Should I go for orthodontic treatment?

kelle

I have got a few crooked teeth, a protruding upper jaw and overcrowding, and at the age of 35 finally decided to see an orthodontist as I hate photos of myself smiling! I thought it would just be a case of getting braces in for a few months and there would be a transformation. But he dropped the bombshell that I'll need to have 4 teeth extracted! And I may need a gum transplant to be done by a perodontist afterwards, as I have receding gum and it may recede further! The cost of the orthodontic treatment will cost E3000 which I don't mind, though that excludes the extractions and gum transplant!
Is it worth all that trauma to have a perfect smile? Has anybody been through similar?

eth0_

I'm in the middle of some treatment, it's been a real pain (not in terms of physical pain, my dentist is very generous with the anaestheic), it's just the hassle of having to go to your dentist so often.

I've had two cosmetic root canals and next time i'm having a tooth filed down and crowned, and an implant because I had a tooth removed years ago to let an eye tooth grow down - it never did.

To make matters worse, I suddenly got hit with the most awful toothache last night and a dentist today (Not my usual dentist) tells me I need a root canal because I have decay on the tooth. Which sounds like crap to me as I was only at my regular dentist last Friday and she said my teeth looked fine!

Still, by the end of August I should have a nice smile. I hate my teeth and always have, but when this treatment is finished i'll have the confidence to smile and show my teeth, so yeah I think it's worth it!

I would recommend you go to a dentist in Northern Ireland - not only are they a *lot* cheaper, their work is of a higher standard and I find they are a lot more honest - I think a lot of dentists in the republic do unnecessary work tbh.

Ballybot clinic in Newry is where I go for my treatment, i'd definitely recommend them.

Hagar

Hell yeah its worth it.
Women pay that for rubber tits just so strangers will look at them.
I say strangers because anyone who knows them will already know they are false.

Consider getting them done in the North.
Inconvenient yes. Cheaper definitely.

nesf

I've a perfect bite but crooked teeth.

I've been told that there is no medical reason for my teeth to be braced or "fixed".


Personally. I'd like to have a perfect smile but I don't feel I need one. If you know what I mean. It's not an ego thing. Sure yes, having a perfect smile would make me look better and possible more appealing physically to others.

But I'm not really that pushed about it. I don't think I want to spend multiple grand on it. I'd prefer to spend said money on a new PC, a new TV, books, a holiday, maybe education or whatever. It's really low on my list of priorities.

I can however completely understand someone else having it higher on their list. The main thing in my mind is to do what will make you most happy in the long run. Have solid reasons for doing it if you decide to have it done. Don't do it simply for having a perfect smile, do it if it will make you happy to have one. Not because there is any social pressure to fit in.

There is no shame in not having a perfect smile. No matter what some people might think.

Imho.

the_syco

Had a tooth removed before the braces, as I "had too many teeth in my mouth".

Jonny Arson

kelle wrote:

Is it worth all that trauma to have a perfect smile? Has anybody been through similar?

Oh yes it is!

3 years ago I got braces put in. My front teeth were crooked as a result of overcrowding. I had 4 teeth extracted. Didn't hurt much but unfortunately I got an infection after the extraction of the final 2 teeth which hurt but I recovered. I was worried about the effort I would have to put into wearing them, the comfort and my appearance. After a few months you will get used to them but they can be annoying at times esp. when food gets stuck in them. I had my braces in for 2 years and when they came off my smile was unrecognisable. My teeth were perfectly straight and for the first time ever I have confidence in my smile. It was worth the hassle despite the effort and the big bill. Now I was in my late teens when I got them but there are lots of people in your age category who have them. My advice is go for it!


BTW by any chance does anyone know how much it would cost to get fillings on top front teeth? Both of front two teeth are partially chipped-like as a result of the teeth been at previous crooked angles and it would complete my now amazing smile!

Talliesin

Thousands of pounds* went on straightening my teeth as a child, and then I ruined my smile with coffee and cigarettes (and a hammer, but that bit got fixed again).

At least if you get it done at your age you'll appreciate it.

Especially worth it if it will improve your bite.

*Not mine though, NHS dentistry rocks!

Stabshauptmann

My teeth dont show when I smile or eat. Only when Im mad ;-)

Lots of practice.

Lambsbread

I would honestly say that it would be definetly worth it. If the cost is putting you off maybe you should get a second opinion.

