Braces - what age?

fjon

When I was around 15 it was recommended I get braces. Unfortunately my case wasn't severe enough for it to be covered by my medical card, and my parents couldn't afford it so we just left it.
I'm 27 now, and can afford the treatment myself. I was wondering is it too late though? You don't see many people my age with braces.
Anyone have any experience with this?

ashlynch

I ahve also looked into it, I am 26. was told I was definately not too old and that it would cost about €4000.. Loads of my friends have gotten them and it was well worth it. There is also a new place in D2 and they are opening an office in O connell St. called smiles. the website www.smiles.ie and they have a new was of doing it, I would say would be dearer but is invisible.. Look it up, I am going to wait til they open their office in O Connell St.

ashlynch

Let me no what you think!! I am not looking forward to braces for 2 years, although 1 friend was told it would take 2 years and it actually took nearly 4.. She got them on when she was 17.

fjon

Thanks ashlynch!
Might get an appointment in that place once it opens up. Also this website is the treatment they use to straighten. There are a couple of other orthodontists that use the same treatment - one in Bray and Dun Laoghaire.
Also there are 3 in the North. I wonder would it be worthwhile to get it done up there to save a bit of money?
http://www.invisalign.com/generalapp/gb/en/html/find_a_doc/index.html

btkm8unsl0w5r4

The invisalign seems to work alright however it has limitations in the severity of the cases it can be used with. Only mild to moderate crownding or spacing is catered for. Up north..hmmm..orthodontics is a speciality of dentistry, to call yourself an orthodontist you have 3-4 year full time masters training. Fees for specialists are hight and there is nothing pricewise between here and the north. Some general dentists do orthodontics and the ones who advertise in northern ireland will tend to be price orientated. This is like getting a lung transplant at you local GP's (well not quite but indulge me). What I am really saying is...these are your teeth. You want a good job done, when you want it and by whom you want. Make sure you are getting a proper orthodontist and shop around for price. Guys who are cheap are making more money than anyone...how...spending less time...cutting costs on materials...so remember you get what you pay for.

P.s. You can have braces at any age. Once you have stopped growing however braces take longer to work and surgery is needed more often if you are really bad.

Feathers

I'm twenty now and have just been told I'm finally being seen to get braces.

I was put on a waiting list at ten. Got to love public health care, eh? :rolleyes:

b3t4

You aren't too old but as far as I'm aware it might take a little longer for your teeth to straighten up than it would of if you were younger.

A.

seanmc

Hi,
I'm 34 and got braces in a year ago. I hope to get them off before the end of this year. Each case is different - some people only need them for a year. At this stage I am very glad that I went with it. They have made a huge difference. Braces are much smaller these days as well and there are more options e.g clear braces.

The biggest thing is making the decision. I was terrified what people might think etc.. but after a few weeks it's fine. Getting used to eating normally takes a few weeks as well. You'll soon discover that people don't really care. Most people admire you for doing it.

I shopped around and ended up going up North. The quotes here were on average around €4300. My costs will be €2500. They also fill out the MED 2 form so that you can claim tax relief.

Good luck!!!

fjon

Ok, I finally got around to ringing a few places about the Invisalign treatment.

The only places who could give me rough indications of prices were a place in Bray, and one in Belfast.

The Belfast place quoted me £3800 for top only, and £5000 for top and bottom.

The place in Bray quoted €5000, although I'm not sure if that was top only, or both.

:Edit: A place in Dun Laoghaire just got back to me, and they are €3000 for top, and €5000 for both.

So no real difference between here and NI.

I might look into getting braces if they are so much cheaper!

lomb

fjon wrote:

I might look into getting braces if they are so much cheaper!

i dont think they are alot cheaper. dental fees in ireland in line with everything else have gone sky high. on the bright side its all tax deductable anyway.

fjon

lomb wrote:

i dont think they are alot cheaper. dental fees in ireland in line with everything else have gone sky high. on the bright side its all tax deductable anyway.

