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Original poster

Want teeth straightened, where do I start?

16 replies

ChequeredFlag · 03/07/2010 13:22

I've been left some money, and want to use it to get my teeth done - they are wonky and tombstone-like, and getting worse as I get older. However, it is likely to be expensive and I want it to be good, and to feel like I've spent well and got what I wanted at the end.

So can anyone help me? Where do I start? Is there a directory of recommended orthodontists? Is it actually an orthodontist that I need? How do I find a good one, and know that they're not bullshitting me with pseudoscience?

Please help!

OP posts:
EldonAve · 03/07/2010 13:35

Your dentist should know the local orthodontists and may be able to recommend someone

Original poster
ChequeredFlag · 03/07/2010 14:11

I'm not registered with a local dentist here yet, on a waiting list for an NHS one. But thank you. I suppose I could phone local dentists and ask, although I was hoping to get a better way of finding someone good than that.

OP posts:
zandy · 03/07/2010 14:30

twitter.com/karenthedentist

This is a very good dentist. Why not add her on twitter and ask for your area?

zandy · 03/07/2010 14:30

twitter.com/karenthedentist

LadyLapsang · 03/07/2010 14:37

Hi there,

I would suggest you use some of your money to go to a dentist and have a normal check up, scale and polish before you start. You can then have any treatment you need like fillings before you begin orthodonic treatment and the dentist should be able to recommend a good orthodontist in your area.

Seeing the dentist privately does not have to be that expensive, depends what you need done.

Some of my colleagues are having orthodontic treatment at the moment and it is working out at 2-3 K I think.

purplepeony · 03/07/2010 19:08

You need to reckon on about £3K for braces or Invisilign. If you were to have veneers they are around £400 per tooth- sometimes less, sometimes more.

Agree that you need to have your teeth sorted/cleaned/gums cleaned etc. before any straightening.

I have a private dentist and pay something like £40 for a check up and £35 for clean and plish. (SE England)

Original poster
ChequeredFlag · 03/07/2010 21:51

Zandy - strangely, that dentist is not too far from me. Will look her up.

Will do the dentist part of things first, although the last check up I had they were in great condition apparently - just not straight.

So is it normal that your dentist will recommend an orthodontist, and you use that one, rather than shop around?

OP posts:
LadyLapsang · 04/07/2010 16:07

Well, I would say if you trust your dentist and they do a good job, I would at least listen to their professional opinion about their peers. I don't think there would be anything to stop you having an initial consultation with a few orthodontists (if you didn't mind paying) and then deciding.

ReasonableDoubt · 04/07/2010 16:09

Don't do veneers unless you will be able to spend money on them on an ongoing basis. They chip, they fall out, they need replacing. It is a financial commitment, seriously. And they will have to file your own natural teeth down to stubs to fit them, so if one breaks or falls out, you have NO option but to fork out for it to be fixed unless you want to look like a crackhead

Invisalign are pricey but, depending on how bad your teeth are, can get good results.

Whitening covers a multitude of sins in my opinion.

Winetimeisfinetime · 04/07/2010 16:17

I have had a fixed metal brace which I found quite painful and had to have taken out after a year as it was bothering me so much.

Then several years later I had Invisalign braces which were fab. I have just finished the treatment and am really pleased with the results. It was definitely worth the investment and I wished I had done it sooner.

Katisha · 04/07/2010 16:41

How old is too old to have your teeth straightened? Does it work when you are well over 40?

I have had a tooth out of alignment all my life and would really like its traightened. However I have read that you end up with a retainer or something permanently there.

ReasonableDoubt · 04/07/2010 16:49

I have a colleague who is in her mid 30s and has just had an invisalign brace fitted, and another who has just had hers off (teeth are so much better than they were). I would love to do it, but apparently my teeth are extremely soft and wouldn't 'fix' in the position (ie. the brace would straighten them, but they would move back to their old position eventually). Gutted!

Original poster
ChequeredFlag · 04/07/2010 20:00

So Invisalign seems the way forward...

I had an initial consultation with a local orthodontist, who talked me through the Invisalign process, but I didn't just want to jump in and go with them, iyswim, just in case I regretted it. But if it's a fairly standard process now that sounds positive. And it seemed like all of the braces' dimensions (a new one every two weeks) are worked out by computer, rather than the individual dentist?

Winetimeisfinetime - how much did your whole process cost? The clinic I went to said £2.5 - £3k, including all cleaning, de-scaling, whitening, and at least a year of a restraint following the final invisalign brace in order to 'set' the teeth in position.

Thanks for your help everyone.

OP posts:
Winetimeisfinetime · 08/07/2010 18:38

Sorry only just seen your query. Mine cost approx £2k per arch, so £4kish for both top and bottom teeth to be straightened.Your quote sounds good if it is for both arches but £3k is a lot just for top teeth. My treatment started a couple of years ago so maybe prices have gone up.

There wasn't any need because of Invisalign to have cleaning and descaling during the process - it doesnt have the same issues re cleaning your teeth as fixed braces do as you take the Invisalign ones out and just brush as normal.

I have to say that if you can afford it { and lots of dentists do interest free finance which is how I did mine } it is well worth it.

Katisha, I was over 40 when I started and it has been fine. I think the teeth move more slowly when you are older but they still move and you will get a good result.

archieballerina · 08/07/2010 18:44

Invisalign isn't for everyone as it tends to tilt teeth you would really need a fixed brace if you want very straight teeth unless you just have mild crowding and rotations. They can be low profile/with white wires/brackets but you can have them lingually (on the tongue and roof of mouth side of your teeth) apparently this helps it work quickly as well due to the forces.

Chunkamatic · 08/07/2010 18:51

Hi there, I am in the middle of orthodontic treatment. Unfortunately Invisalign weren't available for me as my teeth were too overcrowded so instead I have had a fixed metal brace. It's not the best but is at least tooth coloured so not terribly obvious.

I have been told by my orthdontist that I will have to wear a fixed retainer on the back of my lower teeth in order to keep them in place. This is because an adults jaw stops growing at around the age of 22, so even though he has created more room in my toothline to fix the overcrowding, the jaw won't grow to accomodate this, so they would be likely to collapse back in if not supported.

To be honest I don't mind this. It is something that can be maintained as part of your normal dental routine and I would rather that than wonky teeth the rest of my life!

So I suppose it depends on the nature and extent of the problems with your teeth.

My treatment is costing approx £3k and I pay in installments. I could have had an interest free loan to cover it had I wanted though.

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