Have you had your teeth fixed? Experiences etc...

[Time4Change0]

I have wonky teeth. A big overbite. It’s shit.

I try to hide them at all times, I never smile with my mouth open.
I’m sure people must talk about them or wonder why I don’t smile.

Anyway, I’ve always avoided the dentist as I am ashamed of them.

I’m late 30s and it’s time to stop being a wimp and do something about it.

Can anyone who has maybe been in a similar position to me who got them fixed give me advice/ experiences etc?

Thank you in advance. This is my first step.

I can't seem to find a price for less than £4K which I resent paying!

I've always wanted mine fixed. I hate them. Occasionally I look into it but DP always talks me out of it. Those who've had it done, were your partners/husbands OK with it?

My partner at the time inisistef4I didn't need it doing and that I was beautiful anyway but I did it for me. I hated my smile and it affected my life daily.

Thanks btw to everyone who has replied so far.

It’s good to hear all positive experiences and that you all recommend doing it.

I’m EXTREMELY anxious and nervous about it all.
Even thinking about making a call makes me sick.

I will think of some questions to ask you and come back

I had what sounds the same as you , and had private braces treatment including 2 extractions to make room to push top teeth back , they are a great improvement on what they were but they still (£5000 later) are far from perfect and now the time has passed ( 5 years ago) I wish I hadn't been so hasty and had gone down the nhs route because I needed surgery to correct the problems really which can often be the case once you are an adult with big over/under bites etc, pre braces me would have been thrilled with my new teeth in direct comparison but if I'm honest I am still conscious of my smile , the teeth are straight but my jaw is still off , too much gum showing.

So if I was you I would check first the limits of what they can/can't do and check if you are eligible for nhs treatment or surgery.

@Oblomov19

My Invisalign centre had a new year special where they reduced fro £4k to £3k and apparently do so every year.

It still stings and is a lot of money, but is a great investment for the rest of your life, especially if it boosts your confidence and self esteem.

That made me sit up and take notice lordamighty I thought I was now too old to fix my hideous teeth.

Could I ask how you found an Orthadontist prepared to treat you? And were your teeth in good condition?

My teeth have suffered from inadequate dental work in my childhood / teens and I have a lot of fillings. I wonder if that rules out Orthadontics.

I was nervous about having braves too and thought I would be so self conscious but I actually became quite find of them.

Hey OP, in answer to your question, it cost about £4K all in, but the orthodontists tend to have a payment plan option.

My braces were on for 15months. Should have been 18, but every time I went in, I encouraged him to tighten as much as possible haha!

My DH came with me to first app as I was so nervous, but they’re so used to dealing with nervous people, you will be just fine. The only regret you will have is not doing it sooner!!

And best advice to find a good one is to ask your dentist! My SIL went to one and they misaligned her teeth with Invisalign... three years later and she had the train tracks

@Monkeytapper your teeth look amazing! I have just asked my really gorgeous dentist about my teeth which have a similar gap at front. He said ceramic crowns which is £2400 for 4, and that way can reshape in process. Braces and Invisalign not the best for me apparently as bite v tight and would cause jaw issues. What is composite bonding as they just look amazing!? Did they have to be straight for you to have that done as it sounds like you got a lot of work for that second £2k....?

Very informative thread, thank you OP for starting it

I had my four front teeth veneered in 2006. It was an absolute game changer in terms of my self esteem. Beforehand I avoided all photos as I smiled with my mouth closed (and looked odd) or had my horrible teeth on show. It seemed quite an unusual thing to do at the time but it seems quite normal now!

I'm 46 and got fixed braces in the summer. I really hate my teeth and wanted to sort them out. The braces cost £4000. My teeth are very crooked and misshapen. So I will need misshapen teeth squared off and a tooth removed.

OP my fixed braces (top and bottom) cost £3000 and I'm almost finished. Will have taken 6 months.
I went private and they had a variety of payment plans.
I had 6 weekly appointments for wire changes but could request further appointments if needed (eg. wanting stained bands changed or if a bracket came off).
Flying South my teeth were awful. Practically all filled and big gaps at the back due to multiple extractions. I told my dentist how ashamed I was of my mouth and she was so kind to me. I am actually having all the metal fillings replaced with white fillings (some are too large to do this but are luckily at the very back).

Just realised I forgot to name change in my replies to you.

