Page 2 | Getting braces as an adult

thelongwayhome · 2020-07-12T16:56:25+00:00

Posting here for traffic. Has anyone had braces/teeth straightening as adults? Had braces as a teen, didn't wear my retainer, one tooth on my bottom row has noticeably moved so just want braces on the bottom row as the top set are still perfect. Did you have bracket braces or invisalign type braces? How much did it cost? Is it worth it? Has anyone just got braces for one row of teeth?

clipclop5 · 12/07/2020 19:20

I haven’t but my 16 year old DD had Invisalign last year. It cost £4k for top + bottom including 3 sets of retainers.

She loved it and I thought it was great as well. The aligners went unnoticed by most of her friends and our family. She hardly had any pain and her treatment was much faster than friends in braces as the aligners allow a much better pace of movement. The only problem is it can get a bit annoying having to take them out for food + drink (and actually put them back in afterwards!) but it is definitely worth it.

DHW1 · 12/07/2020 19:21

I had Invisalign on top teeth, cost around £2k and took 4 months to straighten teeth. I have a retainer permanently on the back of my teeth which doesn’t bother me other than twice in about 6/7 years its frayed slightly but dentist resolved within 2 minutes of me visiting. Best thing I ever did, my teeth were always a problem and this was so quick and easy.

Arkon · 12/07/2020 19:24

I have train tracks now, ceramic on top (I’m 33)
2 years treatment, unfortunately extended by around 6 months thanks to lockdown

CaptainNancy1 · 12/07/2020 19:37

I had a fixed brace on my top teeth in the early 80s and paid for it privately. In those days they didn't give you a retainer (to stop your teeth moving back), I wore it for a couple of years and the results were fantastic but my teeth did move back slightly. Glad I had it done.

modgepodge · 12/07/2020 19:38

I really want braces. My mum talked me out of getting them for free in my teenage years and I really regret it. 2 years seems like a lifetime when you’re 13 - now it seems ridiculous that I didn’t have it.

My bottom teeth are awful, my top teeth are ok but I feel are getting worse (is this a thing??)

I wouldn’t mind train tracks or Invisalign, what are the benefits of each? (Obviously Invisalign are less obvious!)

My sister had it though and had to have her teeth filed down...this makes me feel ill and is the main thing putting me off. When I was a teen they were talking about removing 4 teeth - one of those is now a crown after a root canal anyway so I feel like losing it wouldn’t be the worst thing...

TicketToTheWrongFilm · 12/07/2020 19:42

OP you asked about payment, I expect mine will cost a few grand (I haven’t had a consultation yet) and I know that they have various payment options.

I just remembered that another school mum had invisalign a year or two back. I only noticed it the once when we were talking and I (obviously) have never mentioned it. It was super-subtle.

TicketToTheWrongFilm · 12/07/2020 19:45

my top teeth are ok but I feel are getting worse (is this a thing??)

Unfortunately yes. Mine are slowly moving forward after braces and I know many people who have this. They didn’t give us retainers back in the day!

ExH’s cousin had train tracks in her 30s and I remember thinking how great it was that she was doing something for herself. I think it shows a certain amount of confidence!

clipclop5 · 12/07/2020 19:47

@modgepodge

I really want braces. My mum talked me out of getting them for free in my teenage years and I really regret it. 2 years seems like a lifetime when you’re 13 - now it seems ridiculous that I didn’t have it.

My bottom teeth are awful, my top teeth are ok but I feel are getting worse (is this a thing??)

I wouldn’t mind train tracks or Invisalign, what are the benefits of each? (Obviously Invisalign are less obvious!)

My sister had it though and had to have her teeth filed down...this makes me feel ill and is the main thing putting me off. When I was a teen they were talking about removing 4 teeth - one of those is now a crown after a root canal anyway so I feel like losing it wouldn’t be the worst thing...

@modgepodge My DD had to have in between some of her teeth filed down to make way for them to move. She had Invisalign. She can honestly say it was fine. It wasn’t painful, just uncomfortable with the vibrations and over very quickly. It’s a great alternative to having to have extractions to make the space!!

Sunnydayshereatlast · 12/07/2020 21:36

Meant to add I paid a £300 deposit and made a payment at every appointment.. Didn't have to be a set amount..

PaperMonster · 12/07/2020 21:47

I have to say, looking at all these adults who’ve paid thousands that I’m feeling extremely fortunate to not have had to pay for my treatment!

ElizabethBennetismybestfriend · 12/07/2020 21:50

Another one for Invisalign. Cost 4500 and took 18 months. Still wear a retainer at night and it was worth every penny.

Fizzyboo · 12/07/2020 22:00

I did about 6 years ago. Had a very wonky front tooth (and others) and even yesterday when I saw a photo of me smiling I commented that getting the braces (clear train tracks) was a worthwhile investment.
It cost me just under £4000.

