Skip to main content

Post content has been hidden

To unblock this content, please click here

Michelle
VIP September 2018

To get my teeth straight or not

Michelle, on May 18, 2018 at 10:18 AM Posted in Planning 0 27
So I have been really self conscious about my teeth since I was a teeenager. I never had braces and my top row front teeth are crooked. You can’t always tell in pictures, it really depends on the lighting. But I hate taking pictures because of it. I’ve never pursued braces/Invisalign because my dental insurance doesn’t cover ortho for an adult.
In a moment of overzealousness I booked an appt to see how much it would cost to get Invisalign. they told me I need my wisdom teeth out first (I figured), so I made that appt and got my wisdom teeth out yesterday! I also got the bill yesterday 🙃 even with decent dental insurance it cost pretty much all that I had saved for Invisalign (1300$,) (I planned to work out a payment option for Invisalign with the dentists office and use this money as a down payment). Then it was only going to be 200$/mo for one year (max they stretch for) which I could handle. But now that my savings is spent on my wisdom teeth extraction, it would be more like 300$ish/mo. I didn’t budget for that and I’m not comfortable with paying that much more ESPECIALLY with my wedding right around the corner, that’s money I definately could use for other things. No, I don’t want to put it on a credit card bc I just paid mine off with my taxes this year. Plus FH is huge on not being in credit card debt.
So now I’m stuck, and I’m bummed bc I really wanted this to happen. The dentist was certain he could fix my front top row by September in time for the wedding so I could smile and take all the pictures I wanted... but I know the responsible thing to do is not get them and not stretch myself that thin financially.

I attached two pictures to show- one pic shows how my teeth actually look, the other shows how sometimes I can get the lighting to lie for me lol our photographer is my old roommate and Great friend and he knows I hate my teeth. All of our engagement photos he didn’t have me smile in (look at FH, kiss FH, gaze into the sun lol) unless it was far away enough that you couldn’t see my teeth. So I know he will figure it out for me for my wedding, I just wish I could have up close happy, smiling pictures without hating them.

Anyone else have something that they really wanted for their wedding and just couldn’t swing it? How’d you make yourself feel better?

To get my teeth straight or not 1

To get my teeth straight or not 2

27 Comments

Latest activity by Emily, on May 19, 2018 at 2:01 PM
  • K
    Expert September 2018
    Kate ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    I also hate my teeth, they're awful lol but there's nothing I can do. I can't afford braces. I also don't want them, I'm only 22 but I don't want to be the adult with braces. I've never smiled using my teeth. Ever. But I'm like totally ok with it. Haven't even thought about them for our wedding in September. And I know you feel self conscious about them, but they honestly don't look too bad to me.
    • Reply
  • MrsV1027
    Master October 2018
    MrsV1027 ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Wow that's expensive to remove them! Did they take out all 4? It's been a few years since I had my top ones removed but I don't remember it being anywhere near that pricey. Dental stuff is SO expensive! I am 98% sure my son will need braces with the way his teeth are coming in and I'm fearing the day I find out how much that's going to cost me.

    • Reply
  • MrsD
    Legend July 2019
    MrsD ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Have you looked into Smile Direct? I keep getting emails from them since I've signed up for wedding discounts. It's $250 up front, then $99 a month for a total of $1,500. So that may be a better option? I'm not sure about insurance. I also wouldn't worry, I didn't even notice a problem in your teeth especially because they are so white! Another option would be a retainer, some dentists require it even before braces or invisalign. I had braces when I was younger, but my teeth are moving again so I was quoted for a retainer and Xrays and checkups, the total was $500, a one time payment. I'd also talk to your photographer about editing if it really bothers you, so you'll be able to get up close smiling pictures.

    • Reply
  • Annie
    VIP October 2018
    Annie ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I had braces from the time I was 13-16, and my teeth shifted after. I was very self conscious about my teeth overlapping as an adult, especially after my now fiancé told me I had shark teeth. I got invisalign and it was the best decision I made. It took about 11 months, and I'm very happy with the results. My dentist's office allowed me to do a payment plan, and I was able to pay monthly for it. It's been 2 years since I "stopped receiving treatment," and I had bars put behind my top and bottom front teeth, plus I still wear a nightly retainer. I 100% recommend Invisalign to anyone. I loved it.

    • Reply
  • Michelle
    VIP September 2018
    Michelle ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    Yes I had to have all four out and my bottom two were “hooked” which makes them much more difficult to remove so upcharged. A lot of dental insurance covers a child or at least a portion so please please please help your son if you can! My parents didn’t help me (even though a portion would’ve been covered for them) but they did stuff like go on vacations.... it bothers me a lot. I’ve always been really self conscious about it. I offered to pay for it myself in high school. They said no, that I needed to save my money for college. Now I’m stuck with the costs as an adult and 0$ coverage.
    • Reply
  • C
    Dedicated March 2019
    Chelsea ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    You're so pretty! I understand this a lot. I had braces growing up and now as an adult I wear a retainer. My front teeth shift and stick out from the others the longer I don't wear it. It was a major insecurity for me for a long time where I would never smile in photos, but after a long time of beating myself up about it, I just accepted that this was a part of me and made me who I was. There's are still some days I get weird about it, but my attitude is way better with it than it was five years ago. I think you're very pretty and you have a lovely smile, and your teeth don't take anything away from that. It's a part of you, and you look so happy with your FH. Smiley smile

