Importance, and cost, of braces for an adult?
I don’t think you need braces from an aesthetic point of view. While not perfect, your teeth don’t look that bad. I used to think that straight, white teeth were a pre-requisite for attractiveness, but I have changed my view. I know lots of people with very imperfect teeth, that nonetheless look fine and whose overall appearance is not notably diminished by their teeth. To me, being fit and dressing well are far more important to a person’s appearance than their teeth. But if the appearance of your teeth bothers you a lot, then save the money for braces. I understand that overlapping of teeth and so forth can be a cause of dental problems. If the appearance of the teeth don’t bother you, then consult a dentist about whether you really need braces.
I have exactly the same tooth twisted the same way; it runs in the family from having impacted wisdom teeth. I had a lot of dental work in the course of which they bonded the front four teeth, and I specifically told the dentist to leave it alone when he mentioned he could minimize the appearance of the thing. I was incredibly angry when I discovered he had filed down the front and back points to “make it look normal”. It was a reminder of now-gone family members, and I was attached to it. I figured it gave my teeth character, and if I ever need dentures, I’m going to make them put it back.* I would certainly want to get an opinion (or two) from an orthodontist before deciding, but if they aren’t worried, I wouldn’t be either. If those were my teeth, I’d buy a Sonicare toothbrush, because teeth that are less than straight can be harder to keep clean and if the cosmetics bother you, you might consider whitening them a little, not enough to make them look fake. As long as they are reason
You need to see a dentist. A real plain regular old (or young, you know) dentist. Get a full set of x-rays and a panoramic xray. This will give your dentist an idea of what’s going on that can’t be seen by the naked eye and certainly can’t be diagnosed by your friends in the computer. A regular dentist can write you a referral to an orthodontist that he or she trusts to do work on adults with whatever condition you have. No orthodontist worth his or her salt will put on braces unless you’re cleared by a regular dentist as having a current cleaning and preferably a plan of care for your ortho treatment. I am not a dentist and I don’t want to be a dentist. I managed dental offices but am not in school to be an anthropologist. Please, I beg of you, go get your teeth professionally cleaned and evaluated.
Braces will not make your teeth last more years. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. If a bite is badly off (like mine was), then the “incorrect” pressure and wear & tear over decades can actually damage teeth and create the risk of premature loss. My braces fixed most of the initial cosmetic side of my problems in about 6-8 months. It took another 2 years to get the bite right, even after I’d had surgery to realign my jaws. (Of course, not all bite problems require surgery.) Bite problems are sometimes obvious, but often can only be diagnosed by an orthodontist. Of course, it’s entirely possible that the OP’s bite is fine, in which case, braces would be pretty much a cosmetic concern.
My lower teeth are a little more crowded than yours, and while my dentist told me I should get braces I couldn’t afford it either. Now i am looking at getting braces. I know here in Richmond, VA there are two places for those who are above the poverty level, but can’t afford dental insurance. VCU medical center, and a low income medical center (which VCU has a part in I believe.) You may just need to search online, or you could call your local college. Usually dental schools need patients, and they do very good work, for very little money (a $800 job costs $200-300 at the college) The only downfall is that you better take off enough time, because you may need to wait hours after you appointment time has past.
