Adult braces anyone?

[PosiePootlePerkins]

I hate my teeth. No problems as a child, but they have become increasingly crooked over the years, and now at the age of 41 I am fed up. My dentist recently mentioned that my wisdom teeth are still not completely through (!) so I am guessing that my problem is overcrowding.
I am seriously considering adult braces but they seem to be so expensive! Anyone had them? Any success or horror stories? Any advice gratefully received.

No experience of the braces in afraid.

I did go for a consult recently for the clear retainer type braces at a cosmetic dentist, the price was £3k for both upper and lower. I have issues with my teeth being crook at the bottom and a large gap at the top. My teeth at the bottom are thinning very badly.

Instead of braces I have decided to have a full set of zerconian crowns to sort my issues and get a instant (well 5day) transformation. £800 more (going abroad than the braces)

I'm not suggesting this as my problems were more than just being crook. I have noticed mainstream dentists offer the invisible braces. If you have overcrowding you may have to have teeth removed prior.

Thanks for your reply striped 3k is crazy prices! I wish I could afford it though. Yes I did wonder about having my wisdom teeth removed first
Hope it all works out for you with the crowns.

I've got Invisalign braces - they are working brilliantly. Bit pricey I suppose, but my teeth have to last me the rest of my life so it's worth it!

My husband recently finished 12 months of Invisalign. It cost £3.5k but was so worth it - it has transformed his teeth and in turn how he feels about himself.
It was relatively pain free but required commitment in wearing it for 22 hours a day.

Yes you are right Madison I am self conscious aged 41 and would love to get it sorted before I get any older! Do you mind me asking how long the process will take for you, and how often you need to visit the clinic? Thanks

Thanks EMS23 that is interesting and very positive. I would definitely commit to it for the end results. It seems like a lot to spend on myself but my DH would support me if I chose to go ahead. We'd find the money...I just feel it should go on other things!

I have just signed up to Invisalign at 3.4k. Like you, my wisdom teeth are still coming through but my orthodontist said at the consult that that wasn't why my teeth were getting more crooked. He didn't recommend having them removed, even though one is growing sideways into my check and being a slight nuisance. If you are considering having orthodontics I would advise paying for a consult with an orthodontist (mine was bout £100) to ask all your questions and whether you need teeth removed, what sort of result you could expect etc.

Thank you deinonychus that's really interesting about your wisdom teeth. I always assumed they were the reason my teeth have gradually become more crooked over the years...in my wedding photos 18 yrs ago my teeth look fine! I will definitely look into a proper consultation with an orthodontist. I hope your braces work well for you!

I did it at 27. (Mid 30s now). Best decision I ever made, it massively improved my confidence. It cost me about £3k in total (this was London) and worth every penny, I had them whitened the day the braces came off and it felt great.

There was the option to spend double and have them on the inside of my teeth but I just got clear braces on the outside and only had them on about 9 months. My teeth straightened up really quickly, within weeks.

I also had overcrowding and my two front teeth crossed each other.

I felt a bit self conscious for the 9 months but it wasn't really a big deal.

Do it!!

Btw I couldn't afford £3k easily, I got out a loan and was paying it off until recently. Still worth every penny.

My friend got free braces via a dental college so that might be worth looking into? They were metal ones though and he had them on about 2 years.

Wow dakin 9 months! That is amazing. OK I have been persuaded to look into it and arrange a consultation.
Another question - for those of you who have had successful treatment - do you have to wear a retainer permanently? How comfortable is it?
Thanks so much for all of your replies.

I also had Invisalign about 5 years ago and it was very effective and a huge confidence boost. It took less than a year - it works best if you wear them as much as possible.
I have a permanent retainer (wire behind my teeth). I can't feel it. Only downside is I can't floss normally so I have to use a special floss or an air flosser.

Ok that's interesting schmalex I was wondering if the retainer was irritating, good to hear that you can't feel it. I have a dent in my tongue from my crooked bottom teeth which I am aware of, so I guess a retainer would only be an improvement!

I have them at the moment. I'm close to 50. I had braces as a kid but wasn't given a retainer - and my teeth were never perfectly straight anyway. So the teeth that were moved when I was a kid gradually crept back to where they were- almost looked like a gap in my teeth. I hated my smile.

I did invisilign and deep down didn't think it would work but it did. My smile is way better now 5 months in (and I don't even wear then 22 hours a day as recommended). I can't wait to see the end result - also plan on having them whitened at the end although my teeth are whiter than ever because of all the brushing/flossing I am doing with invisilign.

I am in the US so some of the cost was covered by insurance. I think I paid about 2 thousand dollars in total.

I am sorry I didn't do this years ago.

Idiot question - you have to take them off and on then? I always assumed they were fixed in.

Is it a faff in general - or does it become routine and easy? (Like, do you have to cart a whole kit around with you if travelling, can you sleep in them etc)

Am sorely tempted...

My husband has a wire retainer on the back of his teeth, which doesn't bother him at all.

I have a similar wire on my two front teeth (after traditional braces in my teens) & the only problem I have with it is I can't bite in to an apple as it gets caught.

Yes, he took them on and off so when we went out he would bring the small case, a toothbrush and paste in a little plastic bag, as you have to brush after eating, before putting them back on.

In the 12 months he had a handful of days where he didn't wear them for the full 22 hours, a wedding, Xmas day etc... But it didn't set him back.

The main pain in the bum was the appointments - I think they were at least once a month but he chose a dentist half an hour drive away (foolish!!) so that was what made it a pain IFYSWIM.

I did invisalign a few years ago. I wore them all day and night except when eating or drinking (you take them out, they are clear plastic and fit over your teeth).

Very happy with the result and also with the ease of use and comfort while wearing. A colleague had the behind the teeth wires, so also invisible but much more painful.

I now continue to wear my final set of invisalign braces one night a week as a retainer (I didn't want the fixed wire).

It's a great system, I really wanted to straighten my teeth but at my age (40s) I really didn't want visible braces.

And no, a whole kit isn't required. Just wear the braces and carry a little case to keep them in when off. Brush clean with a toothbrush or use steradent.

Had mine done as a 40th bday present to myself, hated my teeth beforehand. Took 3 months and cost the best part of 2 grand but was worth every penny. The braces were white and barely visible. Had my teeth whitened too. Have a fixed retainer now, no pain whatsoever - not like the awful 'train track' braces I had as a kid.

Lots of my adult friends have had braces & my dentist told me last time I saw him that it's common for your teeth to move as you age. My friends who have had Invisalign have all lost between ½-1 stone as you can't snack.

Just seen the replies today, Anasnake 3 months is really quick! Did you use invisalign or another method? Oh man I am so tempted to do it reading all of your positive stories. Think I will book a consultation to get the ball rolling.

Eastpoint no snacking? That would test my willpower! But would also be very good for my waistline!

I have train tracks top and bottom and my case is very complex and cost a lot more than 3k. Totally, 100%, no reservations what-so-ever worth it though.

I have train tracks on at the moment age 30. They are being done on the NHS as I have an overbite to be corrected too.

6 months in and my extremley wonky teeth are straight! Just re aligning my bite and sorting out some gaps and stuff.

Oh and yes to loosing weight i have list about half a stone because i dont snack as much. I cant be bothered unless I am actually hungry because cleaning it can be a faff.