Egluntyne Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 I've come into a little bit of unexpected money. Dear old Uncle Bill left all his nephews and nieces a few bob, and it is enough to pay for me to have my teeth straightened. Something I have always wanted to do but could never really justify financially. Has anyone got a tale to tell or advice to give? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 Go for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 I did. My bottom teeth were crooked with crowding with age. Very noticeable on photographs. The shadows cast looked as if I had a missing tooth. I went for the Invisalign invisible braces. They work by a series of clear retainers changed every few weeks. Initially a bit uncomfortable but easy to wear. My experience and I don't know if it was an age or my teeth thing was after a few months A crown I had for some years became a problem and I ended up with an implant, then the tooth next to it which was the last tooth in the brace played up and needed a crown.These were the last teeth in the brace and I wondered if the pressure caused the problems or if they would have happened anyway. My teeth ended up lovely and straight and thereafter you wear a retainer at night.I always was concerned about the crown and implant under pressure from the retainer and never felt I got a straight answer from my dentist. I have since changed to a NHS dentist and Am happier. I stopped the retainer and my teeth have moved back although not as bad. So for me it was an expensive journey. My daughter at 38 with no fillings, all her teeth but slight over crowding did Invisalign in London and wears her retainers and is very pleased. I would research it and discuss it with your dentist and if you have crowns etc ask how they will react. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 15, 2016 Author Share Posted June 15, 2016 Thanks Grandmashazzie. No crowns but plenty of fillings in the back teeth! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlina Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 I looked into this a lot - it was going to be my reward to me for quitting smoking But after much research I didn't go ahead The main thing that put me off is that I would have to wear a permanent metal bar in my mouth to retain the teeth in their new position (and experience with temporary dentures tells me I'm not at all good at having alien objects in my mouth! ) Also my teeth are a bit rubbish - they decay easily and seem brittle (currently having implants after one just broke off!) so the chances of the teeth breaking/needing implants anyway in the future were quite high. I do know people who've had it done successfully, but they've been in their 20s with excellent teeth (apart from being crooked) Not sure whether that rambling helps... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egzandra Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 I had my teeth straightened as an adult, I was about 56 or 57 when I had it done and it took between a year and eighteen months. I am very pleased with the result and glad I had it done. I had had quite a bit of extensive work done first with restoration as I had a lot of fillings which looked black in my mouth and now my back teeth are all nice and white. Then, because I was unhappy with crowding at the front leading to my front teeth being pushed forward and ugliness at the sides due to crowding and an overbite, I went for the orthodontic treatment to have them straightened. I am so pleased I did I was with a private dentist at the time but I paid for it bit by bit. He thought that the invisalign would not give such a good result as front fitted braces so I went with what he advised. First I had to have two teeth removed from the top set. On the bottom there were two spaces already as my secondary teeth never grew when the primary teeth came out. When the gums had healed following the extractions, my dentist then applied the braces to my teeth which consisted of metal brackets stuck onto my teeth to which he applied rubber bands and each month I had to go back to have new bands put on to apply pressure or traction to various areas. It is perfectly possible to have your teeth realigned at that age. My daughter, who had braces when she was a teenager, warned me that after having the bands tightened I would be in pain as she was, but although I experienced some pressure for a couple of days, it was not that bad and soon wore off. The worst bit was some nasty mouth ulcers that I developed from the abrasion against the inside of my mouth from the brackets, this was only temporary and my mouth soon toughened up so that it did not get sore any more. To help with this at first, I bought some stuff called Gishy Goo which you can stick onto the brackets and this relieved the pain from the ulcers while it was at its worst, this was expensive but I only needed one lot and I also used wax, which worked the same way, for a while. If you have Invisalign you might get a bit of soreness on your tongue but it is likely only to be temporary. Also eating will require a bit of readjustment but you will soon get used to that. Another difficulty I had which I had to overcome is wearing the retainers as I was in a job where my speech had to be very clear. So I tended to wear those all night and only as much of the day that I could manage. Even so I achieved quite a satisfactory result - my teeth are not 100 per cent straight but it has made a really noticeable difference. The upper gaps are closed up and the front teeth have gone back, and the bottom gaps are still a tiny bit gappy but they are fine. I am very pleased with the result. I do have a crown at the front which is due to be replaced, which when it is, will go better with the rest of the teeth- at the moment it looks a bit out of place although not too much. I would say, go for the treatment. It is worth it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 Another one who had invisible braces. I need to get a new retainer. But pleased with results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 Another person that had my teeth straightened after 40. Mine were never straight but the bottom teeth got noticeably worse when I got an abscess