my smile and most likely cant fix it! :bummed: </p> <p>@Ajsmommy: oh no that's such an unfortunate turn of events with the car accident! How did the accident affect your teeth? Was your head hit? </p> <p>@Mrs Green Grass: Yes despite my disappointing update above, I do really appreciate my orthodontist for being thorough and very honest about what would actually work to give me not just a nice smile but a long term healthy bite. I think invisalign is really better suited for people whose teeth only need a bit of work and those who will remember to keep putting it back on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/adult-braces-wwyd#post-2872880 Tue, 19 Feb 2019 14:05:35 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2872880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did braces as a child and adult (Invisalign). And honestly I don’t think I should’ve done Invisalign. Go to a real orthodontist. It’s Always a lot longer period of time than you think. I have zero regrets. I am so much happier having straight teeth - so I actually like my smile in pictures. 5k is pretty typical. But see if there is a different dental plan you can switch to next time you have open enrollment... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/adult-braces-wwyd#post-2872826 Tue, 19 Feb 2019 10:27:58 +0000 MACSUNSHINE 2872826@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi - I had braces around 32/33, it was the best decision I made. I went in hoping for Invisalign but I was not a candidate and I am grateful that the orthodontist was honest. I have a few coworkers that have been Invisalign forever and are not seeing results.</p> <p>The brackets etc are much smaller and they can be clear, it is still noticeable but it definitely fixed my bite and I am more confident as a result. It was around $4k and was not covered by insurance. I did not have kids when I did it so that made it easier. I wish you the best in your decision! </p> <p>If you do it, keep up with your retainers afterwards! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/adult-braces-wwyd#post-2872800 Tue, 19 Feb 2019 07:56:27 +0000 Ajsmommy 2872800@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: aw, I can commiserate... I had braces, head gear, lip bumper and all that crap when I was younger... for YEARS!! It was terrible.... I finally got my braces off my SR yr of highschool and my teeth were sooooo pretty and perfect, def worth it BUT two months later we got into a car accident and my teeth got ALL MESSED up and have never been the same since :crying: I am not a self conscious person or anything but the way my teeth are now really bother me.. probably bc of all the pain and work I went through only to have it all messed up.</p> <p>My mom continually tells me to do it all again and I just can't.. I can't </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/adult-braces-wwyd#post-2872782 Mon, 18 Feb 2019 22:51:14 +0000 Mrsbells 2872782@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@KT326: Thank you for sharing your ongoing personal experience with orthodontic work. That really helps put things in perspective for me! I wish you all the best as you complete your treatment. I know someone who had to get jaw surgery but in her case she needed it before braces and she was also happy she had it done </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/adult-braces-wwyd#post-2872774 Mon, 18 Feb 2019 22:07:00 +0000 KT326 2872774@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m 35 and I started the process of braces a year ago, I’ve only had them on for 6 months. I have a narrow arch so I needed a quad helix expander to move my teeth out before getting braces on. In my case, I have a severe underbite but the way my teeth were, you couldn’t really tell until the braces straightened my teeth. I will ultimately have surgery to fix my jaw as I have other things going on too. </p> <p>As for appointments, I only go every 6-8 weeks. Only in the beginning did I have multiple appointments over a week or two to get spacers and then the brackets. Most of them are pretty short, just changing the bands out. It can be challenging with kids, when I get new wires my mouth hurts and I’m cranky. But it only lasts a day or so. </p> <p>I’m paying around $14k, mainly because I needed the expander and I will have surgical stuff going on too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/adult-braces-wwyd#post-2872771 Mon, 18 Feb 2019 21:58:17 +0000 Mrsbells 2872771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Blythe: I have seen those online but nevrr knew anyone in real live who got them. They sound like a good option. I'll look into that. </p> <p>@2littlepumpkins: yeah I am the same way, it is super hard to make it to appointments with 3 kids and thats why it took so long to find the right time to even get my wisdom teeth out. But once I have the braces on I will have no choice but to go :grin:<br /> @youboots: Yeah that seems to be the trend with everyone I am asking, they all feel their smile was worth the discomfort and hassle of braces </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/adult-braces-wwyd#post-2872753 Mon, 18 Feb 2019 20:48:19 +0000 youboots 2872753@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’d get a second opinion. </p> <p>DH had braces as an adult. His was an issue where the set of his jaw and the movement of teeth over time was putting pressure on his front teeth- and chunks of teeth were breaking off 😳. So we had to get them done. He did not love it but I think it’s worth it if you have always wanted them. His teeth look even better now even though they were fine before. