To ask about having braces as an adult?

[UnaCorda]

I'd be really grateful for some thoughts and advice. My main questions are:

1. What are the pros and cons of Invisalign, vs Smile Direct and fixed "train track" braces?

2. How much does it cost (I realise this may overlap with Question 1).

3. Who does one approach initially - the company directly, a dentist or an orthodontist?

4. Does it hurt? Does it hurt a lot?

5. How long does it take? (Not sure whether this can be answered hypothetically.)

6. Are there any particular risks, such as receding gums?

7. Anything you wish you'd known before embarking on a course of othodontic treatment?

8. Are there any companies you should avoid?

9. Is age relevant (I'm mid-40s)?

I'm most concerned about answers to Question 1.

Many thanks.

Wow so many questions! I don’t have all the thorough answers but will answer based on my experience.

1. cost was the big thing for me. Invisalign are more discreet/subtle but were double the cost of fixed, train track braces in my case. I couldn’t really afford it as an option. With Invisalign you get different ‘trays’ to wear as your treatment progresses, whereas with the fixed braces they are on throughout and are tightened etc.

2. There aren’t really set costs as it completely depends on what you need done - but for me metal braces were £1100, ceramic braces were £1400 and Invisalign was about 3k. I went with ceramic braces. I paid about £500 upfront and did the rest in direct debit monthly instalments.

3. I asked my dentist initially about a gap in my teeth which was getting bigger and she suggested getting a consultation at an orthodontist and recommended one. It wasn’t a referral as such because I called up myself and made the appointment.

4. It didn’t really hurt for me, it was more like a dull ache and that was only after I first got them on and after tightenings. Ibuprofen helped keep any discomfort at bay. The worst pain was that one of the wires at the back came loose and dug in inside my cheek. But they trimmed the wire and then it was fine.

5. Again completely depends on what you need done, but my treatment was for 18 months.

6. Not that I’m aware of but the orthodontist will provide this information. It can make your teeth awkward to clean but it’s important to persevere to avoid gum disease etc, and also still go for your cleanings at the dentist.

7. Nothing comes to mind, it took a bit longer than I expected but I appreciate the timeframes they give you might be advisory rather than an exact rule depending on how it goes (I was initially told it should only take a year).

8. I only went through one orthodontist so don’t know much about other companies, but it’s worth researching your options and reading customer reviews etc. If you can get testimonials from someone you know that’s even better. My orthodontist is known for being the best in the area which put my mind at ease.

9. I had mine in my mid 20s and it was fine, and my father’s partner had hers done in her 50s and she was fine too. Your orthodontist can provide any info on how your age might impact things - if at all. If you’re worried about how they look - people don’t really comment on them, I think adult braces are more acceptable these days.

1. Can’t help, had mine done on NHS.
2. Ditto
3. I spoke with my dentist.
4. Sometimes it hurt - usually when I’d just been and had them seen to. I do recall one very painful Christmas when I could barely eat!!
5. Mine was about three years, but I did have to have some intense work done.
6. Not had a problem like that. I have had a particular lasting effect, but from a particular bit of the treatment, not from the braces.
7. Not particularly.
8. Can’t help sorry.
9. I started mine aged 43.

@Sparklesocks - thank you very much!

@PaperMonster - thank you. How did you manage to get them done on the NHS? I didn't think that was possible for over-18s not in full-time education.

@UnaCorda thank you for starting this thread and asking those questions.

I am 55 this month and definitely want something doing with my teeth.

Keep us updated.

I had mine mid 20s, it cost around £2,500 in total including one tooth removed before fit. The brace didn't hurt but before fit I had to have some elastic bands wrapped around some teeth to make space and it was so painful I had to pull them out! Also the metal (train tracks) digs into your gums and it's very irritating so make sure you purchase lots of wax from your dental surgery. If you have train tracks there will also be a bit of plastic running through it, this comes in many different colours... mainly for children of course. Get the cream colour... do NOT get white. It stains very easily and you will then be stuck with it until your next appointment. Also as an adult bear in mind as soon as the brace is removed your teeth will start moving back again. I got the plastic retainer, didn't wear it every single night and my two front teeth ended up very slightly overlapping. Get the permanent retainer it's a wire they fit on the back of your teeth. You'll have a lisp for a week but then won't even notice it's there. I think it cost £140.

Best money I ever spent!

Oh also I only had top teeth done

Hi,
To get started I googled local orthodintic services and read the reviews and services.

Arranged for a consultation and they did a scan of my mouth to show the before and the potential after look.

Fixed metal braces are much cheaper than invisilign. The only difference really is the invisilign are trays and you dont notice them so much but they have to come out for eating which seemed a bit of a pain during the day. However if you would prefer people not see you have braces then these could be better for you.

I went for metal fixed braces have had fun with changing the colours each time and go in about every 6 weeks.

Cost me £2500. My practice offers a deposit and monthly payment scheme.

I had braces when a teen and even an operation but my teeth have moved so after the braces treatment of about 18months I will have a long term fixed retainer that sits on the back of the teeth so arent visible.

First week was hell lol I regretted it massively. The initial getting used to them in your mouth makes it feel like sandpaper. Used a lot of wax! After that first week though it was as if they've always been there and now about 8 months in I dodnt notice them at all.

I think if you can then investing in your teeth and oral health is well worth it.

As an adult, will you always need some sort of retainer?

I am mid 60s & have braces fitted. My teeth had moved quite a bit & were becoming unsightly .
I chose ceramic fixed braces. They cost £4K which I paid up front but instalments were available. Invisalign would have been a similar price, slightly more expensive but not by much.
I was referred by my dentist after mentioning my concern about the appearance of my teeth.
Initial consultation was £100 which included x-rays to confirm I was a suitable candidate.
Original estimate of time was 9 months but this has been extended by 4 months due to Covid19.
Painful at first but not outrageously so.

