What braces as an adult?

[DontKnowHelpMe]

I don't know why I was never given braces as a teen. I sucked my thumb as a child until secondary school and consequently have buck teeth and inward slanting bottom teeth.

I hate showing my teeth and fell really stupid conscious. I'm in my mid 40s now. Is it too late?

My teeth are actually hurting me now. My top teeth rest on my bottom lip, leaving sore indents and my bottom teeth cut into the bottom of my tongue.

Fire the first time in my life I might be able to afford doing something about it.

Can anyone offer any advice?

I've been looking at normal braces, Invisalign and braces that go behind the teeth.

I hate my teeth so much and don't want to feel worse by having obvious braces if possible.

The top teeth have started to cross over in the last few years as well 😥

I had a big over bite.. Too many teeth and had been a thumb sucker! I had train track braces at 47!! Didn't have teeth out (bit overcrowded) as dentist said lips fall back and look thinner with age.. Didn't want to risk that so they aren't perfectly aligned but are perfectly shaped and together!
Orthodontist charged me NHS rate which was 1500 and I paid a but at each appointment.. Treatment took 10 months. Wear a retainer every third night.

Yes you totally can! Getting to an orthodontist is going to be the hardest bit, hopefully you can afford to go private? If so, it can be done, and you can get transparent braces (Invisalign) that cost an arm and a leg, but don't look ugly. You have to take them off before eating, and then clean them before putting them back in, sort of like a gum guard. Much better suited to adult use than to children/teenagers. Good luck!!

I had Invisalign at 38, best decision I made.

It’s never too late! Book an appointment with an orthodontist and see what they recommend. Invisalign isn’t suitable for everyone but an orthodontist can assess you.

I had Invisalign for about 18 months which cost about £3.5k. Money well spent.

If you look at this photo from Wikipedia, the teeth with the red arrows are behind the two incisors. I think if they were pulled out, the front teeth would must've back.

The teeth in blue are flat and slightly behind the others.

Do you think this would be possible?

I forgot the photo

Anything is possible, but go see an orthodontist who will take xrays, photos and look at your bite alignment and advise. You may need train tracks, you may be suitable for invisalign. In any case it will be £4-5k and 9-18 months.

You need to take an orthodontists advice. I was told Invisalign wouldn’t achieve what I wanted so had a metal fixed brace for just over a year. Was a bit of a pain at the time but well worth it. Had it in my mid 30’s.

What about the different types? The main three seen to be the normal ones, Invisalign and the ones that go behind the teeth.

I know I'll need to take advice, but I'd like to be informed when I go.

Thank you

Alligners, like Invisalign , have limitations in what tooth movements they can achieve . They are expensive , because lab fees are very high. Your teeth are more likely to relapse and with any brace system you will have to wear retainers at night for life and may also need permanent wire retainers cemented to the back of your teeth. The computer predictions can be unreliable as teeth may not move as predicted and you may need more alligners than predicted or even fixed (train tracks) braces to finish treatment. They mostly move front teeth and , in general, do not move back teeth or improve the bite.

Train tracks are still the gold standard treatment , they can achieve very subtle movements as well as large movements , will move back teeth as well as front , you can have white brackets and wires that , as long as you don’t eat curry, look a lot less obvious . You will need to wear a retainer at night for life. This is normally cheaper than alligner systems.

Lingual braces ( placed tongue side of tooth) have limitations in what they can achieve , people find them difficult to get used to , not all orthodontists use them and they are more expensive than conventional fixed braces (train tracks) and can also be more expensive than alligners .

Talk to an orthodontist but you can consider ceramic braces as well. They’re hardly noticeable and less faff than having to take out aligners all the time. Try looking at online support groups for adults using Invisalign and those using braces. Seeing and reading about lots of real life experiences can help you decide.

I am 40 and have white ceramic braces. I was looking at Invisalign and similar but ceramic braces were recommended to me as being faster and cheaper. I also like that I don't have to take them out to eat as I think they would be difficult when out and about. I'm happy with my choice.

There are lots of Facebook groups about adult braces and Invisalign which I looked at first too.

I had white ceramic train tracks aged 35. My teeth needed a lot of movement so Invisalign etc wasn't an option, this was made clear at my initial consultation.

Having the braces wasn't much fun, mine were in for 2 years, it hurt, there were a lot of appointments, I spent ages cleaning my teeth and it was expensive.

I would absolutely do it again though and would recommend it. I feel so much more confident. I used to avoid mirrors and photos as I felt so bad about my teeth.

This is how I felt. I avoided smiling even because I didn't like my teeth so it seems worthwhile to me but I've been lucky that it hasn't been super painful.

PS @DontKnowHelpMe if you get braces a water flosser will be your best friend

I have train tracks with coloured bands. Been in for a year and have not found it as bad as expected. Wish I’d done it when I should have 35 years ago!).

I got braces in my early 40s. Best thing I ever did .