Adult Orthodontics

[myshel]

I just scheduled my ortho consult appointment for a week from tomorrow. I'm a littler nervous, being an adult and considering moving forward with some type of treatment to straighten my teeth. I'm curious if anyone else here has had orthodontics as an adult. If so, I'd love to hear your experiences.

[myshel]

So, out of 4,000 members, no one has done orthodontics as an adult? Interesting. Well, I'll update after my consultation, just in case someone else comes along with the same issue.

[jrdhbunny]

I've never actually had them done, but I did go in for a consult with one of the doctors that pioneered the Invisalign technology. Unfortunately, he charged a fortune so I was unable to proceed, but at the appt he basically took x-rays and told me about the braces. He also said that your mouth has to be in basically perfect condition so he wanted me to have my gums scaled (shudder).

Once we're in a better place financially, I'll probably look into it again. It should be cheaper here than in NYC and our best man (and DS' godfather) is an oral surgeon so he may be able to get us a deal.

Good luck- let us know how it goes!

[ctjo]

Hi - not me, but my husband has! He got Invisaligns a few months ago and couldn't be happier. His teeth had bothered him for awhile and he's just so happy to be doing something about it.

At his consult, I believe they just took a look at his mouth and discussed some options. They also gave him a price breakdown for each of several options (traditional braces, clear braces, invisalign, just bottom braces and not top, etc.). I would recommend checking with your insurance after getting this information - the orthodontist's estimate of what insurance would cover wasn't right - his insurance covered more than the ortho thought they would.

After the consult, he made his decision, went in for impressions, and has been going every month ever since! They did briefly discuss tooth removal, but it turns out it wasn't necessary.

As far as the adult factor - he was pretty motivated to do it, and the Invisaligns are hardly noticeable. It is funny to hear him talk about going to the ortho - initially he thought that the staff there had great memories because they always knew who he was as soon as he walked in the door. Then he realized that he is probably twice the age as most of their patients! He has a sense of humor about it so it's all good. He'll have his Invisaligns for 2 years - seems like a long time but in the grand scheme of things, isn't.

Good luck!!! He is so happy with this decision so far. He was SO excited to get the Invisaligns. We even went out to dinner to celebrate. :)

[myshel]

ctjo: Why did your DH choose Invisaligns over other options? I'm just curious. I'm not even sure that I'm a good candidate for those, because my teeth are pretty darn crooked. My problem is too many teeth, tiny jaw.

[missy329]

I had braces put on when I was 27 but that was 11 years ago so I am sure that things have changed a bit since then. I had the ceramic brackets on the top teeth so they didn't show as much and the regular metal brackets on the bottom. I had them on for 2 years and then wore my retainer every night for 4 years (until I got pregnant with my first child and the retainer made me gag). Anyway, my teeth still look good and I am glad that I had them on!

[Lauren]

I've had Invisalign for a few months now, and I'm about halfway through my treatment. I've been really happy with them. I got them basically for vanity reasons -- my teeth weren't all that bad to begin with, but I had some spacing that bothered me. I wasn't willing to do regular braces (again, for vanity reasons), but Invisalign has been great -- they are barely noticeable, and (except for the first couple of days getting used to them) they don't really affect my speech.

If you're interested in Invisalign, I'd find a doctor that specializes in them (I think their web site has a list) and go in for a consultation. They should be able to let you know pretty quickly whether it will work for you or not, and if not, what your other options are.

[Goodies]

I had my braces put on in February. My ortho told me that I'd have to wear braces for 6 months and then he could switch to invisaline. Of coarse for double the money ;) So I have regular braces now. The first month was horrible but I'm used to them now and don't really notice them :)

[Boomer]

I also had them when I was 35. My upper jaw was too narrow so I had to have jaw surgery first to cut the soft palate and had a metal plate in my mouth that I had to crank open to spread my jaw. It actually sounds alot worse than it was. I had the same as Missy, the ceramic brackets on the top and regular metal brackets on the bottom. I wore them for 18 months. I don't remember how long I wore my retainer (just got out of the habit) and my teeth were fine until about a year ago so I got another retainer that I use maybe once a week to move them back (had a small gap in the front) and that seems to do the trick.

