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Original poster

Has anyone had braces as an adult?

36 replies

dejectedharry · 26/02/2018 11:15

So I am currently looking into getting braces. I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice? Which type did you get? If you have had them did your teeth stay straight?

Also how long did you wear them for? I'm hoping to get them straight before my wedding next year.

OP posts:
retainertrainer · 26/02/2018 11:50

Me! My only advice is to do it do it do it! Do it now!

Best thing I ever did. My only regret is that I bottled out in my 20’s when I desperately wanted them done for my wedding day.

I was mid 30’s when I did it and I don’t know what I was worried about. I actually enjoyed the process, any discomfort felt like a positive thing (like labour contractions getting you closer to meeting your baby).

I had ceramic train tracks. They make me less self conscious but tbh once everyone’s seen them you kind of forget about them so I might as well of just gone for the metal ones.

I now have a permanent retainer (metal wire glued to the back of my teeth) and I wear a plastic retainer over night once a week. Teeth haven’t moved.

I can’t believe the difference it’s made to my confidence. One of the best things I’ve ever done.

retainertrainer · 26/02/2018 11:52

Oh and I had mine on for 18 months. I’d start the process ASAP, you might find you have to wait for the initial appointment so don’t waste any time.

Original poster
dejectedharry · 26/02/2018 12:05

retainertrainer thank you for all of that info!

I'm so mad at myself because I have a major fear of the dentist and I bottled getting my free NHS braces at 16 because someone told me the pain was excruciating. I've lived with my wonky teeth for 11 years now because of a silly fear.

I will try and get a consultation asap, It is actually only my top teeth which are wonky so don't know if I will need braces for both top and bottom. I do have an overbite though.

I'm so excited for nice teeth and I haven't even done anything yet! Grin

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StormTreader · 26/02/2018 12:17

I had the invisalign ones - I slightly spoiled the invisible effect by immediately pointing them out excitedly to everyone I met! Be prepared to brush your teeth more times in a day than you thought possible :D

retainertrainer · 26/02/2018 12:43

I had wonkey front teeth and an overjet (overjet is like bucked teeth, overbite is when the back teeth are together and the front upper teeth cover the front lower teeth).

They couldn’t fully correct the overjet without extractions and I really didn’t want to remove any teeth so they straightened them and did interproximal reduction (they shave a tiny amount of enamel off each tooth to create space, this isn’t painful) this reduced my overjet, they’re not perfect but they’re so much better and I’m thrilled with the results. I only needed braces on my uppers.

MrsPeacockDidIt · 26/02/2018 12:48

Me ! I had them for my wedding too. I had train tracks (ceramic on top, metal on bottom) when I was early 30's. I'd had braces before but I didn't wear my retainers so by 30 they were back to where they had been. I don't regret it for a single second. I love my teeth now and it's made such a difference. I wore them for 18 months for large overbite and crookedness.

Original poster
dejectedharry · 26/02/2018 12:56

Okay, I probably have an overjet too and not an overbite as my back teeth fit! I don't really mind this though. I have missing teeth in my bottom row due to overcrowding when I was young, so lots of space down there of movement. Not really any room up top.

I think I might need Wisdom teeth extracting but not an expert so shouldn't speculate and stress myself.

Storm you sound like my old boss, told absolutely everyone! Except he would take them out and show them to people who asked. I could not handle that one!

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WannabeSurfer · 26/02/2018 13:44

I did a few years ago. So glad I finally did it. Took about 16 months but entirely worth it. Train tracks. Invusalign was a possibility but sounded like a bit of a faff to me and decided that they weren’t really invisible, plus were twice the price of bog standard braces.

Original poster
dejectedharry · 26/02/2018 13:58

I will probably go for the cheapest option.

I'm quite excited at having my teeth whitened afterward which seems to be commonly included in the price. I wasn't expecting that.

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MiniDoofa · 26/02/2018 14:04

Do it now!!!!
I'm in my 40s, 9 months into 14 months of treatment and my teeth already look sooooo much straighter!! I am so glad I bit the bullet (ha ha dental pun) and wish I'd gone it ten years ago.
I know several other women my age who have them too it's becoming more common I think.
Word of warning/ when you first get them in EVERYONE starts telling you THEIR dental stories and baring their gnashers for you to inspect 🙄 It's like when you're pregnant and everyone tells you their birth stories. 😂😂😂
Good luck OP

retainertrainer · 26/02/2018 14:52

Mini-that made me chuckle,they really do and you quickly realise that 99% of people have issues with their teeth!

I had mine whitened afterwards, they’re starting to yellow again now but they did look fantastic.

MashLover · 26/02/2018 14:57

Would anyone mind me asking how much it was? I would love braces but I'm not sure I could afford them especially if it was £ks upfront.

FJCE83 · 26/02/2018 15:02

I had ceramic on the top and normal metal on the bottom. Process only took 10m as my teeth were already pretty straight I just had one tooth that hadn’t come down (still had the baby tooth). I now have a metal brace on the back of my top and bottom front tooth and a retainer that’s meant to be worn every evening but in reality it’s every now and then (not had any problem with the moving back)
Best thing I ever did but at £3k I really wish I’d done it when I was younger 😩

Original poster
dejectedharry · 26/02/2018 15:06

Mash have a look in your area at local orthodontists. I'm seeing prices for £2,500 but this is just on their websites not sure how true this is. But they are all offering interest free finance deals so far so that spreads the cost.

