I had braces for two years, from 7th-9th grade. When I got them off, I never wore my retainers, so my teeth shifted. Thankfully, my orthodontist had periodic checkups later in my 9th grade year and this isnpired me to shove my retainers back in. For a few more months, this shoving them in every month or so worked, until over the summer, I tried putting them back in after 3 months off. I had a new upper retainer fitted (my lower teeth were almost perfect without braces). And this new retainer fit at the beginning of 10th grade. But, after August of that year, I never wore it again. I never realized the point of braces, straightening teeth, but now I understand the social importance of it. I don't think its complete irresponsibility, I just was not aware of the significance at this young age. I didn't tell my parents again because I knew they'd be mad, but this is something that bothers me literally every day, because now I am noticing all my friends get their braces off, and I feel I look abnormal or goofy. It bothers me all the time, I can't stand it, nothing erodes my self-confidence more than this. In fact, I doubt I would have any self-confidence issues if it weren't for this.Anyways, my teeth aren't quite as bad as they were back before braces (although its pretty close). Theres not as large a gap in my front teeth, but its still noticeable. I guess it would take less time to have it fixed this time around. The thing is, I know my parents aren't going to let me get them again, my mom already told me, and I'm going off to college and braces will be a pain, so that's two whammys right there. I don't have a jaw problem or need headgear, I just need to push my top teeth in and together (braces took me 2 years), so I was wondering if Invisalign would be good for me perhaps, and how long it might take with that. I doubt my orthodontist could make me another retainer, my teeth have shifted too much. Also, I'm going to need some price estimates. This'll have to come out of my own 18 year old pocket since my parents already paid once. I know this is a lot to read, but any and all help is appreciated for my sorry, whiny self.
-
Damn Teeth
-
Don't worry just get braces after college, my mom got braces twice in her life the first time in her teenage years but didn't wear her retainers and the second time in her late thirties, so its never too late. :smile:
-
If it helps, a study was reported recently that found that people whose bad teeth had remained uncorrected were no less happy, on average, later in life than those who had braces in childhood. In other words, slightly imperfect teeth is no disaster.