@UnaCorda definitely possible as an adult - but needs to be a health risk. My overbite had to be a certain size (can’t remember what) before I was eligible on the NHS - and the braces were the easy bit of the treatment. If I hadn’t had the braces/treatment I wouldn’t have been able to eat solids by now. As it was, I’d had trouble eating because of my teeth for years.

1. Invisalign is extremely expensive and takes a lot longer. I looked into it but was told it would take forever, whereas with train tracks the teeth move a lot more and you have them for a shorter time. Can't comment on Smile Direct. Also you need to be very strict with Invisalign and wear them all the time. As they are removable it's tempting not to wear them for a day.

2. With Invisalign I was quoted I think £5k whereas train tracks cost me £3.5k

3. I approached an orthodontist directly but he worked with my dentist as I had to have four teeth removed (I had four removed when I was a teen).

4. It does hurt but it's like a persistent tooth ache not a sharp pain. I remember not being able to chew for a couple of days and would only have soup but after that you're fine.

5. I had braces as a teen and that was two years. I didn't get a retainer so ended up having braces again as an adult for another two years as I have another four teeth taken out (8 in total, small jaw, big teeth!) My first braces I had horrendous overcrowding, the wire was a zig zag! Second time was to correct my teeth sticking out due to overcrowding and closing the gaps to give space for me teeth to go back. I've had friends with minor issues and it took 6 months to a year on train tracks.

6. You will have an X-ray during consultation to look at your roots as orthodontic work can affect them. Gums shouldn't recede as that is more to do with gum disease. You will find brushing your teeth takes more time and you will be brushing them more often if you have braces!

7. Make sure you get a wire at the back of your teeth to help keep them straight and ask for two sets of retainers once your braces come off. I'm a teeth grinder and have broken my retainer and it took a while to get a replacement by which time my teeth had moved!

8. Not that I know of but be thorough and ask lots of questions!

9. I knew someone in their 60s who had braces so I shouldn't think age is relevant 😊 It is definitely worth getting!

My grandmother got braces when she was 54 and always said it was one of the best decisions she ever made. Go for it!

@Twirlytwoo your answer to no 5 so reminds me of my teenage brave experience! I also had eight teeth removed! Never had a retainer then. Have to use a removable one now.

You've had lots of answers so i will just add, having braces as an adult is a hard thing to go through but if you are self conscious about your teeth you probably won't regret it. A good dentist will advise on invisalign vs train tracks. I think invisalign has limits so if you need a lot moving it would need to be train tracks but they are not too bad especially the white ones.

Also most dentists are closed at the moment . . .

There are lots and lots of similar threads. I have commented on many. So I will just warn you to avoid 6 month smiles.

Thank you everyone - really appreciate it.

I had Invisalign, which I finished just over a year ago. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done!!

1- I wanted Invisalign because they’re more discrete than your typical train track braces. I watched many many many YouTube videos and loved the results of every one I saw.

2- I paid £3,900 (this cost included my 3 Invisalign retainers). I had top and bottom Invisalign full (there’s some cheaper, faster Invisalign treatments but they’re for very minor corrections).

3- I went to my dentist. They gave me an initial appointment where they spoke through all the options.

4- Honestly I have the worst pain threshold but it wasn’t awful. For me, the worst pain was always the day I changed my trays to the next week (I recommend doing it just before going to bed so you can try and sleep through the pain). My teeth would ache and I wouldn’t recommend eating anything too tough on those days. But trust me the pain is totally worth it and don’t let it put you off!!

5- I got my Invisalign in August, finished my treatment in January. Then I had to wear the retainer all day every day for a month. By feb my teeth were done and I only have to wear my retainer at night! Also with Invisalign you’re constantly making progress so I was already happier with my teeth just a couple months in.

6- I don’t know of any risks.

7- Make sure you buy denture cleaner for your trays because they can get really grim haha!

8- not that I know of. Although I did see a tiktok or someone using smile direct club and her tooth had literally come out in the retainer and she was super upset. But I don’t know all the circumstances 🤷🏻‍♀️

9- I’m early 20’s. But I don’t think age matters

Haven't finished mine they've still on but I went with a fixed brace on the top only,£2,500 plus £200 for two teeth out. Invisalign was a £1000 more. If I'd gone for invisalign I wouldn't have got the look I wanted. All of my teeth would have been aligned with my protruding front two . Invisalign practitioners are not orthodontists so would advise a consultation with an orthodontist and an Invisalign provider.

Invisalign practitioners are not orthodontists so would advise a consultation with an orthodontist and an Invisalign provider.

That wasn’t true for me. My Invisalign was done by an orthodontist. She could do your typical train track braces and Invisalign.

I’m 55 and am doing SmileDirect right now.

I had braces in my teens. In those days it was only ever top braces and there were no retainers/aftercare. It was not a great experience and I have been well pissed off by the fact that my teeth have been migrating back to where they started. My bottom teeth remain a bit jumbled.

Smile Direct is cheap. I think I am paying c£1.5k. I’m also doing the night option that you only wear them for 10 hours overnight. The easy thing for me are that my teeth are not that bad, so this is just a correction. I dont need loads of support and checking. This is just realigning my top teeth and sorting out my bottom ones. It’s all pretty straightforward (plus a good discipline to make me stop eating and drinking late into the evening!). It is going to take 10 months.I will need to wear retainers afterwards but that is fine as this was all prompted by the lack of retainers last time.