I'm 27 so feel like I'm young enough to benefit for many years of straight teeth but bitterly disappointed I didn't get them when offered them at 16.

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retainertrainer · 26/02/2018 20:11

Mash-it is around the £2k mark but they do all offer 0% interest spread over the course of the treatment or for a set number of years. Don’t let the cost put you off without doing some research.

FabalaTheGreenGirl · 26/02/2018 22:59

I got Damon ceramic/white braces just before I turned 30 and I've had them on for a year. I was offered the option of going for traditional metal or ceramic braces for a grand less (the Damon braces cost 3.5k all-in) but I'm glad I went for these. The pros:

  1. They are self-ligating, which apparently means the wire moves THROUGH the brackets and basically that means that you don't need to have them tightened - the ortho just changes the wire. Or something. Anyway, you don't get that pain people tend to get for a few days after they go to see their ortho to get their wires changed/tightened which means I'm able to eat straight solid food after every appointment. Yay!
  2. You don't need to visit the ortho as much. I have my ortho review every 10 weeks, as opposed to every month or so.
  3. They are white, so not as noticeable as metal tracks.
  4. The results are fast. I had incredibly crooked teeth with a 14mm overjet. I now have completely aligned teeth with a 4mm overjet. That's like the difference between Bette Midler in Hocus Pocus and Sarah Jessica Parker in Hocus Pocus.

Cons:

  1. They are expensive
  2. They take some getting used to (I was miserable for the first month and wondered what I'd gotten myself into)
  3. People can still see them - they'll know you have braces. It's not like invisalign (I had the option of going for invisalign but it would have been much less effective, much more annoying and pretty much the same price).

I am really impressed with the results. I really HATED my teeth and never used to smile. Now I sport a big cheesy grin all the time.

Attached: teeth before and teeth a few weeks ago.

Has anyone had braces as an adult?
CharlieBoo · 26/02/2018 23:04

I just got my Invisalign trays today!! Not nearly as bad as I thought although it’s obviously early days. I’m 38 and although I wish I’d done it 10 years ago, I didn’t have the money then.. it is expensive, it’s cost me £3500 but I’m hoping it will all be worth it. Good luck

Dontbugmemalone · 26/02/2018 23:25

I got metal braces fitted a few days after I turned 30, am 6 months in and although it's been hard. I'm really pleased with my decision.
I have an overbite and crooked teeth and have had 2 teeth extracted to hopefully fix this.
Its expected to take 18 months so I would recommend starting as quickly as possible. Teeth straighten fairly quickly in my opinion.

mydietstartsmonday · 26/02/2018 23:30

Invisalign, I am on set 33 of 39 changing every 2 weeks.
Do not hesitate best money I have spent.
My teeth had moved over the years and I had buckled front teeth and a very notCiable gap. I am in my early 50s
Teeth look fantastic now and still have a few sessions to go.

MyHairyToe · 26/02/2018 23:31

I’m just coming to the end of Invisalign treatment. It was expensive £3.5k but I’m really pleased with the results Grin I chose an orthodontist rather than a dentist, it was a bit more but definitely worth it. If you go for Invisalign I’d visit a couple of places to find a provider you have confidence in. Go for it!

retainertrainer · 27/02/2018 07:02

Fab-your teeth look amazing!

foxessocks · 27/02/2018 07:17

I started the process at my dentist but wondered did you all shop around for best deals at all? Can you just ring up any dentist?

DeliveredByKiki · 27/02/2018 07:24

Me....I am 3.5yrs into what should have taken 2yrs, started in my early 30’s. I have ceramic train tracks.

Orthodontist thinks one tooth has calcified to the bone and is therefore not moving, it’s all taking a lot longer than she expected because apparently I must have strong teeth/bones etc but also age. It’s takes longer the longer you leave it

ememem84 · 27/02/2018 07:32

Day 5 of Invisalign treatment here. 80 weeks to go.... but the results should be amazing.

My dentist said that people who have this sort of treatment done at this stage in life (im early 30’s) work at it and keep up the aftercare (I’ll have to wear a retainer at night for ever after the treatments done) because they’re paying for it themselves! Which I think is true. I had braces when I was 14 and didn’t wear the retainer afterwards.

This has cost me over £4K. But will absolutely be worth it.

Original poster
dejectedharry · 27/02/2018 10:22

I'm leaning towards Invisalign, if it's suitable, just in case the treatment takes longer than expected I can just not wear them for my wedding day. I'm sure you're probably not meant to do this but its only one day.

I've contacted four different orthodontists and have made appointments with two of them for a consultation so far. Thank you so much for all your help! I'm really excited!

FabalaTheGreenGirl your teeth look fantastic. I have a similar front tooth, that is in front of all the others, and it's amazing to see your changed smile.

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