Adult Braces Experience

percy212 wrote: »

I guess inexperience of invisalign on the dentists part...I don't really know. It was a big waste of money which still makes me cringe! The dentist I see now has a poor opinion of invisalign in general. I think he has a point. Train tracks all the way

Keep thinking of the end result!

bowsandarrows

Can anybody PM a recommendation for a good Ortho somewhere convenient for the city centre? Thanks so much!

Looking at getting braces soon. 19 years old.

I have had a consultation with a dentist who also does braces, quoted €3150 for both upper and lower teeth metal braces.

However, seriously considering going to a qualified orthodontist instead, after reading other threads on here..albeit for about €1000+ more..

Any thoughts??

percy212

Don't skimp. I did, and it cost me double. Go to an orthodontist. Do NOT get invisalign, which is a total scam.

percy212 wrote: »

Don't skimp. I did, and it cost me double. Go to an orthodontist. Do NOT get invisalign, which is a total scam.

Many thanks. Won't be going for Invisalign at all after hearing poor reviews. Will be getting the full metal ones, the best performing ones (so I've heard)

percy212

Yes, I have the modern train tracks. Damon I think they are called. They are definitely working on my wonky mouth, so I can recommend them. Best of luck!

percy212 wrote: »

Yes, I have the modern train tracks. Damon I think they are called. They are definitely working on my wonky mouth, so I can recommend them. Best of luck!

Damon were actually the ones the dentist (€3150) was going to use for me.. still worth going to an ortho to get them done?

percy212

Yes. Definitely. Would you let a GP perform surgery on you? I wouldn't

Curb Your Enthusiasm wrote: »

Damon were actually the ones the dentist (€3150) was going to use for me.. still worth going to an ortho to get them done?

percy212 wrote: »

Yes. Definitely. Would you let a GP perform surgery on you? I wouldn't

very true. Many thanks for your input. The ortho I'm looking at in Cork also offers visits/checkups up to 24 months after the braces are put on which is great.

Seems to definitely be worth the extra cash in the long run.

I have ceramic braces on since April and already have noticed a massive improvement in the top ones. They are barely noticeable and was really delighted I decided to get it done. Mine cost about €4200 which is a lot, but I think it is worth getting them done right.

messy tessy wrote: »

I have ceramic braces on since April and already have noticed a massive improvement in the top ones. They are barely noticeable and was really delighted I decided to get it done. Mine cost about €4200 which is a lot, but I think it is worth getting them done right.

Were your teeth very wonky or only slightly?

Dingle_berry

Definitely go to an orthodontist. There is a reason that they did the extra training! Preferably go to one with their own practise, not a big chain where the orthodontist could change several times over the course of your treatment.
An orthodontist should be able to give you an estimate of what needs to be done from a quick (30-40 min) exam. Soecific treatment plans need casts and X-rays.
Questions to ask, if you're not told are;
What are your options? (Metal only, ceramic, lingual [behind teeth] or Invisalign?)
How long will it take? Rough estimate
Will you need teeth extracted?
How often will you need to visit your regular dentist during treatment for cleaning etc?
How much will it cost and how is it paid? Beware of paying everything up front.
How often will you need to attend for adjustments?
Things like a broken bracket can happen, will it cost you extra? Will they charge you to clip the arch wire if it is irritating you?
Will you need retainers after? Permanent and/or removable? For how long? Are they included in the cost estimate?
Do they stock the specialised toothbrushes, wax etc and how much are they?
If you play sports will you need a gum shield? Do they provide them? How much?

The experience itself is very VERY uncomfortable at first. Something pushing on all your teeth constantly. Not sore but like a wisdom tooth coming up. The pressure eases after a day or two but then the roots of the teeth are tender and biting even soft foods like a ripe banana is... uncomfortable!

Curb Your Enthusiasm wrote: »

Were your teeth very wonky or only slightly?

The two teeth beside my front ones were very crooked, so much so that the pressure on the wire resulted in one of the brackets coming off after a day!

I have to get them on the bottom teeth yet - which are overcrowded and wonky. I have an overbite on the top teeth, so the orthodontist is waiting for them to be better aligned (or something) before the end ones go on. He said I would only chomp them off, like I am a horse or something!!!

ChampagnePop

I've just had my first tightening - so sore again, my teeth look 90% they're already but it's only 6 weeks! I have ceramic braces and it's so nice to get clean elastics!

littlemouse22

Hi All,

Today I got my top brace on and tomorrow I will be getting the bottom brace on.

I am already starting to feel alot of pain from the top brace quite uncomfortable - like a pressure pain or bad tootache in numerous teeth. Found it hard to even eat soft foods today as touching the bottom of my teeth is quite tender. It was also very sore to brush my teeth as they were so sensitive to touch. Is this normal for day 1?

