Teeth help

LegacyUser

I have a big problem and never really realised until a few days ago. I was looking at old pictures of myself and just seemed to notice that my teeth seemed a bit krooked, Anyway I took a few close range pics wih my camera and got the shock of my life. my middle tooth is unbelievable krooked so much so it actually looks out of place or somthing. I have always been told i'm a very good looking man (i'm 21 btw) and I usually aint very self conscience but this has really upset me.

Is there anything that can be done?, I hear dental work is very expensive? Has anyone got any advice for me please?

looksee

'Paranoid', 'big problem', 'really upset'!! You have got to the age of 21 without ever looking in a mirror and noticing you have a crooked tooth? Its never been an issue before and now its a full-on drama?

Yes you can get braces, or get it removed and have a false tooth or a cap. Any of these will probably cost you up to 1,500 so you need to start saving or stop worrying about it.

Stavro Mueller

How crooked are your teeth? I mean, if any of us look in the mirror for long enough, we'll all find things wrong with our faces and our teeth. I think you need to allow the dust to settle before you make any hasty decisions.

If you genuinely think your teeth need to be looked at, then start doing some research. Go see a few dentists locally and find out what they'd do for you and what it'd cost. If it's something that needs ongoing treatment, some dentists/orthodontists have installment payment options.

If you think the cost's excessive, you might need to look into going further afield, to the likes of northern Ireland or even abroad. There are pros and cons to both, especially the latter option. Why not take a good look through the Dental Issues forum here on boards?

Roisy7

I'm in your situation, my teeth are crooked (mind you I've known this since the age of 8 lol) but too poor for braces. I think we will notice an increase in bad teeth in the next few years as alot of Irish people can't afford dental treatment.

Yes it is very expensive. It would cost me three grand at least to get my teeth fixed and it's simply something I can't afford right now. But if it's just one tooth it won't cost that much. If it bothers you that much you could look into going to Northern Ireland where it is considerably cheaper?

As for self-consciousness. I have that in spades with my teeth and I don't like grinning for the camera. But there are loads of people in your situation so don't sweat it. People with bad teeth- and yours don't sound that bad- can still be attractive, we don't live in Hollywood.

LegacyUser

It seems strange I know but my front tooth actually looks very crooked in photos but in the mirror it actually doesnt look so bad. Is it possible the camera actually exaggerates the problem?

I think I will go see the dentist during the week and see what he/she has to say..

skyfall2012

Crooked teeth can give you character. Madonna for example has a gap in her teeth that she never fixed and we love her all the more for it. My husband has a gap in his teeth he often says you could park a bus in it, in jest (it doesn't bother him at all), I find it part of his overall make up and very attractive. So my advice don't waste your money:)

Tea-a-Maria

skyfall2012 wrote: »

Crooked teeth can give you character. Madonna for example has a gap in her teeth that she never fixed and we love her all the more for it. My husband has a gap in his teeth he often says you could park a bus in it, in jest (it doesn't bother him at all), I find it part of his overall make up and very attractive. So my advice don't waste your money:)

I just want to second the bit of advice above.To give a male example, Owen Wilson has a crooked nose and a lot of women think he's a sexy beast!

I have slightly protruding teeth myself and I was really paranoid about laughing,to the extent that I'd always cover my mouth when I laugh!But eventually,I learned to accept it as a quirk of mine and a part of my personality.A big reason for this was seeing a pic of myself laughing really heartily at a party.I was enjoying myself so much I had forgotten to cover my mouth.I realised that little things like that didn't matter so much and that if you don't get too bothered about it yourself then others won't pick up on it either.

As you've only noticed this yourself recently,I'd try and put it out of your head altogether or simply acknowledge it as a character feature.Especially since you've been told you're good looking!Since people have said as much to you,I really think you shouldn't worry about this too much.

IrishEyes19

If you havent noticed it before looking back at old photos. do not worry about it now. Its just exaggerated because you are aware of it now. secondly start saving if you want to have it looked at later in the future. And NI is an option, its far cheaper up there. But seriously do not fret.

LegacyUser

Margaret Thacther had a crooked tooth and she was very attractive. I know a guy who has crocked front teeth and all the women swoon over him, infact a few girls think his teeth look sexy (seriously) Personally as a woman if I met a man with a set of teeth like the hollywood stars then it would actually put me off him!

LegacyUser

Most people this side of the atlantic have some sort of crooked tooth, because human teeth come that way. American movies joke about it, but their straighter teeth come from most of their upper-middle class having work-supplied familial dental cover and high-school vanity issues.

Having told us you've been told you're good looking, this comes across as a bit hysterical. Relax, it's a crooked tooth. You can pay a small cars worth to have it dealt with if it really bothers you, or just learn to work it.

helimachoptor

OP go to an orthodontist if you want proper advice. you will over-exaggerate the defects you see.

Honey-ec

Justthisguyyouknow wrote: »

Most people this side of the atlantic have some sort of crooked tooth, because human teeth come that way. American movies joke about it, but their straighter teeth come from most of their upper-middle class having work-supplied familial dental cover and high-school vanity issues.

I don't think dismissing everyone who's had their teeth done as having "vanity issues" is really adding anything to the discussion, tbh.

OP, it seems a little odd that you've gotten this far in life without realising you had issues with your teeth, so it's either A) not as bad as you think or you weren't the most self-aware person growing up.

Anyway, you need to decide now whether it bothers you enough to get it fixed. You also need to see an orthodontist to get an idea of what treatment will be involved and how much it will cost. It could be a simple case that a single veneer will fix, or it could be something that will require braces and possibly extractions.

A lot of clinics do free consultations, but just bear in mind that these are commercial entities and are in the business of selling treatment. Personally, I'd ask my dentist for a referral to a good orthodontist and go there.

Best of luck, whatever you decide to do. To be honest, other than cost (which can be a huge factor) there's really no reason anyone should go through life with teeth that bother them these days.