Getting braces and plastic surgery

[memoriesbymichelle]

So I have braces. And I don't dye my hair. Nothing against those that do, just sayin' I like my hair color and I don't care if it gets gray.
Don't have plastic surgery, no intention of getting it but I was having a conversation with a family member and I made a comment that I wanted to see how I would turn out naturally, and to ME getting plastic surgery unless it's reconstructive, is like saying God didn't make me right or something to that effect. So then she says to me, "well you're getting your teeth straightened so that's kinda the same thing". So is it? I'm not sure. I don't fault anyone else for getting plastic surgery for themselves either, I just don't have a desire to do it, nor really a need so.....what do you think? Is getting your teeth straightened the same as having plastic surgery like a bust enhancement or tummy tuck or?

 

[MehGuy]

I don't think God cares if you get plastic surgery or not, as long as you avoid obsessing over your looks. Maybe some would say getting plastic surgery would automatically cross that territory but I don't think it necessarily does. I think God understands if people want to look a little cute.

 

[Thunder Peel]

Getting teeth straightened is quite a bit different from getting a face-lift or breast augmentation. It's healthier for you and affects your smile and oral health. I had jaw surgery to fix an overbite I had; it was medically a smart move to make and really fixed a lot of problems I had.

Having a healthy mouth and great smile is always a good thing. Getting plastic surgery to fix something that isn't technically dangerous or broken is an entirely different issue.

 

[Gwendolyn]

For me, the orthodontic work I had done definitely wasn't cosmetic.

When I was a child, I had something called odontoma - a condition where the body produces extra teeth, and tries to force the extra teeth through the gums wherever they would fit. I had to have my first surgery at age 2, with another at 4, another at 6, and yet another at 7. Then the scar tissue from those surgeries meant that my adult teeth couldn't break through the gums, so they had to be surgically released. Because of the odontoma, my teeth were all spaced poorly and crowded in some places, and it affected my bite and gave me pain in my jaw.

Then it was discovered that I had an underbite and a severe crossbite, which also affected how my jaw sat and how I ate. (Gotta love puberty.) That meant two sets of braces, 1-2 more surgeries, and six retainers (some expanding retainers) in order to set my jaw straight. My orthodontist tried his hardest to avoid me having to have my jaw broken and re-set. It took over a decade, but eventually my teeth/jaw got into a position where everything was okay. My teeth are off-centre and my gum line on the top is messed up because of the surgery/scarring, but at least I avoided having my jaw broken.

If I hadn't had all that work done, I wouldn't be able to close my jaw properly or eat properly, and I would be in constant pain.

Now, Tom Cruise would be a different story - he got braces in his 40s to correct his off-centre teeth, but the function was cosmetic, not necessary.

Edit: oh yeah, and then I had a tooth growing on the roof of my mouth when I was 15 (yay odontoma!) and I had my wisdom teeth removed at 17. There was no room for the wisdom teeth to come in at all, and they had begun pushing the rest of my molars out of the way. They were all impacted (coming in sideways), and the roots of the bottom ones were wrapped around the nerve that gives feeling to my jaw. If I hadn't had those removed, my teeth would have been pushed and crowded out of place, and I would have lost feeling/use of my jaw. Pretty serious stuff. O.O

 

[Tamara224]

Mine wasn't as bad as Gwendolyn - ouch Gwen! - but I had some of the same issues. Extra teeth coming in sideways and not even enough room in my mouth for the regular ones. I had a severe underbite. I had several surgeries to remove extra teeth and make my permanent teeth come in right, then my wisdom teeth had to be removed later because they were crowding and coming in at an angle. I had braces, headgear, and a thing called a bionator. From age 7 to 17, I had gear in my mouth.

It was definitely necessary in my case. Having a decent smile when it was all done was a bonus. Being able to eat and not suffer TMJ as an adult were the real goals.

 

[Niels]

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[K9_Trainer]

There's definitely a difference if it's not JUST cosmetic. Some people need dental work for health reasons.

If its PURELY cosmetic, then it's not much different than a nose job or boob job except that it's probably less invasive and has less risks.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

Wow Gwendolyn! Ouch is right! So sorry you had to go thru all that. When I was younger my jaw used to click. It didn't hurt but it bothered other people because they thought it should hurt. Now I am 52 and I already paid for both my kids braces, and I need to either have an implant or a bridge cuz I'm missing teeth on one side of my mouth so....I figured maybe I should straighten the ones I have before getting the implant, cuz you can't do it afterward. So I guess its mostly cosmetic. I didn't consider it the same as plastic surgery, but I'd have to say in my case I guess it is, sorta. I'm fine with that. Like I said, I am no one's judge and God alone is my judge. We are all on our own journies so God decides what is right for us to do or not. I sure don't want that responsibility. But I did think it makes for a great discussion.