Has anyone any tips or recommendations for my first few days/weeks that could help?

littlemouse22 wrote: »

Hi All,

Today I got my top brace on and tomorrow I will be getting the bottom brace on.

I am already starting to feel alot of pain from the top brace quite uncomfortable - like a pressure pain or bad tootache in numerous teeth. Found it hard to even eat soft foods today as touching the bottom of my teeth is quite tender. It was also very sore to brush my teeth as they were so sensitive to touch. Is this normal for day 1?

Has anyone any tips or recommendations for my first few days/weeks that could help?

The first while you get the braces on is going to be very sore. I mean, they are basically a clamp around your teeth and are literally forcing them to move. Although it can be painful, remember that pain is a good thing as it means that the braces are doing their job and your teeth are moving into their correct position.

As for diet tips, I found soups, stews, casseroles, pasta etc. to be the main staple for the first couple of weeks. Avoid hard foods and the list of stuff they gave you to avoid in general for the duration in terms of discolouring the braces/ties or getting stuck to the brackets like curry, toffee, caramel, nuts, anything with seeds etc.

Best of luck with them anyway - once you have them on a couple of weeks, you'll forget they are there and they will be off before you know it!

littlemouse22

BandMember wrote: »

The first while you get the braces on is going to be very sore. I mean, they are basically a clamp around your teeth and are literally forcing them to move. Although it can be painful, remember that pain is a good thing as it means that the braces are doing their job and your teeth are moving into their correct position.

As for diet tips, I found soups, stews, casseroles, pasta etc. to be the main staple for the first couple of weeks. Avoid hard foods and the list of stuff they gave you to avoid in general for the duration in terms of discolouring the braces/ties or getting stuck to the brackets like curry, toffee, caramel, nuts, anything with seeds etc.

Best of luck with them anyway - once you have them on a couple of weeks, you'll forget they are there and they will be off before you know it!

Thanks for you reply

Suppose you're right - pain is a good sign! I'm just hoping the pain will gradually ease in time especially for brushing my teeth.

The change in diet I can deal with, as I think I've mentally prepared to change my diet before getting them.

Not that I wasn't expecting pain because I was - I just wasn't expecting them to be so tender to touch

Suppose it is only day 1 and it's a completly new/wierd sennsation but I'm finally on the path to getting the smile I have always wanted

littlemouse22 wrote: »

Thanks for you reply Suppose you're right - pain is a good sign! I'm just hoping the pain will gradually ease in time especially for brushing my teeth.

The change in diet I can deal with, as I think I've mentally prepared to change my diet before getting them.

Not that I wasn't expecting pain because I was - I just wasn't expecting them to be so tender to touch

Suppose it is only day 1 and it's a completly new/wierd sennsation but I'm finally on the path to getting the smile I have always wanted

That's exactly the attitude to take - positive and keeping your long term goal in mind.

I could also give you another tip my Ortho gave me when he put mine on first. I had made plans for that evening originally before I got my appointment to get my braces on and I was telling him this before he stopped me and gave me a bit of advice that I never thought I would hear from a medical professional - he told me to go out and have pints that night with some mates and watch a big match that was on. The reason was two fold: one, he said that some people feel really self conscious when they have them on first (never cost me a thought to be honest) and two, it would help me forget about it..........and ease the pain, as he laughed his head off! :pac::D

So, I'll give you two tips for the weekend: (1) meet some friends and head out on the town and (2) you will be very pleasantly surprised how much the braces are a very good conversation starter and ice breaker, especially as opening chat lines from the opposite sex! Make of that what you will.... :cool:

Oh, just to be clear - I am not going to be responsible for your hangover though! :P:pac:

ShadyAcres

I'm a little bit freaked out here. I'm currently using invisalign to straighten the teeth. I have one batch of aligners that go 15 of 19,/ 16 of 19, 17+ of 19, 18+ of 19 ,19 + of 19. The last 3 trays are over correction aligners. I was just about to change trays as I usually do on a Sunday and I found another 4 trays in the bag. 19 of 22 ,20 of 22, 21 of 22, 22 of22. Is this normal that over correction aligners are used before the end of treatment?

Edit forgot to say I'm on 17+ of 19 (over correction aligners) and was just about to go to 18+ of 19

GingerLily

I have clear ceramics. Has anyone tried changing the elastic bands on their braces themselves? My friend who had braces as a teenager keeps telling me that you can do it but if never heard of it.

bowsandarrows

Hey guys,

Just wondering, if I get braces and pay up front, can I immediately claim tax back for it this year?

Thanks

GingerLily wrote: »

I have clear ceramics. Has anyone tried changing the elastic bands on their braces themselves? My friend who had braces as a teenager keeps telling me that you can do it but if never heard of it.

