What do you look like?

[DrummerDeanna]

I got braces to fix a gap between my front teeth - it didn't work.

My teeth were straight, but still gapped And I've got spaces in my bottom teeth because I'm missing two (like I was born without them - they never grew in at all).

But I hated the gap so much that I had my teeth bonded. Luckily I had a nice dentist who claimed the bonding was to fix a chip...therefore insurance covered it - it wasn't a complete lie, I did have a chip in one tooth..but it was no pronounced.

I've never been happy with my teeth - but I'm also too cheap to consider cosmetic dentistry

[goldustsongbird]

^ My dentist wanted me to get braces when I was a kid. Then he said I didn't really need them, once all of my adult teeth grew in... They were pretty much optional at that point. I switched a number of years back, and now the new guy "highly recommends!" that I get 'em. I like my supposedly crowded teeth, okay? They're actually pretty nice, even if the bottom ones are a little screwed.

[LikeAWillow]

I'm fairly good about keeping up with my retainers now, to be honest, I'm too vain not to and like RagandBone said, it's an investment. I've also had microdermabrasion done on my front two teeth because of hyper calcification and I had some sort of procedure where they cut one of the tendons holding my front tooth while I still had my braces on so that it would grow back in the correct position.

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by LikeAWillow

I'm fairly good about keeping up with my retainers now, to be honest, I'm too vain not to and like RagandBone said, it's an investment. I've also had microdermabrasion done on my front two teeth because of hyper calcification and I had some sort of procedure where they cut one of the tendons holding my front tooth while I still had my braces on so that it would grow back in the correct position.

They were going to do that tendon cutting thing on me too..and I was scared out of my mind. But it never happened - perhaps because my front teeth never moved too far to join one another.

I wish I had been more religious with my retainer..I didn't wear it, I was irresponsible and think it great that you can look at it as an investment - which it is.

I wish I'd worn mine...

[LikeAWillow]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

They were going to do that tendon cutting thing on me too..and I was scared out of my mind. But it never happened - perhaps because my front teeth never moved too far to join one another.

I wish I had been more religious with my retainer..I didn't wear it, I was irresponsible and think it great that you can look at it as an investment - which it is.

I wish I'd worn mine...

It really wasn't bad at all. They gave me some sort of painkiller and I didn't feel a thing. It's great that you ended up not needing it, though

[jannieC]

Originally Posted by LikeAWillow

I'm fairly good about keeping up with my retainers now, to be honest, I'm too vain not to and like RagandBone said, it's an investment. I've also had microdermabrasion done on my front two teeth because of hyper calcification and I had some sort of procedure where they cut one of the tendons holding my front tooth while I still had my braces on so that it would grow back in the correct position.

I had that done a couple of years ago- I think it's called a frenectomy. It was insanely painful and didn't work.

[michelle2677]

Originally Posted by jannieC

I had that done a couple of years ago- I think it's called a frenectomy. It was insanely painful and didn't work.

you are correct. If the frenum is too short (or tight) when you talk, eat etc. It constantly pulls and causes your front teeth to separate. I'm surprised it didn't work for you its usually pretty successful

[LikeAWillow]

Originally Posted by michelle2677

you are correct. If the frenum is too short (or tight) when you talk, eat etc. It constantly pulls and causes your front teeth to separate. I'm surprised it didn't work for you its usually pretty successful

It definitely worked for me

[michelle2677]

Can everyone tell i'm REALLY enjoying this thread??

Originally Posted by bretonbanquet

Reading this makes me so glad all my teeth grew in the right direction They're not perfect I guess, but they're the only part of me that isn't

god, you're getting as bad as me..

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

I got braces to fix a gap between my front teeth - it didn't work.

My teeth were straight, but still gapped And I've got spaces in my bottom teeth because I'm missing two (like I was born without them - they never grew in at all).

But I hated the gap so much that I had my teeth bonded. Luckily I had a nice dentist who claimed the bonding was to fix a chip...therefore insurance covered it - it wasn't a complete lie, I did have a chip in one tooth..but it was no pronounced.

I've never been happy with my teeth - but I'm also too cheap to consider cosmetic dentistry

Did you wear your retainer?? I didn't. I couldn't. That thing GAGGED me Don't hold me to this, but you may see the gaps start to get less noticable as time goes on. There is a thing called "mesial migration" it's basically, as you get older, your teeth tend to migrate toward the midline (forward). This bothers most people because that causes crowding, but if you have diastemas, that shouldn't be a problem. Of course what to do about now...Other than ortho again (and wearing your retainer), the only other option would be the bonding (which you did) or veneers would be a really nice option. But you said you're too cheap, so I personally wouldn't get veneers, just because I'm pretty happy with the SHAPE of my teeth, I just wasn't happy with their postioning. That's why I went went braces. I know I won't have to worry about replacing them every 7-10 years

[foxyluva]

Oh god, and I remember having to have two of my adult teeth pulled to make room for the straightening - what an experience that was

[bretonbanquet]

Reading this makes me so glad all my teeth grew in the right direction They're not perfect I guess, but they're the only part of me that isn't