Late 30s - would you get orthodontics (photo)

[museumum]

I had braces from age 10 to 18, have had my incisors removed. Teeth were straight till my late 20s, now they look like this.
Would you pay for orthodontics? Price is ten times more than I'd normally spend on S&B in a year. We can probably find it but it will impact on the family.
Worth it or not???

[Greengardenpixie]

No, your teeth are fine and look normal to me. Not worth the sacrifice. Lovely white teeth imo.

[OrionsAccessory]

Totally agree with greengardenpixie.

[BeautifulBatman]

My teeth were similar to yours but the two either side of the front teeth were more forward than yours and my bottom four front were criss crossed too. I got clear path (similar to invisalign). I'm on my very last set of aligners now and I'm so happy. It isn't cheap but I was so unhappy about my teeth that I didn't have a photographer at my wedding because I was so paranoid about my smile.

[NoelHeadbands]

I think if they are making you miserable and impacting on your general well being, you should probably go for it.

BUT

I have to say, I genuinely, honestly, really like teeth like yours and I think they look great.

[savasana]

Hmm mine are a bit like yours but I have similar on the bottom too. I'm 90% sure I'm going to take the plunge (to the tune of 4kish!!!!) but I have worked out a savings plan to replace the money I'll be taking out of our pot within 18 months, so feel ok about it. Been thinking about it for years. I'm 29.

[Greengardenpixie]

The thing is, we have this image nowadays of how teeth should look. its that perfect smile. its totally false. Teeth are not always perfect. I would love to have teeth that are as white as yours. Sadly my teeth have never been that lovely fresh white.

[scarletforya]

Yes I would. I can't believe they removed your incisors. You should seek upper arch expansion to fill the dark buccal spaces at the corners and create spaces to have the removed teeth replaced with implants.

You still have years left to live and you have nice teeth with youthful looking round ends. Which is an asset. You have good height in your smile but you could widen it.

[museumum]

I wouldn't say they make me miserable - more that it just nags away at me. That they could maybe be straight again in less than a year.

Batman - will you have any kind of permanent retainer after? Are you confident they'll stay straight?

I think the thing that bothers me most is the feeling that after eight years of hell in my teens I feel I deserve straight teeth - I'm so pissed off they basically just stopped treatment when I hit 18 and no longer qualified on the Nhs and didn't say a word about how to keep them straight.

[LilyMayViolet]

If they really really bother you and you can afford it then yes, I'd say go for it. I know so many people who hate the way their teeth look so never smile! I should say I think they are fine but that's not the point.

[museumum]

Scarlett - you sound like you know what you're talking about? - the incisors were unerrupted. I had them out of the jaw under GA in hospital.
My cousin has never had any dental treatment and hers are high in the gum like a second row of teeth - looks bloody awful!!!

[BeautifulBatman]

Either amother set of aligners to.wear at night or a wire retainer behind my front four top and bottom. Haven't decided what to do yet. If I don't do one or the other they will move slightly - not back to the original position but your teeth continue to move forward as you get older (apparently) so I don't want to waste the money and effort over the past 18 months!

[scarletforya]

I had a similar experience myself. I had orthodontics in the eighties with extractions of permanent teeth which left me with a narrow smile.

It bugs me too, I'm older than you and if I had the money I'd get it all reversed!

Orthodontist are moving away from extractions to make room in the jaw these days and more about expanding the arch to accommodate all the teeth.

I think even unerupted teeth Can be brought down with new techniques. If you type impacted incisor into you tube you'll see lots of videos about how it's treated now.

[Blueberrymuffint0p]

Only you can decide if it's worth it by how much it bothers you. I've just finished orthodontic treatment and it was definitely money well spent! I've got a permanent retainer behind my front teeth and removable retainer which I'll wear at night for the rest of my life.

Most (if not all) private orthodontists offer interest free payment plans. I payed £60 a month over 18 months-some people spend way more that on clothes,gym membership,alcohol etc. I cut back on all this and we honestly haven't noticed a difference.

If you're teeth are bothering you now then they always will. I tried to just accept mine and the niggly feeling never went away.

[LHReturns]

Could the protruding top two teeth continue to protrude further over time OP?

