Advice sought re: metal dental braces

TillyTrotter I do not know how old you are but is it really worth it? You have survived with your present "bite"- is it really worth the hassle?

Would it be possible and/or helpful to seek a second opinion? I know my dentist would not offer that to me at my time of life.

Charleygirl my thoughts exactly my dentist was suggesting I had some implants to even my ‘bite’ (yeah) but why at my age I ve used my teeth to good effect all these years and they are still going strong minus a few back ones when I told her I wasn’t interested it’s funny how quickly her interest in my mouth, waned and I was smilingly let out of my seat to pay my £23

I am inclined to agree with Charleygirl, although the only experience I have of dental braces is when my then teenage daughter had them fitted. You have managed so far and of course I don't know how old you are. How do you feel about your teeth , are you keen to have a more balanced ' bite'? Your personal views are of course paramount! I would most definitely seek a second opinion, choose another dentist , explain what the issue is and go from there. Easy to visit another practice, you don't have to tell the new practice who your regular dentist is, your dentist will not know you have sought a second opinion. It is quite a big deal and no doubt a big expense. Let us know how you get on. Good luck in making your decision.

I am 21 , 3 times over ? Charleygirl.
I will get a second opinion - in fact my children have asked do I know how painful it is?, as they both had them in their teens and remember it well.

I am missing teeth that were taken out years ago on one side of my mouth top and bottom and so my chewing is all done on one side by the back teeth. I lost one of those recently as it had an abscess under it.
I have also had a problem with my jaw (TMJ) joint which can suddenly spasm.

That sounds more as if you need a few teeth on a plate not a brace How will a brace help you chew evenly ??

Allegedly by pulling the two rows of remaining teeth in line with each other (one above the other if that makes sense) as they miss in an overbite fashion presently.

I had teeth on a plate but thought the brace treatment will be a permanent fix? (and treatment won’t last forever). I know I will need retainers at night to prevent the teeth moving again after.

I had "braces" in my 50s but these were clear Invisaligns. I had been self-conscious of my crooked bite for 40 years but, in a forward-facing job, I didn't want treatment that was obtrusive.

Over the years, I had consulted many dentists including a dental hospital who all told me mine was a very complex case, all suggesting different drastic and obtrusive solutions. I had all but given up.

Then, in my 50s, I came across Invisalign and a dentist who was confident they would work. Treatment took 18 months. It wasn't cheap, I think around £4000 which included some cosmetic work at the end to repair front teeth which had worn unevenly because of the crossbite. Now, I have perfectly straight teeth and smile without feeling self-conscious.

There was no pain involved in treatment and barely anyone knew or noticed that I was having it.

Obviously, everyone’s case is different but I also have a few back teeth missing, consequence of a 1960s dentist saying my crossbite was due to overcrowding and removing healthy teeth. I also have a slightly misaligned jaw due ( believe) to a childhood accident and which can sometimes cause nerve pain. One of the more drastic suggestions from the dental hospital was to break my jaw, reset it and then wire my teeth.

I’d advise getting second and third opinions about your options. Not all dentists are Invisalign practitioners. It may be a treatment that wouldn’t work in your case but it’s worth exploring if the cosmetic aspect and discomfort of wearing metal braces bothers you.

Dentists are very quick to suggest orthodontic treatment - 2 of my DDs refused this and are none the worse; ditto a GS.

It disturbs me that dentists set up a dissatisfaction with one's appearance during the vulnerable teenage years.

As to OP - can you manage with no treatment, or does it annoy you in some way? No Treatment is always the best route I think; unless the problem is very marked or causing lots of problems.

I have considered Invisalign Luckygirl but the cost is out of my reach sadly at around £4000.
I’m glad you are happy with your smile and teeth.
I can manage without treatment but would not like my jaw to lock ?, it gives me pain and aching as well as the spasms. I saw a Maxillo Facial consultant and he gave me exercises to do, which helps.