on an impacted wisdom tooth. Working with lots of Americans I was self conscious of my crocked teeth and I was worried the overlap on the bottom made it harder to maintain my teeth. I had fixed track braces top and bottom, regular on bottom, clear(ish) fitting on the top. 18 mths, cost of a holiday but I'm glad I had them done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted June 16, 2016 Share Posted June 16, 2016 If you have mild crowding then six Months smiles or the like Might be good for you, it's a really good option, fairly affordable compared to conventional orthodontics and is usually done in six months or so (hence the name:) If you have a more difficult dentition then I would get some local recommendations for a good orthodontist and like the others have said you will need to wear a retainer for the rest of your life otherwise your teeth will move back very quickly. This can be either a removable (usually worn at night) or fixed retainer, this is like a little bar cemented at the back of the teeth that is unnoticed after a week or too apparently Most orthodontist I know take incremental payments which usually helps as they don't come cheap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 16, 2016 Author Share Posted June 16, 2016 Thanks everyone. Am fancying the six months smiles option, but am weighing up all the options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 16, 2016 Share Posted June 16, 2016 The main thing that put me off is that I would have to wear a permanent metal bar in my mouth to retain the teeth in their new position My brother and a few friends have permanent retainers fitted behind their teeth and get on fine with them, you'd never know unless they tried to show you. I had braces as a teen and wore a retainer for about a year, haven't for the last 10 years but pretty happy with my teeth. I had a deep bite so had to have springs and then elastics to pull my bottom jaw forward which were a complete pain but I guess it was all worth it in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted June 16, 2016 Share Posted June 16, 2016 I would go for it. I wish I could have my bottom teeth straightened, they are a crooked disgrace and very overcrowded, but the back ones on one side just wouldn't stand up to braces I think, and if they did it would take ages to do mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted June 16, 2016 Share Posted June 16, 2016 Thanks everyone. Am fancying the six months smiles option, but am weighing up all the options. Six month smiles is the actual company name, there are similar options with different names and prices i.e. Fast-braces and Lewis is right, it's a small bar cemented behind your teeth and I have never had anyone want to have it removed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted June 16, 2016 Share Posted June 16, 2016 Forgot to say I had the bar cemented at back retainer. I don't really notice it (which is why I forgot ) I was also given a removable retainer to wear at night which I have never worn I've had a little movement but nothing significant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 21, 2016 Share Posted June 21, 2016 This is interesting.... A colleague has Invisalign in at the moment, and is really happy with them, although I had no idea that you had to use a retainer thereafter. I have overcrowded teeth top and bottom due to impacted whizzes, which were removed in my 20s. If I had the money, I would certainly have mine done, so go for it Eggers! Lewis, I remember your braces! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted June 28, 2016 Share Posted June 28, 2016 Neighbour and her husband had theirs done a couple of years back. She mainly needed it because she had an argument with a branch when doing eventing and they never behaved after she had to have reconstructive surgery. She also had her front teeth veneered to even them up at the same time. Husband didn't need his done but he doesn't seem to like his wife doing something different without him!!! Hope you are really happy with the result. Me - I had orthodontist treatment done at the age of 12. Ehhhh what's up doc!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted June 28, 2016 Share Posted June 28, 2016 I've had a cold last few days which reminded me one of the times I do notice I have a bonded retainer. When I have a cough my tongue keeps hitting the retainer and gets a bit sore. Not a big problem but thought I'd mention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 29, 2016 Author Share Posted November 29, 2016 Have had my brace on for a week now. I have come to love baby food! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted November 29, 2016 Share Posted November 29, 2016 Did you go for metal one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 29, 2016 Author Share Posted November 29, 2016 Rose gold if you please! on the bottom and I will get clear on the top in early Jan. I have a bite plate to stop me knocking the lower brackets off, and it has given me a terrible lisp. Apart from that, it is not too uncomfortable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 29, 2016 Share Posted November 29, 2016 Ooh, rose gold - posh braces, eh! Good for you - I'm sure it'll start to feel less noticeable in time. It'll all be worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted November 29, 2016 Share Posted November 29, 2016 Posh or what? You will soon get used to them. Daughter has them on at present due off on 22 Dec, after 2 years. She has needed a lot of correction of overbite with bands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 29, 2016 Share Posted November 29, 2016 Wooo, rose gold to match your hair?! Sounds luvverly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 12, 2017 Author Share Posted January 12, 2017 Just got back from my second appointment. Mr T very pleased with the progress so far. I now have clear braces on my top teeth. I still have to wear the dreaded bite plate for a while longer, but I am getting used to it. Still have a heck of a lisp though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 Great news m'dear. We'll have to meet up so I can assess the impact! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