I had crooked teeth when i was younger but only sorted it out recently (22 now) and am delighted with the results. It has really boosted my confindence aswell. I smile alot more now!!. The only thing to worry about is that it can be a long process (i had "traintracks" for over two years) and it does require very regular visits to the dentist. But my advise would be go for it.

ando

if I could go back in time I would have not gone through with all the extractions, pain of the braces and difficult moments. Total waist and has caused more problems for me which if I decide to get it fixed means more brace work and an operation (aprox 8 grand + already waisted €3000 )

dudara

I was lucky in that my teeth grew very straight, but I have suffered in other areas. I used to throw up very reguarly as a child, it was somehow related to a heart-defect I had. The result is that i have weakened teeth and enamel. Thankfully it's not as bad as the poster who had bullimia, but similar idea. As a result my teeth need a lot of care.

I had front teeth fillings, which went yellowy with time. I ignored them for a while, but then I broke two front teeth, so i had to go get them fixed. I got all the fillings replaced, and two crowns on the broken teeth. I got 2 wisdom teeth pulled and various other things done over the course of treatment, which cost E2500. As far as I'm concerned it's money well spent. I'm not into the snowy-white teeth look, but I do want them to be clean, straight and healthy. it's nice to be able to smile confidently.

LilyMon

I'm halfway through my braces treatment, and I wish I'd done it years ago.
It's the best feeling in the world to be able to change something you've been unhappy with all of your life, regardless of the costs.
I'd say to anybody who is unhappy with their teeth and considering braces to go for it - the sooner you begin, the sooner you reap the benefits.

ravenhead

i'm in the middle of ortho treatment at the moment - & I'm 27 so I wouldn't be too worried about it. I'm not going to lie to you, the first two- three weeks were very hard - couldnt eat anything that I had to chew. but it's really worth it. Its my second time having braces so my teeth are moving very quickly, but it was only for one tooth anyway that moved when my wisdomteeth came down.
If you're teeth are bothering you just go & get it done cause it's only going to annoy you more as you get older. I'm so glad that I've done it .. my confidence has gone down a little bit at the moment ( feel like everyone is staring at my mouth when i talk to them - MAD I know) But i've got no regrets about doing it.

amazingemmet

I reckon if its something that you want done and you have the money i don't see why you shouldn't get it done.

on a side note i done a gig for a oracle there a week ago on a staff funday and there was at least 5 women in their thirties with braces. seems to be getting popular these days

WhiteWashMan

if you can afford it, and it will make you feel more confident and happier, then go for it.
i had orthadontic treatment in my early teens, and its one of the best things that i did.

i now have a beautiful smile :P

sluice44

Slightly silly question but do 'ordinary' dentists do 'orthodontic' treatments or is getting crooked teeth fixed a specialised job?

jrey1981

I think it's scandalous a) how expensive orthodontic treatment is and b) the 'perfect smile' image fascism we are subjected to.

I can remember being very self-concious about my crooked teeth in my teens but now only occasionally do I worry about it.

As far as I know your dentist has to refer you to an orthodontist as fixing crooked teeth is a specialist job.

cee_jay

I had braces for years - started going to see the orthadontist in 6 class - and finally got the fixed braces off in 6 th year - and then had to wear a retainer!
Basically I had overcrowding, and had to get two teeth extracted
It was worth it in that I do have perfectly straight teeth now
But make sure that you go to a very good orthadontist! I had mine on so long because they weren't paying attention to my treatment - and didn't notice my jaw moving! was due to get the braces off when they realised that my bottom teeth were well out in front of my top teeth (my bite was perfect when I first stated going to her!). they then thought that I might need to get my jaw broken but luckily very tight elastic bands from bottom to top sorted it out after nearly 2 years!!
So, anyway, moral of the story is check out the orthadontist first!

WhiteWashMan

jrey1981 wrote:

I think it's scandalous a) how expensive orthodontic treatment is and b) the 'perfect smile' image fascism we are subjected to.

yes, it ranks up there with having the perfect calves, the pertest breasts, the slimest waist, the longest legs, the most lucious of lips and the most elegant of cheek bones.

you can rant all day about fashion and our perceptions through the media, but you know what, most people would agree with and then go straight out and get those things if the could

but dont worry, i havent got any of those either, but at least i have a nice smile

eth0_

sluice44 wrote:

Slightly silly question but do 'ordinary' dentists do 'orthodontic' treatments or is getting crooked teeth fixed a specialised job?

ordinary dentists dont do things like braces or the really complicated stuff, but they can correct some crooked/twisted teeth by doing an elective root canal, filing the tooth to a point, and capping it. Costs around £400 per tooth up north.