Bottom line is I am happy I did it, my teeth still look great.

[ctjo]

Hi! He chose Invisalign for vanity reasons - and I must say, they are not noticeable at all. The only thing is that you can't eat with them in, and he's not comfortable whipping them out of his mouth at the table (well, at least when we're out to eat ;)) so he has to go to the restroom before every meal. It's actually kind of funny.

Basically what happened was that the ortho told him that insurance didn't cover Invisalign, but partially covered traditional braces. We were struggling with the decision when I told him to just call the insurance - turns out, they covered half, so we decided it was worth it.

His teeth are pretty darn crooked too. I love the guy but he has some crooked teeth :) If your jaw is too small for your teeth, they may take a few out. I'm no expert, but that's what they did to me when I had braces (when I was a kid, back in the '80's). I remember hearing somewhere that, in general, our mouths are not usually big enough for all our adult teeth, including 4 wisdom teeth, and that's why a lot of people have them removed. I can't vouch for the validity of that though since I can't even remember where I heard it :)

[gumball]

At 28 years old, I just got braces a month ago, ceramic on the top and metal on the bottom. I have an impacted canine tooth in the roof of my mouth that needs to be brought into position so I needed the braces to ensure the rest of my teeth didn’t shift while the tooth was being brought down. A month before getting the braces I had two impacted wisdom teeth and my baby canine removed. I also had the impacted canine exposed, so it has been quite a process so far. I guess there is really no way of knowing how long it will take the canine to move into position but the ortho tells me I’ll probably be in braces for 18 months.

It was pretty rough at first but I’m pretty much used to them now. It just takes a little time.

Good luck with everything!

[keska]

I spent about 15 months fixing my teeth and just got done last year. I had surgery to remove two baby teeth (both canines) and the permanent teeth above them. Unlike gumball, my permanent teeth weren't impacted but way up in my gums at a bad angle. My surgeon and ortho advised me that the success rate in pulling down permanent teeth in adults at my age was only about 30% and even if successful, I'd still need braces afterward. Also, I would have needed braces beforehand to make room for the permanent teeth. As you can imagine, that was way too long of a wait for something that didn't have a guaranteed success rate. I wanted to get it all done as soon as possible, so I elected to have them removed and get implants. It was a long process that involved significant periods of recovery because I needed bone grafts after both surgeries. I like the implants, though.

My brother had braces in his mid-thirties and his teeth look great. If you really want to do it, go for it. I think it's much more common to see adults getting braces now than it used to be.

[Phen]

I got adult braces at the end of March (I am 35), and I figure maybe another four or five months. I'd asked about Invisalign, but they all said it would take twice as long for twice as much money, so I went with regular ol' ones (though mine are clear brackets, at least). They're not a joyride, but with the help of my WaterPik, I'm gettin' through it and trying to keep my eyes on the prize: straight teeth with no David Letterman gaps in my smile at the end of it!

~ phen

[Hello Kitty]

I swear there was a previous thread on this, but DH got his braces on in Nov 05, and he got them off in June 07. He's thrilled with how they look. That's not to say I'm not thrilled, but a) I hardly remember what his teeth looked like before and b) his teeth have slightly uneven heights, and it's not like you can (well you can, but we won't) shave them down to make this perfect smile. So I think they look really natural. He isn't as afraid to talk with his mouth open, and laugh and smile.

He did the clear braces and had absolutely no staining or marring on his teeth. He was fastidious about brushing and flossing though. We had the water pik thing, but hated it and put it back in it's package about a month in.

He's wearing his retainer, although he hates it. He takes it in and out throughout the day quite a bit, but I think he's still wearing it the majority of the day, which is good. I got a retainer, because I was noticing some not-so-nice shifting of my bottom teeth, and even though the ortho said he couldn't fix that, I swear that he did. So if you have a minor complaint, maybe consult with an ortho anyway.

