Braces for adult

Independent12

Hi all, I am a 29 year old woman and want to get braces. I had them when I was a teenager but due to no follow up with retainer and also due to the fact that I broke my two front teeth as a child and got porcelain crowns to replace them a few years after having braces my teeth have moved. Really it is my top middle four teeth I want straightened.
Will there be an issue because I have crowns?
To my mind this should be fairly minor - how much should it cost (top row only with ceramic (white or clear) brackets and wire?
Can anyone tell me how long treatment should take?
I have looked into two orthodontic places, one in Dublin which is purely an orthodontist and gives a free consultation and one in the county I'm from which is a dentist with a consultant orthodontist. They charge €30 for a mould which they say they need for the consultation and then €75 for consultation itself.
My idea is to have two consultations including two quotes and then decide.
Just a pain I have to pay for one, especially if I don't proceed with that place.
If anyone can offer any answers to questions above and any opinions I'd be very grateful. Thanks

Independent12

Just an update on this.
I went for two consultations;
(i) Free consultation in an orthodontist practice. Very nice and relaxed, seemed very knowedgeable. 9 months with braces on the top. As I said above I have two porcelain crowns on my two top front teeth. I would prefer ceramic brackets. Was told that manufacturers of the brackets don't like putting these onto porcelain crowns as the bond is strong as the two materials are similar but the orthodontist said they say this just to cover themselves and she doesn't foresee a problem but may use a slightly less strong glue. To cover herself she noted on my quotation that there would be an increased risk of damage to the crowns if I go with ceramic brackets. So in summary; 9 months treatment €2,600 plus €150 for ceramic brackets. This includes as many visits as necessary, 2 years follow up including a bonded retainer to the back of my top front 4 teeth and a clear plastic retainer which I basically wear forever and whatever visits I need during the 2 year period. With a payment in full discount and 20% med 1 tax back I would pay €2,090.
(ii) Consultation 2 in a dental practice, seen by a consultant orthodontist and a dentist (dentist would be carrying out the treatment). Plan given was a removable brace and then a clear retainer thing. Again, 9 months. Cost approx €1,200. Paid them €30 already for moulds which they said they needed for consultation and €75 for consultation.

Can anyone give me any opinions/advice on all the above and on which I should go for? I suppose the removeable brace is more convenient and alot cheaper but will it actually work?

Thanks

Oral Surgeon

Independent12 wrote: »

Just an update on this.
I went for two consultations;
(i) Free consultation in an orthodontist practice. Very nice and relaxed, seemed very knowedgeable. 9 months with braces on the top. As I said above I have two porcelain crowns on my two top front teeth. I would prefer ceramic brackets. Was told that manufacturers of the brackets don't like putting these onto porcelain crowns as the bond is strong as the two materials are similar but the orthodontist said they say this just to cover themselves and she doesn't foresee a problem but may use a slightly less strong glue. To cover herself she noted on my quotation that there would be an increased risk of damage to the crowns if I go with ceramic brackets. So in summary; 9 months treatment €2,600 plus €150 for ceramic brackets. This includes as many visits as necessary, 2 years follow up including a bonded retainer to the back of my top front 4 teeth and a clear plastic retainer which I basically wear forever and whatever visits I need during the 2 year period. With a payment in full discount and 20% med 1 tax back I would pay €2,090.
(ii) Consultation 2 in a dental practice, seen by a consultant orthodontist and a dentist (dentist would be carrying out the treatment). Plan given was a removable brace and then a clear retainer thing. Again, 9 months. Cost approx €1,200. Paid them €30 already for moulds which they said they needed for consultation and €75 for consultation.

Can anyone give me any opinions/advice on all the above and on which I should go for? I suppose the removeable brace is more convenient and alot cheaper but will it actually work?

Thanks

Go with the orthodontist

Independent12

Thanks for the reply. Is that because you don't think the removeable brace would be effective?
Do you think I'd be ok with the ceramic brackets? Have image of braces being taken out and whole crowns being ripped out!!!! I suppose that's another advantage of the removeable one

Oral Surgeon

Independent12 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. Is that because you don't think the removeable brace would be effective?
Do you think I'd be ok with the ceramic brackets? Have image of braces being taken out and whole crowns being ripped out!!!! I suppose that's another advantage of the removeable one

While your descriptions ok, I (and everyone else here) have no idea what you should have done...
My advice is based on the fact that an orthodontist will have all treatment options available to him/her... A dentist who has an orthodontist looking over his shoulder will do the treatment that he/she is able to do, whether that is the treatment you should get is another thing.... Just my opinion...

Independent12

Thanks
Really I was just looking for opinions from people who know more than I do about braces etc. I understand that this is a forum and that its not like physically going to see someone.
Just to be clear - it was an orthodontist who came up with the plan in the dentists practice.
As both orthodontics recommended different plans I am unsure which to go for. Basically it is pretty minor, just my top front four teeth need to be pulled back so that the bottoms of them are closer to my bottom teeth and the slight gaps between them are closed.
I am just wondering if, in the opinions of people with knowledge on this forum, a removeable brace will work to achieve what I've described above.
Thanks

Oral Surgeon

Independent12 wrote: »

Thanks
Really I was just looking for opinions from people who know more than I do about braces etc. I understand that this is a forum and that its not like physically going to see someone.
Just to be clear - it was an orthodontist who came up with the plan in the dentists practice.
As both orthodontics recommended different plans I am unsure which to go for. Basically it is pretty minor, just my top front four teeth need to be pulled back so that the bottoms of them are closer to my bottom teeth and the slight gaps between them are closed.
I am just wondering if, in the opinions of people with knowledge on this forum, a removeable brace will work to achieve what I've described above.
Thanks

Sure it may be an orthodontist who came up with the plan but he may only suggest a plan that he knows the dentist is capable of doing as opposed to the treatment that an orthodontist may plan and be able to execute all on his own.
Go with the orthodontist, if this dentist needs someone else to plan his cases then he doesn't really know his trade and will not be able to deal with unforeseen issues as they arise...
In general removable appliances can move teeth by tipping them while fixed brackets can move teeth in nearly all directions (tilt, bodily move teeth, angle the roots, rotate.....) fixed braces usually give a better and more predictable result..

lain44

Yeah go with the orthodontist. I got braces when i was sixteen with a dentist and they weren't aligned properly, they were slightly off. I now want to get braces again because they have moved again and also my bottom teeth are now overcrowded. I was in an accident years ago and it pushed one bottom tooth and now they have all moved. I'm in my late twenties and I'm quite interested in the six month braces and would love if anyone could recommend an orthodontist in the midlands or leinster area

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Seems to me that the treatment plans are similar so it boils down to price versus who does it. As pointed out, those who know what to do generally know how to do it, as such an orthodontist is a good bet. Some general dentists are good at braces, however I can't figure if the treatment planning being done by somebody else is a good thing or a bad thing. Having said that we cannot comment on how difficult of easy your case is.

bureau2009

Don't choose on price alone.

You will only be getting orthodontic treatment once in your life so think QUALITY. You want the best possible result, the nicest possible smile.

I think I would be leaning towards attending the orthodontist. They have the specialist training and experience to deliver your treatment. I would be extra cautious as you have crowns.

And I think the orthodontist might have the more experienced eye to give the best aesthetic result and the more experienced hands to do the actual work.

Good luck with whatever you decide!