how far would you go for perfect teeth?

Eh, I had a slight gap, and my lower teeth were crowded. My mom slapped braces on me (well, she paid an ortho to do this, ha), and everyone thought it was ridiculous that I had braces because my teeth weren't that bad. Now, I have perfect teeth, and I love my smile, so I think it's very worth it.

I just got braces in November to correct a snaggletooth and had four premolars pulled as a result of severe crowding (I have a very small jaw and huge teeth).

Honestly, if my bottom teeth hadn't been rising to fill the snaggle gap (or the second front tooth at the top hadn't been going behind the snaggle), I wouldn't have bothered. I liked my snaggletooth and thought it was cute, but I couldn't handle the way it was screwing up the rest of my teeth year after year.

Braces don't bother me, but I didn't really want *perfect* teeth, either. Now that I've put out $5k, however... of course I want them perfect. That was a lot of money. I'm just going to do my best with my retainers when I get there.

I just hope, in the future, I don't regret having four perfectly healthy teeth pulled out. =/

I do not have perfect teeth. I don't even want perfect teeth (and I can afford perfect teeth). But then again I live an area where everyone seems to have perfect chicklet teeth.

I resisted braces when I was younger (through the incredibly clever technique of being born to parents who, though loving and supportive, lacked the funds for them!). My teeth don't all meet nicely when I grit them, and the point at which most of them do puts my jaw about 1/4" out of alignment. They don't line up perfectly though the gaps and the couple of "bent-back" teeth are pretty subtle so there's not a lot to notice.

I'm 43 now. Honestly, no one has ever noticed or if they have they have not commented on it. I have been successfully able to feed myself sustenance since the diagnosis of crooked teeth 30+ years ago, and I anticipate continuing said capability for many years hence. Despite the fillings that a misspent flossless youth garnered me, all of my teeth are "original equipment" and have given me no significant problems.

I'd say it's FAR more important to keep up with brushing and flossing than focusing on the perfect alignment, but that's just me.

I've already spent what some would consider a ridiculous amount of money on my teeth. I'm kind of a freak about it. I tell people that if I ever won the lottery-- forget plastic surgery, I'm getting all my teeth pulled and my head filled with gorgeous, impenetrable implants!

But... it's never been because they're crooked (I'm actually the fortunate only 1 of my siblings to have naturally very straight teeth). But while their teeth are pretty healthy, mine are prone to all kinds of issues. I've had oral surgery for periodontitis, two root canals and crowns, and an implant. I've lost count of the number of fillings. I brush and floss religiously. My dentist cites "hereditary susceptibility". I bet my hereditary susceptibility has by now exceeded the cost of both my sisters' orthodontia.

GET IT DONE! Cautionary tale of my father. He didn't wear his retainer and his teeth got out of aliment and didn't do anything about it. He chipped 3 teeth and had to have braces on at age 50. While he was head of his company......

But as long as it doesn't hurt your teeth and it doesn't bother you (key words!), you don't have to dish out the money to get it fixed. Personally, it would bother me a lot and I would get it fixed. But I don't plan on losing my smile that my parent's payed a lot of money for when I was 13. Also, I wear my retainer like religion since my father's ordeal :laugh:

my teeth are pretty messed up right now. i grew up dirt poor, and now im paying for it myself. its gonna put me back pretty dang far im guessing. going to the dentist for the first time in about 8 years next month. then getting braces before i start my 2nd year of college next fall. didnt get aproved for invisaline, so its traditional braces for me. doing it because it hurts, not really because it will look great. when you factor in the time its gonna look weirdo having braces, i hope it will be worth it

I have HORRIBLE teeth. Bad genetics but I know I will be getting braces probably in my 30s. I have so much work that needs to be done. Blech.

My teeth are crooked.

"Flaws" make everyone so much more unique and interesting, imho.

I was blessed with perfect teeth, thank you mom and dad, however I would do whatever I had to to have these teeth too. So I would get the braces of wear the mouth guard

I have a gap, on the side, not front. It's because I have an adult tooth that never came in, it's tuck at a diagonal in my gums still today. So I need wire braces to put that tooth into place. I don't see it ever happening, I'm poor with no dental or health insurance. I don't think I can afford it.

I think its worth it. I am in my 30's and I just had braces put on in January. My teeth shifted cuz I didn't wear a retainer when I was a kid so now I get to pay for it. I already feel a lot more confident in my smile I can't wait to see what the next year will bring when my braces come off.

I have had braces headgear and retainers, it took about 7 years to complete, and multiple high school beatings....but.....now all those as*holes are sad bc they look like *kitten*. Do what you gotta do, when its done....you wont regret it!

Teeth just get in the way.

When I was 15 (I'm 35 now) I demanded a brace because one of my top teeth (my left canine) was slightly out of alignment. I wore that brace for a year and was left with perfectly straight teeth. I'm fortunate that my teeth are particularly white and I don't get much of a tartar build up (I only need yearly checkups and my dentist says he sees about 5 times as much build up on other people's teeth after 6 months than he sees on mine after a year!). I'm particularly lucky and never need anything more than a scale and polish (I have one tiny white filling I had done when I was nearly 22). My hubby is the other end of the scale - he's only 2 years older than me and is missing almost all his back teeth already. He always dreads a visit to the dentist because he knows he'll need more work done every time, whether it's a filling or another tooth pulled. I really hope our son takes after me in the teeth department! He's 3-y-o and his teeth are beautifully straight and white. I hope they stay that way!

My only regret is that I didn't ask for a lower brace too, as I have slight spaces between my bottom teeth. They're not large spaces, but I wish they looked "neater". My dentist, on the other hand, LOVES those small gaps because he can get in about my teeth to make sure they're sparkling - LOL!

I'm lucky I grew up in the UK - dental treatment is free for under 18s, so my braces didn't cost my parents anything. I also see an NHS dentist now, so I don't have to pay through the nose for a scale and polish, and my hubby cuts his costs on his required dental work too - he couldn't possibly afford it privately as he always need s so much done.