As far as cost - our ins. covered $2500 over the course of the treatment. IIRC, we paid another $1500 up front - our office manager sucked terribly, and we had a lot of drama with our payments. Just make sure you keep track of what you pay, when, and how, and don't be afraid to follow up.

[t3h_wookiee]

I had regular braces put on when I was 21 and wore them until just before my 23rd birthday. I had really horrible teeth. Really horrible. Now they look awesome. :D I wish I had done this before the wedding though! lol

I still wear my, not a retainer, but I can't remember the name of it, everyday. It's plastic, and is more of a mold of my upper teeth. My lower teeth have a permanent retainer behind them, as I have very little gum on bottom so they shift too easily. In fact, I need to get a gum graft done sometime. Ugh.


I'm so glad that I got braces! I never got any comments except from other adults with them, so that was nice.

[myshel]

Well, ladies, I've decided to go through with it. I'm getting my braces put on this coming Tuesday. My initial worries about braces came from a few things-- cost (DH's insurance doesn't cover adult orthodontics, so we're paying out of pocket for this) and the look (I teach HS, so the kids are bound to comment on them).

My fears were put to rest when I went to see the ortho. The office is really nice and both drs are very young. Actually, the whole practice and the people working there made me feel like it's a bit "Nip/Tuck," but in a good way.

It's going to cost $5750 for the whole deal, which includes everything-- even the clear braces on top (I'm not sure why, but they only offered me the clear brackets on top, not the bottom). We've decided to cut back on a few splurge-y type items for the next year, so we can pay the braces off faster (we also have three people moving into our house this fall, so we have additional financial burden coming soon, but that's whole 'nother thread).

I'm looking forward to it, but am nervous too. It's going to be a 18-24 deal for me. Wish me luck!

[Hello Kitty]

Myshel - DH taught when he had his braces on, and he found the best way was to just get over the hump and make fun of himself (gently) and note that he had them, so that the kids couldn't really make any comments.

Anyway, I'm so glad the office made you feel at ease about the decision.

[myshel]

So, they're on-- clear on top, metal on the bottom. Yesterday wasn't so bad. I tried to eat pasta, but I could only manage a small plate, so we went to get some soft serve.

Today, my mouth hurts pretty bad. I just finished a container of yogurt which took forever. Please tell me that I'll be able to eat normally in a few days?

[jajacobsen]

I just noticed this thread. I had the in my mid 20s. They wer ethe best thing I ever did for myself as they improved my appearance - and my self confidence - tremendously.

Every tiem you go in fo an adjustment - it wil hurt for a day or so. You wil get used to it somewhat. You wil also get better at eating with braces. But you will lose weight. Everyone I knwo who has braces as an adult lost weight. Not necessarily a bad thing (att least fo r me it wasn't). My braces came off and I was skinny with straight teeth!

[jenjen0713]

My husband is a high school teacher and just got braces put on 6 months ago. He found having braces actually made him bond more with his students because the kids found him more approachable/"we have something in common" type thing.

I know it is probably too late for you, but we did a flex spending account thing with his paycheck to pay for the braces. I think they took out $350/m for 12 months. Since it was flexible spending, it lowered our taxable income/taxes. Also, we got a check from the flex spending company for the whole amount and paid the braces off in-full up-front (the ortho offered us a 5% discount if we paid in full up front).

[May27JnJ]

So, they're on-- clear on top, metal on the bottom. Yesterday wasn't so bad. I tried to eat pasta, but I could only manage a small plate, so we went to get some soft serve.

Today, my mouth hurts pretty bad. I just finished a container of yogurt which took forever. Please tell me that I'll be able to eat normally in a few days?

It will get better. My suggestion is taking meds before you go to get any adjustments done. I'm working on getting braces for the second time. :rolleyes: Remember this...Wear your retainer!!! Even if it's just at night!!

[Fenway]

It will get better. My suggestion is taking meds before you go to get any adjustments done. I'm working on getting braces for the second time. :rolleyes: Remember this...Wear your retainer!!! Even if it's just at night!!