    • Reply
  • M
    0000
    Mim ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    For what it's worth, your eyes are so pretty that I wouldn't have noticed your teeth unless you had said something.
    • Reply
  • A
    Expert April 2019
    Ashley ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    This is the same issue I’m having. I want my teeth straight too. And my wedding is in April. So I’m worried money wise and time wise if it can be done
    • Reply
  • Michelle
    VIP September 2018
    Michelle ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    Thank you! I never hear I have pretty eyes bc they’re brown. Most people think blue and green eyes are pretty lol
    • Reply
  • awkwardturtle711
    Just Said Yes January 2019
    awkwardturtle711 ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I went through the same thing as you are. Two weeks prior to engagement (I hoped it was coming soon), I made appointments for consultations for Invisalign. The price tag shocked and depressed me. My friend just began SureSmile and told me about it. It's about half the price, and the reasoning is because of who makes the aligners and the patents. It's the same quality technology you're getting. My advice to you, at least search for an orthodonist in your area that offers SureSmile. Smiley smile

    • Reply
  • Carol
    Super April 2024
    Carol ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    A lot of my friends sing the praises of Smile Direct! I believe it’s decently priced as well!
    • Reply
  • M
    0000
    Mim ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    I have brown eyes too, I happen to think they are my best feature (my husband would say my boobs, but whatever). My younger daughter also has beautiful brown eyes. I had a great aunt (crazy aunt, but well, whatever) who always said she wished she had pretty brown eyes Smiley smile
    • Reply
  • S
    Super August 2019
    Saydee ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    I would explore as many options as possible. I wouldn't go traditional braces off course because they won't be off in time, you you will look back on those photos and wish you were smiling. I have braces on now and I never used to smile. My teeth were jacked up! I'm finally getting them off in two months and waiting until then to take engagement photos because it will be the first time I am not self conscious about my smile.
    • Reply
  • Michelle
    VIP September 2018
    Michelle ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    That’s awesome! You’re going to love your engagement photos even more because it will be the first time that you have pictures you love where you’re smiling!
    • Reply
  • Mrs. H
    Master September 2019
    Mrs. H ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    My mom works in the health care industry, and so our entire family's motto has become: "Healthcare at its finest" whenever we receive insanely high quotes/bills. I'm really sorry this process has set you back so much.

    Personally, I don't think you need to fix your teeth. You're beautiful, and your smile is radiant. However, I also know we are our own worst critics, so if this is something that is important and will affect your self-confidence on your big day, I would look at it in terms of an investment... Could you split the payments up? Most businesses don't require one lump sum.

    Best of luck!

    • Reply
  • Michelle
    VIP September 2018
    Michelle ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    I just googled this and it seems too easy lol I’m definitely interested, are there any hidden catches? You know when something seems too perfect, there’s almost always a catch
    • Reply
  • Mcskipper
    Master July 2018
    Mcskipper ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    Well, take this with a grain of salt because I didn’t actually pay to fix my mouth (I had a different issue [underbite] and insurance actually DID cover it [after an appeal] because it was “medically necessary”), and I am surely not advocating spending more than you are comfortable with or have, but I would look around for more affordable options, because....fixing my mouth was literally life changing. So my advice is: don’t underestimate the value of fixing something that will make you feel better about yourself/feel more comfortable in your own skin. For a while, I thought of my jaw as a silly cosmetic issue that I didn’t really care about. Sure I was self conscious about my smile, but that’s no big deal. I was the queen of goofy photo faces, if I had to smile for a photo I could squeeze out a closed mouth smile. But day to day it didn’t really effect me (that I realized). I only fixed it because it started bothering me physically. But after I did, I was like “why the heck didn’t I do this sooner?!” I felt good in my own skin in a way that I never realized I didn’t before. I felt so much more confident. I felt happier because it just felt comfortable being able to really smile.

    I can sit hear and tell you that you’re adorable and that your teeth aren’t that noticeable — because it’s true! But if you’re self conscious about them, you’re always going to see them. And no matter how many people assure you that the photos look great, the only person whose opinion about the photos actually matters, is you!l that said, You will have gorgeous photos whether you fix them or not, this I can assure you.
    • Reply
  • MrsV1027
    Master October 2018
    MrsV1027 ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    I've already warned him he's getting braces lol. He says he likes his gap but his teeth are crooked too so it bothers me and I know when he's an adult he'll thank me even though he will not be pleased as a kid lol. Im sorry your parents didn't out your needs first Smiley sad I can't imagine doing that to my son. I give up so much for him. I spent about $1,000 on just getting his enamel painted over since his enamel didn't form correctly in some of his teeth.
    • Reply
  • M
    Dedicated June 2017
    Monica ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    You're so pretty I never would have noticed your teeth! Even after looking close at the pictures, it wasn't obvious to me. I have no advice, I just hope whatever happens that you feel beautiful on your wedding day!

    • Reply
  • T
    Super December 2018
    T P ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    You have a beautiful smile! I am certain your photographer will still be able to take fabulous photos If you feel uncomfortable smiling in your photos, but you are lovely and your partner loves you are. However you appear on your wedding will be perfect; teeth and all!
    • Reply

You voted for . Add a comment 👇

×


WeddingWire celebrates love ...and so does everyone on our site! Learn more

Rockstars

  • D
    Getting married in 07/03/2025

Groups

WeddingWire article topics