In answer to your questions......

I do have an NHS dentist but any dentist can make a referral.

My teeth and bite were deemed to meet specific criteria which qualified for NHS treatment. The whole thing was free of charge even though I pay for dental treatment (NHS prices).

I was on the waiting list for about a year, braces for 18 months then another 11 months on the waiting list for surgery so not a quick process by any means.

This is a guide to wether you would qualify for NHS treatment.

www.totalorthodontics.co.uk/iotn/

One thing to note is that like it or not, cosmetic dentistry is a hugely profitable business and from my own research into the multiple options available, was that no matter which route I chose, it worked out at roughly £4k, before any special offers.

This very much reeks of paying for the result, not the cost of treatment.

i.e, someone has worked out that people are willing to pay £4k for nice teeth, so no matter how we go about fixing them, that's what the process will cost. Just how it is.

Once you can stomach the commerciality of it all, just choose the method that is most suitable for your own situation.

@MrsNacho
So do you mean that if I were to book to see a private dentist THEY could refer me to free NHS orthodontist if I qualified?

Becuase I reckon with my level of overbite I surely would be eligible.
But having just looked online again for NHS dentists in my area they are literally full to the brim

I am fairly sure they would be able to yes. You can always ring round and ask the question.

The fact that your bite is misaligned to the point of causing difficulties eating would suggest to me that you would qualify but treatment would most likely involve jaw surgery. I had a gummy smile and an overbite and incompetent lips which means my lips didn't close when my face was relaxed.

Have a Google of jaw surgery and see what's involved.

If you are on Facebook I recommend the group Jaw Surgery in the UK, you will find lots of people at different stages of their journey and you will be able to get a recommendation of a dentist in your area that will refer you.

Good luck. It was difficult I won't lie but I would do it all over again tomorrow. I just don't think about my face anymore. I think you will understand what I mean by that? It's just their a face, I don't have to worry about what angle it is, is my mouth closed, am I laughing, am I spilling food or messing up my sandwich/burger.

When anyone references teeth, smiling, or anything I don't automatically feel self conscious and embarrassed, even if the conversation wasn't about me.

I’m 49 and have just started the process of having braces fitted. I have an overbite, which I have always been self conscience of, and my bottom teeth are very crowded. Braces are going to be my 50th birthday present to myself - and cheaper than a sports car! I’m opting for lingual braces (fitted to the back of the teeth). It’s costing about £6,000 in all, but I’ll be paying in instalments. I’m having two teeth out on my upper jaw and losing a bridge on my lower jaw to make room. I’m strangely excited about the prospect...

It’s interesting you say that Groundfloor. I’ve twice has consultations, many years apart, and both times the cost was £4K

I can’t afford it but it’s the very first thing I’d do if I could

Can I ask those who have had braces on NHS as an adult; how did you qualify?

I desperately want my teeth correcting as I'm very self conscious. I have an awful overbite, crowding and front teeth over lapping. One tooth is a veneer due to an accident aged 10 that fractured the roots, turning the tooth black and that is a front tooth.

@BackInAtLast Composite binding is a less harsher and cheaper option to veneers. The teeth underneath are not shaped or filed down like veneers and yes your teeth need to be fairly straight. But my friend at work had a small gap between her two front teeth ( no other issues) and she had composite bonding on just those two and it looks amazing.

I have to wear a removable retainer at night for ever as my teeth will naturally want to mo e back to the original position, I also opted for a wire binding that is permanently stuck to the back of my upper teeth to all prevent movement.

I was supposed to have all this done when I was 11/12 years old but chickened out as didn't want braces at school....I soooo wish I had done it then rather than in my forties....My son who is 11 has been referred to an orthodentist as he has prominent teeth and an overbite and I will be encouraging him to get the treatment now, still a 2 year waiting list for NHS treatment for him ( we are in Leeds).

It was a long, expensive process, loads of appointments, every 8 weeks for braces being tightened, and after each appointment my teeth were very sensitive and struggled to eat and chew with front teeth, had to avoid curry and foods that would stain the white plastic bits of brace. But definitely worth it!

Thanks so much @Monkeytapper I will ask him about it, although it maybe because they don't last as long, and one of my teeth is a bit crooked so maybe that's why he suggested the porcelain option. This will be my 50th birthday pressie to myself!