Tilly - yours does sound like a dentofacial orthopedic problem moreso than mine which was mainly cosmetic. Rereading your opening post it also sounds like you are going ahead with treatment as already prescribed. Has the dentist said how long he or she anticipates this will take?

I did not have concerns about dental hygiene as my "braces" were removable but I imagine this can be an issue with fixed braces as well as when eating. Any issues are, I imagine, going to be the same as a younger person would have embarking upon corrective treatment. I was conscious of speaking with a bit of a lisp for a few days after treatment began but that soon passed.

I used to ask for copies of the photos which were taken as treatment progressed. Seeing the position of my teeth change and improve lessened the pain of seeing £200 disappear from my bank account each month.

I wish you luck with your treatment.

I’ve yet to see an orthodontist Silverbridge ; I have been referred by my dentist and the appointment is in September.
I’m still thinking about other options tbh, I’m not sure about the metal braces at all ?
1 - 2 years was the suggested duration the brace would be on.

TillyTrotter I personally think even at your young age that 2 years is a long time. I am assuming your dentist is private but you live in a part of the country where you will have a choice.

Have you googled local dentists to see what their specialties are, if any?

This is a difficult one but you also do not want to spend a fortune on something which may or may not work. Sorry I have put a dampner on this discussion.

It’s a fair point Charleygirl and I won’t rush into anything now I have had such good advice from fellow Grans.
Thank you all.

I had fixed metal braces on my teeth as an adult and it was agony.
DD had Invisalign in her 40s and she said it was painless and worked far better than my treatment did. Downside is the cost of course but so worth it.

My 33 year old hairdresser wore metal braces for 18 months to straighten her teeth. The results are impressive bu it wasn’t a painless process. Will correcting the bite resolve your jaw spasm issue too Tilly?

It’s not guaranteed Hil1910 , the Max Fac consultant asked for a dental “CV” from my dentist and the two things could be connected.
I shall continue with the jaw exercises whatever I decide to do with my teeth.
I wonder is Invisalign quite new? Might it become more affordable in time as it sounds a better solution i.e. pain free and easier to keep teeth clean after meals.

Align Technology, the creators of Invisalign, was founded in 1997 by Zia Chishti and Kelsey Wirth in San Jose, California.

Here's the story:

www.johnsoneliteortho.com/the-history-of-invisalign/

I has my treatment in the early 2000s so in the early days of the technology. I know the impressions has to be sent to the lab in California for the treatment plan to be worked out and the aligners manufactured. You change them every two weeks or so as the teeth start to move.

If jaw misalignment is the main problem then it may not be the solution for you. If the jaw pain is caused by having to chew oddly because of an incorrect bite then it might. Worth looking into.

Thanks for the link Silverbridge. It’s an interesting history - those men met with much sceptism with their new, innovative alternative to metal braces.
My problems are intermittent and of course when I am in pain I look for a solution which is where I am now.
I am also a night-time tooth grinder which doesn’t help.

Have you tried googling Visalign in whatever part of the country you live in and see if prices have decreased and how many actually carry it out?

There are 2 pages of dentists in my area on the Invisalign website who are approved to offer Invisalign treatment Charleygirl.
They don’t show prices up front as they say everyone’s needs are different.
The bespoke liners are replaced every 2 weeks as the teeth move throughout the treatment period (up to 2 years).
I think that is part of the reason it is so costly and also Invisalign is a patented brand name.

I had metal braces in my 40s to sort out my misaligned bite. I’d been wanting it done for years but didn’t qualify on the NHS. But my lower jaw was receded and then I eventually qualified. I was told that if it kept on the way it was I’d struggle to eat solids by the time I was 50. I’d struggled with biting for years. I had two years of braces followed by surgery. Best thing I ever did. Am six years post op now. I wear retainers at night as I was unable to get fixed retainers put in.

Your experience was a very sobering one PaperMonster - I’m glad it turned out well for you.
I need to weigh up the pro’s and con’s for the best for me in the longterm.