I put braces on myself last week. Yes, I actually put them on myself. To be honest, I had been contemplating this for years now, but I finally just went for it! Once I did it, I thought to myself, why did I wait so long to do this.
One of the things holding me back was that I wasn’t sure I would be able to place them accurately, but I actually had no problem at all! The position of the bracket is everything, if it’s not exactly correct then it won’t straighten the tooth the way we need it to, it’s really an art that takes time to master. I also felt weird about having braces, like I would be embarrassed. Turns out I actually don’t care! Plus, in the current times we are all wearing masks most of the time and there are not many social activities so it’s a great time to do it.
A lot of people are looking at me like I am crazy. “Why did you put braces on! Your teeth were straight!” There is more to a smile than your teeth just being straight. There is the width of your smile, the smile arc, the way your teeth show when you smile. It is an art, an art that I have mastered (am mastering, always learning) as an orthodontic specialist. I finished my residency 6 years ago, but I have been immersed in the orthodontic world for almost 9 years now, hard to believe. I spend a large portion of my day either seeing patients, or in orthodontic Facebook groups evaluating other cases. To say I am obsessed is an understatement, I LOVE MY JOB! I take braces off about 8-10 patients a week and I see these perfect smiles, which is so amazing. But I finally realized I deserve the perfect smile. We all do!
The next question is, why didn’t I choose a clear aligner like Invisalign or Spark. I actually have done Invisalign on myself and I was not the best patient. I don’t love wearing the trays and because I can take them out whenever, I did. I was not motivated at all. The other day I tried to take my braces “out” then I remembered I didn’t have clear aligners in so I couldn’t. Some of the movements I wanted to do were also so precise that I knew if I didn’t wear my aligners 22 hours a day, my teeth wouldn’t change. A lot of the changes I want to make are more in the root level and those movements take more force and so braces was just the better choice for me.
This is not to say clear aligners don’t work, they work amazing if you wear them well. If you are motivated, I would highly recommend seeking out clear aligner treatment. But If you are concerned, just get braces. These days everyone wants the perfect smile. Wearing braces just shows that you care about your teeth and you are on your path to a better smile.
No matter your age, 7 or 70, we all deserve a perfect smile. So, if you are looking to straighten your teeth, even just the tiniest details, I am the person you are looking for! I promise you; braces aren’t that bad. I currently know from personal experience.
LET’S GET YOU THE PERFECT SMILE! Call our office for a complimentary consultation. At that appointment we can discuss which option is best for you.