Sure, but seanmc seems to have got them nearly half the price in NI, so I could try looking there.

lomb

fjon wrote:

Sure, but seanmc seems to have got them nearly half the price in NI, so I could try looking there.

ni is a long way to go every few weeks to have the wires changed. if u think about it by the time u have paid 30 cent amile and taken time off to go there its most probably not worth it. hard to say really. anyway best of luck with it

seanmc

I go up to Newry, (just over an hour's drive from Dublin) every 8 weeks.

I did consider all the petrol costs etc.., but it still works out cheaper although you may have to arrange time off work etc.. as they are only open Mon - Fri. Depends where you are based. It's motorway all the way to Dundalk and then Newry is only 10-15 minutes from there. If I was to do it again I would do exactly the same.

Let me know if you need contact info.

fjon

Thanks Sean - have sent you a Private Message.

Merrick

I'm going to a place in Portadown where braces only cost me £1500. It's not that bad, only an hour on the road once every 6 weeks or so.

Kinetic^

I'm 23, have my braces on a year now. Cost me €4,800 last april for top & bottom for the metal ones. It was an extra €400 for the white ones.

el tel

fjon wrote:

When I was around 15 it was recommended I get braces. Unfortunately my case wasn't severe enough for it to be covered by my medical card, and my parents couldn't afford it so we just left it.
I'm 27 now, and can afford the treatment myself. I was wondering is it too late though? You don't see many people my age with braces.
Anyone have any experience with this?

Hi fjon, it's true that you don't see many people at 27 with braces but it's also true that there seem to be viewer people with braces these days period.
and this is down mostly to visibility. The technology has come on so much in the last decade that braces are not very noticeable. There are now both clear and white braces and braces that are fitted to the rear of the teeth too. If anything, I'd say the advent of the lower profile braces has resulted in more older people chosing them. If you can, go for it. In many ways it's much better at 27 compared to the ignominy of having them during your teens like I had to!

seanmc

mine are ceramic(white) on top and metal on bottom. Ceramic work a bit slower than the metal, but I just decided to go with ceramic as there was no difference in cost. Total cost will be €2500(which you can claim tax relief on) plus a consulataion fee of €90 at the start.

Kinetic^

seanmc wrote:

mine are ceramic(white) on top and metal on bottom. Ceramic work a bit slower than the metal, but I just decided to go with ceramic as there was no difference in cost. Total cost will be €2500(which you can claim tax relief on) plus a consulataion fee of €90 at the start.

I heard that they worked slower, thats why I didn't get them. I'm at the dentist at this stage, every 3 weeks & things are moving pretty well. When you throw in that you're going to get tax relief on them then they're not that expensive and you'll have a great smile at the end too.

Buzzella

Hi
Does anyone have a number of an orthodontist that they might know of in newry. My friend and i are looking to get braces. Prices in the republic are just out rages compared to those in the north. I would really apprieciate if someone could please give me a number of perhaps an orthodondists that they may have used up north.

seanmc

Here is my orhodontist's details :


Sean McDonagh & Ca****** R****
W**** H*** Orthodontic Centre,5*************
048 **** ****

I did a lot of phoning around and they were the cheapest. I've been going there for about 14 months and found them very good.

***mod edit I dont want to bump the thread...are you joking a user called seanmc recommends a dentist called Sean McDonagh....total shilling and not allowed under the forum charter. SeanMc you are banned as a spammer although I see you havent been on boards in a couple of years so you wont mind ****

Kinetic^

Just thought I'd give myself a shout out, getting my braces off 6 months earlier than expected (In the Autumn ), was supposed to have to wait till this time next year but things have been going well. Can't mother****ing wait to get these things from out of my gob and take a big bite into a nice green apple

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Had braces myself for 3 years...when I got them off I could not stop licking my teeth for days it feels great. Remember to wear your retainer as the orthodontist tells you. If not you could get a fair ammount of relapse.

Kinetic^

Angel Some Ruffian wrote:

Had braces myself for 3 years...when I got them off I could not stop licking my teeth for days it feels great. Remember to wear your retainer as the orthodontist tells you. If not you could get a fair ammount of relapse.

Yeah I know man, the retainer is like the maintenance on them. After spending close to €5k on them I'm gonna look after them.

