I wore braces as a tween, then a retainer for a year. My teeth shifted a bit afterward, but only to the degree that an orthodontist would notice. At a recent cleaning appointment, the hygienist commented on my slightly imperfect bite and suggested I look into orthodontic work. I made it VERY clear that I would not, that I was happy with my smile, and that moving my teeth a few inches to perfect my alignment was nowhere close to worth wearing orthodontia AGAIN, as an adult. It was a moment when I realized how warped these standards are—and how do they affect our trust in dentists?
My colleague and I have been talking about teeth a lot lately. He just got braces (how old is Liam? 20s? yeah, let's go with that. he's young, but adult). We both have had them twice. For me, once as a teen and again in my 30s. Since we both hated wearing our retainers, his have moved back, and so have mine, but I've given up.
Funnily, I never saw anything wrong with his teeth. They're pretty damn white and straight, but some things bothered him, so now I can call him 'metal mouth'. Our obsession with super white Chicklets are rather insane, but there you have it, we're on perfection overload.
I, too, obsessed over woman's/teen magazines, so I get that feeling, especially as a teen. But, damn, if I'm not sooo grateful not to be a teen in the age of Instagram. Looking forward to part 2, Sarah!
Thanks Lani, oh yes metal mouth! A memory has just come to me also where some braces had crazy colours on them… like bright pink and yellow?? Don’t recall that I could do that with mine.
So a few years ago, my now dentist suggested that I could get another retainer for my bottom teeth due to the movement. I did ask how much it would cost - a lot!
Anyway, going back to your point of perfection overload. It doesn’t stop as we get older, but a) I’m not spending my hard earned money on braces (unless I really have to for some reason, and b) I give less fucks now especially about my teeth!
I wore braces as a tween, then a retainer for a year. My teeth shifted a bit afterward, but only to the degree that an orthodontist would notice. At a recent cleaning appointment, the hygienist commented on my slightly imperfect bite and suggested I look into orthodontic work. I made it VERY clear that I would not, that I was happy with my smile, and that moving my teeth a few inches to perfect my alignment was nowhere close to worth wearing orthodontia AGAIN, as an adult. It was a moment when I realized how warped these standards are—and how do they affect our trust in dentists?
Gosh! What is it with some people? And I imagine that the orthodontic work would cost a small fortune?
I appreciate that they are professionals, but still, the mind boggles!
My colleague and I have been talking about teeth a lot lately. He just got braces (how old is Liam? 20s? yeah, let's go with that. he's young, but adult). We both have had them twice. For me, once as a teen and again in my 30s. Since we both hated wearing our retainers, his have moved back, and so have mine, but I've given up.
Funnily, I never saw anything wrong with his teeth. They're pretty damn white and straight, but some things bothered him, so now I can call him 'metal mouth'. Our obsession with super white Chicklets are rather insane, but there you have it, we're on perfection overload.
I, too, obsessed over woman's/teen magazines, so I get that feeling, especially as a teen. But, damn, if I'm not sooo grateful not to be a teen in the age of Instagram. Looking forward to part 2, Sarah!
Thanks Lani, oh yes metal mouth! A memory has just come to me also where some braces had crazy colours on them… like bright pink and yellow?? Don’t recall that I could do that with mine.
So a few years ago, my now dentist suggested that I could get another retainer for my bottom teeth due to the movement. I did ask how much it would cost - a lot!
Anyway, going back to your point of perfection overload. It doesn’t stop as we get older, but a) I’m not spending my hard earned money on braces (unless I really have to for some reason, and b) I give less fucks now especially about my teeth!