Braces

[The Rockstar Within]

ok so im 14 in a cople of weeks and i need barces my mom made an appomnent for novmber some time i dont rielly want them but kind of need them my mom says it i dont need them that bad but i do i think. im in 8th grade mom asked how long i might need them for they said 2 years maybe 1 but its comon for 2 so i would be in 10th grade :( i wanted one year y im in 8th so im top dog do you guys think i would be made fum of getting them so late and would i look weird do you guys also think its not to late to get them im reilly worryed lol :(.

( sorry for my spelling and stuff to) :p

[HunterSteele]

No one'll make fun of you. What you should be worried about is all the pain and inconvenience that comes with it.

Talk to your orthodontist about exactly what'll happen in these two years. My mom insisted I get braces a couple years ago. When I reluctantly agreed, I thought it would just be the usual wires that go across your teeth. What I didn't know was that there were a variety of other appliances which would be used to ensure I never spoke clearly or chewed for years to come.

First was the expander (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palatal_expander). My orthodontist told me about this early on. I wasn't thrilled with having that contraption in my mouth, but it was only for 4 (I think) months so I agreed to it.

It was the most uncomfortable 4 months ever. There were two plastic caps that went across the my top molars. And every time I ate anything huge chunks of food would get stuck between the roof of my mouth and the metal bar that went across my mouth. It was the worst feeling ever and I'd have to use a syringe filled with water to spray it out, and it never worked. Eventually I got used to the feeling and just left it there.

When the expander came off, I was pretty happy to be able to speak and chew properly again and have a place to put my tongue. So imagine my surprise when my orthodontist informed me that uh, "by the way," there was an even larger device that would go in after this. This one made a huge hole in my tongue (which I'll post a photo of when I get my camera) and made speaking ever harder than before. I've always been quiet, never saying much at school, only speaking when I was spoken to. You could count the number of words I said a day at school on your fingers even if you were a double hand amputee. But this shit made talking a physical nightmare for me rather than an emotional one. I never imagined I could say even less, but I did.

Two years later, that thing's still here with no timeframe of removing it and I'm still going through this nightmare. The only thing I take refuge in is that they haven't been tightened for a while. Every time they're tightened, I can't eat for 4 or 5 days. This probably wouldn't bother you too much. You're 13 and probably super skinny so you wouldn't even notice, but it hurts a lot too.

[runnerz]

I've never had braces, but I don't think you should worry about being made fun of. I know a lot of people that've had braces, and odds are there will be a tons of other kids with braces too.

Some people actually don't get braces until later than you.

[xXl0sth0peXx]

I'll be a senior, I know pleanty of people (Juniors, other seniors, and high school kids in general) with braces. It's not that big of a deal. They won't tease you.

I don't think I got mine until my freshman year, and I had them for 18 months. They're really not that bad. And I got my top braces back on back in May. Make sure if you get a retainer you wear it. It sure beats getting braces a second time, even if it's uncomfortable or shit.

I never had any problems with brackets breaking, and stuff. I ate whatever the hell I wanted. My mindset was until I run into problems, I'm gonna do it my way. Of course, some things were hard to eat, and this is risky because breaking brackets can lead to having braces on longer if not taken care of right away.

[Jess]

no one will make fun of you. even if someone does, just ignore them. nothing wrong with braces.

[sisu]

You should not be worried about people making fun of you. When i first got my braces my classmates did not even care about them, they only asked what its like to have them, and that was also very rare. It was just me and my friend who had braces, i was 13 and he was also 13 or 12 when we got them taken out, but i do not think it would be very different to have them at the age of 14 and 15. The biggest problem you are going to have and should be worried about is the inconvenience of the braces. I did not have to use an expander so i had it easy, but now after i do not have my braces i have to use an activator that does something i do not even know. I just hope it will be the last thing i have to use.

But yeah, do not worry about people making fun of you it is the smallest of the problems i think you are going to have.

[The Rockstar Within]

thanks!

[The Rockstar Within]

how long do u have 2 wear a retainer

[The Rockstar Within]

thanks i will put this in mind

[Skyhawk]

Braces aren't too bad. I had mine for 5 years. Prepare for a lot of pain, but it's very worth it in the end.

[Elysium]

I don't think being made fun of is something you need to concern yourself with. Tons of people have braces throughout school. I got my braces on in 3rd grade, and at that point, they were a novelty. In middle school, whenever people got their braces off, everyone was congratulating them. Two years isn't bad at all, considering I had mine for 5, and I've heard of people having them for as many as 7 years. Just prepare yourself for some pain. It's a wonderful feeling to get them off, and very much worth it.

[HunterSteele]

Haha you are so fucked.
True that. Refer to my post above for details.