Jenni-I thought I was going to need braces for the second time, but instead they made me new retainers w/ springs. Little by little, they activated the springs individually to move my teeth back where they belong. It seemed to have worked very well, but I went on vacation for a week and forgot my retainers at home and now the bottom doesn't fit anymore. They will have to unactivate the springs and start from square one. For me, it is still better than going through having braces all over again. That may be an option for you.

[May27JnJ]

Thanks for the info Fenway! I'll have to ask them about that! Now I have to talk DH into getting the ball rolling on this!

[MichelleRenee]

I saw my Invisalign specialist today and started the process. I have enough self-esteem issues and just could not imagine doing traditional braces. Luckily my insurance covers a good portion of the cost.

A lot of you mention Invisalign being 2x as expensive. Well I had quotes for both and the Invisalign ended up being a little less expensive than traditional braces. Very confusing. I thought they would cost more!

Anyways, I am really excited to get my first trays and get started!

[literati]

I had traditional braces (ceramic on top, metal on bottom) in my early to mid-twenties. I was a tough case and had to have jaw surgery to correct my bite after my teeth were straightened. Even with the surgery, it was completely worth it.

My ortho recommended that I wear my retainer every night for ever and ever. The thought of another surgery is enough to make me wear it most nights.

[MichelleRenee]

My Clincheck is in for my Invisalign. (The 3-D video that lets me see what the progress and results will be.) I get to see it Monday and my trays should come in within 2 weeks.

For traditional braces I was quoted $5500. For Invisalign I ended up paying $4500. My insurance covered the same amount for either one. I can't wait to get started!

[MichelleRenee]

I got my Invisalign trays yesterday so I have officially started treatment. For anyone who is wondering about how that goes I started a blog. (link in my sig)

My top teeth will be finished in 20 weeks and my bottom teeth will be finished in 26 weeks. So far it is not painful at all!

[May27JnJ]

I'm so jealous! :D Good for you! It will happen so fast!

[May27JnJ]

I made an appt with my old ortho dr for Nov.

[Anna]

I had braces in high school which corrected my teeth very well. I stopped wearing my retainer in college, and my teeth have shifted and are now crowded. I scheduled an orthodontist visit a few weeks ago and discussed the options for either regular braces or Invisalign. The regular braces came out to be about $1200 more than Invisalign. Both options were for 12 months of treatment.

I have chosen to go with the Invisalign treatment based on cost and aesthetic reasons. The orthodontist said the trays should arrive in 6-8 weeks, so I'll update later on. I'm glad to be addressing this problem, but also sort of bummed that I am at this point in the first place. I wish I had worn my retainer, and I might not be going through this whole process again (except this time I have to pay for it instead of my parents!).

MichelleRenee: How did you get a copy of your Clincheck? I was shown mine at the appointment, but they never offered to email me a copy. I guess I should just ask? I checked out your blog, so I hope treatment continues to go well. Hope those buttons stop popping off!

[MichelleRenee]

Anna:

I asked them if they could e-mail me a copy or if I could save it to a disk. They e-mailed it to me. They wouldn't have if I didn't ask.

After I saw it and before they e-mailed it to me it dawned on me that I should have just taken my camera and done a video clip of it because it would have been much easier.

Good luck!! I am loving my IA so far! I am amazed at the results already and it has only been 3 weeks.

[Anna]

Thanks MichelleRenee-- I'll just ask for a copy. Considering the amount of money that this is going to cost, I would like to be able to view the Clincheck to reassure myself that I am making the right decision.

How great that you are already seeing results. I can't wait to get started!

[MichelleRenee]

I never posted my results. I am very happy with how my teeth turned out. This was a month before starting and after 26 weeks of Invisalign treatment:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v498/AngelyWangely/before.jpg

I am embarassed by my before picture! Seriously, I wish I had been able to do this years ago!

[Hello Kitty]

That looks great!

Just wear your retainers so they don't shift back. ;) </nag>

[MichelleRenee]

Definitely!

[gumball]

Your teeth look great! I've had my braces since May 07 (Invisalign wasn't an option for me) and only have a few months left. I cannot wait to get them off!