Thread: braces, jaw surgery - and the dancer ...

Bellydancers,

I know professional (i.e. paid) dancers need to keep to a high standard of beauty. What about braces? I just found out that to correct my face/teeth, I need to have braces for 2 years and jaw surgery. I have been bothered by my assymetrical face for my whole life, but there are also medical reasons. However, I'm 36 and let's face it - I don't have a lot of years left of professional performing. It will take about 2 years to complete.

Will I have to give up professional performing if I have braces? They aren't as bad as they used to be, but still, it's white ceramic connected by silver wires all over my teeth.

I know that my appearance could be significantly improved post-treatment, but I question - is it worth possibly losing 2 years in my thirties? But then, of course, I would have healthy teeth and a symmetrical face for life.

Has anyone done this? Any advice? I'm freaked out but I want to do it, I think.

Jewels (in Boston) wears invisiligns, she might be a helpful source of info...

Originally Posted by kina

Jewels (in Boston) wears invisiligns, she might be a helpful source of info...

sadly it looks as though there will be nothing invisible about what I end up with - apparently I'm a serious case! My previous orthodontic work sought to correct the misalignment without surgery, and now I'll have to have a lot of work to pull the teeth back to where they were in the first place.

I don't think braces alone would have to be a career-killer. Practice making pleasant, lively, approachable faces with your lips closed... beyond the 'mona lisa' look.

try lifting one corner of your smile more than the other
tiltiing your head
angling your head
cutting your eyes
raising your eyebrows (bonus points if you can do just one) (you can
*flash* your eyes by opening the lids wide just for a second, along with a smile)

You'll actually be able to part your lips in a smile just a little without showing your braces. And you can do an open-mouth smile (a la marilyn) with the lips still covering the braces.

Not implying that you can't every show your braces... my goal wouldn't be to hide the fact that they exist, but to minimize any distraction they might cause.

A local dancer had braces and it was no big deal. The important thing, I think, is to train yourself not to look self-conscious, because then the audience feels uncomfortable. Lauren's suggestions are excellent.

Originally Posted by Nepenthe

sadly it looks as though there will be nothing invisible about what I end up with - apparently I'm a serious case! My previous orthodontic work sought to correct the misalignment without surgery, and now I'll have to have a lot of work to pull the teeth back to where they were in the first place.

Have you asked the opinion of a second orthodontist?

I'm not a medical professional, and I have no idea what level of assymetry is being addressed, so it's not for me to say if it's worth it or not, or worth putting off for two years or not. However, my experience is that Invisalign is much kinder to the patient than traditional braces. Overall there is far less damage to the mouth tissue, and wearers tend to get less cavities since they can remove the appliance to brush & floss. If I were you, I'd seek another medical opinion to make sure Invisalign is not an option, because it's an easy "YES!" if it is.

As for traditional braces, I don't think they're a kiss of death for an entertainer. Some very high profile stars have proudly displayed theirs recently: Gwen Steffani, Tom Cruise, Emma Watson, Faye Dunaway, etc. It really depends on one's attitude. If you're self-conscious, the tension will show in your face and bring the audiences eyes exactly where you don't want them: the mouth. However, if you project confidence they're likely to think the braces cute, if they notice them at all. Another plus for traditional braces: every over-30 I know who's put them on has had their perceived age drop by 10+ years.

I had them for about a year at 31. Smiled the whole time! Never was a put off anywhere, though I learned to only eat *after* your set, and carry a small mirror and toothbrush in your gig bag.

Go for what works for you! Confidence will carry you far~! *hugs* and good luck!

Go for it!!!!!!
You'll be so happy afterwards.

2 years ago I went through major reconstructive dental work, and while the interim phases were awkward looking, you learn to deal with them. And the results were such a difference! I hadn't really smiled in about 10 years. now that's all I ever do.

the only thing that would concern me would be your promotional material - in your pictures, you won't have had the braces, so people won't be expecting a dancer with braces to show up. It really might not bother them that you have braces, but they may feel like it's a case of false advertising just because you do.

That's how I felt about my baby weight - when I was still loosing it, I felt the need to tell any potential client who contacted me that I was actually a little heavier than I appeared in my photos. NO one minded, but I felt better showing up knowing that they knew what to expect. I always offered them an easy "no hard feelings" out (I offered to book one of my dancers for them instead) but no one ever took me up on it!

