Lingual Braces

dellas1979

Hi guys,
I am considering getting braces put back on. I had them about 10 years ago but did not look after them (a word of warning to others!).
If possible I only want to get the top teeth done for cosmetic reasons.
I have read a little about lingual braces - they are on the inside of your teeth.

A few questions:

- Is this a specialist thing? Or can any ortho do it?
The reason I ask this is a girl at work got hers lingual on the bottom but said her ortho didnt seem to be a specialist.

- Can they be put on the top teeth? I imagine it would be very tricky - more so than the bottom teeth.

- I have the opportunity to meet an ortho on saturday next. Should I be asking if he does lingual braces? (it is after all 120 to get him to look at teeth and an xray)

- Is it expensive?

Thanks

day dreamer

Hi, will try to answer your questions

You can get lingual braces upper and lower.

They are ticky to fit and adjust, I would think that only specialists would do lingual appliances but I could be wrong.

Of course you should ask about the lingual braces if that is what you really want, you could do this over the phone even

They do cost more than standard braces reflecting the higher cost to eget them mader and the longer appointments needed to adjust them. The braces really look great and work well. The downside is the cost, tongue irritation and slurred speech for 3-4 weeks

dellas1979

Thanks for the reply.

I asked bout lingual and they said it would be v expensive but that they offered treatments such as invisalign and simpilf5 - I did a little search on this one but didnt find much.

Anyone every tried these?

If you are wearing these for 22 hrs a day and then you finish the treatment, how long everyday do you have to wear them? Is it for life?

day dreamer

If you have a minor problem then invisalign would work. You get a series of aligners and change every 2 weeks. Gradually the teeth straighten. They are not cheap either though

for all patients after ortho treatment, indefinite retention is needed or there is a chance the teeth will move.

#15

Lingual braces are excellent, especially if you get them on the top teeth only - it really minimises the difficulties with speech. When I got my linguals, my speech was barely affected. It took about 4 days for my tongue to get used to the braces in my mouth. There were no major issues at all, and I'm so glad that I didn't go for invisalign.
Linguals are expensive though, you really have to shop around to get a good price. Most places charge insane prices but I found an ortho who charged a reasonable price for incognito linguals (I'm talking of a saving of 1500 euro).
If you need any details or advice, just PM me.

dellas1979

Oh I know they can move! Am talking from experience here - I had braces for nearly 2 years. Lovely teeth after and after 6 months stopped wearing retainer. Am older now and have more respect.

Ive made the appointment. Linguals are out if they are that expensive. Its the top 4 really I am looking to straighten.

#15

dellas1979 wrote: »

Oh I know they can move! Am talking from experience here - I had braces for nearly 2 years. Lovely teeth after and after 6 months stopped wearing retainer. Am older now and have more respect.

Ive made the appointment. Linguals are out if they are that expensive. Its the top 4 really I am looking to straighten.

How much are you willing to spend? I got linguals for less than the price of invisalign, and for not much more than regular braces.

Curunina

Hey -

I am looking into lingual braces at the moment as well, and have done a whole pile of research - I ended up booking four different consultations with four different orthodontists, and have been to three, and the next one is next week.

I also have what I would think is a minor problem with my top teeth, and I have been given three totally different treatment plans by the three orthodontists. The first didn't offer linguals at all, the second reccommended top and bottom linguals, and the third is planning to fix the teeth on the left in place, and use the linguals to just move the one crooked tooth, with no braces at all on the bottom. The traditional train tracks were going to cost 5,250, the top-and-bottom linguals are quoted at 7,900, and the top-only linguals are quoted at 3,300.
I don't know much about invisalign, but I know that a friend is paying about 4,000 for that treatment.

Now, having said all of that, at the moment I am leaning strongly towards the second option (top-and-bottom linguals) as, despite the price, I have a lot more confidence in the ortho - I felt I got a much more thorough examination (the third ortho didn't even take an x-ray, or measure my bite(I'm sure I am using the wrong terminology, sorry) which made me worry).
I am waiting for Consultation #4 before I finally decide - and when I do, it will be after discussing all of the options with my own dentist, and weighing her opinion as well.

Anyway, my point, essentially, is that it might be worthwhile having more than one consultation - so that you can weigh your options based on price, and all the other factors that matter. I know that most consultations cost 80-100, but when you are looking at multiple thousands of euro it can't hurt?

Anyway, good luck with it - and PM me if you want the names of the people I have consulted with (I'm in the Cork area).

dellas1979

Thanks for the replies!

Well, I am going to ask about the simplif5 to straighted the front 4 only. Its purely cosmetic - that is if I am eligible for it.

Appointment tom, will update then.

dellas1979

Ah well, he didnt have a clue about the simplif5 thing - he admitted he had only done one or two cases but that braces were the way to go.

So he was pleasant enough (well there was one thing which irked me but Ill talk about that later).

He said he can straighten the front 4 again at a cost of 1200 for braces and 1000 for the simplif5 thing - 5 trays at 6 weeks per tray, 22 hrs a day.
Braces would be white and take 5/6 months and he said results would be much much better than the plastic braces - he can control them more.

Dont know what to do. Am thinking train tracks again.....

