"those super long appointments and constant explanations really ramped up my nerves."
Yeah, dental schools can definitely test your patience and nerves. I get why you felt anxious—sitting there for hours while they discuss every step can be overwhelming. But honestly, if you're feeling uneasy about your current treatment, it might help to get a second opinion from a regular orthodontist. Sometimes just hearing a different perspective or getting clearer explanations can ease anxiety... helped me a lot when I was unsure about my braces situation.
Totally get that—those endless explanations can make you second-guess everything. I ended up seeing another ortho halfway through my braces, and just hearing things explained differently made a huge difference. Did you notice any improvement in anxiety after switching providers?
"Did you notice any improvement in anxiety after switching providers?"
Switching providers can help, but honestly, it's not always the magic bullet people think it is. Anxiety around braces often comes from feeling out of control or confused about what's happening in your mouth. Sometimes just asking your current ortho to slow down and explain things clearly can make a bigger difference than jumping ship. DIY braces hacks going viral is exactly why clear communication matters—people panic and try risky shortcuts when they don't fully understand their treatment.
Switching helped me a bit, but honestly, the biggest relief came when I finally asked my ortho to just slow down and explain stuff. I remember panicking after seeing some DIY braces vids (rubber bands and paperclips...seriously??) and almost considered trying something dumb myself. Glad I didn't—turns out just knowing what's going on in your mouth makes a huge difference. Anxiety dropped way more from clear explanations than from switching docs.
Totally feel you on that one.
"turns out just knowing what's going on in your mouth makes a huge difference."
Exactly this. DIY braces vids freak me out too—honestly, rubber bands and paperclips sound like a nightmare waiting to happen. Glad you spoke up and got clarity...makes the whole braces journey way less stressful.
