r/braces

first photo was october of 2023—second is october 2026.

i got TADs to fix my gummy smile. i had 4, they were on majority of the time. edit: i don’t know how i forgot, long day yesterday—but i got my canine removed before treatment stopped, so if i end up going back, i’ll be 100% done! (unforeseen circumstances happened and it’s why i had to stop treatment) however, i am happy right now nonetheless.

i got out of braces in august, and had them on for two years. i wasn’t completely done (midline needed to still be fixed) but this is the result as of now.

i cannot begin to explain how getting braces changed my entire life.

i can talk freely without being embarrassed, i smile in photos now with no hesitation, i’m way more social than i used to be and overall, happy. i had a severe gummy smile, gaps, and an overbite. my confidence leveled spiked by so much i truly never thought it was possible for me to ever feel this beautiful. i couldn’t do treatments when i was younger (i’m 26!) and took that leap. i’m so fucking grateful i did.

if you’re thinking about braces, get them. they’re a pain in the ass and painful, but the end is WORTH it, absolutely.

i just wanted to share because i don’t really know where else to put this haha, but thank you for coming to my talk 🤍

2 years and a few months and i’m free of braces!! my gap and terrible overbite is gone, I’m very satisfied :)

I started my orthodontic treatment at the age of 36 to correct a deep bite. After just over 15 months, I finally got my braces off a couple of days ago!

I wanted to share my before and after photos, especially for anyone considering deep bite correction as an adult

Recap: i have been wearing braces from 8 years and was panicking because of no positive results. So i posted here to know if its normal and what i should do further!!

I went to another ortho today and got my teeth checked.. Did xray and roots are still healthy..

Even that ortho was surprised abt my braces timeline.. But he went ahead with the procedure.. Changed the wire, powerchain was added on upper teeth while lower would be done after week...

He explained that he won't be putting more stress on my teeth to sped the process and asked me to have patience and fully take care of my oral hygiene..

Even though, i already follow very good oral hygiene routine, prolonged braces had made my teeth very yellowish..He has adviced not to worry much as it can be easily fixed after braces are off..

I can already feel pressure on my teeth and very thankful that i posted my issue here..

Lets hope i can take them off soon..

And Thank u everyone for being so kind to me..Ur suggestions really made difference here❤️..

Hi this is my 9 month progress. I’ve been told I have around 6 more months to go

I’m so so so insecure of my chin. I have extracted 4 premolars fyi and my next ortho appointment is in 1 week and a half. I had bimax protrusion and overjet. I’m currently in the “straightening stage”. I was wondering i could get 1 ml ish of filler? Or would it be an issue. Thanks

Ok guys so I don't have canine on one side as it was pulled out by my previous orthodontist and space closed but now there total bite discrepancy my jaw feels out of place I wake up with bad neck back jaw pain headaches are common i feel like dying. I regret having braces 😭 what can I do now

Coming off in a couple weeks! Just over 15 months of work. My orthodontist thinks there is no point trying to twist the incisor anymore as she genuinely feels that tooth will die soon and I need to have an implant anyway. So at least I had the canine moved forward and she will detail it. Does this mean she is likely to shave some of the gum away to match the other canine? Is that a thing in orthodontics? I’m actually a bit nervous to see the end result. I think I had bigger expectations 🧐

30 years old. I’m feeling absolutely ridiculous, I literally want to cry and not leave the house for the next year. 😭😩

Edit: thank you everyone for your kind words, you’ve really helped talk me down from my menty b 🥺🙏🏻

Soooo happy! I always feel like I can’t see a difference until I look at reference photos!!!

Side note: they’re working on my bite, “upgraded?” The wire and “put a curve on it”. Obviously no idea what that means… but does that look normal to mot have bands on the back brackets?

I went from an overjet AND overbite, with premolar that was rotated 180°(last photo) to now an overbite. Quoted treatment was 18 months. It has been 43 months so far. No extractions, wisdom teeth removed as a teenager so plenty of space to move things around.

The orthodontist scheduled removal for next visit saying it has "been too long", but should I realistically be left with this much overbite after this much time has passed?? I imagine without the brackets in the way it will be significantly more pronounced.

I understand this is quite the difference from before to after but having spent this much time and money I somewhat feel a little... short changed... (?)

When I bite down the bottom front teeth now bang against the upper arch inside front teeth. I brought it up to the ortho and they said once braces are removed they'll all "settle into their places and it should be fine", and otherwise claimed I wouldn't feel it since I will "be wearing retainers as a buffer anyway". (😳)

Are there specific questions I should be asking in regard to the bite, some spacing here and there, the overbite and being a tad off center or are my expectations entirely too high? Would you be happy with this result after this much time has passed??

Photos: front view with rubberband placement, left view and right view. Front view without rubberbands, left view, and right view. Overbite from below view. Side view left, side view right, last photo is a before braces collage.

Thanks for any input!

So I got my Essix retainers today. My ortho tried them on me, gave me instructions on how to wear them, and then I left the office.

When I got home, I realized that the retainers are SO far above my gums. I don't think I've ever seen anything like this in other people's posts in this group, so is this normal?

They definitely hurt because of the pressure, although after wearing them for a few minutes, it feels better. But I'm still worried that something isn't right.

The lower retainers have the same issue.

I have a pretty high pain tolerance. Pretty heavily tattooed, a bunch of uterine biopsies, recently had 4 premolars taken out and had 10 novocaine shots. Etc etc. I can take most things. But my god.

I felt like such an idiot. I was shaking so badly, dropping “holy shit”s left and right. My ortho is a very nice man, but very straight forward and no nonsense, and even after he was done, he sat with me, apologizing and trying to get me to stop shaking, telling me it will all be worth it, he promises. I sobbed the entire way home. Mental note NOT to drive myself home next time.

I have high canines and they haven’t even been connected yet. The thought of that adjustment makes me feel sick to my stomach.

He said my next adjustment “probably won’t be as bad” and I’m choking back tears remembering there are lots more from here on out! Please, baby jesus and also adult jesus, let it never be as bad as today’s was.

I hate fear mongering and stuff but I just needed to rant because I am all cried out now.