 

[K9_Trainer]

I highly doubt God cares whether your teeth are straight or crooked or even absent. But you're the one who has to live with your smile, you're the one who has to look at it in pictures and in the mirror every day. I honestly don't see anything wrong with "fixing it" if you don't like it. Very few people end up with naturally "perfect" teeth, lots of things seem to go wrong with teeth.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

Totally agree with you K-9 trainer!

 

[MacFall]

I don't think there's a way to make a principled "yes" or "no" against or in favor of either. It differs from case to case, and I would leave it up to God to convict each person of its impropriety if there is any.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

I don't think there's a way to make a principled "yes" or "no" against or in favor of either. It differs from case to case, and I would leave it up to God to convict each person of its impropriety if there is any.

good answer! I totally agree. It just had never crossed my mind that straightening teeth would be on the same playing field as plastic surgery for cosmetic reasons. I see why some think that, and I have to agree with them to a point. To me it's kinda the same as losing weight or building up your muscles or even dying your hair. Plastic surgery, on the other hand, is something that you cannot do to yourself or by yourself and unless it was for re-construction I don't see it as really being able to enhance your perception of yourself. Some people I know in my family that have had boob jobs wish they hadn't, and the added cleavage didn't get them the desired result.

 

[r035198x]

All the ladies that have posted in this thread need to send me pictures of their smiles for me to be able to make a more informed contribution to the thread.

Kind regards

r035198x(<-----starts refreshing his PM inbox every two seconds

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

All the ladies that have posted in this thread need to send me pictures of their smiles for me to be able to make a more informed contribution to the thread.

Kind regards

r035198x(<-----starts refreshing his PM inbox every two seconds

Ha Ha you are too funny!

 

[MissElizabeth]

For me, the orthodontic work I had done definitely wasn't cosmetic.

When I was a child, I had something called odontoma - a condition where the body produces extra teeth, and tries to force the extra teeth through the gums wherever they would fit. I had to have my first surgery at age 2, with another at 4, another at 6, and yet another at 7. Then the scar tissue from those surgeries meant that my adult teeth couldn't break through the gums, so they had to be surgically released. Because of the odontoma, my teeth were all spaced poorly and crowded in some places, and it affected my bite and gave me pain in my jaw.

Then it was discovered that I had an underbite and a severe crossbite, which also affected how my jaw sat and how I ate. (Gotta love puberty.) That meant two sets of braces, 1-2 more surgeries, and six retainers (some expanding retainers) in order to set my jaw straight. My orthodontist tried his hardest to avoid me having to have my jaw broken and re-set. It took over a decade, but eventually my teeth/jaw got into a position where everything was okay. My teeth are off-centre and my gum line on the top is messed up because of the surgery/scarring, but at least I avoided having my jaw broken.

If I hadn't had all that work done, I wouldn't be able to close my jaw properly or eat properly, and I would be in constant pain.

Now, Tom Cruise would be a different story - he got braces in his 40s to correct his off-centre teeth, but the function was cosmetic, not necessary.

Edit: oh yeah, and then I had a tooth growing on the roof of my mouth when I was 15 (yay odontoma!) and I had my wisdom teeth removed at 17. There was no room for the wisdom teeth to come in at all, and they had begun pushing the rest of my molars out of the way. They were all impacted (coming in sideways), and the roots of the bottom ones were wrapped around the nerve that gives feeling to my jaw. If I hadn't had those removed, my teeth would have been pushed and crowded out of place, and I would have lost feeling/use of my jaw. Pretty serious stuff. O.O

wow, that is quite a story!! i'm glad there is the medical know how these days to help fix probs like that. my sister had a bit of trouble with her teeth as well, but thanks to modern med, it's all but fixed.

personally, if is a medical prob or reconstruction... go for it, get it fixed. but if it is fixing the "imperfections" because of vanity....well, i totally don't agree with it!! learn to love the way God has made you.... you are His handy work and He Himself said it was GOOD!!!

 

[TheDude2011]

Braces aren't always cosmetic, but in the vast majority of cases they are. It's a cosmetic medical procedure that's no different than a tummy tuck or something. I personally find it's very easy to spot people that have had braces because their teeth are unnaturally perfect and fall into the "uncanny valley." It's not really appealing to me, nor is it appealing to see someone that's had their teeth whitened to the point where it's obviously unnatural.

But that said, if it makes you feel better than there's no reason not to do it. I have a friend that was overweight for most of his life, but around 30 he got really involved in fitness. Due to a knee injury he sustained as a teenager he could never really work his lower body that hard, and it created a definite imbalance between his upper and lower body so he had glute and calf implants done. If it helps your confidence you might as well.