As a matter of interest, how often were you getting them tightened/adjusted? ATM, I'm getting them done every 2/3 weeks. Saying that he's stopped using the metal wires and he's been using these kind of chain type rubber elastics so they've been moving slower.

fram

Has anyone had braces and had to change orthodontists, I'm mid-twenties and am considering it for the past year, but I don't know if I will be in Ireland for the next 2,3 or 4 years? Would it be possible to start treatment then change to a different dentist, or are you tied into a contract for the duration of the treatment?

Also, has anyone else got a major fear of having teeth removed and gone through with the extractions needed for braces?? How did you cope...That's the reason I ran away from my chance to get them done for free when I was 20, the dentist frightened the life out of me! I'm still afraid!

Thanks

Kinetic^

fram wrote:

Also, has anyone else got a major fear of having teeth removed and gone through with the extractions needed for braces?? How did you cope...That's the reason I ran away from my chance to get them done for free when I was 20, the dentist frightened the life out of me! I'm still afraid!

Have to admit, I was told I needed 4 out and was none to pleased. I was nervous going in and tbh, it wasn't pleasant but sacrifices have to be made to get that nice smile so that's what got me through it.

helsbels

Angel Some Ruffian wrote:

. Remember to wear your retainer as the orthodontist tells you. If not you could get a fair ammount of relapse.

Please listen to this advice. I had braces when I was 15 but never wore the retainer. I'm now at the stage where I'm looking into getting them done again and I'm not looking forward to paying for them this time!:(

mysterious

Angel Some Ruffian wrote:

Had braces myself for 3 years...when I got them off I could not stop licking my teeth for days it feels great. Remember to wear your retainer as the orthodontist tells you. If not you could get a fair ammount of relapse.

So what about youngsters that had braces far back and probably didn't bother with the retainers etc. I mean that they would not be straight as let's say some of my classmates who are now older like there would be some relapse? Anyways it's natural that teeth move isn't it. I mean when I was in my early teens my teeth were perfect, or anyone who were born with good set of teeth, will not stay that way, that's what I'm saying, so a lot of people opt to braces anyway?

And does braces make your teeth absalouty straight? what about the irregularity before braces like say two front teeth or canines would be different sizes? does the Orthodontist reshape teeth to make them even when there are newly straightened. sorry for all the questions, I never went through this process, just curious as to what is actually done.

Also just to mention, never had braces, my teeth are perfect or so everyone says,(do people with braces are happy with their teeth or could they still feel irregularities) but to me there are not! my front tooth slighty relaps the other cus its slightly longer, so it looks slanted. The rest of my teeth are straight and are fine, though the front one bothers me a lot because it's a little detail. lol. My orthodontist which, I was referred to a few months back when my wisdom came down and my bottom teeth were starting to overcrowd which is partly the reason, I got a retainer to hold them. And now there are fine. About 95% to what they were.

So is there any apliance that can shift my front tooth back and make it even to the other??? It's not urgent, but all the same I'd like to get it sorted.


Also many Ortodonticts/Dentist and experts are now dissagreeing with the fact that Wisdom move or shift front teeth. However if they grow horizontally or irregulary they could shift teeth. The other if there is just plain no room for any teeth for starters.

The reason that they claim teeth overcrowd, especially bottom ones is because as we grow to our mid to late teens our jaws define and change, allowing teeth to alter. Pressure would then be caused at the canines and create pressure at the front pushing the intact teeth either ways etc. The other simple fact is our diet, if our gums are not healthy around the teeth, which keeps teeth healty and rigid, will loosen and move since the gums will receed and lead to gum disease, of course the bottom teeth are the hardest to clean and therefore it's the bottom ones that seem to shift more so than the top. The other fact is our jaws over the last few mllenia have shrunken again due to our diet, and the wisdom teeth or other back teeth just can't fit.

finally don't quote everything I say because there words are spilt down the middle by the experts.

Any way that's my big waffle and fried egg on toast:D

Kinetic^

A question to Fitzgeme or anybody who has had their braces taken off.

A friend said that instead of wearing a retainer after getting them off you can get a metal bar on the inside of your mouth, true or false??

Reason I'm asking is that I'm getting the train tracks off the my top teeth hopefully next time I'm at the dentist and want to know what my options are as I forgot to ask him the other day.

He said that the bottom braces would take another couple of months.