My orthodontist needs a pliers to take them off, not sure how you would manage yourself.

Do you find the elastics getting stained easily?

Sebastian Dangerfield

bowsandarrows wrote: »

Hey guys,

Just wondering, if I get braces and pay up front, can I immediately claim tax back for it this year?

Thanks

Pretty sure you have to wait til the end of the tax year. I recall needing a p60 as part of my claim

GingerLily wrote: »

I have clear ceramics. Has anyone tried changing the elastic bands on their braces themselves? My friend who had braces as a teenager keeps telling me that you can do it but if never heard of it.

I have people telling me lots of stuff as well, but I know bullsh*t when I hear it and your friend is talking absolute complete and utter rubbish there!! I have the same as you and there is no way that you could change them yourself. Besides, even if you could, why would you want to when you can get it done for free???

bowsandarrows wrote: »

Just wondering, if I get braces and pay up front, can I immediately claim tax back for it this year?

No, you will need to wait until January 2017 to claim anything back for this year.

messy tessy wrote: »

Do you find the elastics getting stained easily?

If you brush regularly after meals/eating and stick to the list of stuff that they recommend you avoid because it stains them esaily, then I find that I can keep the elastics pretty much stain free.

Craicho5

Lia_lia wrote: »

I'm 22 and got mine about a month ago.

Best decision I have made in ages! They are quite pricey considering I am a student (about €4,500 including extractions), but with a payment plan I'll be grand. And my ortho is brilliant so I'm happy out. They were quite painful the first few weeks but now I can't even feel them anymore! I have ceramic braces on top and will be getting metal ones on the bottom in a few months. He only charged me an extra €150 for the ceramic brackets, yay!

I was told I can't get ceramic braces on the bottom, not really sure why. But sure you won't really be able to see them so I don't mind.

Anyway, if you are thinking of getting braces...just do it! The time will fly anyway I'd say. And nobody really notices them. Loads of adults are getting them these days.

Agree with Lia_lia! I got mine at 32 for around the same price but it was so worth it, you cant put a price on self confidence. Highly recommend you go for it OP. You can get white ones if you are conscious of how they look.

GingerLily

BandMember wrote: »

GingerLily wrote: »

I have clear ceramics. Has anyone tried changing the elastic bands on their braces themselves? My friend who had braces as a teenager keeps telling me that you can do it but if never heard of it.

I have people telling me lots of stuff as well, but I know bullsh*t when I hear it and your friend is talking absolute complete and utter rubbish there!! I have the same as you and there is no way that you could change them yourself. Besides, even if you could, why would you want to when you can get it done for free???

bowsandarrows wrote: »

Just wondering, if I get braces and pay up front, can I immediately claim tax back for it this year?

No, you will need to wait until January 2017 to claim anything back for this year.

messy tessy wrote: »

Do you find the elastics getting stained easily?

If you brush regularly after meals/eating and stick to the list of stuff that they recommend you avoid because it stains them esaily, then I find that I can keep the elastics pretty much stain free.

I get them changed once every 6 weeks, I want to increase the frequency, I would have thought that was blatantly obvious.

GingerLily wrote: »

I get them changed once every 6 weeks, I want to increase the frequency, I would have thought that was blatantly obvious.

Ok, well, attempting to change them yourself is the definition of madness! You are spending thousands of euros, you have a trained professional providing you with a service - attempting a DIY job without knowing what you are doing is not only going to defeat his efforts, you could cause some serious long term damage to yourself. I'm sorry if I appear blunt or rude, but that is........I wanna avoid using the words "beyond stupid"........so I'll just say that it is a really bad idea.

My ortho will change mine as often as I want but I never have had to do this, usually get it done as scheduled every 6-8 weeks.

Can I ask though, why do you want to get them changed more than once every 6 weeks?

GingerLily

BandMember wrote: »

GingerLily wrote: »

I get them changed once every 6 weeks, I want to increase the frequency, I would have thought that was blatantly obvious.

Ok, well, attempting to change them yourself is the definition of madness! You are spending thousands of euros, you have a trained professional providing you with a service - attempting a DIY job without knowing what you are doing is not only going to defeat his efforts, you could cause some serious long term damage to yourself. I'm sorry if I appear blunt or rude, but that is........I wanna avoid using the words "beyond stupid"........so I'll just say that it is a really bad idea.

My ortho will change mine as often as I want but I never have had to do this, usually get it done as scheduled every 6-8 weeks.

Can I ask though, why do you want to get them changed more than once every 6 weeks?

I only asked a question and your answers have been extremely rude.

helimachoptor

Bandmember please watch your tone

Secondly gingerlily, you have a treatment plan, it's advisable to stick to it, please dont self medicate on your dental work, you could at worst irreparably damage your teeth and at best prolong treatment and increase cost