Hey guys and girls,

Wanted to ask a question here coz I thought you folks might understand more. I'm in my early 30s and I've wanted to get braces since I was a kid but I guess my teeth were "too straight" to warrant a referal to an orthodontist, because I was never sent to one. I want standard metal train tracks top and bottom. I've always been too embarassed to actually get them, but now I think I could do it...

The only thing is I'm worried my teeth are "too straight" to get braces, I don't really have many cosmetic defects apart from my teeth seem to "bow" in towards the back which makes my smile look gappy at the sides (see pictures below), and my lower teeth have started to move a tad with age.

I can book an appointment to an orthodontist but... will I just be laughed out? What will I say? I'm worried they're gonna say "hahah your teeth are straight already!"

If there's anything anyone could say to boost my confidence then... Help me out... 

See pictures...
https://dereferer.me/?https://dereferer.me/?http://postimg.org/gallery/2l5udjnrm/

A version of that actually happened to my wife when she asked her general dentist for a referral to an ortho. Like you, she could use a couple of tweaks, but already has a very nice smile. The experience with the general dentist really discouraged and embarrassed her. Her next step will be going directly to an ortho in one of the tonier areas like Scottsdale, where they're used to people who want total cosmetic perfection. I expect one of them will take her, since dsmith is right, they mainly want to make money.

Only an ortho could give you a real estimate. 18 months seems like the current adult standard, though two of my adult friends (29 and 34) finished in right around a year.

I don't know where you live, but here in Phoenix I constantly see offers for free orthodontic consults. Seems like an easy way to find out!

Would you prefer having them longer? There are ways to extend treatment time (delaying appointments, "forgetting" to wear elastics, etc.).

You probably qualify as I think your bite (midline) can use some fixing, so any ortho should be happy to take you on not just for their own financial interest. Maybe wear weaker elastics from some others if you want some lengthened treatment as your teeth probably won't see much work needed? Or perhaps also some expansion to reduce the dark spaces in the smile or something, though you may be too old for that?

As i said your midlines are not quite centered from the pictures you have given, and i can't imagine how else they would fix that as it's not really your teeth being out of place that's the cause of that.

Hi I'm in the UK as well so will be really interested to see how you get on however I think you will be looking at having to spend at least £1000 I was quoted twice that much a couple of years ago. Good luck tho keep us posted

Why not do an internet search for orthodontists in your area and book a consultation appointment direct? It may cost you up to around £100, but if you are proposing to have braces you are obviously willing to spend much more than that.

Your upper arch looks very good if a little narrow in the molar area. You have minor crowding in your lower incisors. Does your bite fit well?

I had some issues with crowding and uneven wear of my teeth. My dentist did not think orthodontic treatment would be a solution to the uneven wear because he thought it was caused by grinding. I eventually consulted an orthodontist direct and had a fixed brace with clear brackets on my top front  teeth only and this resolved the crowding on my upper arch and the uneven bite at the front. I did not fix my bottom teeth which were not too bad and we decided to leave the bite issue at the back because the wear had already been done and would not get much worse.

If you do consult an orthodontist direct, they will need to liaise with your general dentist. Full braces top and bottom would have cost me £3500. My more limited treatment cost me £1,000. I think most orthodontists will accept monthly instalments, perhaps with a decent deposit. My treatment took rather longer than I expected and I suspect my ortho made a loss on my treatment.