If you had very crowded teeth...

[UhKevin]

Which type of brace did you use to get them straightened and how much did it cost?

Bonus points if it looked like you’d need an extraction / did need an extraction / needed any other work like whitening or filing.

I'd suggest avoiding extractions if you can. I had four premolars removed due to overcrowding but all it did was limit the development of my jaw so I still have crowded teeth and an overbite. They're straight-ish but the extractions had an effect on my facial structure and my jaw joint.

Look up mike mew orthadontics before you have braces. Do everything you can to avoid extractions.

I went to see my sons ortho a couple of years ago as I’ve always hated my teeth, fast forward to now and I’ve had 4 extractions, metal braces top and bottom and will be having jaw surgery to fix my smile.

I should add that many dentists offered quick fixes for £££ but my consultant said this wouldn’t fix the underlying issue, so it’s worth seeing a proper orthodontist or getting referred

I had a plate type brace, then fixed braces with 'head gear' andcwore my retainer for the 2 years i was told to wear it. So about 6 years worth of orthodontics. I still have a really wonky front tooth.

rococo wow - how much is that all costing (if you don’t mind)?!

I’m no expert (obviously) but I do know it’ll be nigh on impossible to get away with totally zero extractions. One is a very obvious problem. Dentist has previously said as much . I’ve narrowed my list down to two seemingly reputable orthodontists and the head honcho at my own dentist. Interested to see what the differences are that they may say.

People need to realise that retention is Life long.
Guidance is that retainers should be worn every single night indefinitely to prevent relapse. Iv been an orthodontic nurse for 8 years and this has always been the case. Obviously in the past, people were told a few nights a week for a few years etc but really it's just common sense. Yes you'll have to
Fork out for a new set every couple
Of years but it's well worth it.
It's hard but it's so so Worth it. I had braces for 1 year to Correct a small misalignment - it has genuinely made such a difference to my confidence when smiling.

Definitely go and see an orthodontist especially if you need extractions and have crowded teeth. At home Invisalign will not work and will just cost more in the long run

Is that right 20viona? I had braces as a child and a retainer was never even mentioned! My teeth are straight as in aligned with each other, but tilted slightly on the diagonal.

Yep. All teeth will move slightly During our lifetimes it's called mesial drift. If retainers aren't there to stop it they move.

Thanks 20viona I think I'll make an orthodontist appointment (when I can) to see whether anything needs to be done to improve my teeth alignment. I have a class 2 malocclusion, a crossbite, two overrrupted teeth and one partially erupted tooth so I definitely didn't get good results from my initial orthodontic work even though my front teeth are straight with no gaps.

I also had 4 out as a child. I had one tooth growing in front of another. I had a non fixed brace for about 2 years and they were sorted in time for starting high school. This was donkeys years ago in the 60s.

I had extractions as a child for overcrowding and standard train tracks. By the time I was 30 everything was all over the place again so I then had Invisalign. It was a complicated case I think the dentist said and he did file one of my teeth very slightly I seem to remember but the results are fab. I just needed loads of the trays they use and it took much longer. I also now wear one every night still as my top jaw is still vulnerable to moving back again.

I can't find a before pic but this is now...

DIY dentistry sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. I had overcrowding and had my very two front bottom teeth removed and a brace to pull all my other teeth forward. It was a brave decision because I had a lisp for weeks but what it actually offered aside from a decent set of teeth, was that my lower wisdom teeth were turned on their sides (impacted?) and when they had the new space, they went upright and have come through with no issues. All this was monitored through x Ray's. He was an incredible dentist, an elderly chap who retired before I had my final appointment. I made a 90 mile round trip to see him and paid over 2.5k but this was 13 years ago.
I have a fixed retainer on the back which is made of tiny links of a think chain like a necklace and follows the teeth smoothly. Before this I had a wire that was proud of the teeth so food got stuck. It was updated 2 years ago by a place in Lincolnshire after I snapped the original.

I had fixed braces and quite a bit of filing to make room. One private orthodontist wanted to remove teeth and charge a bomb so I skipped on out of there and went back to the original orthodontist. Finished last few weeks was with retainers to give a stubborn tooth a final nudge in the right direction. Cost around £1300 for 12 month treatment but was more like 15month.