Personally I would....as Scarlet says, you have great white teeth, and I love how the ends are still rounded - unusually youthful for late 30s. If you fix them you really will have incredible teeth, and personally I always notice beautiful teeth on someone. It really does keep you way younger than Botox or fillers ever could.

I don't know anyone who regrets fixing their teeth well into middle age. I replaced my top front four with veneers about 3 years ago as two of them were chipping and looking terrible....I am so thrilled with them, I get pleasure from them all the time.

You wear your teeth every day!

[SuperFlyHigh]

I was wondering about this myself as the bottom teeth are overcrowded and really need a brace/taking out a tooth etc...

but after an impacted wisdom being taken out in my late 20s and also having a crown at 9 (temp then real one later) I can think of better things to do. The dentists I see occasionally try to get me to do it but I haven't got time for it!

[Blueberrymuffint0p]

Personally I've found having braces an absolute breeze and I'm not great at the dentists. I only wish I'd done it sooner, yes your teeth ache for a few days after each adjustment but it's nothing major.

[ExConstance]

DH has teeth like yours OP, he looks after them well so they are very good teeth in themselves but over the years they have moved more and it is now too late for a brace, they may well fall out with time, necessitating a bridge or implants. Whatever decision you make ( finely balanced argument imho) check with dentist what will happen if you don't have them straightened.

[squoosh]

I'd go for it.

Short term financial pain for long term well-being gain.

[museumum]

Well I've committed up to £75 for an assessment. Will decide based on all the info from that appointment.
Thanks for all the opinions and insights.
The appointment isn't till mid September so I have plenty time to continue weighing pros and cons.

[BeautifulBatman]

Good for you - I hope it goes well

[wallaby73]

I'd do it - in fact I have, and I'm 41. Teeth continue to move over time, and the fact that your top teeth are almost going behind your bottom teeth could store up problems in later years. I took a long time to decide whether to go for it or not, same reasons as most - "I could spend the same and take the kids on a nice holiday" etc etc. but I decided in the end not to be a sodding martyr, I only have to look at my dad's teeth to see what the progression for my teeth looked like (we have very similar shaped teeth and alignment). Have had braces since March and they're moving into place really quickly.

[MeeWhoo]

I haven't read the whole thread (sorry) but I would say yes, depending on cost because your front teeth are now slanting backwards and, as the years go by and having lost the support of those 2 front teeth, your upper lip can become more sunken, and I think that can be very ageing.

I am not a dentist, so obviously get a professional opinion, but I have a slight overbite and different dentists have all advised me against correcting it, as I might then suddenly think that I look like an old toothless person due to losing the support for my upper lip.

[CheersMedea]

scarletforya

do they do upper arch expansion on adults? I thought it was only available for children?

Do you know any where that does this? If you don't want to say publicly, please PM me.

[ActiviaYoghurt]

My experience; I had braces mid thirties, was happy with the result initially but now my teeth are not in great shape, having orthadontics later in life is harder on your teeth imo. I have discolouration on teeth from the work, I also got really bad flu during the time I had the braces on and this (apparently) altered the quality of the teeth. I have also had a baby since and again I think that this altered the quality. In hindsight I should have had the work done years ago.

My orthodontist was an NHS one, it cost me £3K, I was quoted £8K privately but my guy was very good and he liked having an adult to chat to. He was adamant that I shouldn't drink fruit juice, smoke (I don't anyway) or drink red wine during treatment to protect teeth. I would get a consultation if I were you?

After I had my braces I raced out to get my teeth filed a bit, the create straighter lines, I should have waited but it made a difference. I will likely have this done again now that they have settled in a bit, just a bit of grinding/filing to make straighter lines. You could consider this for your two front teeth? it might give some immediate improvement without two years of braces? If you are in the South East PM me and I can recommend the practise that I used for that.

[ImABigOleBadLass]

Well worth having it done - I had misaligned teeth which the ortho in my teens decided against treating as it would be too much work

Anyway, by the end of my 20s I had recurring gum infections as the top set were rubbing where the gum meets tooth on the lower set (had a weak lower jaw). It took five years' of braces and an operation to correct. Would have been much easier in my youth apparently. (Then had health problems and couldn't wear my retainer as my immune system was low and it gave me chronic ulcers. So I'm back to the ortho soon as my bottom teeth are getting wonky. Never mind - it's worth it!)