I hear that from a surprising number of people. Many people come to see me and say that their family or friends think their smile is great already. "You don't need braces."
And they are right - no one "needs" braces like they would an operation, food or water. Braces are the best way to straighten teeth for a healthy and a confident smile. There can be real benefits for your health and your appearance. If something is bothering you, it makes sense to get it checked out and see what braces may be able to do for you.
I may agree that braces may not be the best way to go for you. It may make sense for your dentist to bond or place veneers on your teeth to improve their appearance. Or braces and later veneers may make the most sense for you and your smile.
I am not here to tell you that you need braces. I am here to listen to you and your concerns. I am here to let you know what braces can do for you. Friends and family members may mean well, but they may be trying to hold you back from doing something that they would like to do for themselves, but are not willing to do for any number of reasons.
People can find it easy to give advice to others - they know what's best for others, but they struggle with their own decisions. I don't pretend to know you or your concerns. I want to listen to you, examine your smile and have a good discussion about what braces can do for you. Then you can decide what works for you.
And it is not unusual that when the braces come off, those same friends and family who questioned the braces, say: "WOW - those braces made a big difference - great smile." All's well that ends well.