Doomspell

The older you are the longer it takes.

My sister got her braces off(I still have mine) and our ortha-dontist didn't say anything about a metal bar so she just has a retainer.

Dave!

hey folks,

just wondering, is there some sort of device you can buy that's in the shape that your teeth should be perfectly (presumably a retainer), and you can just force it onto your teeth at night, and they'll eventually straighten up a bit?



Worth a shot!

Pet

I believe that's exactly what Invisalign involves. It's available in certain orthodontists here, in fact I think there's a thread about it in this very forum.

*insert snarky "use the search button" comment here*

Doomspell

DaveMcG wrote:

hey folks,

just wondering, is there some sort of device you can buy that's in the shape that your teeth should be perfectly (presumably a retainer), and you can just force it onto your teeth at night, and they'll eventually straighten up a bit?



Worth a shot!

I don't see why not;)

mysterious

DaveMcG wrote:

hey folks,

just wondering, is there some sort of device you can buy that's in the shape that your teeth should be perfectly (presumably a retainer), and you can just force it onto your teeth at night, and they'll eventually straighten up a bit?



Worth a shot!

don't think so, I have almost perfectly straight teeth, well used too. I had a retainer recently to push a tooth back into position, but it's still not 100%. Retainers don't really straighten teeth. there are appliances to widen your the roof of your mouth(it looks like a retainer) it spreads teeth to stop teeth from overcrowding in later years.
An orthodontist can only minimise detrioisation or more unwanted movement with a retainer. I e retainers hold teeth in its desired shape afther braces etc. Now I never had braces. the orthodontist would have to know what shape and state of your teeth to know what can be done. but as I said retainers are restrictive in what your asking for. I think we'd all be asking what your asking for you know.

Orthodontist can attach springs on the back of the retainer over a problem tooth, but if you have wanted to have straigthened teeth, your better off get the whole thing done... Braces dude:D

Invisalign, is still a brace type thing. The plus is it's hard to see, and more comfortable to wear and you can take it off etc. but it's very expensive and can only suit moderatly to slight maloccussions.

Dave!

I'm not bleedin made of money!!!

My teeth aren't particularly bad, not bad enough I don't think to warrant getting braces, but it couldn't hurt to have some gaps between them sorted out, and so on.

Ahh well, I'll get to a dentist at some stage, and they'll get to work with the chisels, etc., and I'll pass out with the fear and pain! Can't wait!

Cheers

mysterious

DaveMcG wrote:

I'm not bleedin made of money!!!

My teeth aren't particularly bad, not bad enough I don't think to warrant getting braces, but it couldn't hurt to have some gaps between them sorted out, and so on.

Ahh well, I'll get to a dentist at some stage, and they'll get to work with the chisels, etc., and I'll pass out with the fear and pain! Can't wait!

Cheers

As I said an Orthodontist could see the prospects of what can be done without braces since you said your teeth are not that bad? right.

Secondly if you have the money I'm sure there are many orthodonticts could help you out with braces:p through going by the mental health board which won't happen as servere maloccussions paitents only get braces for free. damn feckers.

Kinetic^

My orthodontist offers a pay by installment with him so €500 up front and then say €100 every month and then the balance upon finishing. I'm sure they all offer this though.

eamoss

Angel Some Ruffian wrote:

Had braces myself for 3 years...when I got them off I could not stop licking my teeth for days it feels great. Remember to wear your retainer as the orthodontist tells you. If not you could get a fair ammount of relapse.

I had them for 3 & half years myself got them off when I was 16 wore my retainer for 3months then stopped, very stupid mistake one of my front teeth relapsed. So last summer I said to myself I wud get them again but my orthodontist had moved to Dublin so I had to travel down to him and got them on the day BEFORE I went into 6th year. Had them on for 5 months then got them off the week before my debs. Today I have my last appointment I hope.

Also my 1st retainer was steel bar across the front of my teeth but my 2ed is clear made out of plastic.

Kinetic^

Getting the top braces off in 2 weeks, oh yes

Froggie101

hiya, im 21 and i jst got my braces 2 months ago prob have them for 2yrs he said but already mine hav started to line up better. the place im goin to is in bray and blackrock, Dr Niall LeMasney. But i was talking to someone yesterday and there goin somewhere in Newry said its half the price there! Hope it helps a little!