I wouldn't even consider having that sort of treatment in the republic though, I really don't think the majority of dentists here practice dentistry to a high standard. They seem to be only after money.

lomb

jrey1981 wrote:

I think it's scandalous a) how expensive orthodontic treatment is and b) the 'perfect smile' image fascism we are subjected to.

I can remember being very self-concious about my crooked teeth in my teens but now only occasionally do I worry about it.

As far as I know your dentist has to refer you to an orthodontist as fixing crooked teeth is a specialist job.

3 grand is not expensive at all, if u think it is wait till u buy a house...

eth0_

lomb, your posts aren't exactly what you could call 'constructive', are they?

djmarkus

Thats not that silly, some dentists get consultant orthodauntists in every few months, who instructs the dentists what to do untill the next visit of the consultant

Tar.Aldarion

if you want to and it bothers you a lot,i guess you should....urgh memories of dentists..

djmarkus

a bit off topic, but hope and pray that u dont get an impacted wisdom tooth, those are really sore to get out

Tar.Aldarion

when i was getting braces years and years ago the dentist freaked out that i had wisdom teeth so young and i was like wtf...shortly afterwards i had 2 diff teeth removed...

jellie

my friends teeth are a bit crooked and was offered braces, not because of any NEED but to make her teeth LOOK better. only thing is, she was warned that she'd be wearing braces all the time for X amount of time, but then would have to wear a retainer at night pretty much for the rest of her life to make sure her teeth wouldnt move back to the way they were. i dont know if this was just her case, or whether it depends on your age (shes 20), but it might be worth checking it out?
she decided shes happy with herself and its not worth the hassle

LegacyUser

i,m 25 and just got braces also 1 tooth extracted and i also need three more pulled,but i,m now wearing the braces and will be for one year eventually it will pay off and i,ll smile more often i think its definitly worth it

djmarkus

i have braces and its fair to say my teeth where crowded! i had to get 4 teeth removed and had to wear headgear at night for 6 months or so, im about 2/3 through my treatment now and im happy to say i have no regrets. but i was a pretty severe case.

lomb

eth0_ wrote:

lomb, your posts aren't exactly what you could call 'constructive', are they?

indeed they are what i would regard as constructive. i am putting into concept the cost of straight teeth versus the cost of a house. with the average house in dublin in excess of 500000 euros essentially we are only talking about a little over half of one percent of a house for straight teeth. money very well spent in my opinion.
everything has to be put into context. thats all im saying. a nice smile is a small investment not in bricks and mortor but in oneself that provides a nice lifelong return.

A friend of mine was lucky enough to be able to get braces through public treatment about 4 years ago. She got them off last year and now I envy her, her smile is beautiful. I had the chance back in 1998 and my mam cancelled the appointment since she thought it would affect my (already low) self esteem!

I think its well worth the money, will do lots for your confidence when they finally come off.

cregser

I'll just add my story to show how common braces are these days.

I have braces about 5 months now. It was decided I needed them in my final year of primary school. I got them in my final year of college. A 9 year waiting list! The government has finally opened a fancy new facility near where I live. But it's all free for me

Every now and again I'd get something caught in my teeth and they would feel loose. A horrible feeling. I was self-concious about smiling (as my teenage photos show ) My problem was a lone surviving baby tooth (at the age of 20) and a bit of over crowding on the top jaw. I had to get 4 teeth removed. The baby tooth and 3 premolars got the pull. I found 2 to be fairly painful but it might have been the psyhcology of it all.

Everyone said my smile was "fine" before and that the braces are "not noticable" now. I dunno, maybe I just associate myself with nice people, because I tend to spot braces fairly quickly. And I was always concious of mine. My confidence did take a hit. The initial pain was there - not a problem for me. But, I was afraid to smile around friends for a while and tried to surround myself with understanding people who once had or have braces, or might be getting them soon.

But it's been 5 months now and I almost accept them as a part of me. That sate of mind where something only effects you as much as you allow it to. And I can't boast about having 4 teeth yanked out of my gob after a mate of mine had EIGHT EXTRACTIONS - but under general anestethic.

djmarkus

I would recommend geting ceramic brackets on the top anyway, they are clear so thy arent as noticable as the metal ones. cost a bit more but it worth it

lomb

that adds another 1500 to the cost andalthough they look good cause problems sometimes with damage to the teeth they are put on (but not always)still they do make the whole thing bearable