Fizzyboo · 12/07/2020 22:00

I did about 6 years ago. Had a very wonky front tooth (and others) and even yesterday when I saw a photo of me smiling I commented that getting the braces (clear train tracks) was a worthwhile investment.
It cost me just under £4000.

damnthatanxiety · 12/07/2020 22:04

Had them at 12. Again at 50. Around £4K. Damon. The fixed braces do give a more perfect result than Invisalign and for me, the whole removing to eat etc was just too much faff. I didn't mind the look of wearing them. People loved it. So many conversations. Not just about looks. Correcting your bite saves teeth.

damnthatanxiety · 12/07/2020 22:04

Had them at 12. Again at 50. Around £4K. Damon. The fixed braces do give a more perfect result than Invisalign and for me, the whole removing to eat etc was just too much faff. I didn't mind the look of wearing them. People loved it. So many conversations. Not just about looks. Correcting your bite saves teeth.

Eloisedublin123 · 12/07/2020 22:09

Just to mention OP that I got braces as an adult after braces as a teenager (didn’t wear my retainer so they moved back!) and they have damaged all my front teeth. My teeth roots are much shorter as a result (this is a common problem) and a number of my front teeth have died in the last few years as a result of having braces (probably) leading to several root canals done already with more to come probably.

NellePorter · 12/07/2020 22:11

I had full Invisalign treatment, finished a year ago, paid £3500 interest free over the 2 years of the treatment. The cost doesn't include the retainers which need replacing every so often, so ask the dentist and factor that in. Whilst my teeth are now lovely and straight, there seems to be a lot more of them on show ... I look very "horsey" and still don't smile for photos etc., which is a shame. I am definitely more confident when speaking in public and meeting new people though. Also there are certain things that I can't eat now.

GrowingUpIsATrap · 12/07/2020 22:16

I used Your Smile Direct which is an online company, think altogether it was about £1500.
Pros are that it's a lot cheaper and it does work.
Cons are that the "filing" you would have with invisalign isnt really discussed. So my teeth are a lot straighter but they could have benefitted from being filed as my top set are a bit too big. Also you have to be good at remembering to change your aligners every 2 weeks and contact them when you're ready for the retainers to be produced. You don't get any reminders, so mine has taken way longer because i was rubbish at putting the next set in at the right time. You can't eat with them in, or drink anything other than water. And you have to brush your teeth straight after eating and put them back in... Definitely stops you from snacking during the day because its too much of a faff to keep brushing your teeth all day 😂

However its half the price of Invisalign so it depends on your budget... Mine at great but i wish i could have spent a bit more and got it done locally

modgepodge · 12/07/2020 22:23

@TicketToTheWrongFilm

my top teeth are ok but I feel are getting worse (is this a thing??)

Unfortunately yes. Mine are slowly moving forward after braces and I know many people who have this. They didn’t give us retainers back in the day!

ExH’s cousin had train tracks in her 30s and I remember thinking how great it was that she was doing something for herself. I think it shows a certain amount of confidence!

But I didn’t have braces in the first place...I get that if you have braces and don’t wear a retainer they may move back, but do they ever just move of their own accord without braces in the first place? (And if so, why couldn’t they move to straighten up rather than getting wonkier 😂)

modgepodge · 12/07/2020 22:25

@clipclop5 thank you for the reassurance...I have a bit of a dental phobia after a filling with inadequate anaesthetic- every time since then even going for a check up fills me with dread. The thought of filing my teeth down - Bleugh!! But not loving the idea of extractions either!!

TicketToTheWrongFilm · 12/07/2020 22:27

@modgepodge I believe so - I never had braces on the bottom but they’re also moving forward (though much less).

If you think about it, everything in our bodies is constantly changing and growing. Even wisdom teeth if you have them can mean less room.

I’m not any sort of dentist!

TicketToTheWrongFilm · 12/07/2020 22:28

(Google says yes, teeth move, even if you’ve never had braces.)

LimeHookSinker · 12/07/2020 22:34

I had tracks at 23. Had them for 2 years. I now have a fixed retainer on my bottle teeth and a removable for the top. Think it cost around £3000 which I got finance for.

Best thing that ever happened! The retainer was a nightmare to get used to but now it doesn’t bother me. I also had a transpalatal bar which was absolutely awful. Couldn’t talk properly for weeks and ended up with a blistered, sore tongue - but again, did get used to it after a while.

Poetryinaction · 12/07/2020 22:41

I wouldn't bother for one bottom tooth.
I had six month smiles and hated the result. They made my teeth flare out and have me an overbite. I hate having a fixed retainer but am scared of taking it off. I took the bottom one off though.
I found it really uncomfortable and annoying having braces.
I got all my money back at the end.
I would only do it if you hate your teeth enough to spend £1000s and 2 years in braces to get it done properly.

twobambinos · 12/07/2020 22:48

@modgepodge they can move if your wisdoms are coming through I think and also bone loss.
I'm currently 8 weeks into invisalign. So far so good.it will take around a year. Didn't have braces but always wanted them. Some dentists are including retainers in the price others aren't.
I had a consult for tracks too but decided against that option.
There are other options for managing crowding if you don't want the filing done.