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/adult-braces-wwyd#post-2872737 Mon, 18 Feb 2019 19:07:10 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2872737@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: Aw bummer. I mean the time's gonna pass whether you get them or not, might as well get it over with if it's something you want. I would have a hard time getting to all the appointments. I've been putting off a filling for months now just brushing it extra and hoping it doesn't get worse. But our situation (I have the kids on my own many weekends) may not be typical. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/adult-braces-wwyd#post-2872735 Mon, 18 Feb 2019 19:00:02 +0000 Blythe 2872735@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had braces in my early teens and then again in my mid-twenties to fix some shifting that had occurred... I was never great with my retainer, so my bad... They cost around $5000 the second time around, but I do think it was worth it for a perfect smile. I had hoped to go the invisalign route, but my orthodontist insisted that traditional braces on the inside of my teeth (rather than the outside) would be a better option. I googled them, and I think their technical name might be Lingual Braces? Anyhow, They were completely hidden from sight which was great. The only downside is that I spoke with a lisp the entire time I wore them... slightly embarrassing, but I did get used to it after a while. I highly recommend them if they're an option for you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/adult-braces-wwyd#post-2872730 Mon, 18 Feb 2019 18:43:13 +0000 Mrsbells 2872730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kaohinani: Thats great to hear they have no regrets .. I'm so anxious about it but I think my mind is 90% made up </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/adult-braces-wwyd#post-2872728 Mon, 18 Feb 2019 18:40:40 +0000 Kaohinani 2872728@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: Definitely, go for what you are able to and what is easiest for you. It appears you know your options, so go from there. Neither my sister nor brother regret braces a bit later in life. 😉 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/adult-braces-wwyd#post-2872724 Mon, 18 Feb 2019 18:35:58 +0000 Mrsbells 2872724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kaohinani: Thanks! Yeah I have heard the clear ones are high maintenance and that bits of food show through them. I also heard that white braces can make your teeth look yellow so I am thinking of just sticking to the metal ones.</p> <p>@2littlepumpkins: yeah I'm not a candidate for invisalign. Only certain simpler teeth issues can be fixed with invisalign. Plus I am too forgetful to remember to keep putting it back on multiple times a day since it has to come off each time you eat or brush </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/adult-braces-wwyd#post-2872723 Mon, 18 Feb 2019 18:29:53 +0000 Kaohinani 2872723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My sister was not a candidate for invisalign, as well. She had braces as a preteen (and was soooooooo happy to get them off at 16!), but found she needed them again at 25 because her teeth had shifted. She opted for the "clear" braces (which were extra ... and she had to brush 4x a day to ensure they didn't yellow) but she only had to wear them for 11 months. She, now, only wears a retainer at night (similar to an invisalign) and has gorgeous teeth!<br /> Good luck! :goodluck: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/adult-braces-wwyd#post-2872719 Mon, 18 Feb 2019 18:22:17 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2872719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would do invisilign (however you spell it) but wouldn't bother with regular braces. But I know people who are doing them and that's fine too. I can't picture adding another self care item to my list. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/adult-braces-wwyd#post-2872709 Mon, 18 Feb 2019 17:13:16 +0000 Mrsbells 2872709@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Lavender: @Foodnerd81: Thank you! your posts are very encouraging. Yes my ortho mentioned that I would definitely need to wear a retainer to bed afterwards or my teeth will go back to how they are now. For some reason I'm much more worried about how the rubber bands look than the braces themselves But I'm glad to hear you both think it was worth the discomfort </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/adult-braces-wwyd#post-2872708 Mon, 18 Feb 2019 17:05:53 +0000 Mrs Lavender 2872708@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: Yes, get them!! I got mine put on when I was 29 and had them on for 3 years. They sucked for all your reasons above but I never regretted my choice. I had to have metal braces and choose a light gray power chain. I'm not going to lie, the elastic bands were gross and hated smiling in pictures. With insurance I paid around 4k. I have two permeant metal retainers inside my lower and upper front teeth. They don't bother me but I know other's who hated having them and got them removed. I also wear a clear retainer at night which doubles as a night guard. I say go for it! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/adult-braces-wwyd#post-2872707 Mon, 18 Feb 2019 17:03:52 +0000 Foodnerd81 2872707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh- and the rubber bands were probably way more noticeable to me than anyone else. And I would choose a few weeks of being self conscious of them over years of being self conscious about my teeth. You can take the bands out when in work meetings and things like that, but you have to remember to put them back in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/adult-braces-wwyd#post-2872705 Mon, 18 Feb 2019 17:01:22 +0000 Foodnerd81 2872705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn’t have braces, but invisalign (after also doing years of braces as a kid). I recall my total cost being a lot- I want to say $5,000 total, with $2000 paid by insurance (and I was lucky to get that since most plans I’ve been on since don’t cover adult braces at all). While I never had actual braces on as an adult, I DID need the rubber bands for a couple months, I think, so they put the clear braces on the teeth the bands connected too. I won’t lie- I was super self conscious about them, they were really annoying and irritated my cheeks and gums, and I always felt like I had spit attached to them. It was the worst part. I was still glad I did it though and really happy with the outcome. My bottom teeth were pretty messed up and i think it was about 18 months total. </p> <p>BUT I had my wisdom teeth removed a few years after I finished, was unable to wear my retainers because they had the wisdom teeth indents in them, and instead of just cutting the retainers so I could still wear them, I did nothing, stopped wearing them, and my teeth shifted again. And this was years later. So I would say if you do it, expect that you will need to wear the retainers at least a few nights a week forever. I’m so mad at myself for not doing something about that right away. </p> <p>But, I don’t regret having done it hope that helps! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/adult-braces-wwyd#post-2872704 Mon, 18 Feb 2019 16:59:51 +0000 Mrsbells 2872704@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Champagne: Thanks but I'm not a candidate for invisalign due to all the issues with my teeth and also I honestly wouldnt remember to put them back on after eating &amp; brushing </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/adult-braces-wwyd#post-2872702 Mon, 18 Feb 2019 16:55:09 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2872702@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about Invisalign? Young house love (follow on IG) has elastics on her Invisalign. You really can’t notice much. Worth checking in to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/adult-braces-wwyd#post-2872701 Mon, 18 Feb 2019 16:51:32 +0000 Mrsbells 2872701@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have any of you worn braces as an adult? What did it cost and would you say it was worth it? I've always wanted to get braces but never could because I needed several wisdom teeth removed first. After years of procrastinating I finally got the teeth removed and can now get braces. I was surprised to learn from my orthodontist that even after insurance pays $2k I still have to pay over $3k and at some point in my treatment will need elastic bands! :bummed: The final thing that really bummed me out is I was hopeful it would take about 12 months but based on all the issues going on with my teeth I was told it would be more like 18 to 24 months.</p> <p>I know that newer braces are a lot smaller than the old ones, but the thought of needing elastic bands that need to be changed multiple times a day just grosses me out, I hate having things of that texture in my mouth. I'm also self conscious of how the bands will look! If you have had braces as an adult please share your experience. How much did it cost you and how long did you need to keep them on and finally do you feel it was worth it or did you teeth just shift back? </p>