@UhKevin sorry for the late response. I have been extremely fortunate and have been able to get this on the nhs. I was given choices though, they could align my teeth with ceramic braces but no jaw surgery for about 3/4K I think it was? Or I took my chances to see if I was eligible for nhs treatment which involved metal braces and the surgery, a lot of factors were taken into account including how healthy my teeth are now and whether the surgery/braces was clinically the best way to fix my bite. Apparently I am at risk for sleep apnea and a whole host of issues due to my jaw positioning, and they literally measured the distance between my lower and upper jaw to make sure I fit in the criteria. Luckily I was accepted there and then, but it is taking time! Lockdown has delayed treatment hoping for the surgery to get done and dusted by end of year but this isn’t looking likely now. The extractions were ok, they will try their best to take out “bad” teeth so now I only have teeth without fillings. Not gonna lie, I am dreading the jaw surgery, worried it’ll change my face drastically but I think/hope it’s the right decision

I have investigated this widely - been for consultations at several practices. I've been offered Invisalign, Six-month smiles and fastbraces by various cosmetic dentists. I even went for a 3d scan at one of the DIY places. The treatments were between 3.5-4.5k and I just baulked at the cost in the end for what in my case is purely cosmetic. I was also worried about a dentist doing it rather than an orthodontist.

Having seen myself on Zoom so many times recently, I have decided to get it done (after the pandemic of course.) I'm going to see my local orthodontist but looking at their website I think it will cost me at least 3.5 grand for just fixed metal braces, which I was hoping to avoid because I am vain.

I'm another who had teeth straightened as a teen and was never offered a retainer.

I had 4 teeth out and train tracks as a teen but within 3-5 years (and once I had my wisdom teeth!) they were all overlapping again. I've considered paying to have them straightened but realistically will never have the money. In my case its the bottom ones that are worse so easier to cover up. Front top teeth only slightly overlap so not too bad.

I had just started Smile Direct Club. When I posted. However they send you the 3D scan with what your finished teeth would look like. Mine seems to end up straight with an open bite.
Invisalign which is much the same thing shave teeth and use attachments which is why I suspect they can deal with bite issues..
Smile Direct are happy to refund so it’s not a problem if they can’t sort it properly. On the plus side I haven’t been able to bite my nails, so 3 weeks on my hands look amazing.

Smile direct may be happy to refund if they can't sort it properly, but be very wary to what that means. "Not sorting properly" might actually be damaging your teeth permanently. I'd seek advice from a qualified and experienced orthodontist

Messing with your occlusion, without being in the hands of a qualified professional can cause migraines, headaches, permanent loss of attachment of teeth, potentially causing increased mobility, could cause an open bite, when there wasn’t one previously, resulting in not being able to chew or bite properly, can cause temporomandibular joint disorders.
Making slingers that are not fitted professionally can cause problems with bite, may be ill fitting, could cause cuts and sores in gums.
Mail order aligners may not be treatment planned sufficiently. There are cases out there where aligners have been supplied to patients that have existing dental decay and gum disease that hasn’t been treated first. Plus without a regular check by orthodontist the teeth aren’t monitored or checked for common dental problems that might develop during this period of time.
Yes it’s cheaper and removes the need to see an orthodontist, but it’s really irresponsible. Why would you mess with your teeth?
Plus in most of these cases the “remote” professional is usually just a technician...

Sorry that was meant to read "aligners", not "slingers"

I agree but they do say see a dentist regularly which sort of goes goes without saying.
The treatment is 5 months.I don’t think my healthy teeth would be damaged irrevocably.
The “not sorting it properly” refers to my case.I don’t want an open bite. They will refund within 30 days. Do orthodontists offer that too?

I don’t need my teeth straightened badly enough to spend 4K but it woukd have been worth 1.5k.
I’m sure an orthodontist could do an amazing job but frankly my budget is computer algorithms and a 3D printer or nothing.

Orthodontists wouldn't purposely give you an open bite. And they are accountable professionals with registration and indemnity in the rare cases where things don't quite go to plan.
At least you will have nice nails.

Make sure you keep some money aside in case you need an orthodontist to sort out the mess after .
Sorry I'm not intentionally meaning to be rude, but I'm a dentist myself and I've seen some shockers in my time

Put it another way. So you need brain surgery. Would you rather a brain surgeon did the procedure or the technician that makes the equipment for the surgery in a lab in China ?