Oh yeah the one thing that irked me was that he said it would be August before he could put on the braces, if I was to go that option. He seems to only come to this place once a month. He was nice the whole way through, but sounded kind of cocky when he said "july is full we will have to do it in August". I was like "what?". 2 months is too long to wait. Is this normal? I cant remember.

Afterwards, the girl who assisted him threw her eyes up to heaven and said look dont worry you make your decision and contact me. Ill try my best to fit you in somewhere, dont mind him.

2 months like? If I got them on in August they could be off by christmas.

So, 2 things:
1: What do ye think of price? Remember its only the front 4 that will have braces on them.
2: The waiting list - is it normal?

btkm8unsl0w5r4

dellas1979 wrote: »

Oh yeah the one thing that irked me was that he said it would be August before he could put on the braces, if I was to go that option. He seems to only come to this place once a month. He was nice the whole way through, but sounded kind of cocky when he said "july is full we will have to do it in August". I was like "what?". 2 months is too long to wait. Is this normal? I cant remember.

So if you have a breakage, debond, soreness how long will you wait for emergency treatment? Will another dentist see you who is not an orthodontist or who is unfamilliar with your case? This to me is not on, you cant swan in 1 day a month and give patients the service they deserve.

dellas1979

I dont mind someone else if they ever broke. Id had them on before and had no hassle (and I lived in another country for 6 months).

Its the cost Im thinking of. It sounds like he has his own practice and comes to this place once a month - its a cosmetic dentistry place. I remember the lady at the desk telling me he was married to one of the other dentists there.

day dreamer

Even though it is only the 4 teeth to be aligned, you will still have the braces acorss all the top teeth I would think.

As fitzgeme says you do need someone to see you in case of problems. hopefully you will probably not need any emergency appointments but it is good to have if needed. The waiting list is explained by the orthodontist only coming once a month. The price depends on the severity and without seeing you it is not possible to say

dellas1979

Day dreamer, are you an orthodontist?

I am in Limerick/tipp area.

Its only the front 4 he will be manipulating...they are not bad at all, but the front two have started to protrude (like they used to). The teeth either side of the front ones are very slightly gone behind the front two. He said my bite was perfect. Just want to realign the front 4 again. They are not badly twisted or anything, they are starting to protrude at an angle again.

How much would normal orthodontic cost for top and bottom?
e1200 for front 4 is it a lot or ok?

dellas1979

Ok - I rang the place today and asked them a few questions.

dodgy...........

I asked what happens if the brace breaks - she said one of the other dentists puts it back on - I ask, is the dentist trained in orthodontics? she says "umm uugghh well you know they have some training...shes done it before" again I ask "so she is trained in orthodontics?" no solid reply. She says well they rarely come off/break anyways...we've had none break since we started a few months ago....a few months ago? Theyve been in practice 7 months. I ask "where is the ortho coming from?" england. He has a practice in england...

So, I bit the bullet, phoned my old ortho (the one I had 10 years ago) and have an appointment for 8th June. Feck it. It cant hurt. See what he says. Am bit embarassed as I didnt look after them but at least know he is there if something goes wrong. In the end, for me, it will all depend on cost, but the care is also inmportant. Thanks to the poster who pointed this out.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Bravo....

dellas1979

Meant to update this...I went to my old ortho (FoC thank god-just back from hols!) and he said he would not put braces on my teeth to move one tooth 1/2mm. He said I would beed restorative dentistry...on front teeth. he was talking about veneers and such-is it expensive? What should I be expecting?
I am waiting for a referral letter from ortho to make appointment.

Roro4Brit

dellas1979 wrote: »

Meant to update this...I went to my old ortho (FoC thank god-just back from hols!) and he said he would not put braces on my teeth to move one tooth 1/2mm. He said I would beed restorative dentistry...on front teeth. he was talking about veneers and such-is it expensive? What should I be expecting?
I am waiting for a referral letter from ortho to make appointment.

Wow that is the worst suggestion ever. Why, if you have almost perfect teeth with just some alignment issues, would your ortho suggest veneers? When I went to get my invisalign my dentist told me that veneers were another potential option if I wanted - he hadn't even finished the sentence when I told him no way and don't even try and convince me.

That's just me though, I hate the idea of having a porcelain cover on any of my teeth - they even have to shave your tooth down to fit it on. If your teeth are in good nick then get them straightened not covered.

dellas1979

Sorry - I have a problem with my front teeth. the front two have worn away - am left with fang-type teeth!!! I originally got braces on to realign bite to stop them wearing away-and then get the teeth fixed...it was great to have straight teeth-but I never got them fixed - veneer or crown wise.

Thought I would have to get braces on again to start the process but ortho says no

Tard

#15 wrote: »

Lingual braces are excellent, especially if you get them on the top teeth only - it really minimises the difficulties with speech. When I got my linguals, my speech was barely affected. It took about 4 days for my tongue to get used to the braces in my mouth. There were no major issues at all, and I'm so glad that I didn't go for invisalign.
Linguals are expensive though, you really have to shop around to get a good price. Most places charge insane prices but I found an ortho who charged a reasonable price for incognito linguals (I'm talking of a saving of 1500 euro).
If you need any details or advice, just PM me.

Hey, could you tell me where you got your lingual braces done?
Thanks!