Adult Braces Experience

SM35 wrote: »

Some places that advertise a lower headline price than other places do so to attract new custom, but beware of added extras

e.g. are removable retainers included in the cost?

If fixed retainers were needed, are the costs of these included.

Is the bracket system metal or ceramic?

What about the consultation fee - I have heard of "free" consultations including any necessary Xrays, but if you wish to get a second opinion, the clinic expects the patient to pay €150 or more for copy X-rays.

What are costs of on-going maintenance /reviews?

You might find that once the costs of the above are factored in, that your 3k may come close to 4k...

Finally, find out about who is doing the treatment - are they registered specialists with the Dental Council of Ireland. Are the clinicians, if from overseas, planning on sticking around for the duration of treatment?

Your best bet is always word of mouth from a previously satisfied patient...

I went to a consultation during the week, the consultation was free and the price I was quoted includes all retainers (including fixed retainers) and ceramic braces. The ortho is very highly qualified and is Irish and the main ortho in the practice so hopefully they'll stick around!

The quote I got was still a bit more expensive than the other place I'm going to (going by their pricelist at least) so I think I'll go to another consultation or two and see which practice feels best and which ortho I like the most - I'll be seeing a lot of them after all.

greensheep777 wrote:

Curious to know - obviously braces are something it's worth shopping around for. How many different clinics did everyone go to for consultations before deciding which clinic to go with?

Two. The first one didn't give me a figure but told me I needed several procedures before I got the braces on, that would cost as much as the braces themselves. The second place gave me a completely different plan (with none of the expensive procedures the first place insisted I needed!) and the price was reasonable. I'm nearly a year with the braces on now with another year or so left, progress so far is amazing.

Definitely shop around! It would be interesting to see how many different treatment plans they all come up with

BetsyEllen wrote: »

I went to just 1, because they had been highly recommended to me by more that 1 person.
I had to wait a while to get an appointment as they are busy but once I saw them it was all very quick and straightforward. Given a full treatment plan on day one along with a price.
I had to have 3 wisdom teeth extractions, which I went away and got done.
I then went back to the Ortho again for a 2nd consultation and she took my moulds, pictures etc and I am now getting my brace fitted on the 23rd of this month - only 15 days to go!!

I'm paying €3,200 for semi-ceramic (not sure if that's the right description!) top and bottom, bonded retainer and also the normal retainer. Treatment time approx. 14 months.

PMed you

If anyone else has recommendations via PM I'd love to hear them!

messy tessy wrote: »

Where are you based?

I actually only went to one ortho, after chatting to a place that did 6 month braces which seemed a crazy amount of money for only straightening the visible teeth (I think it was 4 on top and 4 on the bottom). I looked into invisalign but went with ceramic braces instead.

I was happy with the proposed plan that the ortho suggested, I am about a year into the treatment and happy with how my teeth look. Only a few months to go woohoo!

I'm in Dublin

shuyin1 wrote: »

Lads, I'm 18 months in at this stage with 6 extractions for overcrowding and an overjet. By far the worst pain was getting the powerchain on, where one tooth kept throbbing in agony for about five days.
Progress has been great, teeth are all aligned so its just closing gaps and elastics for the bite. No regrets, until the next powerchain I'd imagine.
How did you guys find the powerchain (long elastic that connects to each tooth across whole arch)?

Haven't had that yet, still in the alignment phase myself. The wires are murder on my lower cheek and lip, I wake in the morning and they've gouged into my lip and I've to peel it out. Wax helps but finding the good wax that doesn't need dry brackets to sick to is hard.

BetsyEllen wrote: »

So tomorrow is the big day!
Braces go on at 8am.

As I won't be able to eat properly for a few days I'm going to make myself an extra special dinner this evening

I would highly recommend either a top quality steak, or else something from the "banned" list as you won't be having any of those foods again for a while...

TIP: Think chocolate. Lots of chocolate.

Best of luck, hope everything goes great for you!

Well, they're on!

Had them on about 4.5 hours now, feeling no pain yet but I'm sure it's due to come later.

Getting them on was grand, no pain whatsoever, it's uncomfortable but not in a painful way. I went for the semi ceramics and I'm delighted that they are more 'clear' than I thought they would be. You can barely see them when I'm talking, although I feel like my mouth is about 10x bigger then normal!

Eating is very difficult but I'm sure I'll get used to it.

Hi, can anyone please pm me recommendations for ortho's in Dublin?

Also would love to hear from any of you that have had linguals?

Shane St. wrote:

I think I'm finally going to make the plunge and get a brace for my top row of teeth. (Two front teeth overlap) Just wondering how much this would cost? And do most places offer some sort of payment plan? Regards

No idea on costs but you'll definitely get a payment plan. Mine is 200pm over two years, but I'm having significant work done, i would imagine you'd pay a lot less.

Dingle_berry wrote: »

You'll only get an accurate estimate for your own work when you get a consultation / assessment done. Each practise will manage it differently between deposit amount, repayments (per visit or per month) and what's included.
Unless there's major work to be done it should be around €4k

If it's just for the top I highly doubt it would be as much as that.
I've top and bottom for €3,200.

I can recommend that you DO NOT go to <snip>in Ballsbridge. 

On recommendation I had extensive work done, took a year to complete. Total of my plan was €3200 paid in installments. 

At the end of treatment the dentist used a different material - saying it was cheaper than originally quoted and I'd get a discount. I asked the receptionist, she said she'd no idea what I was talking about and I misheard - very embarrassing. I requested the dentist but she was busy, and moved on, totally dismissing me.

This year doing my Tax Rebates, Revenue requested a MED2 form, which I got from My Dental. Their records showed that I'd paid 2900 and got my discount on my last day of treatment - nope, I paid the full 3200 and got told I had misheard about a discount..

They asked for receipt for the full amount, which the receptionist had WRITTEN instead of printing. Luckily I paid by card so had receipts and bank statements proving that I did not get the discount.

My Dental offered to send me a cheque for the €300, but I went to collect it instead (at 3pm) everyone seemed to be on lunch except a new receptionist who simply handed me the cheque with no explanation.

Moral of the story: Always agree a plan upfront and get printed receipts from the dentist, if the plan changes ask them to email, print or post you a copy with the changes and the updated amount for your own records, especially if you pay in cash.

Could I get some ortho recommendations for Cork please!

mel123 wrote: »

Hi
I got my 4 wisdom teeth out probably 3 or 4 years ago now, and since the my teeth have moved. Not drastically and to me seems only 2 teeth. My own dentist is most unhelpful 'yes you'll need train tracks or invisalign and the cost is x' without even really looking....just his whole attitude is money grabbing.
Anyway ideally what id love is just a retainer type brace....im not even sure if its possible....rather than tracks or invisalign....but im looking for a good dentist recommendation in Dublin who isnt just looking to make a few grand, who is honest and reliable. If anyone has any recommendations?

Castleknock Orthodontics! I can't recommend them enough both for their customer service and the attention they put into my plan. A previous orthodontist had quoted several expensive procedures that I would need done but they didn't, they gave me a straightforward 2 year plan. I have my braces on one year and the change is incredible

I'm not connected to them in any way, they really are just great!

Have put off braces for now. Saving for a house deposit and obviously it will eat into how much I can save every month, am worried that would affect my mortgage application. :(:(