Braces and retainers

[daffodilbrain]

I'm thinking about getting some... but have no idea about cost. Can anyone advise?

[fairgame84]

Metal or invisalign?

I've got invisalign at the moment and its £2600 for a 14 week treatment for top and bottom teeth then £495 for 3 sets of retainers afterwards.
Metal 'train tracks' can be a bit cheaper but it depends on what you need doing. For my teeth, fixed metal braces would have been between £1500 and £2000.

[kwest]

My Invisalign is £4800 for top and bottom teeth (very crooked) over 12-18 months, including fixed and removable retainers and 2 years follow up checks. I’m 6 months in, so pleased with progress. Do it!

[daffodilbrain]

But it just seems so expensive - my teeth aren't too bad, the dental hygienist suggested it today. Do they do payment plans?

[fairgame84]

It is expensive but most places do payment plans.

Everybody has said they didn't notice my teeth weren't straight but I notice it and it bothers me. It depends how you feel about it.
I had a fixed metal brace as a teen so I know how good my teeth can look. Unfortunately my teeth moved back because I went to a shit dentist when I moved house and he told me I didn't need to wear my retainer.
You have to be totally committed to wearing your retainer for the rest of your life.

Invisalign is not an easy option either. You have to wear them for 22 hours per day and you can only drink water when they are in. It's a real pain. To be honest I would rather have fixed braces because you can eat and drink whenever you want with them.
I'm counting down the seconds until I finish my treatment and I'm only 2 weeks in!

If your heart isn't in it then don't bother.

[lineandsinker]

I paid £5000 for my ceramic / clear train track braces 3 years ago. I did also have to have jaw surgery to move my lower jaw forward in order to correct my bite. My treatment time was 2.5 years in total which could have been why the cost was higher.

That being said, my sister went to the same orthodontist a year after me and also paid £5000 - she didn’t need to have jaw surgery.

Was absolutely worth it though.

[lineandsinker]

PS, I’m still wearing my retainers every night. It’s a lifetime thing but wouldn’t want my teeth to move again after all the pain I went through to get them straight!

[kjhkj]

Quotes for DCs recently have been in the region of £3k (each). That isn't for invisalign, just normal braces.

[Winterdaysarehere]

Train tracks are currently on. £1500. £400 deposit and payments at each appointment of just whatever. Orthodontist via my own dental practice. At NHS cost.
Retainer for bed afterwards at no further costs.

[HitsAndMrs]

£2750 for 20 sets of invisalign braces and 3 sets of retainers. I paid monthly over two years. Glad I did it but hate that wearing the retainers at night because they are quite thick. You have to wear retainers for life time really and these will need replacing, mine are £50 a set and I change them every 6 months or so.

[Sunshineandflipflops]

I had Invisalign for about 7 months and it cost me £3650.

Other people told me my teeth were "fine" but it's all I saw when I looked at photos or in the mirror so I wanted to do it for me and I am so glad I did.

I have a fixed retainer now (wires behind each row of teeth) to stop them moving but also have a removable retainer as well which I wear about once a week overnight as a precaution. No way I am paying that much to have my teeth move back again!

I paid on a payment plan every month.

[ChocOrCheese]

I paid about £2,200 for six month smiles fixed braces about 5 years ago. My dentist does a payment plan.

The treatment took seven months or so.

I wear removable retainers every night. Dentist advised me to wear them as often as possible even in the day for the first three months, then down to every night and I could go to every other night after a year if I wanted. But I didn't want.

The removable retainers are an ongoing expense. The first pair came free with the package. But they get worn and they can get loose. In fact my teeth have tried to move. New retainers made from the original mould help with this.

Retainers cost £200 and I've needed a new pair every couple of years. The dentist has offered me a fixed retainer which costs about £200 but is guaranteed for life - any repairs are done free of charge. But I am not prepared not to be able to floss my teeth so am living with the removable ones. I actually like them because I grind my teeth at night and they offer some protection.

[Oblomov19]

Can't believe 2 x posters saying £1500! It's £4K here.
God how I wish I could get it for £1.5k! Seriously, how is this possible?

[MyVisionsComeFromSoup]

have just paid £4250 for fixed braces (ceramic top, metal bottom), to be followed by both fixed retainers and removable ones. Orthodontist did a range of payment plans (12 months interest free with a deposit, or 18-36 months with interest but no deposit). Am in a pricey part of the SE though.

[MyVisionsComeFromSoup]

Pricing probably depends on how bad the teeth are - if treatment is only lasting 6 months, the teeth will have been less crooked than say mine, which will take 12-18 months.

Thankfully DDs 5 year treatment was on the NHS!

[EauDeResistance]

£1.500 for metal train track on top teeth only. Plus a fixed retainer now behind the front teeth and I wear a removable retainer every night.

Best money I have ever spent and I wish I'd have done it years ago. I get complimented on my smile and the difference in my confidence is amazing.