 

[Im_A]

So I have braces. And I don't dye my hair. Nothing against those that do, just sayin' I like my hair color and I don't care if it gets gray.
Don't have plastic surgery, no intention of getting it but I was having a conversation with a family member and I made a comment that I wanted to see how I would turn out naturally, and to ME getting plastic surgery unless it's reconstructive, is like saying God didn't make me right or something to that effect. So then she says to me, "well you're getting your teeth straightened so that's kinda the same thing". So is it? I'm not sure. I don't fault anyone else for getting plastic surgery for themselves either, I just don't have a desire to do it, nor really a need so.....what do you think? Is getting your teeth straightened the same as having plastic surgery like a bust enhancement or tummy tuck or?

I think the basic core is the same...attempts to make oneself feel better about their appearance, for health reasons or both. Of course the risks involves and the obvious of what is being altered are different. But I don't view boob enhancement and breast reduction on a different level as teeth straightening. No reason to. They are some type of attempt to make oneself like their appearance more and for some and in some cases, breast reduction is a step towards better health or at least less pain existence.

I just have to ask...What is 'looking natural', the way you were born, when we cover up our nakedness and we as a society are more bipolar about fashion and the ego and vanity of how we look...yes even those natural looking girls have ego and are vain just like everyone else...just the level is not so deep but there is a big level of ego and vanity as they complain about the girly girls
But...how can we even talk about...looking natural when we define that by how we have evolved from other species and how they don't have the conscious ability to put on regular blue jeans, or buy Avon the way a crack addict buys crack?

Personally...I don't care enough to make some judgment on what people do. I am concerned that people are willing to risk death to 'feel better' about their image. But that is their risk and it is either their demise, or their pride bumped up for a time. I know what I like on a woman and what is appealing to me.

I wouldn't be too worried about some grand ethical problem that you simply want your teeth straight. Maybe I am vain because I want to fill the gap in my mouth I also don't think there is much worth in putting a grand ethical scheme on things like this. A way I can explain why...if it is wrong to one to get steroids, then don't get breast implants. If it is wrong to get teeth whitener, don't get your teeth straightened...and really...is it our job to try to control how people view their self? All we can do is, at best, plant 'seeds', corny as that comes across, in their mind, that regardless of the outcome of their either risky power up, or their not risky power up is to show their good traits, their good sides and remind them of that.

This is coming from a guy who honestly...I haven't had a full set of teeth in years. I have been FORTUNATE, to have wonderful women tell me how sexy I am, how manly I am, and their range of actions proving that they mean what they say and that they are not just trying to be nice. Family and friends reminding me how good looking I am, and everything good they see in me that I am fortunate that at 30, with major teeth issues, you can say that I was a hockey player in my former life and honestly...I have never had the self-esteem that I have now, entirely because of other people and me maturing...but I promise you...I will have good grill again and I don't feel bad about it whatsoever...then again I don't feel bad about much these days.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

When I was talking about how I turn out naturally, I was referring to my hair. If I dyed my hair, I would be afraid of losing my natural color. And that is one of the things I actually like about myself is my hair color. Some women pay big bucks to get my color so.... IMO surgery to alter appearances is over the top, but I don't begrudge any one if that is their choice. I am not their judge (or anyone else's). I only started the thread because of a comment my SIL made to me about some women get boob jobs and you are straightening your teeth and I had just never equated them before. I would never do surgery unless it was reconstructive and then it would depend on what I wanted reconstructed, just because of the risk. I knew a friend that had a friend that died from lyposuction surgery and so I know I would never do that. And I happen to think of teeth straightening as a hygiene issue as well as cosmetic. I think I mentioned earlier, that I need an implant because I am missing a molar and I only have one side to chew on, but I thought that before I do that, if I want to straighten my teeth I should do that first, because the implant will be placed based on my other teeth position so...In actuality, I would have had braces as a child if my parents could have afforded it, and both of my kids (well one is just getting started) have had braces and so IMO it's not just for cosmetic.

I will also say that I DO notice other people's teeth, whether they are straight, white, or crooked and yellow or whatever. My husband had no teeth. Well when I met him, he had only 7 real teeth left and he used to fight with his partial getting it in and out. So I said "what are you saving those last 7 teeth for? Why don't you get full dentures so you don't have to fight with your teeth?". He did. The big difference in bottom dentures though is that we have alot of saliva in our mouths in the bottom half, so dentures don't stick as well and so one solution created another for him, but still, his teeth were soft and rotten and that's why he had to get dentures in the first place. My mom also had dentures and my dad had partial uppers and lowers. I can't imagine any of them having to walk around with no teeth. My husband was so self conscious about it, that he would sometimes sleep with his teeth in. He just didn't like being without teeth. So IDK what I think. I don't feel bad about getting them straightened. I guess it's not really much different than getting a boob job except I don't think I could die from having braces put on or taken off. And some people look worse afterward like IMO Lisa Rinna's lips looked horrible and she just recently went and had them reduced and looks alot better but she should have left well enough alone. Same with Michael Jackson and others.