Kinetic^

Keyser Soze 5 wrote:

Getting the top braces off in 2 weeks, oh yes

Had to wait two more weeks but it was worth it, the new look is great

mysterious

Keyser Soze 5 wrote:

Had to wait two more weeks but it was worth it, the new look is great

This is a stupid question.. but after your teeth are straightened and aligned, if you look closer at your front teeth are they perfectly straight. Or does everyone differ with results.

Whenever I noticed people who had braces alll the teeth seem even to one another?

My front two teeth are straight but one of them seems bigger than the other. Is this because it's sticks out? It annoys me cus when I bite it overlaps a bit.

If getting a brace makes them straight, what would be done to a tooth that seems out of shape ? What other task's does an orhtodontist do other than tighten, arrange and clean the braces etc?

Kinetic^

It sounds like you have the same problem I had, I'll take a pic of the top ones now and I'll send you a PM with before and after pic. (send me a PM to remind me though, because I'll forget)

Leon11

Looking at this thread you say you can claim tax relief on braces, I'm a student about to pay for braces myself but don't have to pay tax (ie don't earn enough to have to pay it) is there any way I can reclaim money perhaps through my prsi?

Kinetic^

Not too sure tbh (and I'm an accountant :rolleyes:).

Get your parents to pay for them using the money you have and get a refund through their return at the end of the year.

Leon11

I'm 21, will my parents still be able to claim a tax refund given my age? Unfortunately I dont get to do Tax Accounting in college till spring semester :rolleyes:

yvonnethedub

anyone have an address for the place in dunlaoighre that does invisalign, i'm 39 and was perfectly unaware of my wonky teeth but now am surrounded by 20 somethings with train tracks who have made me super consious to the point i'm getting a speach impediment talking whilst trying not to open my mouth too much.........sad at my age but there you go.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

LeMasney is a very experainced orthodontist..if you want some untrained general practioneer who reckons he will have a go at your teeth for half the price fire ahead....if I were you I would stay where you are...much more reliable hands.

lomb

ive seen several orthodontists come up with crazy treatment plans both in ireland and the uk trying to treat spaced teeth and other conditions with braces where it was never going to work and it would replase and what was needed were veneers. ive seen endondontists treat hopeless teeth where implants were needed and indeed were done in the end, ive seen periodontists in the uk in general practice not even doing scale and polishes properly due to the market conditions and insulting payments for root planing by the nhs. the competetance of the operator is what matters and the amount that he strives for excellence and integrity and fair payment for professional services .
in the states many specialists are becoming very very worried as there is no longer much special about them. thats just the way dentistry is going imho. for example any competent general practioner with the correct advanced equipment and continuing education who strives for excellence can complete endodontics to the same or better in some cases standard as a specialist.
in the uk being a specialist is a complete waste of time for the most part. all recently qualified orthodontists are basically unemployed as the nhs which now controls contracts are no longer awarding any and there is zero demand for advanced private care for children. i know an american trained prosthodontist working his last few years in the uk who before he retired in a lovely little private practice told me he didnt do any crown and bridge as no one had any money for it so he stuck to composite and amalgum. and his crown fee was just 200 pounds per unit, half of the irish price.very sad but true..
technology is moving incredibly quickly, with new materials, equipment, internet and dental forums spreading very detailed information and help on procedures and inspiration in what others have done , many general dentists in the states doing full mouth reconstruction, implantology and cosmetic dentistry and orthodontics to inspiring standards looking at american dental forums. dentistry is not what it once was and is in the biggest change since amalgum was invented but this could take another thread. this is a very interesting issue but the problem for the public is finding someone who is competent and that is/was the idea behind specialist lists.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Lomb I think that this is the first time I will have to disagree with you. As a specialist myself thats all I will say.

Pac1Man

My 2 front teeth are slightly rotated inwards and the dentist said that I would need to get two teeth taken out to provide space. Would I be right in thinking that the braces I need would be BEHIND my teeth?? Also, I heard that you cannot have the ceramic braces if you get teeth taken out. Is this true??