So, if I were you, I might feel the need to let everyone know at booking. Not saying you have to, that's just waht would make me feel more comfortable.

You guys rock (as usual).
Really needed to hear some supportive comments and loved the ideas on emoting (smiling) without baring my teeth too much!

I have quite a bit of experience in this area! I have a very small undedeveloped jaw that caused a large overbite (1.5cm) and severe teeth crowding and difficulty eating. I had considerable orthodontic correction and orthoganathic surgery including a chin implant (and all done on the National Health Service I may add )

I had to wear train tracks for 7 years from my mid twentys and when I was 30 I finally had the op to move my lower jaw (lower mandibular osteotomy) and have a chin implant.

I did not consider performing professionally until after the work although I had been asked about doing it prior. I just gained experience in bellydancer orietated settings where people would be more understanding. For me that was the right thing to do as I would have been an inexperienced performer professionally and it can take a while anyway to get used to the demands of dancing for the GP, let alone if you are also feeling self conscious about your appearence. I also get my gigs through an agency and would not have had direct contact with the client to explain my appearence. I also know there will have been certain clients that I danced for that would NOT have wanted me if I had braces (the gigs where you are considered essentially window dressing ).

In your case I think it would be far more workable - you have professional experience and confidence on your side and you can talk to the clients directly. If i started the process at this stage in my career that is what I would do. Plus white ceramic is no way near as obvious as what I had on my teeth. Go for it- you wont regret it.

Also as an aside another issue i found was the performance dry mouth nerves and the risk of lip cuts from the braces.... dental wax was a saviour. You may not have that issue with white ceramic though...

One of my classmates had braces in her 30s, and everyone thought she was 16!

I still got away with student bus fare....

I had braces at 40....and should have had maxillofacial surgery as well but elected not to. I'm not a professional dancer, nor do I aspire to be.

All I can tell you is that majority of people don't actually notice the braces...there are the random people that will (and you can see them catch themselves when they do and frankly...it's a little funny)...but majority of people won't. Especially if you're dancing and blinged out and doing all sort of fabulous things to hypnotic middle eastern music!

I never regretted a single day that I had my braces. Best. Thing. Ever I did.

Originally Posted by bul_bul_ksa

I had braces at 40....and should have had maxillofacial surgery as well but elected not to. I'm not a professional dancer, nor do I aspire to be.

All I can tell you is that majority of people don't actually notice the braces...there are the random people that will (and you can see them catch themselves when they do and frankly...it's a little funny)...but majority of people won't. Especially if you're dancing and blinged out and doing all sort of fabulous things to hypnotic middle eastern music!

I never regretted a single day that I had my braces. Best. Thing. Ever I did.

Why did you decide not to have maxillofacial surgery (if you should have)? I am pretty freaked out by the surgery but I'm given to understand that it's necessary and I won't have optimal teeth health unless I do it.

--Nepenthe

To be honest, I was really put off by the thought of my upperjaw being sliced into and moved forward . I was also concerned about the very long recuperation period.

Would my face look better with the surgery? undoubtedly.

Children are so lucky these days - they told my parents when I was a kid they wouldn't even give me braces until I was an adult and had this surgery but now dental work has improved considerably and so much intervention can be done at an early age...it's fantastic.

When I was weighing up my options I was a member of a braces forum and also a web-group of people that either had the surgery, were about to undergo it...or had just had it.

If you are at all nervous, ask your surgeon to give you contacts to some of his patients that have had the surgery and they'll definitely be able to give you a patient's viewpoint...and tips on how they coped.

Best of luck with it all - and apologies for the delay in responding, I only noticed your post today.

I had braces about 10 years ago (my lower jaw was also slightly out of line), and while I wasn't a professional dancer, I was a teenager concerned about appearance. There are definitely options for looks that aren't blinding. On my top teeth, for example, I had clear brackets (or whatever they're called) connected by a thin wire, so you could barely notice them from more than 10 feet away (maybe even less). The little rubber bands that hold the wire come in a variety of colors, including clear (or, if you're feeling bold, you could match them to your costume -- now that would be interesting ). Practice some different facial expressions that don't expose as much of your teeth as a full-on grin. But most important is your dancing -- people will likely be much more distracted by that than any hint of metal on your teeth. Good luck!